cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Prospect of a Global Ethic on HIV/AIDS: The Religions and the Science–and–Religion Dialogue

This article introduces essays from a 2001 symposium on a global ethic and the issue of the spread of HIV/AIDS. The symposium began with the assumption that we can determine the possibility for such a global ethic if we both explore the potential of an interreligious dialogue and do so in the context of a science-and-religion dialogue. I argue that while the possibilities for a global ethic, in particular addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS, may be debated, the results of this symposium suggest that the dialogue ought to be continued and that there is significant potential in the interfaith dialogue for creating models for both an ethic and specific strategies for action.
Determining the Thermal Diffusion Factor for 40Ar/36Ar in Air To Aid Paleoreconstruction of Abrupt Climate Change

The thermal diffusion factor (αT) of 40Ar/36Ar in air has been measured in the laboratory for the first time. The mean values of αT × 103 that we find at −30.0 °C are 9.85 ± 0.04 for air and 11.25 ± 0.03 for pure argon. The latter value is more precise than the data found in the literature. The temperature dependence of the thermal diffusion factor in air in the range −60 to −10 °C can be described by an empirical equation αT × 103 = 26.08 − 3952/〈T 〉 (±1%), where 〈T 〉 is the effective average temperature. Results of this study are valuable for reconstruction of magnitudes of abrupt climate change events recorded in Greenland ice cores. For one abrupt warming event ∼15,000 years ago, near the end of the last glacial period, these results yield a warming of 11 ± 3 °C over several decades or less. Theoretical calculations are not yet able to provide the needed accuracy, and the experimental results for the thermal diffusion factor in air should be used for paleoenvironmental studies.
Comparison of epidermal morphologic response to commercial antiwrinkle agents in the hairless mouse.

BACKGROUND A large number of commercial antiwrinkle and antiaging compounds are available to consumers for rejuvenation of facial skin ravaged by age or solar radiation. Experimental data on the histological effects of these commercial products in laboratory models are sparse. OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of topical application of five commercially available antiaging compounds (retinoic acid, glycolic acid, vitamin C, estrogen, and soy) on the dorsal skin. METHODS AND MATERIALS The effects were examined using light microscopic analysis of the epidermis in the normal nonirradiated hairless mouse. The agents were applied daily to dorsal tattooed areas for 2 weeks before histological assessment; neighboring untreated surface areas were used as control. Morphometric measurements of total epidermal width, nuclear volume of keratinocytes in three layers, and index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen according to immunohistochemistry were obtained and statistically analyzed. RESULTS Significant histomorphometric effects were noticed with all five agents, but more pronounced changes were obtained with glycolic acid, estrogen, and retinoic acid product. CONCLUSIONS These baseline data will be useful for future studies on the effect of ultraviolet radiation to cause photoaging and reparative effects of similar agents in this animal. The information contained in the report may provide guidelines to consumers and clinicians.
In Planta Mutagenesis Determines the Functional Regions of the Wheat Puroindoline Proteins

In planta analysis of protein function in a crop plant could lead to improvements in understanding protein structure/function relationships as well as selective agronomic or end product quality improvements. The requirements for successful in planta analysis are a high mutation rate, an efficient screening method, and a trait with high heritability. Two ideal targets for functional analysis are the Puroindoline a and Puroindoline b (Pina and Pinb, respectively) genes, which together compose the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Ha locus that controls grain texture and many wheat end-use properties. Puroindolines (PINs) together impart soft texture, and mutations in either PIN result in hard seed texture. Studies of the PINs' mode of action are limited by low allelic variation. To create new Pin alleles and identify critical function-determining regions, Pin point mutations were created in planta via EMS treatment of a soft wheat. Grain hardness of 46 unique PIN missense alleles was then measured using segregating F2:F3 populations. The impact of individual missense alleles upon PIN function, as measured by grain hardness, ranged from neutral (74%) to intermediate to function abolishing. The percentage of function-abolishing mutations among mutations occurring in both PINA and PINB was higher for PINB, indicating that PINB is more critical to overall Ha function. This is contrary to expectations in that PINB is not as well conserved as PINA. All function-abolishing mutations resulted from structure-disrupting mutations or from missense mutations occurring near the Tryptophan-rich region. This study demonstrates the feasibility of in planta functional analysis of wheat proteins and that the Tryptophan-rich region is the most important region of both PINA and PINB.
Compiler support for privatization on distributed-memory machines

The practice of using temporary scalar or array variables to store the results of common subexpressions presents several challenges to a parallelizing compiler. Not only does dependence analysis and, as a result, parallelization suffer; but existing techniques used for partitioning programs and generating communication for parallel execution on distributed-memory multicomputers also tend to break down. Techniques that have been developed over the years to compensate for this programming practice include scalar expansion, global forward substitution, and privatization, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses. Compared to scalar expansion and global forward substitution privatization has the advantage of not causing an increase in memory requirements or operation counts, but when compiling for distributed-memory machines it causes several new problems to arise. We present a simple extension to a uniform array-region analysis framework that utilizes privatization information to partition loops and generate efficient communication, using the owner-computes rule, in the presence of temporary variables.
Joule heating and phonon transport in nanoscale silicon MOSFETs

