cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Middle-Down 193-nm Ultraviolet Photodissociation for Unambiguous Antibody Identification and its Implications for Immunoproteomic Analysis.

Mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as a powerful tool within the growing field of immunoproteomics, which aims to understand antibody-mediated immunity at the molecular-level based on the direct determination of serological antibody repertoire. To date, these methods have relied on the use of high-resolution bottom-up proteomic strategies that require effective sampling and characterization of low abundance peptides derived from the antigen-binding domains of polyclonal antibody mixtures. Herein, we describe a method that uses restricted Lys-C enzymatic digestion to increase the average mass of proteolytic IgG peptides (≥4.5 kDa) and produce peptides which uniquely derive from single antibody species. This enhances the capacity to discriminate between very similar antibodies present within polyclonal mixtures. Furthermore, our use of 193-nm ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) improves spectral coverage of the antibody sequence relative to conventional collision- and electron-based fragmentation methods. ...
Algunas perspectivas político-ecológicas sobre la loza andina

espanolEl nuevo campo de la ecologia politica, enfocada en la economia del siglo XXI e impulsada por la innovacion, tiene perspectivas utiles en el estudio de la economia mas temprana del «conocimiento» o «global» que surgio en el siglo XVI.Este ensayo explora la produccion de ceramica mayolica o loza en Espana y sus colonias, en particular, el virreinato del Peru, a traves del doble enfasis de la politica (la persecucion etnico-religiosa de los musulmanes, y el mercantilismo de la Espana cristiana) y de la ecologia (disponibilidad y usos de recursos). Conceptos tales como «clusteres empresariales», «guardabarreras» y «tuberias» se pueden aplicar a los factores que influyen en la historia del desarrollo de esta ceramica.En contraste con la economia actual, las actitudes hacia la innovacion fueron un tanto ambivalentes y las innovaciones fueron introducidas principalmente desde fuera de Espana (sobre todo, en Italia) en lugar de desarrollarse internamente.La loza producida en los Andes que siguio a la decoracion tradicional hispano-morisca de verde y negro, y la pintura azul llegaron tarde, quizas, como consecuencia de que los alfareros que arribaron a los Andes fueron principalmente refugiados moriscos o por la falta de acceso a los pigmentos de cobalto. EnglishThe new, hybrid scholarly field of political ecology, focused on the twenty-first century’s innovation-driven economy, has perspectives useful in studying an earlier “global” or “knowledge” economy that emerged in Spain’s sixteenth century colonial enterprise. This essay explores the production of tin-enameled pottery (majolica; loza) in Spain and its colonies, particularly the viceroyalty of Peru, through the field’s dual emphasis on the political (the ethno-religious persecution of Muslims, and the mercantilist trade policies of Christian Spain) and the ecological (resource availability and use).Political-ecological concepts such as “business clusters,” “gatekeepers,” and “pipelines” can be applied to the many factors influencing the history of development of this ware in Spain and Ibero-America. In contrast to today’s economy, attitudes toward innovation in pottery were rather ambivalent, and innovations were primarily introduced from outside Spain (especially from Italy) rather than internally developed. Early tin-enameled ware produced in the Andes follows traditional Hispano-Moresque green and black decoration, unlike in Mexico, where it was relegated to second-class status. Blue painting arrived late, but it is not known if this was because the potters who settled in the Andes were primarily morisco refugees or a consequence of lack of access to cobalt igment because of the region’s distance from Spain.
Violence and Disability: Experiences and Perceptions of Victimization Among Deaf People

Research on the unique experiences of deaf people is rare, and limited information exists regarding the nature and extent of violence against this population. Existing scholarship highlights the increased vulnerabilities of deaf individuals; however, there remains a paucity of research that examines how deaf and hard of hearing individuals perceive their own victimization. Also lacking is research on the experiences of deaf individuals outside of the United States, where cultural norms and the status of the deaf may be quite different. In this article, we examine the relationship between violence and disability among 60 deaf people from developing countries. Each respondent is seeking legal asylum in the United States, and their asylum depositions provide the data for analysis. Thematic analyses reveal that deaf individuals experience abuse and violence within various social institutions and draw upon social perceptions of disability to explain their negative treatment. Notably, respondents cite their status as "devalued persons" as the driving factor behind institutional and interpersonal experiences of violence and, in some cases, respondents internalize this devalued status. The results suggest social conceptualizations of disability and deafness are important to consider in the context of violence and abuse.
Functions of Several Variables

Because of the central role played by absolutely continuous functions and functions of bounded variation in the development of the fundamental theorem of calculus in \(\mathbb {R}\), it is natural to ask whether they have analogues among functions of more than one variable. One of the main objectives of this chapter is to show that this is true. We have found that the BV functions in \(\mathbb {R}\) constitute a large class of functions that are differentiable almost everywhere. Although there are functions on \(\mathbb {R}^{n}\) that are analogous to BV functions, they are not differentiable almost everywhere. Among the functions that are often encountered in applications, Lipschitz functions on \(\mathbb {R}^{n}\) form the largest class that are differentiable almost everywhere. This result is due to Rademacher and is one of the fundamental results in the analysis of functions of several variables.
Women in Interventional Cardiology: Past, Present, and Future-Small Numbers, Growing Impact.

