cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SRC-3 Coactivator Governs Dynamic Estrogen-Induced Chromatin Looping Interactions during Transcription

Summary Enhancers are thought to activate transcription by physically contacting promoters via looping. However, direct assays demonstrating these contacts are required to mechanistically verify such cellular determinants of enhancer function. Here, we present versatile cell-free assays to further determine the role of enhancer-promoter contacts (EPCs). We demonstrate that EPC is linked to mutually stimulatory transcription at the enhancer and promoter in vitro . SRC-3 was identified as a critical looping determinant for the estradiol-(E2)-regulated GREB1 locus. Surprisingly, the GREB1 enhancer and promoter contact two internal gene body SRC-3 binding sites, GBS1 and GBS2, which stimulate their transcription. Utilizing time-course 3C assays, we uncovered SRC-3-dependent dynamic chromatin interactions involving the enhancer, promoter, GBS1, and GBS2. Collectively, these data suggest that the enhancer and promoter remain "poised" for transcription via their contacts with GBS1 and GBS2. Upon E2 induction, GBS1 and GBS2 disengage from the enhancer, allowing direct EPC for active transcription.
The role of divergent mating strategies, reproductive success, and compatibility in maintaining the Saltmarsh–Nelson's sparrow hybrid zone

ABSTRACT Understanding inter- and intra-specific variation in mate compatibility and reproductive success can offer insight into the factors driving sexual selection, behavioral dynamics, and isolating mechanisms across natural populations. This information is particularly relevant when trying to understand the patterns that shape the causes and outcomes of hybridization in natural systems. We evaluated mating patterns and male reproductive success in a hybrid zone between the Saltmarsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) and Nelson's sparrow (A. nelsoni). Specifically, we investigated variation in male reproductive success between pure Saltmarsh and pure Nelson's sparrows and between pure and hybrid males, while testing for assortative vs. random mating. DNA samples were collected from adults (n = 342) and nestlings (n = 348), and paternity analyses and assignment of individuals to pure and hybrid classes were conducted using 11 microsatellite loci. We documented high promiscuity and reproductive skew in Saltmarsh a...
Characterization of Boundary Conditions Affecting Forest Environmental Phenomena

Analyses of environmental factors at forested sites generally are not applicable to other sites because the sites have not been described adequately. To be more useful to other researchers, a description of the forest site should convey a physical image of the forest. Data on wind, temperature, humidity, radiation and vegetation have been presented to illustrate the variability into and within various forests. Methods of inverting environmental data to obtain information on the vertical distribution of the biomass have been cited. A strategy for describing coniferous forests has been presented.
The NERO video game

In the NeuroEvolving Robotic Operatives (NERO) game, the player trains a team of virtual robots for combat against other players' teams. The virtual robots learn in real time through interacting with the player. Since NERO was originally released in June, 2005, it has been downloaded over 50,000 times, appeared on Slashdot, and won several honors. A significant update was released in November, 2005, including improved performance, new battle mode options, and faster learning. The virtual robots learn using the realtime NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (rtNEAT) method, which can evolve increasingly complex artificial neural networks in real time as a game is being played. The live demo will show how agents in NERO adapt in real time as they interact with the player in the new, updated game. In the future, rtNEAT may allow new kinds of educational and training applications through interactive and adapting games.
Superconducting qubit in a waveguide cavity with a coherence time approaching 0.1 ms

We report a superconducting artificial atom with a coherence time of ${T}_{2}^{*}=92$ $\ensuremath{\mu}$s and energy relaxation time ${T}_{1}=70$ $\ensuremath{\mu}$s. The system consists of a single Josephson junction transmon qubit on a sapphire substrate embedded in an otherwise empty copper waveguide cavity whose lowest eigenmode is dispersively coupled to the qubit transition. We attribute the factor of four increase in the coherence quality factor relative to previous reports to device modifications aimed at reducing qubit dephasing from residual cavity photons. This simple device holds promise as a robust and easily produced artificial quantum system whose intrinsic coherence properties are sufficient to allow tests of quantum error correction.
On the inverse kinematics of a fragment of protein backbone

