cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immortal Joy: William Blake and the Cultural Politics of Empire

At that momentous historical turning point, towards the end of the eighteenth century, in which almost every attempt to represent otherness seemed to slip into the exoticizing political aesthetic that would enable and justify imperial conquest, it was a matter of some urgency to be able to think of the foreign without resorting to (or sliding into) the language and figures of exoticism. What I want to suggest in this essay is that Blake drew on and reformulated for the exigencies of his own time a heterogeneous underground mystical tradition that stressed the unity of European and Afro- Asiatic cultures, rather than the sharp differentiation between Europe and its others which would prove essential to modern imperialism. Moreover, far more than has been recognized so far, Blake’s antinomian affiliations provided an important basis for many of his philosophical, religious, political and aesthetic positions. For, as we shall see, Blake’s interest in certain mystical currents which had plunged deep underground long before his own time offered him a way to articulate a logic of cultural difference, heterogeneity and variety that refused the discourse of exoticism. Indeed, his simultaneously political and aesthetic stance on otherness must be seen to enable a carefully articulated position on the cultural politics of imperialism, as well as a discourse of freedom contesting the internal imperialism of the State. Or, rather, Blake’s elaboration of a form of religious and political freedom that would defy what he called ‘State Religion’ was also an elaboration of a form of political and cultural freedom from the discourse and practice of imperialism.
Clinical Application of Morcellation: Provider Perceptions Survey (The CAMPPS Study).

Abstract Objective: The goal of this research was to explore physicians' perceptions of uterine morcellation and minimally invasive hysterectomy in the setting of new hospital regulations, comparing gynecologists and internal medicine providers, geographic locations, and levels of training. Design: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: A 17-question, anonymous, electronic survey was administered to resident, fellow, and attending gynecologists, and internal medicine physicians at three institutions. Results: Two hundred and twenty-two gynecologists responded for a response rate of 46%. Most gynecologists believe morcellation is safe and acceptable, and the benefits of minimally invasive surgery outweigh the potential risk of cancer dissemination as a result of morcellation. The majority reported that the incidence of occult leiomyosarcoma is rarer than 1 in 350. Physicians from Boston, MA, responded less favorably toward morcellation than providers in Pittsburgh, PA, and Cha...
Bio-Instructive Scaffolds for Cartilage Regeneration

Abstract Osteoarthritis is a major debilitating disease that is affecting thousands of Americans worldwide. A lack of blood supply makes regenerating and repairing cartilage naturally very difficult. Current treatment methods such as marrow stimulation, autograft, and allografts can be very costly, pose several challenges, and differ in their degrees of success. Because cartilage contains a unique structure, it is difficult to mimic by synthetic devices. Recent studies utilizing various biodegradable scaffolds seeded with stem cells, growth factors, and serums have shown promising results. This chapter will address the type of stem cells that have proven useful in cartilage differentiation as well as several polymers and composites used to make both synthetic and natural scaffolds. Although chondrocytes have the ability to regrow articular cartilage, dedifferentiation of these cells has made using bone marrow stems cells and adipose-derived stem cells more useful when induced by various growth factors. Growth factors such as transforming growth factor β, insulin growth factor-I, and bone morphogenic proteins have been seen to increase collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM) production and expression thus promoting chondrogenesis. Scaffolds derived from natural polymers such as alginate, fibrin, chitosan, and silk have shown to have increased biocompatibility and cell adherence, but have a decrease in mechanical properties. Scaffolds fabricated from synthetic polymers on the other hand have increased mechanical properties but may have trouble with cell attachment and even biocompatibility within in the human body. Nanostructured scaffolds have shown promise in improving the cell attachment and chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells due to their structural similarity to the ECM. Oftentimes efforts are also focused on the use of electrical and mechanical stimulations in conjunction with scaffolds and stem cells to promote cartilage regeneration. In spite of significant amount of research and novel methodologies developed in the laboratory setting this has not yet been translated into clinics.
Rethinking “transnational migration and the re-definition of the state” or what to do about (semi-) permanent impermanence

We are delighted that our article has been chosen for this special anniversary issue. We thank Alice Bloch for her careful reading and insightful response to our ideas. We wrote this article more t...
Ligand-Mediated Receptor Assembly as an End Point for High-Throughput Chemical Toxicity Screening

The high throughput screening of chemicals for interaction with intracellular targets is gaining prominence in the toxicity evaluation of environmental chemicals. We describe ligand-mediated receptor assembly as an early event in receptor signaling and its application to the screening of chemicals for interaction with targeted receptors. We utilized bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) to detect and quantify assembly of the methyl farnesoate receptor (MfR) in response to various high-production volume and other chemicals. The hormone methyl farnesoate binds to the MfR to regulate various aspects of reproduction and development in crustaceans. The MfR protein subunits Met and SRC, cloned from Daphnia pulex, were fused to the fluorophore, mAmetrine and the photon generator, Rluc2, respectively. Ligand-mediated receptor assembly was measured by photon transfer from the photon donor to the fluorophore resulting in fluorescence emission. Overall, the BRET assay had comparable or greater sensitivity...
Recycling welding rod residuals based on development of a top-down nanomanufacturing system employing indexing equal channel angular pressing