![Figure][1] For this issue's Editor's Page, I invited one of the journal's Associate Editors, Dr. Roxana Mehran, and her colleagues to pen a page hailing great accomplishments of some of the women in cardiovascular medicine .—David J. Moliterno, MDInterventional cardiology has long
Morals, Manners, and Law

Etude de l'autorite normative des notions de morale, savoir-vivre, etiquette et loi. Face au scepticisme, l'A. revendique une conception modeste de la moralite en termes de theorie ethique de l'erreur.
Epilepsy, Gender Issues and

This article reviews topics that are relevant to the understanding of epilepsy and gender. The role of steroid hormones in seizure vulnerability, the phenomenon of catamenial epilepsy, and the current clinical recommendations concerning antiepileptic drugs, contraception, and pregnancy are discussed.
ppGpp, a Signal Molecule

Faced with a shortage of nutrient source, bacteria rapidly adjust their metabolism and adapt to a more frugal life style. Of the doubtless many overlapping and hierarchical controls required for such an adjustment, a simple mechanism mediated by the peculiar nucleotide guanosine 5′-diphosphate,3′-diphosphate (ppGpp) will be reviewed and its metabolism discussed.
Measurement of diffusion coefficients of alkali metal ions in polycrystalline β″-Al2O3

Abstract The high temperature ion-exchange of a commercially prepared polycrystalline Na + -β″/β-Al 2 O 3 is described. Time dependent weight-gain data for both K + and Rb + exchange is presented for temperatures between 900 and 1200°C. The data are correlated with the solution of the diffusion equation to estimate the diffusion coefficients for the two cations as functions of temperature. The estimated values are well correlated by the Arrhenius expression although the calculated activation energies are considerably higher than might be expected from previous studies involving single crystals at lower temperatures. These high values, coupled with the change in the physical character of the material indicate that the diffusion process might be limited by transport across the grain boundary.
Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence: An Integrative Model with a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The notion of problematic pornography use remains contentious in both academic and popular literature. Although the mental health community at large is divided as to the addictive versus non-addictive nature of Internet pornography, substantial numbers of individuals report “feeling” as if their use of Internet pornography is problematic. The present work seeks to construct a model related to problematic pornography use that is clearly derived from empirical literature and that provides directions to be tested in future research. The focus of the present work is on those perceptions as they relate to the overarching experience of moral incongruence in pornography use, which is generally thought of as the experience of having one’s behaviors be inconsistent with one’s beliefs. To this end, we put forth a model of pornography problems due to moral incongruence. Within this model, we describe how pornography-related problems—particularly feelings of addiction to pornography—may be, in many cases, better construed as functions of discrepancies—moral incongruence—between pornography-related beliefs and pornography-related behaviors. A systematic review of literature and meta-analysis is conducted in order to evaluate support for this model, and the implications of this model for research and clinical practice are discussed.
Framing the art [A] vs. architecture argument

What’s the argument; who’s arguing? ; and, how does resolving that architecture is the making of metaphors settle the argument? Through analogies, similes and evidence I present arguments supporting the resolutions surrounding the way architects and urban designers make metaphors. This is done by presenting the thinking on making both natural and synthetic cities as well the design of buildings and neighborhoods. Cited throughout are evidence of linguistic, cognitive, psychological and philosophical mechanisms of the metaphor and their applicability. All of this to reify the stasis of architecture as an art by the inference that, as art [A] , it too, makes metaphors . This argument is relevant to communicate between unlike peoples, disciplines and roles [C] in the creative process. The relevance of this monograph is that it provides the authoritative evidence defining the architects, planners, and designers' scope of services and owners' conceptual basis for considering projects. For cognitive, linguists and other scientist this monograph provides the evidence for application and of theory.
Bidirectional analysis of cryba4-crybb1 nascent transcription and nuclear accumulation of crybb3 mrnas in lens fibers