This work examines the generation of heat in silicon MOSFETs using self-consistent Monte Carlo device simulation with full electron bandstructure and a full phonon dispersion computed from the Adiabatic Bond Charge model. We devise an efficient algorithm for the inclusion of full phonon dispersion in order to account for anisotropy and details of heat transport with great accuracy. We compute the density-of-states (DOS) and the lattice thermal energy numerically and use them to generate maps of local temperatures in a representative small-channel MOSFET device. Our results show that most heat is dissipated in the form of optical g-type phonons in a small region in the drain, and that the heat flows in a preferred direction aligned with the flow of the electron current. We also show that the distribution of generated phonons in energy closely follows the phonon DOS.
Principles of Weed Management in Agroecosystems and Wildlands1

Abstract Weed science is a diverse field that relies upon many fundamental disciplines to generate theories and empirical information about weedy plants. This information is used to develop and improve technology designed to manage weeds. Weed management includes three components— prevention, eradication, and control of weeds or undesirable plants—as well as protecting crops or fostering beneficial vegetation. The tools of weed control include biological, chemical, cultural, and mechanical tools as well as integrated weed management, which is the integration of effective and environmentally safe weed control methods within the context of a managed ecosystem. Invasive species may be viewed as a subset of the larger category of plants we call weeds; as such, the knowledge, concepts, and tools of weed management are highly applicable to the understanding and management of invasive plant species. Additional index words: Integrated weed management, invasive species, vegetation management, weed control. Abbrevi...
Sub-Integer Frequency Synthesis Using Phase-Rotating Frequency Dividers

A generalized architecture and theory for realizing multimodulus, sub-integer frequency division is developed by extending the phase-switched divider technique. The sub-integer divider consists of a pre-scaler, a phase rotator, a post-sealer, and a modulus controller. Phase rotation is proposed as an effective technique to realize fine phase resolution and thereby low sub-integer division ratios, as well as to eliminate the glitch which has plagued phase-switched dividers. Program-swallowed counters are used as the modulus controller to realize a broad-range multimodulus divider. Expressions are derived for the range and resolution of such a program-swallowed, phase-rotating divider. Furthermore, the fractional spurs from this divider topology are derived and related to the linearity of the phase rotator. It is shown that very low (-60 to -75 dBc) fractional spurs at the output of the divider can be attained with reasonably accurate phase rotators. The benefit of this technique is in the ability to realize sub-integer frequency synthesizers which have the architectural simplicity of standard integer-N PLLs, but the finer frequency resolution capabilities due to sub-integer division.
Are we closer to global accounting standards

The convergence of U.S. and international accounting standards will affect U.S. financial statements—and probably a lot more. The authors look at where we've been, where we are today—and where U.S. generally accepted accounting principles are headed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A 2000 year varve-based climate record from the central Brooks Range, Alaska

Varved minerogenic sediments from glacial-fed Blue Lake, northern Alaska, are used to investigate late Holocene climate variability. Varve-thickness measurements track summer temperature recorded at Atigun Pass, located 41 km east at a similar elevation (r2 = 0.31, P = 0.08). Results indicate that climate in the Brooks Range from 10 to 730 AD (varve year) was warm with precipitation inferred to be higher than during the twentieth century. The varve-temperature relationship for this period was likely compromised and not used in our temperature reconstruction because the glacier was greatly reduced, or absent, exposing sub-glacial sediments to erosion from enhanced precipitation. Varve-inferred summer temperatures and precipitation decreased after 730 AD, averaging 0.4°C above the last millennial average (LMA = 4.2°C) from 730 to 850 AD, and 0.1°C above the LMA from 850 to 980 AD. Cooling culminated between 980 and 1030 AD with temperatures 0.7°C below the LMA. Varve-inferred summer temperatures increased between 1030 and 1620 AD to the LMA, though the period between 1260 and 1350 AD was 0.2°C below the LMA. Although there is no equivalent to the European Medieval Warm Period in the Blue Lake record, two warm intervals occurred from 1350 to 1450 AD and 1500 to 1620 AD (0.4 and 0.3°C above the LMA, respectively). During the Little Ice Age (LIA; 1620 to 1880 AD), inferred summer temperature averaged 0.2°C below the LMA. After 1880 AD, inferred summer temperature increased to 0.8°C above the LMA, glaciers retreated, but aridity persisted based on a number of regional paleoclimate records. Despite warming and glacial retreat, varve thicknesses have not achieved pre-730 AD levels. This reflects limited sediment availability and transport due to a less extensive retreat compared to the first millennium, and continued relative aridity. Overall, the Blue Lake record is similar to varve records from the eastern Canadian Arctic that document a cool LIA and twentieth century warming. However, the occurrence and timing of events, such as the LIA and Medieval Warm Period, varies considerably among records, suggesting heterogeneous climatic patterns across the North American Arctic.
Roles of IA and morphology in action potential propagation in CA1 pyramidal cell dendrites

Dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, along with those of a wide range of other cell types, support active backpropagation of axonal action potentials. Consistent with previous work, recent experiments demonstrating that properties of synaptic plasticity are different for distal synapses, suggest an important functional role of bAPs, which are known to be prone to failure in distal locations. Using conductance-based models of CA1 pyramidal cells, we show that underlying "traveling wave attractors" control action potential propagation in the apical dendrites. By computing these attractors, we dissect and quantify the effects of I(A) channels and dendritic morphology on bAP amplitudes. We find that non-uniform activation properties of I(A) can lead to backpropagation failure similar to that observed experimentally in these cells. Amplitude of forward propagation of dendritic spikes also depends strongly on the activation dynamics of I(A). I(A) channel properties also influence transients at dendritic branch points and whether or not propagation failure results. The branching pattern in the distal apical dendrites, combined with I(A) channel properties in this region, ensure propagation failure in the apical tuft for a large range of I(A) conductance densities. At the same time, these same properties ensure failure of forward propagating dendritic spikes initiated in the distal tuft in the absence of some form of cooperativity of synaptic activation.
Are Humanitarian Military Interventions Obligatory

I argue here that certain species of war, namely humanitarian military interventions (HMIs), can be obligatory within particular contexts. Specifically, I look at the notion of HMIs through the lens of just war theory and argue that when a minimal account of jus ad bellum implies that an intervention is permissible, it also implies that it is obligatory. I begin by clarifying the jus ad bellum conditions (such as just cause, right intentions, etc.) under which an intervention is permissible. I then turn to the claim that permissibility necessitates obligation, by first showing that whenever an intervention is permissible, it is also minimally decent. Second, I show that minimally decent actions are morally obligatory by arguing that the notion of minimal decency is a conceptual bridge between negative and positive duties. Third, I argue that performing minimally decent actions is necessary for a state to be just. Ultimately, my conclusion arises from the following observation: if a humanitarian crisis is bad enough for one to hold that it is permissible to breach sovereignty of a nation, then it is bad enough to hold that there is an obligation to intervene.
Boosting accuracy of automated classification of fluorescence microscope images for location proteomics

Detailed knowledge of the subcellular location of each expressed protein is critical to a full understanding of its function. Fluorescence microscopy, in combination with methods for fluorescent tagging, is the most suitable current method for proteome-wide determination of subcellular location. Previous work has shown that neural network classifiers can distinguish all major protein subcellular location patterns in both 2D and 3D fluorescence microscope images. Building on these results, we evaluate here new classifiers and features to improve the recognition of protein subcellular location patterns in both 2D and 3D fluorescence microscope images. We report here a thorough comparison of the performance on this problem of eight different state-of-the-art classification methods, including neural networks, support vector machines with linear, polynomial, radial basis, and exponential radial basis kernel functions, and ensemble methods such as AdaBoost, Bagging, and Mixtures-of-Experts. Ten-fold cross validation was used to evaluate each classifier with various parameters on different Subcellular Location Feature sets representing both 2D and 3D fluorescence microscope images, including new feature sets incorporating features derived from Gabor and Daubechies wavelet transforms. After optimal parameters were chosen for each of the eight classifiers, optimal majority-voting ensemble classifiers were formed for each feature set. Comparison of results for each image for all eight classifiers permits estimation of the lower bound classification error rate for each subcellular pattern, which we interpret to reflect the fraction of cells whose patterns are distorted by mitosis, cell death or acquisition errors. Overall, we obtained statistically significant improvements in classification accuracy over the best previously published results, with the overall error rate being reduced by one-third to one-half and with the average accuracy for single 2D images being higher than 90% for the first time. In particular, the classification accuracy for the easily confused endomembrane compartments (endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, endosomes, lysosomes) was improved by 5–15%. We achieved further improvements when classification was conducted on image sets rather than on individual cell images. The availability of accurate, fast, automated classification systems for protein location patterns in conjunction with high throughput fluorescence microscope imaging techniques enables a new subfield of proteomics, location proteomics. The accuracy and sensitivity of this approach represents an important alternative to low-resolution assignments by curation or sequence-based prediction.
Retinoid cycles in the cone-dominated chicken retina