Fusion welding processes such as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) are used extensively and economically in fabrication of critical engineering structures and components across varied industries and applications throughout the world. By-product inherent with these welding processes consists of varied discrete lengths of unused welding rod remaining at the end of the weld thermal cycle. These residuals are typically considered spent or scrap material with minimal engineering value. This paper, however, presents an experimental investigation to further process such materials into commodities and components of enhanced economic and engineering value. A novel prototype system identified as indexing equal channel angular pressing (IX-ECAP) was developed using modifications to traditional equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) to transform welding residuals into nanostructured or ultra-fine grained materials. Such materials with significantly enhanced performance characteristics can then be used as feed stock for potential uses as composite matrix reinforcements, micro-machine elements, and micro-fasteners. Micro-hardness conversions from processed material allowed theoretical determination of grain sizes employing Hall-Petch relationships. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using a five-factor two-level fractional factorial split plot design (FFSP) studied significance of number of passes, pressing speed, temperature, back pressure, and vibration on material properties. IX-ECAP provided significant improvements in mechanical properties and offered a viable solution whereby processing of discrete variable length aluminum 4043 welding rod residuals proved very successful.
Metallic Ore Deposits Associated With Mafic to Ultramafic Igneous Rocks

Abstract Ore deposits that are associated with mafic to ultramafic igneous rocks include Ni-Cu-PGE deposits, chromite deposits, Fe-Ti-V deposits (magnetite/titanomagnetite), and Fe-Ti±P (ilmenite, titanomagnetite±apatite) deposits. Ni-Cu-PGE deposits may be sulfide-rich, with PGEs held as sulfides, alloys, arsenides, telluirdes, bismuthinides, or selenides. Deposits are normally relatively small and occur as part of conduit systems, including extrusive rocks in the case of komatiites. The world’s largest PGE deposits occur in large layered intrusions (e.g., Bushveld Complex, Great Dyke Stillwater Complex) where sulfide volume percentage is low, generally less than five. Chromite deposits occur as stratiform layers in large intrusions, and as irregular podiform deposits in ophiolite sequences. V-bearing magnetite may occur as massive layers in large layered intrusions like the Bushveld Complex, or may be disseminated in oxide-rich gabbros in layered intrusions of various sizes. Titanomagnetite and ilmenite occur in gabbroic rocks in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province as massive layers or as disseminations. Fe-Ti±P deposits often occur in gabbroic rocks that are associated with Proterozoic anorthosite suites and in layered intrusions. Ti-rich deposits also occur with ultramafic rocks in the Duluth Complex and within Ural-Alaskan intrusions. Genetic models for the origin of the various deposits must account for the concentration of metals via either chemical or physical processes. Immiscible sulfide liquids strongly sequester Ni, Cu, and PGEs due to the very chalcophile nature of these elements. Due to their density, gravitational settling may be important as a concentration mechanism, as well as accumulation in conduits where restrictions may cause decreases in magma velocity. For chromite and Fe-Ti-V-P deposits, processes such as fractional crystallization accompanied by gravitational crystal accumulation and removal of buoyant residual material are important concentration mechanisms. In some cases the separation of immiscible Si-rich and Fe-rich melts may be an important process, with the Fe-rich melts giving rise to Fe-Ti-P ores. The tectonic settings of the deposits are varied, ranging from intraplate settings where hydrous mantle plumes may have been important, to divergent zones of intracontinental rifting, to convergent zones where asthenospheric mantle-derived melts produced layered bodies and conduit-related intrusions where interaction with sulfide-bearing country rocks has occurred.
Computational de novo discovery of distinguishing genes for biological processes and cell types in complex tissues

Bulk tissue samples examined by gene expression studies are usually heterogeneous. The data gained from these samples display the confounding patterns of mixtures consisting of multiple cell types or similar cell types in various functional states, which hinders the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying complex biological phenomena. A realistic approach to compensate for the limitations of experimentally separating homogenous cell populations from mixed tissues is to computationally identify cell-type specific patterns from bulk, heterogeneous measurements. We designed the CellDistinguisher algorithm to analyze the gene expression data of mixed samples, identifying genes that best distinguish biological processes and cell types. Coupled with a deconvolution algorithm that takes cell type specific gene lists as input, we show that CellDistinguisher performs as well as partial deconvolution algorithms in predicting cell type composition without the need for prior knowledge of cell type signatures. This approach is also better in predicting cell type signatures than the one-step traditional complete deconvolution methods. To illustrate its wide applicability, the algorithm was tested on multiple publicly available data sets. In each case, CellDistinguisher identified genes reflecting biological processes typical for the tissues and development stages of interest and estimated the sample compositions accurately.
Gases and their Precipitation Scavenging in the Marine Atmosphere