Purpose Crystallin gene expression during lens fiber cell differentiation is tightly spatially and temporally regulated. A significant fraction of mammalian genes is transcribed from adjacent promoters in opposite directions ("bidirectional" promoters). It is not known whether two proximal genes located on the same allele are simultaneously transcribed. Methods Mouse lens transcriptome was analyzed for paired genes whose transcriptional start sites are separated by less than 5 kbp to identify coexpressed bidirectional promoter gene pairs. To probe these transcriptional mechanisms, nascent transcription of Cryba4, Crybb1, and Crybb3 genes from gene-rich part of chromosome 5 was visualized by RNA fluorescent in situ hybridizations (RNA FISH) in individual lens fiber cell nuclei. Results Genome-wide lens transcriptome analysis by RNA-seq revealed that the Cryba4-Crybb1 pair has the highest Pearson correlation coefficient between their steady-state mRNA levels. Analysis of Cryba4 and Crybb1 nascent transcription revealed frequent simultaneous expression of both genes from the same allele. Nascent Crybb3 transcript visualization in "early" but not "late" differentiating lens fibers show nuclear accumulation of the spliced Crybb3 transcripts that was not affected in abnormal lens fiber cell nuclei depleted of chromatin remodeling enzyme Snf2h (Smarca5). Conclusions The current study shows for the first time that two highly expressed lens crystallin genes, Cryba4 and Crybb1, can be simultaneously transcribed from adjacent bidirectional promoters and do not show nuclear accumulation. In contrast, spliced Crybb3 mRNAs transiently accumulate in early lens fiber cell nuclei. The gene pairs coexpressed during lens development showed significant enrichment in human "cataract" phenotype.
Comparison of the muscle activity in the normal and forward head postures based on the pressure level during cranio-cervical flexion exercises

Purpose: This paper proposes proper and effective neck exercises by comparing the deep and superficial cervical flexor muscle activities and thickness according to the pressure level during cranio-cervical flexion exercises between a normal posture group and forward head posture group. Methods: A total of 20 subjects (8 males and 12 females) without neck pain and disabilities were selected. The subjects’ craniovertebral angles were measured; they were divided into a normal posture and a forward head posture group. During cranio-cervical flexion exercises, the thickness of the deep cervical flexor neck muscle and the activity of the surface neck muscles were measured using ultrasound and EMG. Results: The results showed that the thickening of the deep cervical flexor was increased significantly to 28 and 30 mmHg in the forward head posture group. The sternocleidomastoid muscle activity increased significantly to 24, 26, 28, and 30 mmHg in the forward head posture group. The anterior scalene muscle activity increased significantly to 26, 28, and 30mmHg in the forward head posture group. A significant difference of 26, 28, and 30 mmHg in the sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene muscles was observed between two groups. Conclusion: To prevent a forward head posture and maintain proper cervical curve alignment, the use of the superficial cervical flexor muscles must be minimized. In addition, to perform a cranio-cervical flexion exercises to effectively activate the deep cervical flexor muscles, 28 and 30 mmHg for normal posture adults and 28 mmHg for adults with forward head postures are recommended.
Publisher Correction: Downwind footprint of an urban heat island on air and lake temperatures

In the original published version of this Article, revisions that had been requested by the authors at proof correction were not included. Figures 2 and 5 have been resupplied at higher resolution, and the axes and labels on Figs 3 and 4 have been amended for clarity (x-axis labels made uniform between panels in Fig. 4) or added when missing (missing temperature label in Fig. 3a). These corrections have been made to the PDF and HTML version of the article.
Current Landscape of Heart Failure Gene Therapy

Gene therapy for patients with HF is now on the cusp of being successfully translated from the laboratory to the clinical arena. It is no longer a theoretical vision, but a realistic opportunity for the future treatment of patients with HFrEF. This transition is attributed to an increased understanding of the optimization of the various AAV serotypes, a better understanding of the efficacy of the various cardiac‐restricted promoters, and clarification of the most effective delivery systems. Although recent studies in humans did not prove efficacious, they were of great importance because they demonstrated the safety of gene therapy and defined the methods for gene delivery. Nonetheless, challenges remain. First, the development of AAVs that are nonimmunogenic will allow treatment of patients with preexisting AAV antibodies and will obviate, or at least lessen, the risk of the development of adaptive immunity. Second, the construction of AAVs that can package large genes will facilitate the generation of new therapies for individuals with mutations that are not currently approachable (eg, titin and lamin) or that require indirect approaches. Third, the identification of new HFrEF‐causing mutations in large‐scale genomic studies, such as the recently initiated All of Us study, will expand the number of patients who can benefit from gene therapy. And, finally, development of highly cardiac trophic vectors may allow therapy to be delivered intravenously rather than intracoronary with comparable or greater efficiency of transduction.
Dimensions and validation of the print perceived message sensation value scale (PPMSV)

Abstract Two studies establish reliability and validity of the print perceived message sensation value scale (PPMSV). For study one, 397 participants responded to a single high- and a single low-sensation value anti-smoking message. In study two, 284 participants responded to a single high- and a single low-sensation value anti-crystal meth message. Results of an exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis suggest that the PMSV of a print message can be assessed using a 12-item three-dimensional scale, making an important contribution to the literature as no similar measures existed for print messages prior to the PPMSV. The newly developed PPMSV scale remained stable across sensation seeking levels and two sets of anti-drug messages (anti-tobacco & crystal meth). Results provided support for convergent, divergent, and predictive validity of the scale and point to PMSV as an important element that contributes to perceived message effectiveness and attitude toward the print ad.
Neuroimaging in Parkinson's disease dementia: connecting the dots.