This paper studies the structure of the inverse kinematics (IK) map of a fragment of protein backbone with 6 torsional degrees of freedom. The images (critical sets) of the singularities of the orientation and position maps are computed for a slightly idealized kinematic model. They yield a decomposition of SO(3) and R 3 into open regions where the number of IK solutions is constant. A proof of the existence of at least one 16-solution cell in R 3 × SO(3) is given and one such case is shown.
From “An Inspiration” to Not Knowing “The Basics”: Tensions Between Classroom Interactional Histories and Institutional Expectations

This chapter analyzes the journey of Diego, an immigrant-origin youth with interrupted education whose classroom-based experiences with language and literacy built toward a turning point in which he left high school with a GPA and other academic accomplishments and identities that marked him as a confident English user and competent writer. Diego’s turning point was his transition from secondary to postsecondary schooling, which led to very different trajectory, including remediation, frustration, and difficulties meeting his instructors’ expectations as institutional demands for literacy expertise shifted. An overview of Diego’s language and literacy experiences during this study is provided, followed by LIHA analyses of literacy events demonstrating these trends before and after his turning point.
DFT modeling of the prevention of Fe(II)-mediated redox damage by imidazole-based thiones and selones.

Abstract Peroxide reduction involving Fe(II) (i.e., Fenton chemistry) forms hydroxyl radicals which cause oxidative damage to DNA in vivo. Sulfur and selenium compounds have been investigated for their antioxidant properties in preventing this metal-mediated oxidative damage. The effect of the coordination of sulfur/selenium derivatives of imidazolidinone (thiones/selones) on the electronic structure and reduction potential of Fe(II) ions solvated or coordinated to guanine are examined using density functional theory (DFT). The zwitterionic character of the thione/selone ligands increases with substitution of electron donating methyl groups and results in more stable complexes with Fe(II). The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) for the Fe(II)-aqua complex is metal centered, but the HOMO of the Fe(II)-guanine complex is localized on the nucleobase. Complexation of the thione/selone shifts the HOMO to the sulfur/selenium center suggesting a mechanism for protection of DNA by sacrificial oxidation of the sulfur/selenium ligand in preference to Fe(II) or DNA.
Improving Pedestrian Safety in Cities Using Intelligent Wearable Systems

With the prevalence of smartphones, pedestrians and joggers today often walk or run while listening to music. Since they are deprived of their auditory senses that would have provided important cues to dangers, they are at a much greater risk of being hit by cars or other vehicles. In this paper, we build a wearable system that uses multichannel audio sensors embedded in a headset to help detect and locate cars from their honks, engine, and tire noises, and warn pedestrians of imminent dangers of approaching cars. We demonstrate that using a segmented architecture consisting of headset-mounted audio sensors, a front-end hardware platform that performs signal processing and feature extraction, and machine learning-based classification on a smartphone, we are able to provide early danger detection in real time, from up to 60 m away, and alert the user with low latency and high accuracy. To further reduce power consumption of the battery-powered wearable headset, we implement a custom-designed integrated circuit that is able to compute delays between multiple channels of audio with nW power consumption. A regression-based method for sound source localization, angle via polygonal regression, is proposed and used in combination with the IC to improve the granularity and robustness of localization.
Enhancing natural language inference using new and expanded training data sets and new learning models