The marine atmosphere contains numerous trace gaseous species that can potentially interact with water droplets in clouds or during precipitation events. These gases, when dissolved in water droplets, modify the chemistry of the droplet phase and, then during precipitation, can be transferred to the oceans. This process is in addition to the direct transfer of the trace gases from the air to the ocean, described in this volume by Broecker and Liss.
History of pediatric surgery

For almost two millennia, the sick child received little or no care from physicians. In contrast, the barber-surgeons did treat children of all ages, sometimes leaving behind detailed descriptions of these cases. A gradual awareness of childhood as a separate developmental phase brought to light the characteristic features of childhood diseases, resulting in the genesis of paediatrics. The advent of anaesthesia then led to the development of paediatric surgery as we know it today.
Structured Sparse Approximation of a Linear Undirected Consensus Network

We consider the problem of structured sparse approximation of a linear undirected consensus network. We formulate an optimization scheme that minimizes the performance deviation from that of a dense linear undirected consensus network, while promoting the sparsity of the sparse approximation assuming a pre-given arbitrary sparsity structure. It is shown that the resulting non-convex optimization problem can equivalently be reformulated as a rank-constrained problem. Next, we utilize the bi-linear rank penalty technique to find a sub-optimal structured sparse approximation which satisfies the rank constraint with arbitrary tolerance. Finally, a sub-optimal structured sparse approximation of a randomly generated network is employed to visualize the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Somatic alterations in the PTEN-PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in a cohort of 379 ovarian cancer patients.

5572Background: Somatic alterations in genes in the PTEN-PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway are common in ovarian cancer. The frequency of pathway alterations varies among histologic subtypes. The PI3K/AKT path...
Is Aggregate Market Power Increasing? Production Trends Using Financial Statements

Recent work in macroeconomics argues that firm market power dramatically increased since the 1980s. Using financial statement data, I find that public firm markups increased only modestly over this time period, and are within historical variation. These estimates improve on earlier work by accounting for marketing and management expenses, which I document are a rising share of costs in firm production. Markups are increasing in firm size and vary by sector. Reasonable calibrations accounting for the representativeness of public firms show a flat or even decreasing aggregate markup.
Single-Institution Experience in 3D MRI-Based Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer for 239 Women: Can Dose Overcome Poor Response?

Purpose Recent Groupe Europeen de Curietherapie–European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology guidelines recommend that the dose to 90% (D90) of the high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) in cervical cancer be at least 85 Gy, with higher doses for poor response to radiation therapy. Methods and Materials A retrospective review of brachytherapy delivered at a single institution was evaluated for dosimetry and outcomes. Significance of tumor parameters on local control was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier and univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis. Correlations were determined with a linear regression model. Results A total of 239 women underwent high-dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer between 2007 and 2018 with evaluable dosimetry. Median follow-up was 28.6 months. The median prescribed dose was 27.5 Gy in 5 fractions, with a median HRCTV D90 of 83.9 Gy (range, 81.9-85.7 Gy), HRCTV volume of 31 cm3 (range, 14.9-121.9 cm3), and treatment time of 51 days (range, 36-83 days). Local control for the entire cohort at 5 years was 90.8%. Local control was worse with adenocarcinomas, HRCTV >40 cm3 at brachytherapy, requirement for a higher brachytherapy dose, and treatment >51 days. On multivariable analysis, local control was worse with adenocarcinoma (hazard ratio, 4.141; 95% confidence interval, 1.498-11.444; P = .006) and HRCTV >40 cm3 (hazard ratio, 3.640; 95% confidence interval, 1.316-10.069; P = .013). HRCTV EQD2 D90 > 85 Gy did not statistically improve outcomes for any subset. The 2-year progression-free survival for HRCTV >40 cm3 was 66.2% versus 84.1% if ≤40 cm3 (P 40 cm3 (P Conclusion Local control was excellent with magnetic resonance imaging–based planning in the entire cohort of patients. A poor response to external beam radiation (larger HRCTV) and adenocarcinoma histology predicted for worse local control despite association with higher brachytherapy prescription. Women with these risk factors face higher rates of extrapelvic progression and poorer overall survival.
Convergent Inputs from the Hippocampus and Thalamus to the Nucleus Accumbens Regulate Dopamine Neuron Activity