Dementia is a common and devastating symptom of Parkinson’s disease but the anatomical substrate remains unclear. Some evidence points towards hippocampal involvement but neuroimaging abnormalities have been reported throughout the brain and are largely inconsistent across studies. Here, we test whether these disparate neuroimaging findings for Parkinson’s disease dementia localize to a common brain network. We used a literature search to identify studies reporting neuroimaging correlates of Parkinson’s dementia (11 studies, 385 patients). We restricted our search to studies of brain atrophy and hypometabolism that compared Parkinson’s patients with dementia to those without cognitive involvement. We used a standard coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis to assess for consistency in the neuroimaging findings. We then used a new approach, coordinate-based network mapping, to test whether neuroimaging findings localized to a common brain network. This approach uses resting-state functional connectivity from a large cohort of normative subjects (n = 1000) to identify the network of regions connected to a reported neuroimaging coordinate. Activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis failed to identify any brain regions consistently associated with Parkinson’s dementia, showing major heterogeneity across studies. In contrast, coordinate-based network mapping found that these heterogeneous neuroimaging findings localized to a specific brain network centred on the hippocampus. Next, we tested whether this network showed symptom specificity and stage specificity by performing two further analyses. We tested symptom specificity by examining studies of Parkinson’s hallucinations (9 studies, 402 patients) that are frequently co-morbid with Parkinson’s dementia. We tested for stage specificity by using studies of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (15 studies, 844 patients). Coordinate-based network mapping revealed that correlates of visual hallucinations fell within a network centred on bilateral lateral geniculate nucleus and correlates of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease fell within a network centred on posterior default mode network. In both cases, the identified networks were distinct from the hippocampal network of Parkinson’s dementia. Our results link heterogeneous neuroimaging findings in Parkinson’s dementia to a common network centred on the hippocampus. This finding was symptom and stage-specific, with implications for understanding Parkinson’s dementia and heterogeneity of neuroimaging findings in general.
Sharing on Social Network Sites following Carrie Fisher’s Death: Responses to Her Mental Health Advocacy

Grounded in work on health narratives of public figures, an online survey (N = 305) explored amplification of Carrie Fisher’s mental health advocacy following her death through sharing about mental...
Evaluation of a novel ultraviolet C irradiation locker for microbial sterilization of hospital laboratory coats.

Abstract The abstract is very general and is lacking the useful information that a reader will scour for during an initial literature search. This should contain all salient points of the study design, methods, target organisms and results (including figures).
A search for medications to treat COVID-19 via in silico molecular docking models of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and 3CL protease.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 has now been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. There is an emergent need to search for possible medications. Method Utilization of the available sequence information, homology modeling, and in slico docking a number of available medications might prove to be effective in inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 two main drug targets, the spike glycoprotein, and the 3CL protease. Results Several compounds were determined from the in silico docking models that might prove to be effective inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2. Several antiviral medications: Zanamivir, Indinavir, Saquinavir, and Remdesivir show potential as and 3CLPRO main proteinase inhibitors and as a treatment for COVID-19. Conclusion Zanamivir, Indinavir, Saquinavir, and Remdesivir are among the exciting hits on the 3CLPRO main proteinase. It is also exciting to uncover that Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD) Adeflavin, B2 deficiency medicine, and Coenzyme A, a coenzyme, may also be potentially used for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The use of these off-label medications may be beneficial in the treatment of the COVID-19.
Correction to: Prospective trial examining safety and efficacy of microcurrent stimulation for the treatment of sinus pain and congestion.

The original version of this article (Goldsobel et al. 2019), published on 20 November 2019, contained incorrect data. In this Correction the affected parts of the article are shown.
Intravitreal enzyme replacement preserves retinal structure and function in canine CLN2 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

CLN2 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive vision loss, neurological decline, and seizures. CLN2 disease results from mutations in TPP1 that encodes the lysosomal enzyme tripeptidyl peptidase-1 (TPP1). Children with CLN2 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis experience ocular disease, characterized by progressive retinal degeneration associated with impaired retinal function and gradual vision loss culminating in total blindness. A similar progressive loss of retinal function is also observed in a dog CLN2 model with a TPP1 null mutation. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of periodic intravitreal injections of recombinant human (rh) TPP1 in inhibiting retinal degeneration and preserving retinal function in the canine model. TPP1 null dogs received periodic intravitreal injections of rhTPP1 in one eye and vehicle in the other eye beginning at approximately 12 weeks of age. Ophthalmic exams, in vivo ocular imaging, and electroretinography (ERG) were repeated regularly to monitor retinal structure and function. Retinal histology was evaluated in eyes collected from these dogs when they were euthanized at end-stage neurological disease (43-46 weeks of age). Intravitreal rhTPP1 dosing prevented disease-related declines in ERG amplitudes in the TPP1-treated eyes. At end-stage neurologic disease, TPP1-treated eyes retained normal morphology while the contralateral vehicle-treated eyes exhibited loss of inner retinal neurons and photoreceptor disorganization typical of CLN2 disease. The treatment also prevented the development of disease-related focal retinal detachments observed in the control eyes. Uveitis occurred secondary to the administration of the rhTPP1 but did not hinder the therapeutic benefits. These findings demonstrate that periodic intravitreal injection of rhTPP1 preserves retinal structure and function in canine CLN2 disease.
Capacity Analysis Framework for Freeway Ramp Weaves