In past decades, the role of retinoids in support of rod photopigment regeneration has been extensively characterized. In the rhodopsin cycle, retinal chromophore from bleached rod pigments is reduced to retinol and transferred to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to store as all-trans retinyl ester. This ester pool is subsequently utilized for visual pigment regeneration. However, there is a lack of information on the putative cone visual cycle. In the present study, we provide experimental evidence in support of a novel retinoid cycle for cone photopigment regeneration. In the cone-rich chicken, light exposure resulted in the accumulation of 11cis retinyl esters to the retina and all-trans retinyl esters to the RPE. Both the rate of increase and the amount of 11cis retinyl esters in the retina far exceeded those of the alltrans retinyl esters in the RPE. In response to dark adaptation, this 11-cis retinyl ester pool in the retina depletes at a rate several times faster than the all-trans retinyl ester pool in the RPE. In vitro, isolated, darkadapted retinas devoid of RPE show both an accumulation of 11-cis retinyl ester and a concomitant reduction of 11cis retinal chromophore in response to light exposure. Finally, we provide experimental results to elucidate a cone visual cycle in chicken by relating the change in retinoids (retinal and retinyl ester) with time during light and dark adaptation. Our results support a new paradigm for cone photopigment regeneration in which the 11-cis retinyl ester pool in the retina serves as the primary source of visual chromophore for cone pigment regeneration. Summary
A biosensor platform for rapid detection of E. coli in drinking water

There remains a need for rapid, specific and sensitive assays for the detection of bacterial indicators for water quality monitoring. In this study, a strategy for rapid detection of Escherichia coli in drinking water has been developed. This strategy is based on the use of the substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucuronide (MUG), which is hydrolyzed rapidly by the action of E. coli β-d-glucuronidase (GUD) enzyme to yield a fluorogenic 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) product that can be quantified and related to the number of E. coli cells present in water samples. In this study, the detection time required for the biosensor response ranged between 20 and 120 min, depending on the number of bacteria in the sample. This approach does not need extensive sample processing with a rapid detection capability. The specificity of the MUG substrate was examined in both, pure cultures of non-target bacterial genera such as Klebsiella, Salmonella, Enterobacter and Bacillus. Non-target substrates that included 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (MUGal) and l-leucine β-naphthylamide aminopeptidase (LLβ-N) were also investigated to identify nonspecific patterns of enzymatic activities in E. coli. GUD activity was found to be specific for E. coli and no further enzymatic activity was detected by other species. In addition, fluorescence assays were performed for the detection of E. coli to generate standard curves; and the sensitivity of the GUD enzymatic response was measured and repeatedly determined to be less than 10 E. coli cells in a reaction vial. The applicability of the method was tested by performing multiple fluorescence assays under pure and mixed bacterial flora in environmental samples. The results of this study showed that the fluorescence signals generated in samples using specific substrate molecules can be utilized to develop a bio-sensing platform for the detection of E. coli in drinking water. Furthermore, this system can be applied independently or in conjunction with other methods as a part of an array of biochemical assays in order to reliably detect E. coli in water.
Total Synthesis of Petrobactin and Its Homologues as Potential Growth Stimuli for Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus, an Oil-Degrading Bacteria

A modular synthesis was developed to access petrobactin, a catechol-containing siderophore isolated from Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus. A range of petrobactin homologues with differing dihydroxybenzamide motifs and in one case an increased number of carbons in the polyamine backbone were also synthesized. As such, these systems represent new isomeric probes to study iron transport properties in M. hydrocarbonoclasticus. The synthesis of petrobactin and its homologues and the first biological study of how these agents influence the growth of Mycobacterhydrocarbonoclasticus are reported. New synthetic methods were developed to overcome issues (imide formation) encountered in earlier syntheses. Both the (1)H and (13)C NMR of petrobactin were consistent with the recently revised structure showing that petrobactin in fact contains a 3,4-dihydroxybenzene motif rather than a 2,3-dihydroxybenzene motif. The preliminary biological studies suggested that using the native petrobactin 1b for M. hydrocarbonoclasticus-specific growth stimulation may be a poor strategy for oil-spill cleanup.
The End of All Tears: A Dynamic Interdisciplinary Analysis of Mourning and Complicated Grief With Suggested Applications for Clinicians

Mourning is a normal, universal response to death with countless cultural elaborations worldwide. When individuals are unable to progress through normal mourning, complicated grief (CG) can be a result. Ways in which humans deal with the universal consequences of death are examined and compared to the typical modern setting found in first world nations. It is suggested that normal mourning is facilitated by various ritual acts and if these activities lack certain features (suggested by cross-cultural analysis of mourning rituals), an increased risk of CG may result. Examination of rituals furthermore suggests ways clinicians may help patients cope with loss.
Determinants of a City Manager’s Tenure in Office: The Person, Job, Municipality, and Election System