Aberrant hippocampal activity is observed in individuals with schizophrenia and is thought to underlie the augmented dopamine system function associated with psychosis. The pathway by which the ventral hippocampus (vHipp) regulates dopamine neuron activity has been demonstrated previously and involves a glutamatergic projection to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Recent postmortem studies have confirmed glutamatergic abnormalities in the NAc of individuals with schizophrenia. Specifically, an increase in vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGlut2) expression was reported. Although projections from the hippocampus do express vGlut2, inputs from the thalamus are more likely to account for this alteration; however, the role of thalamic inputs to the NAc in the regulation of dopamine neuron activity has not been elucidated. Here, using male Sprague Dawley rats, we demonstrate that a subset of NAc medium spiny neurons receive convergent inputs from the vHipp and paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), with both regions working synergistically to regulate dopamine neuron activity. Activation of either the vHipp or PVT increases the number of spontaneously active dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area. Moreover, this regulation requires simultaneous activity in both regions because PVT inactivation can reverse vHipp-induced increases in dopamine neuron population activity and vHipp inactivation can reverse PVT-induced increases. This is relevant to schizophrenia because inactivation of either the vHipp or PVT is sufficient to reverse aberrant dopamine system function in two distinct rodent models. These data suggest that thalamic abnormalities may contribute to the aberrant dopamine system function observed in schizophrenia and that the PVT represents a novel site of intervention for psychosis.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Current treatments for schizophrenia are far from adequate and a more complete understanding of the pathophysiology underlying this disease is warranted if we are to discover novel therapeutic targets. We have previously demonstrated that the aberrant dopamine system function observed in individuals with schizophrenia and rodent models is driven by increases in hippocampal activity. We now demonstrate that thalamic (paraventricular nucleus, PVT) and ventral hippocampal afferents converge in the nucleus accumbens to regulate dopamine system function. Such information provides a potential site for therapeutic intervention for schizophrenia. Indeed, inactivation of the PVT can effectively reverse aberrant dopamine system function in two distinct rodent models displaying circuit level alterations and corresponding behavioral deficits relevant to schizophrenia.
Guided internet CBT versus "gold standard" depression treatments: An individual patient analysis.

Objective Guided, computerized cognitive behavioral therapy delivered over the internet (iCBT) is a promising treatment for depression. However, comparisons to "gold standard" treatments and comparators, such as structured psychotherapy, medications, or pill placebo are rare. We compare the results of an 8-week trial of guided iCBT to outcomes from two trials of depression treatment, Penn-Vandy and U. Washington, using individual patient data. Method We adjusted for sample differences by restricting the iCBT sample to randomised controlled trial (RCT) inclusion criteria and using propensity scores. Three separate samples were included in analyses: iCBT trial (N = 89), Penn-Vandy (N = 240), and U. Washington (N = 241). Continuous outcomes were analyzed with linear-mixed models and noninferiority analyses were conducted for iCBT versus the psychotherapy conditions. The primary outcomes were attrition, remission, and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Results Dropout was greater in iCBT than in CT, medications, placebo (Penn-Vandy), and CT and BA (U. Washington), but the rates of remission were similar. In continuous analyses, iCBT was superior to placebo in both RCTs and most analyses indicated no difference between iCBT and the active treatments. Conclusions Guided iCBT appears not inferior to "gold standard" treatments for depression and is superior to placebo. Weaknesses include a lack of randomization, unblinded assessments, and a shorter "frame of treatment" in the iCBT sample.
Career and Skills Recommendations using Data Mining Technique: Matching Right People for Right Profession, in Pakistani Context

There are a number of recommendation systems available on the internet for the help of jobseekers. These systems only generate job recommendations for people on the basis of input entered by user. The problem observed in Pakistani people is they are not clear in which field they should start or switch working. Before searching and applying for a job, one should be clear about his/her profession and important skills regarding selected profession. Based on above issues, there is a need to design such a system that can overcome the problem of profession selection and skills suggestions so that it can be easy for a jobseeker to apply for a specific job. In this research, the problem which is discussed above is resolved by proposing a model by using Association Rules Mining, a data mining technique. In this model, professions are recommended to job seekers by matching the profile of applicant or job seeker with those persons who have same profile like educational background, professional skills and the type of jobs which they are doing. The data collected for this research itself is a major contribution as we collected it from different sources. We will make this data publically available for others so that they can use for further research.
Differences in patient characteristics and care practices between two trials of therapeutic hypothermia

The Induced Hypothermia (IH) and Optimizing Cooling (OC) trials for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) had similar inclusion criteria. The rate of death/moderate–severe disability differed for the subgroups treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) at 33.5 °C for 72 h (44% vs. 29%, unadjusted p = 0.03). We aimed to evaluate differences in patient characteristics and care practices between the trials. We compared pre/post-randomization characteristics and care practices between IH and OC. There were 208 patients in the IH trial, 102 cooled, and 364 in the OC trial, 95 cooled to 33.5 °C for 72 h. In OC, neonates were less ill, fewer had severe HIE, and the majority were cooled prior to randomization. Differences between IH and OC were observed in the adjusted difference in the lowest PCO2 (+3.08 mmHg, p = 0.005) and highest PO2 (−82.7 mmHg, p < 0.001). In OC, compared to IH, the adjusted relative risk (RR) of exposure to anticonvulsant prior to randomization was decreased (RR 0.58, (0.40–0.85), p = 0.005) and there was increased risk of exposure during cooling to sedatives/analgesia (RR 1.86 (1.21–2.86), p = 0.005). Despite similar inclusion criteria, there were differences in patient characteristics and care practices between trials. Change in care practices over time should be considered when planning future neuroprotective trials.
The Impact of Early Exposure to Urology: Evaluation of an Introductory Preclinical Course