AbstractThe Highway Capacity Manual 6th Edition (HCM6) provides methods for evaluating freeway segments and facilities, including weaving segments. Recent research has cast doubt on the validity of...
Minimizing human error in radiopharmaceutical preparation & administration via a barcode-enhanced nuclear pharmacy management system

2421 Objectives The objective of this project is to insure correct radiopharmaceutical administration through the use of a barcode system that links patient and drug profiles with the on-site information system. This system minimizes the amount of manual human manipulation which has proven to be a primary source of error. The most common reason for a dose misadministration is improper patient identification when obtaining a dose from the nuclear pharmacy, or at the site of administration. A standardized electronic transfer of information from radiopharmaceutical preparation to patient injection will further reduce the risk of misadministration. Methods A value stream map showing the flow of the patient dose information, as well as the actual patient dose, was documented. Next, a future state map was created which identified the critical sites that have been shown to be the most common locations of error. Transitioning the current process to the future state will require the implementation of solution methodologies that address the sites of error. To optimize the future state process, a barcode system that links the on-site radiology management system with the nuclear pharmacy management system was proposed. A bar-coded wristband connects the patient directly to the electronic information systems. Results The new barcode-enhanced process linking the patient dose with the electronic information reduces the number of crucial points for human error, and provides a framework to insure the prepared dose reaches the correct patient. Although the proposed process flow has specifications designed for a site with an in-house central nuclear pharmacy, much of the information framework could be used by nuclear medicine facilities using unit doses. Conclusions The creation of an electronic connection between management information systems to allow the tracking of a radiopharmaceutical from time of preparation to administration can be a useful tool in preventing mistakes that are an unfortunate reality for any facility
Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded Haynes 282

Abstract Advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) steam plants are designed to operate at high temperatures and pressures due to the necessity for higher operational efficiency. The extreme operating conditions of A-USC requires the deployment of precipitation strengthened Ni-base alloys that exhibit elevated temperature strength and good fabricability. Fusion welding of precipitation strengthened nickel alloys lead to solidification cracking in fusion zone and/or liquation cracking in heat affected zone. Therefore, an alternative non-melting welding technique is a necessity to efficiently join nickel alloys. In the current study, friction stir welding, a solid-state joining technique was implemented on a precipitation strengthened nickel-based superalloy, Haynes 282. Detailed microstructural and mechanical properties characterization was carried out. The processed region exhibited wrought, fine-grained microstructure, absence of weld defects such as voids and cracks and absence of elemental segregation. Both hardness and cross-weld tensile tests demonstrated that the weld region was stronger than the base material. And the cross-weld tensile samples failed in the base material. Based on joint efficiency analysis, friction stir welded Haynes 282 outperformed fusion welds.
The Buddhist Monastery, Art and Teachings as a Factor in the Development of North Indian and Central Asian Islamic Practice and Architecture

The teachings and practices of Buddhism resonated with many nascent Islamic Sufi orders in the northern Indian and Central Asian contexts, starting with the arrival of Islam to the region in the 7th Century, gaining momentum with the expansions of the Ghaznvid and Ghurid Empires in the 12th Century, and continuing into our own times through philosophies and local customs. The contrasting reputations of the two traditions, with Buddhism often viewed as a peaceful journey towards enlightenment and Islam as a faith bent on military conquest, have restricted historical investigations of Buddhism and Islam’s relationship with one another and have often removed these practices from time and place. This dialogue can be made more fruitful by entering through the specific examples offered by the architecture of the Buddhist monastery structure or sangha and the Islamic Sufi lodge or khanqah between the 12th and 15th Centuries.
Study of Collisions by Laser Spectroscopy

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the use of laser spectroscopy for probing collision effects in atomic and molecular systems. The development of tunable narrow-band laser sources has led to a number of opportunities for spectroscopic collision studies using “bulb” experiments. Using near-resonant monochromatic excitation, atoms with a specified velocity component in the direction of the field's propagation vector are excited. The excited atoms can then undergo collisions in which their velocities are altered and the velocity changes can be monitored by subjecting the atoms to a probe field. In this manner, information on the differential scattering cross section can be obtained from the laser spectroscopy. With the use of lasers, non-thermal excited-state populations can now be achieved. Bulb experiments require less excited-state population than beam experiments because photon detection efficiency is generally greater than neutral-particle detection efficiency. Bulb experiments are quite flexible in nature, containing components that are easily interfaced with other experiments. Moreover, the laser spectroscopic techniques can also enable studying inelastic processes such as magnetic reorientation, fine structure changing, and rotational reorientation collisions.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2007