Natural Language Inference (NLI) plays an important role in many natural language processing tasks such as question answering. However, existing NLI modules that are trained on existing NLI datasets have several drawbacks. For example, they do not capture the notion of entity and role well and often end up making mistakes such as “Peter signed a deal” can be inferred from “John signed a deal”. As part of this work, we have developed two datasets that help mitigate such issues and make the systems better at understanding the notion of “entities” and “roles”. After training the existing models on the new dataset we observe that the existing models do not perform well on one of the new benchmark. We then propose a modification to the “word-to-word” attention function which has been uniformly reused across several popular NLI architectures. The resulting models perform as well as their unmodified counterparts on the existing benchmarks and perform significantly well on the new benchmarks that emphasize “roles” and “entities”.
Elastic wave analyzer for icy sub-surfaces (EWAIS) in water-bearing worlds

In this paper, we discuss the current status of the development of an elastic wave analyzer for icy sub-surface (EWAIS). We begin with an introductory overview of the necessity to develop an active elastic wave transmitter that will enable reaching distances of kilometer thru ice. It is being developed to be driven by piezoelectric transducers with a bouncing constrained mass that impacts a transmission head. The EWAIS transmits the waves at two distinct frequencies; the primary frequency of the actuator at ~10 kHz for high resolution, and the secondary converted low frequency (LF) in the range of 100 to 500 Hz for long distance transmission. The sonar equation was used for the estimation of required source level, and an impact force sensor is used for the performance measurement of EWAIS prototype.
COVID-19 in Africa: the spread and response.

Given the current trends in incidence and underlying healthcare systems vulnerabilities, Africa could become the next epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic transitions to more widespread community transmission, how can the lessons learned thus far be consolidated to effectively curb the spread of COVID-19 while minimizing social disruption and negative humanitarian and economic consequences?
Basic stochastic model for tumor virotherapy

The complexity of oncolytic virotherapy arises from many factors. In this study, we incorporate environmental noise and stochastic effects to our basic deterministic model and propose a stochastic model for viral therapy in terms of Ito stochastic differential equations. We conduct a detailed analysis of the model using boundary methods. We find two combined parameters, one describes possibilities of eradicating tumors and one is an increasing function of the viral burst size, which serve as thresholds to classify asymptotical dynamics of the model solution paths. We show there are three ergodic invariant probability measures which correspond to equilibrium states of the deterministic model, and extra possibility to eradicate tumor due to strong variance of tumor growth rate and medium viral burst size. Numerical analysis demonstrates several typical solution paths with biological explanations. In addition, we provide some medical interpretations and implications.
Facial Transplantation: Principles and Evolving Concepts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Appreciate the evolution and increasing complexity of transplanted facial allografts over the past two decades. 2. Discuss indications and contraindications for facial transplantation, and donor and recipient selection criteria and considerations. 3. Discuss logistical, immunologic, and cost considerations in facial transplantation, in addition to emerging technologies used. 4. Understand surgical approaches and anatomical and technical nuances of the procedure. 5. Describe aesthetic, functional, and psychosocial outcomes of facial transplantation reported to date. SUMMARY This CME article highlights principles and evolving concepts in facial transplantation. The field has witnessed significant advances over the past two decades, with more than 40 face transplants reported to date. The procedure now occupies the highest rung on the reconstructive ladder for patients with extensive facial disfigurement who are not amenable to autologous reconstructive approaches, in pursuit of optimal functional and aesthetic outcomes. Indications, contraindications, and donor and recipient considerations for the procedure are discussed. The authors also review logistical, immunologic, and cost considerations of facial transplantation. Surgical approaches to allograft procurement and transplantation, in addition to technical and anatomical nuances of the procedure, are provided. Finally, the authors review aesthetic, functional, and psychosocial outcomes that have been reported to date.
Altered fronto-amygdalar functional connectivity predicts response to cognitive behavioral therapy in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder

Background Based on findings from adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), this study examined alterations in resting-state functional connectivity (rs-fc) between the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in children and adolescents with OCD. We also assessed whether such BLA-vmPFC connectivity changed with or predicted response to exposure and response prevention (E/RP), the first-line treatment for pediatric OCD, given the involvement of these regions in fear processing, regulation, and extinction learning-a probable mechanism of action of E/RP. Methods Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 25 unmedicated, treatment-naive pediatric patients with OCD (12.8 ± 2.9 years) and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs; 11.0 ± 3.3 years). Patients completed a 12-16-week E/RP intervention for OCD. Participants were rescanned after the 12-16-week period. ANCOVAs tested group differences in baseline rs-fc. Cross-lagged panel models examined relationships between BLA-vmPFC rs-fc and OCD symptoms pre- and posttreatment. All tests were adjusted for participants' age, sex, and head motion. Results Right BLA-vmPFC rs-fc was significantly reduced (more negative) in patients with OCD relative to HCs at baseline, and increased following treatment. In patients, more positive (less negative) right BLA-vmPFC rs-fc pretreatment predicted greater OCD symptoms reduction posttreatment. Changes in BLA-vmPFC rs-fc was unassociated with change in OCD symptoms pre- to posttreatment. Conclusions These results provide further evidence of the BLA-vmPFC pathway as a potential target for novel treatments or prevention strategies aimed at facilitating adaptive learning and fear extinction in children with OCD or subclinical OCD symptoms.
GPU-based Real-time Contact Tracing at Scale

Contact tracing is gaining its importance in controlling the spread of COVID-19. However, the enormous volume of the frequently sampled tracing data brings major challenges for real-time processing. In this paper, we propose a GPU-based real-time contact tracing system based on spatial proximity queries with temporal constraints using location data. We provide dynamic indexing of moving objects using an adaptive partitioning schema on GPU with extremely low overhead. Our system optimizes the retrieval of contacted pairs to match both the requirements of contact tracing scenarios and GPU centered parallelism. We propose an efficient contacts evaluation mechanism to keep only the spatially and temporally valid contacts. Our experiments demonstrate that the system can achieve sub-second level response for large-scale contact tracing of tens of millions of people, with two magnitudes of performance boost over CPU based approach.
Analyzing Qualitative Data: Systematic Approaches

Preface Acknowledgments PART I. THE BASICS Chapter 1. Introduction to Text: Qualitative Data Analysis Chapter 2. Collecting Data Chapter 3. Finding Themes Chapter 4. Codebooks and Coding Chapter 5. Introduction to Data Analysis Chapter 6. Conceptual Models PART II. THE SPECIFICS Chapter 7. First Steps in Analysis: Comparing Attributes of Variables Chapter 8. Cultural Domain Analysis: Free Lists, Judged Similarities, and Taxonomies Chapter 9. KWIC Analysis, Word Counts, and Semantic Network Analysis Chapter 10. Discourse Analysis: Conversation and Performance Chapter 11. Narrative Analysis Chapter 12. Grounded Theory Chapter 13. Content Analysis Chapter 14. Schema Analysis Chapter 15. Analytic Induction and Qualitative Comparative Analysis Chapter 16. Ethnographic Decision Models Chapter 17. Sampling Appendix: Resources for Analyzing Qualitative Data References Author Index Subject Index About the Authors
An Accurate Frame Error Rate Approximation of Coded Diversity Systems

This paper presents an accurate approximation of the frame error rate (FER) of coded wireless communication systems with receiver diversity. The signals at different diversity branches experience non-independent non-identically distributed Rayleigh fading. The FER approximation is obtained with a threshold-based method. The analytical FER approximation is expressed as an explicit function of parameters related to modulation, coding, frame length, and number of diversity branches. Such a parametric FER approximation is different from most existing FER approximations that do not explicitly quantify many of the important parameters. Simulation results show that the proposed FER approximation can accurately predict the FER performance of a wide range of receiver diversity systems.
Interaction of Strategy Implementation and Power Perceptions in Franchise Systems