1. Bonnie G. Mani[1][1] 1. 1East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA 1. Bonnie G. Mani, Department of Political Science, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA. Email: manib{at}ecu.edu Appointed officials in municipalities influence policy decisions and the distribution of services that affect everyday life. So stability or turnover of appointed officials is likely to affect efficiency and effectiveness of critical services like police protection, fire fighting and prevention, land use regulation, and public utilities. Seeking to explain the relationship between four groups of variables and appointed officials’ long or short terms in office, quantitative data collected from a random sample of appointed municipal officials in North Carolina were analyzed using hierarchical logistic regression. Tenure in office divided at median years in office was the dichotomous dependent variable. Four groups of independent variables related to the person, the job, the city, and election systems were entered hierarchically in four logistic regression models. Qualitative data collected from the same appointed officials further explain the results of the quantitative analysis. Results show that competence in formulating and implementing budgets and city government experience lead to longer terms in office, higher education leads to shorter terms in office, and political variables have no significant effect on appointed officials’ job security in North Carolina. This is useful information for city managers setting long-term career goals, citizens judging local governments’ service delivery, and elected officials making decisions about appointments and terminations. [1]: #aff-1
Moment Equations for the Evolution of Quantitative Traits in Space

The importance of genetic change, and in particular adaptive evolu-tion, during biological invasions is widely acknowledged, yet has to datereceived little attention from theoreticians. Here we present analysis of aset of models for the moments of a quantitative trait (i.e. a continuous ran-dom variable like body size) in a population that disperses in a continuousspatial habitat with a spatially varying trait optimum, building on workof Kirkpatrick and Barton (1997) and others. We focus on (discrete-time)integrodierence models incorporating \heavy-tailed" dispersal, which isknown to strongly inuence the speed of traveling wave solutions, represent-ing invasions, in purely ecological models without a genetic component. Weobtain both traveling wave speeds and, when maladaptation limits the ex-tend of an invasion, properties of the resulting localized (i.e. range-limited)population. These are contrasted with existing results (Kirkpatrick/Barton1997, Barton 2001, Garcia-Ramos/Rodriguez 2002) for partial dierentialequation models representing diusive movement. The results advance un-derstanding of how dispersal patterns interact with genetics and environ-mental conditions to determine the extent of a species' range. Joint work with A. Castorena.
Examining user-driven factors for intentions to use video digital libraries

The purpose of the present study is to examine potential influences of certain user-driven factors on the intentions to use or target video digital libraries. The overarching objective of the study is to present a validated research model which depicts such phenomenon between users and video digital libraries. A total of 229 respondents participated in an online survey, which included questions for seven distinct variables: retrieval functionality, user interface characteristics, user support, collection quality, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and intention to use. Multiple regression and correlation coefficient were used to analyze the collected survey data and test the hypotheses for validating the proposed research model. The preliminary results show that both perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are determinant factors of users' intention to use video digital library resources. In addition, retrieval functionality, user support, and collection quality significantly affected users' perceived ease of use of digital library resources. Further study of additional variables is currently in progress in order to assess influential factors that affect use of digital video libraries and ultimate adoption of such tools.
Abstract 326: Streptococcal Serum Opacity Factor Product, Cholesteryl Ester Rich Particles, Induce Cholesterol Ester Metabolism and Bile Acid Secretion after Uptake by Human Huh7 Hepatocytes

Plasma concentrations of HDL-cholesterol (C) negatively correlate with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, current evidence suggests that this correlation is not axiomatic and that some forms of HDL are dysfunctional and atherogenic. Interventions that raise HDL-C have not been uniformly successful suggesting that mechanisms by which HDL-C is increased determine its anti atherogenic potency. Additionally, mice overexpressing the HDL receptor, SR-BI, have lower plasma HDL-C levels and less atherosclerosis. Thus, new strategies that reduce HDL-C while promoting reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) may have therapeutic value. Serum opacity factor (SOF) disrupts HDL and forms three products, including a cholesteryl ester-rich microemulsion (CERM) containing apo E and the CE of ~400,000 HDL particles. Hepatic CE uptake in Huh7 cells is faster when delivered by CERM than by HDL, and cleared both in vitro and in vivo, in part, via the LDL-receptor (LDLR). We investigated the therapeutic potential of SOF in promoting RCT by comparing the final RCT steps, hepatic uptake, CE metabolism to cholesterol and bile salts, and secretion, of [14C]-CE-HDL, -CERM and [[Unable to Display Character: –]]LDL. Cells were pulse-labeled for 2 h with 20-50 ug/mL HDL protein (6-17 ug/mL [14C]-CE), or the CE-equivalent as CERM or LDL, and chased for 0, 2 or 6 h. Cells, pulse media and chase media were analyzed for sterols by beta-counting, TLC and solvent partitioning. [14C]CE uptake from LDL was greater than from CERM (2-4X) and HDL (5-10X). Halftimes for [14C]CE hydrolysis were 3.0 ± 0.2, 4.4 ± 0.6 and 5.4 ± 0.7 h respectively for HDL, CERM and LDL-CE. Bile acids in cells after uptake from HDL or CERM were low, <0.2% of total sterol but higher in cells after uptake from LDL, 4.2 ± 2.2 % of total sterol ( p = 0.03 ) at the 2 h chase time. The fraction of sterols secreted as bile acids was comparable for all three donor particles. After the 2 h chase, ~40% of the secreted sterols were bile acids, and after 6 h, ~ 50% were bile acids. These ratios were the same for cells treated with 14C-CE-HDL, CERM or LDL. Thus, the rates of hepatic metabolism of CERM-CE to free cholesterol, to bile acids and secretion are intermediate between those for HDL- and LDL-CE, supporting the therapeutic potential of SOF as a promoter of RCT.
Binding of the transition metal ion [(H20)(NH3)5Ru(II)]2+ to nucleosomal core and internucleosomal DNA