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Robert Mueller, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), sought to transform the storied Bureau. The FBI had long served as both the chief law enforcement agency and the main domestic intelligence wing of the U.S. government. In practice, though, law enforcement had overshadowed intelligence at the FBI. The terrorist attacks made it tragically clear that the United States required a much stronger domestic intelligence service, and Mueller believed that that service should reside within the FBI. Critics, however, called for the Bureau to narrow its scope, focus on law enforcement, and cede domestic intelligence to a new, specialized agency. Should the FBI retain both the law enforcement mission and the domestic intelligence mission? If so, how should it change itself to succeed in both missions? This case, a supplement to the "Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2001 (Abridged)" case (710-450), reviews the FBI's progress from 2001 to 2007.
The Enzymic Synthesis of Amino Acyl Derivatives of Ribonucleic Acid

The composition and sequence of nucleotides occurring next to the common terminal trinucleotide sequence, ..pCpCpA, of amino acid-acceptor ribonucleic acid chains has been analysed. The normally existing ..pCpCpA end-groups were enzymatically removed, replaced by ..32pC32pC and the labeled ribonucleic acid was degraded with alkali, pancreatic and T1 ribonuclease. The analysis of the labeled fragments produced in each digestion demonstrates that, aside from the common ..pCpCpA terminal sequence, there is considerable heterogeneity in the nucleotide sequences at the amino acid-acceptor end of the chains. Eleven different sequences, ranging in length from 4 to 9 nucleotides and accounting for approximately 80% of the ribonucleic acid chains in the population, have been identified.
Lipids on the frontier: A century of cell-membrane bilayers

Our present picture of cell membranes as lipid bilayers is the legacy of a century's study that concentrated on the lipids and proteins of cell-surface membranes. Recent work is changing the picture and is turning the snapshot into a video.
Prosecutorial Discretion Under Resource Constraints: Budget Allocations and Local Death-Charging Decisions

Do prosecutorial resource constraints influence death-charging decisions? Prosecutors typically contend that death-charging decisions are made independent of budget considerations, and the limited empirical evidence supports this view. Using new data on death-charging decisions from 301 prosecutorial districts across 34 states, the results presented here suggest that the conventional wisdom is wrong. The probability of facing a death charge is higher in prosecutorial districts with larger budgets. The results inform our understanding of the politics of prosecutorial behavior and the policy debate over capital punishment.
An Analysis of the Preferential Care of Eggs and Young by Adult Cichlid Fishes1

Zusammenfassung Das Problem des Art-Erkennens wurde in zwei Versuchsreihen an den Brutpflege-Reaktionen (an insgesamt 250 Gelegen) dreier Cichliden-Arten untersucht, und zwar an je uber 30 Paaren von Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum und C. biocellatum und etwa 20 von Hemichromis bimaculatus; einige Beobachtungen an H. fasciatus kommen hinzu. Die grosere Versuchsreihe lief im Zoologischen Institut der Universitat in Los Angeles, Kalifornien, eine kurzere im Max-Planck-Institut fur Verhaltensphysiologie, Seewiesen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, das die meisten Erwachsenen der untersuchten Arten in der Brutpflegephase arteigene Junge von artfremden unterscheiden konnen: eigene pflegen sie, fremde fressen sie auf. Innerhalb gewisser Grenzen nehmen sie arteigene Junge von anderen Eltern in ihre eigene Jungenschar auf. Die untersuchten Cichlasoma-Arten waren dabei weniger empfindlich gegen Altersunterschiede zwischen den Jungen als Hemichromis bimaculatus. Die Ergebnisse aus beiden Versuchsreihen unterscheiden sich im Hinblick auf das Anhalten der Brutbevorzugung. In der Hauptserie bevorzugten H. bimaculatus-Paare artfremde Brut, wenn man ihnen diese in ihrem ersten Brutzyklusstatt der eigenen unterschob; das gelang nicht bei den Cichlasoma-Arten. In Seewiesen zeigten Hemichromis-Eltern wenig oder gar keine anhaltende Bevorzugung. Nur pflegte H. fasciatus nie Cichlasoma-Eier, wenn er schon eigene gesehen hatte; auserdem scheint diese Art die Cichlasoma-Jungen nicht langer als 7 Tage nach dem Schlupfen zu pflegen, doch mus das an noch mehr Elternpaaren nachgepruft werden. Auch bei Cichlasoma fielen die Ergebnisse verschieden aus. In der Hauptserie nahmen beide Arten fremde Junge an, solange sie noch keine eigenen gepflegt hatten; danach lehnten viele Elternpaare fremde Junge ab. In Seewiesen hielt die Artbevorzugung bei vielen Paaren nicht an. Nach den Ergebnissen der Hauptserie zu urteilen hangt die Zuordnung der Brutpflegeaktionen zu den ausschlieslich arteigenen Jungen bei Hemichromis mehr als bei Cichlasoma von den mit der ersten Brut gesammelten Erfahrungen ab. Es wird wohl kaum einen Grund geben, diesen Vorrang der Objektfixierung nicht “Pragung” (bei Erwachsenen!) zu nennen. Die Unterschiede in diesem Vorgang gehen wahrscheinlich auf Unterschiede in den angeborenen Grenzen fur diejenigen Reize zuruck, die zur Objektfixierung taugen. Die Seewiesener Ergebnisse zeigen allerdings, das unter veranderten Versuchsbedingungen die Brutbevorzugung nicht bestehen zu bleiben braucht. Es wird erortert, welche Faktoren fur diese Variabilitat vermutlich verantwortlich sind.
Wheel Abrasion Experiment ground tests: initial results