AbstractIntroduction:Early exposure in medical school can increase student interest in urology. The majority of medical students graduate without completing a clinical rotation in this field. The p...
Activation of the erythropoietin receptor by the Friend spleen focus-forming virus gp55 glycoprotein induces constitutive protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

The erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R) can be activated to signal cell growth by binding either EPO or gp55, the Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) glycoprotein. EPO binding induces tyrosine kinase activity and rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular substrates. To test for gp55-induced tyrosine kinase activity, we performed immunoblots on two murine cell lines that stably express EPO-R and gp55. Stimulation of the parental cell line, Ba/F3, with murine interleukin-3 (IL-3) resulted in rapid, dose-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of a 97-Kd substrate. Stimulation with IL-3 or EPO of the Ba/F3 cells expressing the recombinant EPO-R (Ba/F3-EPO-R) resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of the same p97 substrate. These latter cells, when transformed to growth factor-independence by the Friend gp55 glycoprotein, exhibited constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of the 97-Kd substrate. Other growth factor-independent Ba/F3 subclones, transformed with either the oncoprotein, v-abl, or with a constitutively activated EPO-R, also had constitutive phosphorylation of a 97-Kd substrate. In CTLL-2-EPO-R cells, a T-lymphocyte line stably transfected with the EPO-R, the 97-Kd substrate was tyrosine- phosphorylated in response to IL-2 or EPO. The 97-Kd protein was constitutively phosphorylated in CTLL-2-EPO-R-gp55 cells. In conclusion, a 97-Kd protein found in two murine cell lines is tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to multiple growth factors and viral oncoproteins, and appears to be a central phosphoprotein in signal transduction.
Reclaiming Public Spaces in the Informal Economy: Migrant Mothers who Defy Gender Traditions in Cochabamba, Bolivia

In the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia, mothers from the campo have become the engine of the Bolivian economy and leaders in their communities. The issue: they work in the informal sector, which is disapproved by the government and general population. Families from the countryside have lost their homes and traditional means of living as a product of policies in favor of foreign competition. Mothers have become the leaders of their homes and found jobs in the city that have further burdened their role responsibilities. Since there are few safe work opportunities that support indigenous migrant mothers’ maternal identities, they create their own jobs in spaces traditionally dominated by machista values. Despite intersecting obstacles of gender, class and race, mothers are resilient and capable of redefining spaces and reframing narratives of their motherhood. Drawing on ethnographic data, this article depicts how migrant mothers achieve empowerment, survival and control of their identities thanks to the agency they have found in traditional employment, entrepreneurship and cooperative entrepreneurship within the informal sector, as well as support from non - governmental organizations.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND OUTCOMES OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN UNSELECTED CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been associated with adverse outcomes among cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) patients, yet the epidemiology of AKI in CICU patients has not been well-defined. We sought to describe the prevalence and outcomes of AKI in a contemporary cohort of CICU patients using the
Nanocomposite hydrogels for tissue engineering applications

Abstract Tissue engineering is an emerging research area that serves as a tool for the fabrication of biologically functional constructs that can be used in drug discovery, disease modeling, and the treatment of diseased or damaged organs. From a materials perspective, scaffolds have become an important part of tissue engineering activities and are usually used to form an environment supporting cellular growth, differentiation, and maturation. Of all the possible scaffolding biomaterials, hydrogels have emerged as a promising candidate for their ability to mimic extracellular matrix of soft tissues. The majority of hydrogels, however, do not provide the physicochemical and biological characteristics and properties required for optimal cell growth and tissue function. In this chapter, we discuss the challenges associated with various types of hydrogels and will highlight the benefits of nanocomposites made of various nanoparticles and hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. In addition, emerging technologies and the opportunities for engineering more effective hydrogel-based scaffolds are briefly discussed.
Chapter 17 – Quantification of Spike Train Variability

Many sensory neurons are spontaneously active when recorded in vivo or in vitro, that is, they generate action potentials at random intervals in time. For sensory neurons, spontaneous activity is usually defined as that activity recorded in the absence of any experimental sensory stimulation. Spontaneous activity is in part due to the random release of neurotransmitter at synapses, but other mechanisms presumably also contribute. In sensory receptor cells, the random activation of the transduction machinery such as isomerization of light-sensitive pigments in photoreceptors will cause the activation of downstream neurons. Similarly, ion channels in the membrane of nerve cells spontaneously open and close and thus probably also contribute to fluctuations in membrane potential that could sometimes elicit spontaneous action potentials. In this chapter, we first introduce the methods used to describe spike train variability of nerve cells and present examples of spontaneous activity patterns encountered in neurons. As we will see, these methods also help describe the variability of neuronal spike trains in responses to external stimuli.
Lithofacies and Fauna of the Loyalhanna Limestone (Chesterian, Upper Mississippian) and Their Implications for its Origin in the Appalachian Basin