The goal of this study is to establish the nature of pentammineruthenium(III) binding to DNA in intact mouse liver nuclei. Also, we wish to determine whether the nucleosomal organization of mouse chromatin has a substantial effect on the relative Ru(III) binding levels of internucleosomal and nucleosomal core DNA. These questions are important because ammineruthenium compounds share chemical and biological properties with the cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) or cisplatin chemotherapeutic agent. Therefore, they represent a potential class of new chemotherapeutic agents. We find that in intact nuclei the predominant DNA binding site for pentammineruthenium(II), followed by air oxidation to pentammineruthenium(III), is N-7 guanine, as is the case with cisplatin. Also, the Ru(III) distribution between internucleosomal and nucleosomal core DNA was found to be nearly identical as probed with three non-specific deoxyribonucleases.
Adaptive Segmentation of Plant Disease Spot Based on Improved Ant Colony Algorithm and Markov Random Field

According to the characteristics of complex components of plant disease images and random alignment of disease spot,this paper introduced adaptive segmentation algorithm with improved ant colony algorithm and Gauss-Markov random field.By adopting self-adaptive pheromone update strategy for dynamic update of information flow differentially,this algorithm avoided the premature convergence and stagnation induced by local optimum which traditional ant colony algorithms often make.Meanwhile,for the characteristics of plant disease spot,segmentation model was created by utilizing the local correlated characteristic of Markov random field and linear stationary auto-regression model formed by Gauss distribution,and self-adaptive segmentation of plant disease spot was realized through optimizing the model with improved ant colony algorithm and maximum a posteriori probability estimation of Gauss-Markov random field.Simulation experiment showed that the improved algorithm had better robust and could realize the self-adaptive segmentation of plant disease spot.However,the optimal coupling method between ant colony algorithm and Markov and initialization of parameter values need to be further researced.
Application of Fractal Model to Quantitative Characterization of Reservoir Heterogeneity

The fractal dimension calculated from mercury injection curves is used for quantitative characterization of heterogeneity in micro-porosity structure of reservoir. A method of the grid refinement of case dimension-based log calibration is presented. The fractal dimension given from single sandbody logs is applied for quantitative characterization of macroscopic heterogeneity in inner- and inter-layer. These two fractal dimensions are combined to develop a reservoir fractal model by which the microscopic heterogeneity's quantitative characterization can be expanded into the macroscopic heterogeneity's quantitative characterization of single sandbody. An example of fluvial facies sandstone reservoir in a waterflood oilfield at stage of moderate-high water cuts is taken for this study, and perfect effectiveness for application is obtained.
Application of Data Mining to Predicting the Stability of Rock Slope

A method was proposed for assessing the stability of rock slope, of which the knowledge about the stability of rock slopes is extracted from data cases of rock slopes and the integrated intelligent system is built for assessment. The system can be used to predict and assess the stability of any rock slope with the information measured from the rock slope.
Isolated GH deficiency due to inactivating mutation of GHRH receptor

Pituitary GH secretion is controlled by hypothalamic GHRH via its own receptor. Recently, inactivating mutants of GHRH receptor were found in subjects with isolated GH deficiency. These subjects show less typical facial appearance than those with GH gene deletion or GH resistance. They respond well to GH treatment. We found a novel mutation of GHRH receptor in a Japanese boy with IGHD. The boy was with four base pair deletion in exon 12 of GHRH receptor that caused frame shift and premature stop codon resulted in a C-terminally truncated receptor formation. This novel mutation indicated the critical role of intracellular C-terminus of the GHRH receptor.
Branched Carbon Nanotube Junctions Predicted by Computational Nanotechnology and Fabricated through Nanowelding

Examples of progress in fabricating branched multi-terminal multi-wall and single-wall carbon nanotube junctions as predicted by nanotechnology simulations, using template growth and nanowelding techniques, respectively, have been briefly reviewed in this report. It is argued that similar general progress in computational nanotechnology-driven fabrication of applications in other nanomaterials such as nanotubes, fullerenes, nanowires, quantum dots, DNA molecules, and nanoparticle-based systems and devices are also feasible. This is because, at nanometer length scale, system sizes have shrunk sufficiently small such that it is feasible to simulate the structural, stability, and physical and chemical characteristics with very high accuracy predictive simulations.
Material Culture, the Museum and Primitive Art