The Mars Pathfinder mission sent a lander and a rover to the Martian surface. Because the Martian surface dust and clay are abrasive, a Wheel Abrasion Experiment (WAE) is being carried on one of the rover wheels to evaluate wear. This experiment includes a set of three anodized aluminum strips mounted circumferentially around the center of the wheel. The strips are coated with thin, electron beam deposited coupons of aluminum, platinum, or nickel with thicknesses of 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 /spl Aring/. (The different thicknesses allow estimates of rates of wear). As the coupons wear away, changes in reflectivity are recorded by a photovoltaic device. These data will be compared with similar data from laboratory simulations. A wear model for the Martian surface will be developed based on the results. This paper reports on the laboratory simulations. In the laboratory, an identical wheel was used in a simulated Martian environment. Three individual experiments were performed to evaluate wear of the metal coatings. A vacuum chamber which simulated the Martian surface was used. Wheel slip in the surface material (sand or clay) resulted in wear of the deposited metal layers. Wear was measured as a function of reflected light detected by a photocell. Work is in progress to finish the remaining ground tests.
Goal-Oriented Systems

Literature dealing with various issues that emanate from recognized categories of goal-oriented systems is voluminous and growing rapidly. The subject of goal-orientation does not always appear in the literature under this general and neutral term. More frequently, it is discussed under other names, which designate special types of goal orientation. Typical examples are: regulation, control, self-organization, learning, autopoiesis, self-reproduction, self-correction, adaptation, evolution. No attempt is made in this chapter to cover this broad subject comprehensively since each of the special types of goal-orientation alone could easily occupy a whole book. Instead, the focus here is on a few key concepts and issues pertaining to goal-oriented systems.
Comparison of hologic's quantra volumetric assessment to MRI breast density

Interest in measuring breast tissue density due to its association with breast cancer risk grows, though the majority of studies use qualitative density measures manually reported by radiologists, which are time-consuming and costly. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of Hologic's FDA-approved, commercially available automatic quantitative Quantra technique to a semi-automatic quantitative MRI-based Fuzzy C-Means technique in a screening population. MRI and mammographic images were retrospectively analyzed from 123 women who had both types of exams within four years, a BIRADs diagnosis outcome of 1 or 2, and no history of breast cancer or surgery. Both techniques produced three measures: total breast volume, fibroglandular tissue volume, and percent fibroglandular tissue, which were compared. Correlations between the three measures produced by the two techniques were mixed, with total volume having the highest correlation (R2=0.8909), percent fibroglandular density having moderate correlation (R2=0.5015), and fibroglandular tissue volume having the lowest correlation (R2=0.3853). Quantra results for percent fibroglandular density were significantly compressed in comparison with that of MRI, by about two-fold.
C/A code cross-correlation at a high doppler offset

C/A code cross-correlation affects signal acquisition and tracking in global positioning system (GPS) receivers. This paper investigates the cross-correlation–induced tracking errors, which can be substantial when the two Doppler frequencies are apart by an integer number of kilohertz. Carrier smoothing is an effective mitigation against the pseudorange errors, although the residual could still be significant if a short smoothing time constant is used.
Rousseau, Diderot and the Spirit of Catherine the Great's Reforms

SummaryIn the Social Contract, Rousseau predicted that Europe would experience a cycle of increasingly intense wars, culminating in invasion from the east: first, Russia would conquer Europe's exhausted and war-torn states; then, Russia would itself become overextended and Europe would ultimately be overrun by the Tartars. The future of the modern state would be a version of the fall of Rome. The present essay provides an explanation of why Rousseau held such apocalyptic views by placing them in the context of projects to reform Europe's political economy in the aftermath of the Seven Years’ War. In 1767, when Catherine the Great was planning a major revision of the Russian legal code, she outlined her goals in a manifesto called the Grand Instruction, key sections of which were derived from Montesquieu's analysis of depopulation of the countryside caused by uncontrolled industrialisation. The Grand Instruction became the subject of a critical exchange between the Physiocrat Le Trosne and Diderot, who, dr...
METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF FREE INTRACELLULAR AND EXTRACELLULAR METHYLGLYOXAL IN ANIMAL CELLS GROWN IN CULTURE