The Loyalhanna Limestone is one of the most recognizable rock units in the Appalachian Basin. Differential weathering of its large-scale cross-bedding and massive character make this unit a widely used dimension and quarry stone. Diverging thoughts on the origin of the iconic cross-bedding have led to a long-standing debate over whether the genesis of the Loyalhanna is eolian or marine. Diagnostic bedding characters exhibited by the Loyalhanna are equivocal with most features possible in environments of both subaerial or subaqueous dune formation. Other diagnostic subaerial textures such as exposure surfaces, translatent ripple laminates, tracks, and trails are unknown in the unit. However, the Loyalhanna does contain a number of features that can be attributed to subaqueous deposition. For example, endolithic algal borings and coatings are ubiquitous. The Loyalhanna Limestone also displays a north-to-south change in lithofacies characteristics. Along its northern and eastern boundaries, the typically massive Loyalhanna is interbedded with rippled sandstone and red to variegated shale. Near its southern geographic limits, the Loyalhanna is interbedded with nodular, argillaceous, fossiliferous limestone intervals. Between these two interbedded lithofacies, the unit consists of the typical massive, cross-bedded, sandy limestone. Petrographically, the Loyalhanna contains a common microfauna of endothyrid foraminifers, and fragmented brachiopods, bryozoans, and echinoderms. A macrofauna was noted at eight locations. This fauna consists of articulated brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves, and trilobites. At other locations, comminuted megafauna assemblages are widespread. These fragmental faunas are known even in north-central and northeastern Pennsylvania. The presence of marine micro- and megafossils from throughout the Loyalhanna depositional basin and the equivocal nature of the eolian features indicate that this unit is largely if not completely marine in origin.
Somatosensory Impairments, Falls History and Fear of Falling in Glaucoma - A Survey Study Approach:

The primary aim was to determine if somatosensory impairments alter the association between falls history and glaucoma severity. A secondary aim was to identify the activities of daily living that ...
Nonstationary Stochastic Multiarmed Bandits: UCB Policies and Minimax Regret.

We study the nonstationary stochastic Multi-Armed Bandit (MAB) problem in which the distribution of rewards associated with each arm are assumed to be time-varying and the total variation in the expected rewards is subject to a variation budget. The regret of a policy is defined by the difference in the expected cumulative rewards obtained using the policy and using an oracle that selects the arm with the maximum mean reward at each time. We characterize the performance of the proposed policies in terms of the worst-case regret, which is the supremum of the regret over the set of reward distribution sequences satisfying the variation budget. We extend Upper-Confidence Bound (UCB)-based policies with three different approaches, namely, periodic resetting, sliding observation window and discount factor and show that they are order-optimal with respect to the minimax regret, i.e., the minimum worst-case regret achieved by any policy. We also relax the sub-Gaussian assumption on reward distributions and develop robust versions the proposed polices that can handle heavy-tailed reward distributions and maintain their performance guarantees.
The Analysis of Dense Electron Beams

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the historical survey, equations describing the electron flow, macroscopic properties, self-consistent flows, and nonanalytic methods of dense electron beams. The entire literature on dense electron beams presupposes the existence of smooth electron trajectories and that it is thus, dependent on the assumption that binary encounters between electrons leading to a substantial deflection are negligibly few in number. The approach of calculating simultaneously a larger number of electron trajectories is characteristic of the computer technique of analyzing dense beams. Electron beams are often classified according to the conditions existing at the cathode. The limitation in attainable current density as a result of thermal velocities and the mechanism which causes features in the beam to become gradually washed out are also discussed. Analog methods are rapidly being made obsolete by digital computer techniques, and the emphasis is, therefore, on numerical methods.
Metabolic Interlock THE INFLUENCE OF HISTIDINE ON TRYPTOPHAN BIOSYNTHESIS IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS

Abstract A regulatory relationship in Bacillus subtilis between histidine and the synthesis of tryptophan exemplifies "metabolic interlock," a phenomenon of regulatory interactions exerted between biochemical pathways. The enzymatic basis for the histidine-tryptophan relationship was examined. Histidine activates anthranilate synthetase by increasing the apparent value of Vmax. Hence, histidine antagonizes growth inhibition caused by 5-methyltryptophan, a false feedback inhibitor of anthranilate synthetase, by increasing the velocity of the reaction. Mutant strain F-2, which synthesizes the tryptophan enzymes constitutively, excretes 4 times more tryptophan in minimal medium containing histidine than in unsupplemented minimal medium. This reflects the stimulation of anthranilate synthetase by histidine. In contrast to the situation in F-2, growth of wild type in the presence of histidine does not affect tryptophan excretion. Histidine supplementation indirectly leads to repression of the specific activity of at least one tryptophan enzyme, anthranilate synthetase, presumably as a consequence of the stimulation of tryptophan production. A histidine-excreting mutant, NP 187, exhibits the repressed level of anthranilate synthetase that is characteristic of wild type grown in the presence of histidine. This compensatory mechanism in which histidine plays a dual role, activating anthranilate synthetase activity but also indirectly repressing its biosynthesis, does not operate in F-2. The tryptophan enzymes of F-2 are not repressible and therefore lack the compensatory adjusting mechanism of wild type. Another mutant strain, NP 100, which is derepressed in the synthesis of tryptophan enzymes and which accumulates chorismate because of a block in chorismate mutase, excretes significantly more tryptophan than does F-2. This results from an increased level of chorismate available to anthranilate synthetase. Tryptophan excretion is not further elevated in this strain by histidine. To explain this, we propose that anthranilate-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase (PR transferase), not anthranilate synthetase, is the rate-limiting reaction in the tryptophan pathway in B. subtilis. Although tryptophan and histidine do not allosterically influence PR transferase, both amino acids could effectively regulate PR transferase activity by controlling the availability of one of its substrates, anthranilate.
Heat waves and ionization fronts

In the literature regarding the penetration of energy into matter in experiments at high energy density, one often encounters discussions of “Marshak waves”, or of “ionization fronts” or sometimes of “heat waves” or “heat fronts”. Looking a bit deeper, one finds that these terms are used rather inconsistently. In addition, many of the papers refer to connections with similar phenomena in astrophysics, but there is rarely any discussion of how the experiment actually connects with real astrophysical cases.
Integrated assessment models of climate change: An incomplete overview

Integrated assessment is a trendy phrase that has recently entered the vocabulary of folks in Washington, DC and elsewhere. The novelty of the term in policy analysis and policy making circles belies the longevity of this approach in the sciences and past attempts at their application to policy issues. This paper is an attempt at providing an overview of integrated assessment with a special focus on policy motivated integrated assessments of climate change. The first section provides an introduction to integrated assessments in general, followed by a discussion of the bounds to the climate change issue. The next section is devoted to a taxonomy of the policy motivated models. Then the integrated assessment effort at Carnegie Mellon is described briefly. A perspective on the challenges ahead in successful representation of natural and social dynamics in integrated assessments of global climate change is presented in the final section.
As Borders Bend: Transnational Spaces on the Pacific Rim – By Xiangming Chen

The article reviews the book "As Borders Bend: Transnational Spaces on the Pacific Rim," by Xiangming Chen.
DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF BIOINDICATORS FOR MONITORING THE CONDITION OF ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEMS

As part of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Programin 1991, the field efficacy of six ’research‘ indicators wasexamined in the estuarine systems of the Gulf of Mexico. Theutility of these indicators was tested by examining thoseresponses at both ends of multiple environmental gradients;namely, under minimally impacted conditions (reference) andheavily impacted conditions (by hypoxia, industrialdischarges, agricultural runoff). In addition, the geographiceffects of location (east and west of the Mississippi River)were examined. Numbers and frequencies of pathologies,abundance of splenic macrophage aggregates, and vertebralabnormalities showed response patterns that suggest widerfield testing along full gradients rather than simply theextremes of the gradient are warranted. Selected bloodproteins showed some promise but logistical constraints inestuarine environments may limit its utility. Concentrationsof selected organic compounds in bile showed no differences inthis study between references and contaminated sites.Molecular bioindicators are discussed with regard to theirpotential utility as indicators of ecosystem conditions. Ofthese potential indicators, the use of vitellogenin assays asa measure of reproductive impairment and frequency of shelldisease in selected crustaceans as an indicator ofimmunological aberrations deserve further examination.
Preconditioning for multipole-accelerated 3-D inductance extraction

Frequency-dependent inductances and resistances of complicated 3-D packages can be extremely efficiently computed using a volume-element formulation combined with a multipole-accelerated iterative matrix solution method, provided the iterative method converges rapidly. Two approaches to preconditioning the iterative method are presented, and results are given which show that both methods substantially accelerate iterative method convergence when applied to the inductance extraction problem. >
Ultraviolet-sensitive targets in the enzyme-synthesizing apparatus of Escherichia coli.