Primitive art is a newcomer in the traditional art gallery and even in the ethnological museum it is now sometimes presented as art rather than just baskets, fish hooks and amulets. These changes have come gradually and have an interesting history. While it cannot be definitely claimed that anthropologists of this century introduced primitive art to the modern art world, it is probably fair to say that their knowledge of remote cultures, both in time and space, have brought to the attention of artists, achievements in this field that might otherwise have long remained undiscovered. Not only has the anthropologist new parts of the world to suggest but new media of art. The European has devoted his attention primarily to painting and sculpture and often overlooked other media in his own culture. In a primitive art collection there are pieces of pottery like the portrait jars of Peru, beadwork of the Plains Indians, feather trimmed basketry of the Pomo of California, ribbon applique from the modern Indians o...
Lower Confidence Bounds for System Reliability from Binary Failure Data Using Bootstrapping

Binary failure data are collected for each of the independent components in a coherent system. Bootstrapping is used to determine a (1 −α)100 % lower confidence bound on the system reliability. When a component with perfect test results is encountered, a beta prior distribution is used to avoid an overly optimistic lower bound.
Multimodal Learning Analytics and Education Data Mining: Using computational technologies to measure complex learning tasks

New high-frequency multimodal data collection technologies and machine learning analysis techniques could offer new insights into learning, especially when students have the opportunity to generate unique, personalized artifacts, such as computer programs, robots, and solutions engineering challenges. To date most of the work on learning analytics and educational data mining has been focused on online courses and cognitive tutors, both of which provide a high degree of structure to the tasks, and are restricted to interactions that occur in front of a computer screen. In this paper, we argue that multimodal learning analytics can offer new insights into students’ learning trajectories in more complex and open-ended learning environments. We present several examples of this work and its educational application.
HIV Latency-Reversing Agents Have Diverse Effects on Natural Killer Cell Function.

In an effort to clear persistent HIV infection, and achieve a durable therapy-free remission of HIV disease, extensive pre-clinical studies and early pilot clinical trials are underway to develop and test agents that can reverse latent HIV infection and present viral antigen to the immune system for clearance. It is therefore critical to understand the impact of latency reversing agents (LRAs) on the function of immune effectors needed to clear infected cells. We assessed the impact of LRAs on the function of natural killer (NK) cells, the main effector cells of the innate immune system. We studied the effects of three histone deacetylase inhibitors (SAHA or vorinostat, romidepsin and panobinostat) and two protein kinase C (PKC) agonists (prostratin and ingenol) on the antiviral activity, cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion, phenotype and viability of primary NK cells. We found that ex vivo exposure to vorinostat had minimal impact on all parameters assessed, while panobinostat caused a decrease in NK cell viability, antiviral activity and cytotoxicity. Prostratin caused NK cell activation and interestingly, improved antiviral activity. Overall, we found that LRAs can alter the function and fate of NK cells, and these effects must be carefully considered as strategies are developed to clear persistent HIV infection.
Concolic Unbounded-Thread Reachability via Loop Summaries

We present a method for accelerating explicit-state backward search algorithms for systems of arbitrarily many finite-state threads. Our method statically analyzes the program executed by the threads for the existence of simple loops. We show how such loops can be collapsed without approximation into Presburger arithmetic constraints that symbolically summarize the effect of executing the backward search algorithm along the loop in the multi-threaded program. As a result, the subsequent explicit-state search does not need to explore the summarized part of the state space. The combination of concrete and symbolic exploration gives our algorithm a concolic flavor. We demonstrate the power of this method for proving and refuting safety properties of unbounded-thread programs.
A Dipole Thermal Wave Source and Mirage Detection

The mirage technique (with a single modulated heating source) [1–3] has been successfully applied to study the thermal, optical and electronic properties of solid state materials. Its advantages of being nondestructive, noncontact and high sensitivity make it a powerful and versatile tool. In this paper, we propose a new technique which is the same mirage technique, but with a dipole source. It inherits the advantages of the traditional mirage technique but overcomes some of the shortcomings. The traditional mirage technique generally gathers data by positional scanning, which, in additional to being time-consuming, introduces noise associated with the mechanical movement and makes the analysis susceptible to the nonuniformity of the sample. The nonuniformity can be unevenness in optical properties, surface roughness, or simply grain boundaries. With a dipole source, it is possible to gather data by frequency sweeping. In doing so, the new technique is free from those shortcomings connected with positional scanning. Also, the use of a dipole heating source nearly doubles the signal magnitude with the same amount of unmodulated heating beam power. We use this technique to study the thermal properties of CVD diamonds, glass and silicon samples. The results show that this technique has capabilities of measuring thermal diffusivity with both good resolution and wide range.
High-speed whole-brain oximetry by golden-angle radial MRI