Methylglyoxal is present at low levels in most cells as a by-product of glycolysis and a product of lipid and amino acid catabolism. The most widely accepted method for measurement of methylglyoxal involves the derivatization of methylglyoxal with 1,2-diaminobenzene derivatives, such as o-phenylenediamine, followed by quantification of the resulting quinoxaline with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Here we describe the modification of this procedure for the measurement of free intra- and extracellular methylglyoxal in animal cells grown in culture. Cell harvest and sample volume measurement techniques were developed. Solid-phase extraction prior to methylglyoxal derivatization reduced interferences unique to cell culture, such as the phenol red indicator dye used in most cell culture media, and extended the useful life of the HPLC column. In addition, this extraction step significantly lessened the interference represented by oxidative degradation of nucleic acids to methylglyoxal by perchloric acid under assay conditions. The concentration of free intracellular methylglyoxal in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells grown in culture ranged from 0.7 +/- 0.3 microM (mean +/- 2 standard deviations; n = 4) to 1.2 +/- 0.3 microM (mean +/- 2 standard deviations; n = 7). The concentration of free extracellular methylglyoxal in the growth medium was 0.07 +/- 0.02 microM (mean +/- 2 standard deviations; n = 4), severalfold less than that found inside the cell. A possible explanation for the difference between measured free intracellular and extracellular methylglyoxal levels is that the assay for free intracellular methylglyoxal also measures some reversibly bound methylglyoxal.
The effect of Hurricane Katrina on the mussel assemblage of the Pearl River, Louisiana

We sampled the mussels of the Pearl River along the eastern border of Louisiana, USA, in 1997 and 2007. Hurricane Katrina followed the pathway of the river in August 2005, and we were interested in detecting any resulting decreases in mussel abundance or diversity. The mussel assemblage was relatively stable, despite the hurricane and a drought in the Pearl River Basin in 2006 and 2007. We detected no change in average species richness per site, and the total number of mussels collected per site (e.g., collection per unit effort) actually increased in 2007. Species importance curves comparing the two studies did, however, suggest a reduction from 29 to 23 species. Monte Carlo simulations and comparisons of assemblage similarity also suggested that Glebula rotundata increased at the expense of Potamilus purpuratus and Villosa lienosa, possibly because it was more tolerant of salt water intrusion. Eight of 13 mussels with adequate sample sizes had different adult size structures in the two surveys, either increasing or decreasing in mean shell length during the 10 years. Large individuals were rare for the two species that decreased in relative abundance in 2007. Semi-quantitative sampling appeared adequate here to compare relatively long-term changes in mussel diversity and adult size structure. However, more research on natural variation in assemblage structure and mussel size distributions is needed to understand the importance of disturbances like hurricanes or droughts.
Evaluation of Multi-core Scalability Bottlenecks in Enterprise Java Workloads

The increasing number of cores integrated into modern processors is blurring the line between supercomputers and enterprise-grade servers. Therefore, the same attention to lock contention bottlenecks must be given to Java-based business workloads as it is given to massively parallel, high-performance computing applications, especially when it comes to characterizing global trends that would ease the transition of today's code base to tomorrow's parallel configurations. This paper first presents the characteristics of a typical Java-based business application software stack and examines the locking contentions that can appear at each level of that stack. Second, it presents scalability evaluation of three enterprise-grade, Java-based workloads and details the lock contention founds. Third, it summarizes the results of our findings, emphasizing the need for a streamlined methodology for lock-contention analysis of enterprise Java workloads.
Identification of a gene in Mycoplasma hominis associated with preterm birth and microbial burden in intraamniotic infection.

Objective Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity is associated with spontaneous preterm labor and adverse pregnancy outcome, and Mycoplasma hominis often is present. However, the pathogenic process by which M hominis invades the amniotic cavity and gestational tissues, often resulting in chorioamnionitis and preterm birth, remains unknown. We hypothesized that strains of M hominis vary genetically with regards to their potential to invade and colonize the amniotic cavity and placenta. Study Design We sequenced the entire genomes of 2 amniotic fluid isolates and a placental isolate of M hominis from pregnancies that resulted in preterm births and compared them with the previously sequenced genome of the type strain PG21. We identified genes that were specific to the amniotic fluid/placental isolates. We then determined the microbial burden and the presence of these genes in another set of subjects from whom samples of amniotic fluid had been collected and were positive for M hominis. Results We identified 2 genes that encode surface-located membrane proteins (Lmp1 and Lmp-like) in the sequenced amniotic fluid/placental isolates that were truncated severely in PG21. We also identified, for the first time, a microbial gene of unknown function that is referred to in this study as gene of interest C that was associated significantly with bacterial burden in amniotic fluid and the risk of preterm delivery in patients with preterm labor. Conclusion A gene in M hominis was identified that is associated significantly with colonization and/or infection of the upper reproductive tract during pregnancy and with preterm birth.