Inhibition by ultraviolet light of β-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase synthesis was investigated in both ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive and UV-resistant (wild-type) Escherichia coli, with the objective of determining the sensitivity of various targets. Kinetics of enzyme formation by unmated bacteria and in mating systems, in which the donor provided the specific genetic material and the recipient the cytoplasm, permit the following conclusions regarding the sensitivity of various targets. Catabolite repression resulting from UV damage causes most of the inhibition of β-galactosidase formation. When it is largely eliminated by a step-down in nutrition, the principal target in UV-sensitive bacteria appears to be the structural gene (lacZ+), but damage to the cytoplasm is also important. Transitory inhibition by inactivation of messenger ribonucleic acid is also observed. In wild-type bacteria, repair reduces the importance of lesions in deoxyribonucleic acid sufficiently that cytoplasmic damage appears to be at least as important. Repair occurs within 10 min, as shown by recovery of enzyme-synthesizing ability. Caffeine and proflavine prevent recovery. Newly mated bacteria respond to irradiation very differently than do unmated bacteria. The β-galactosidase or alkaline phosphatase structural gene (lacZ+ or phoP+) is much more inhibited after it is transferred than it is in unmated bacteria. This sensitivity seems to depend on a sensitive state of the injected material, rather than on a different physiological condition of the entire zygote. Irradiation of recipient uvr+ bacteria much more strongly inhibited expression of injected genes than if the F− was uvrs. Studies on mating systems are not very useful for learning about the function of unmated bacteria.
Nonergodic solute transport in physically and chemically heterogeneous porous media

[1] The time-dependent ensemble average of the first-order longitudinal second spatial moment, 〈S11′R〉, of nonergodic plumes of a sorbing solute in linear equilibrium and the effective longitudinal dispersivity, γ11′R, were evaluated for the line sources of different lengths normal or parallel to the uniform mean velocity, μ, in two- and three-dimensional physically and chemically heterogeneous and statistically isotropic media. Physical and chemical heterogeneity is described with a random hydraulic conductivity field K(x) and a random retardation factor field R(x), respectively. The retardation factor is defined as 1 + Kd(x), where Kd(x) is the distribution coefficient. The fields K(x) and Kd(x) are assumed to be lognormally distributed and correlated. Three correlation models between Y = log K and W = log Kd are considered: the perfectly positive correlation (model A), the perfectly negative correlation (model B), and no correlation (model C). The values of Z11′R, which is defined as 〈 S11′R〉 minus its initial value, and γ11′ R for all three correlation models increase as the length of a line source l increases. As l→ ∞, Z11′R or γ11′R approach their respective ergodic limits X11′R or α11′R. The asymptotic longitudinal dispersion due to the physical and chemical heterogeneity is Fickian for a line source normal to μ and non-Fickian for a line source parallel to μ. The positive correlation between Y and W reduces Z11′R and γ11′R, the negative correlation enhances Z11′R and γ11′R, and no correlation slightly enhances Z11′R and γ11′R, in comparison with nonreactive Z11′ and γ11′. The larger the value of the mean retardation factor, the large its effect on Z11′R and γ11′R. The three-dimensional Z11′R and γ11′R are slightly larger than their respective two-dimensional counterparts.
Acquired and Native Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to Cephalexin and Other β-Lactam Antibiotics

Staphylococcus aureus cells that are initially susceptible to cephalexin can be induced to acquire intrinsic resistance to cephalexin in comparatively few steps. Concomitantly, resistance to cephalothin, oxacillin, and dicloxacillin increases. By population analysis, there is heteroresistance to cephalexin in some strains of S. aureus. Heterogeneity in colonial morphology on prolonged incubation in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of cephalexin may constitute an expression of such heteroresistance.
Government and the labour market: a transatlantic comparison

This paper documents the large differences in hours of work between the US and many European countries and how these differences have changed over time. It then discusses different explanations for these differences and presents evidence to suggest that it is differences in the scale of government activity, financed by taxes that distort the incentive to work, that are the prime factor behind the differences.
Raman and infrared spectroscopy of the oxo-bridged iron(III) complex, [Cl3Fe_O_FeCl3]−2 as a spectroscopic model for the oxo bridge in hemerythrin and ribonucleotide reductase

Abstract Vibrational spectroscopic data were collected on the salt [C 5 H 6 N] 2 [Cl 3 FeOFeCl 3 ] · C 5 H 5 N, which has previously been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The modes associated with the oxo bridge were identified by experiments on the 18 O-containing species. Spectra for the μ- 16 O complex contain Raman bands at 870, 458, and 203 cm −1 that shift to 826, 440, and 198 cm −1 in the μ- 18 O complex. These are respectively assigned to the asymmetric, symmetric, and angle deformations of the bent FeOFe moiety. A normal mode vibration analysis based on a simple valence force field for the FeOFe portion of the molecule provides surprisingly good agreement with these experimental frequencies and their assignments. The vibrational data for this simple inorganic complex confirm the assignment of a resonance Raman band around 500 cm −1 in the oxygen-carrying protein hemerythrin and the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase as the symmetric stretch of an oxo bridge between two iron(III) centers.
Origination and consequences of bovine viral diarrhea virus diversity

The potential consequences of BVDV genetic and antigenic diversity are far ranging. The complexity of clinical presentations associated with BVDV likely arises from factors encoded by the virus genome. More importantly,prevention and control of BVDV may be complicated by diagnostic and immunization failure resulting from virus diversity. Evolutionary pressures will continue to drive further diversity, making control of BVDV challenging. Current and the potential for future BVDV strain diversity should be considered when designing BVDV control programs both at the individual farm and national herd level.