Purpose To determine whole-brain cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), an improved imaging approach, based on radial encoding, termed radial OxFlow (rOxFlow), was developed to simultaneously quantify draining vein venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) and total cerebral blood flow (tCBF). Methods To evaluate the efficiency and precision of the rOxFlow sequence, 10 subjects were studied during a paradigm of repeated breath-holds with both rOxFlow and Cartesian OxFlow (cOxFlow) sequences. CMRO2 was calculated at baseline from OxFlow-measured data assuming an arterial O2 saturation of 97%, and the SvO2 and tCBF breath-hold responses were quantified. Results Average neurometabolic-vascular parameters across the 10 subjects for cOxFlow and rOxFlow were, respectively: SvO2 (%) baseline: 64.6 ± 8.0 versus 64.2 ± 6.6; SvO2 peak: 70.5 ± 8.5 versus 72.6 ± 5.4; tCBF (mL/min/100 g) baseline: 39.2 ± 3.8 versus 40.6 ± 8.0; tCBF peak: 53.2 ± 5.1 versus 56.1 ± 11.7; CMRO2 (µmol O2/min/100 g) baseline: 111.5 ± 26.8 versus 120.1 ± 19.6. The above measures were not significantly different between sequences (P > 0.05). Conclusion There was good agreement between the two methods in terms of the physiological responses measured. Comparing the two, rOxFlow provided higher temporal resolution and greater flexibility for reconstruction while maintaining high SNR. Magn Reson Med 79:217–223, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
K-Ion Batteries Based on a P2-Type K0.6CoO2 Cathode

K-ion batteries are a potentially exciting and new energy storage technology that can combine high specific energy, cycle life, and good power capability, all while using abundant potassium resources. The discovery of novel cathodes is a critical step toward realizing K-ion batteries (KIBs). In this work, a layered P2-type K0.6CoO2 cathode is developed and highly reversible K ion intercalation is demonstrated. In situ X-ray diffraction combined with electrochemical titration reveals that P2-type K0.6CoO2 can store and release a considerable amount of K ions via a topotactic reaction. Despite the large amount of phase transitions as function of K content, the cathode operates highly reversibly and with good rate capability. The practical feasibility of KIBs is further demonstrated by constructing full cells with a graphite anode. This work highlights the potential of KIBs as viable alternatives for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries and provides new insights and directions for the development of next-generation energy storage systems.
Predictors of early renal function decline in adults with Type 1 diabetes: the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes and the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications studies.

AIM Diabetic kidney disease is one of the leading complications of Type 1 diabetes, but its prediction remains a challenge. We examined predictors of rapid decline in estimated GFR (eGFR) in two Type 1 diabetes cohorts: the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes (CACTI) and the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC). METHODS A select subset of participants (CACTI: n = 210 and EDC: n = 98) diagnosed before 17 years of age with Type 1 diabetes duration ≥ 7 years, and follow-up data on eGFR by CKD-EPI creatinine for up to 8 years were included in the analyses. Early renal function decline was defined as annual decline in eGFR ≥ 3 ml/min/1.73 m2 , and normal age-related decline as eGFR ≤ 1 ml/min/1.73 m2 . Parallel logistic regression models were constructed in the two cohorts. RESULTS Early renal function decline incidence was 36% in CACTI and 41% in EDC. In both cohorts, greater baseline eGFR (CACTI: OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.97-5.05; EDC: OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.17-3.15 per 10 ml/min/1.73 m2 ) and log albumin-to-creatinine (ACR) (CACTI: OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.80-5.83; EDC: OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.18-2.96 per 1 unit) predicted greater odds of early renal function decline in fully adjusted models. Conversely, ACE inhibition predicted lower odds of early renal function decline in women in CACTI, but similar relationships were not observed in women in EDC. CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of people with Type 1 diabetes in the EDC and CACTI cohorts experienced early renal function decline over time. ACE inhibition appeared to be protective only in women in CACTI where the prevalence of its use was twofold higher compared with the EDC.
E-013 Venous sinus stenting for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a systematic analysis

Introduction/Purpose Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by an elevated intracranial pressure without any identifiable causative factor such as an intracranial mass. Venous sinus stenosis has been increasingly known as a treatable cause of elevated intracranial pressure in patients with medically refractory IIH. We aimed to perform a systematic review and analysis of outcomes and complications in all patients undergoing dural venous sinus stenting (DVSS) for the management of medically refractory IIH. Materials and methods We searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases to identify prospective or retrospective cohorts or case-series of patients with IIH treated with DVSS between 2000 and 2017. Results A total of 418 patients were included in our analysis from 30 studies. Headache was present in 386 (92%) of patients and resolved or improved in 293 (76%) after DVSS. Tinnitus resolved in 95% (129/136) of patients after venous stenting. Papilledema and visual changes improved in 87% (284/327) and 85% (211/247) of patients following DVSS. Overall, 46 (12.2%) of patients required re-treatment with re-stenting or other surgical procedures. The rate of major neurological complications was less than 0.1%. Conclusions Our results add to the growing body of literature that proposes DVSS as a safe treatment option with high clinical success rate and low complications in patients with medically refractory IIH and evidence of venous stenosis. Disclosures H. Saber: None. P. Chamiraju: None. S. Narayanan: None.