Abstract Franchise systems contain legally independent and economically interdependent organizations that are capable of politically affecting each other. In this unique context, impact of sources of power (economic and noneconomic) on franchisees’ strategy implementation process and eventual performance (satisfaction) was investigated in this study. Results from the study indicate that financial performance of the franchisees was affected by the method of implementation they chose. Some implementation methods were found to be more effective than others in achieving the desired performance results. There is no significant difference in the satisfaction level of franchisees based on method of strategy implementation. This study demonstrated that interaction of power sources and strategy implementation could impact a firm’s performance and satisfaction. The results demonstrated that a proper “match” between the implementation methods and the desired outcomes is essential. Congruence between the sources of power and implementation and its effect on eventual performance (satisfaction) was documented. Finally, economic and noneconomic sources of power have contrasting effects on franchisees’ satisfaction and performance (measured as revenues and profits). Originality of the strategy implementation instrument is one of the major methodological contributions. Obtained statistically significant results provide empirical validity to the research instrument. It is an inter disciplinary research drawing from strategic management, marketing channels, and hospitality literatures.
Hyperostosis cranii ex vacuo from ventricular shunting

A legally blind 24-year-old young man with a history of extensive traumatic brain injury due to a motor vehicle accident at age 5.5, status post childhood ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for hydrocephalus and longstanding refractory epilepsy, was admitted for worsening of his seizures. Neurological examination showed a non-verbal patient, unable to follow commands and unable to track. Pupils were asymmetric (left fixed and dilated), eyes were dysconjugate with the right displaced superiorly and laterally, and no reaction to visual stimuli. Upper extremity was hypotonic and atrophic, and lower extremities were spastic with sustained clonus on the left. Plantar response was upgoing bilaterally. During the admission, the patient had multiple clinical seizures consistent with tonic seizures characterized by arm flexion and stiffening with episode of tonus and neck extension. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were notable for extensive dural calcifications (white arrows, Fig. 1A) as well as calvarial thickening (Fig. 1B and white arrows, 1C on magnetic resonance imaging) in the relative absence of thickening of the facial bones and jaw (Fig. 1C, black arrows). A right frontal-approach ventricular catheter with its tip
Virtual Worlds for Organization Learning and Communities of Practice

An increasing number of organizations have established presences in Second Life or virtual worlds for organizational learning. The types of activities range from staff training, annual meetings, to leadership development and commercial transactions. This paper reviews relevant literature on how virtual worlds, especially Second Life, are utilized for organizational learning. Specific emphases will be on the translation of applicable learning theories into the pedagogical design of virtual worlds. Furthermore, the paper explores how organizations establish virtual communities of practice. Finally, examples of virtual worlds that are established for organization learning are examined.
Solubilization and hydrodynamic characterization of the dihydropyridine receptor from rat ventricular muscle

The dihydropyridine receptor-calcium channel complex, prelabeled with (+)-[3H]PN200-110, was solubilized from rat heart membranes with a detergent mixture of digitonin and Triton X-100. The dissociation of (+)-[3H]PN200-110 was slow enough to permit the hydrodynamic characterization of the complex by means of sucrose gradient sedimentation and gel filtration. The hydrodynamic properties of the complex were determined in several detergents, including Tween 80, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic acid (CHAPS), and digitonin. S20,w values of 12.5, 15.4, and 21.0 S were obtained in sucrose gradients prepared in Tween 80, CHAPS, and digitonin, respectively. A Stokes radius of 86-87 A was obtained in each of the three detergents. Determination of the partial specific volume of the protein-detergent complex in each case revealed that the differences in S20,w values could be explained by the differences in the properties of the bound detergent species. Partial specific volumes of 0.796, 0.730, and 0.730 ml/g, corresponding to molecular weights of 595,000, 540,000, and 740,000 were obtained for the complex in Tween 80, CHAPS, and digitonin, respectively. This indicated that Tween 80 readily exchanged for the solubilizing mixture of digitonin and Triton X-100, whereas CHAPS did not. Detergent exchange with Tween 80 made it possible to determine the fractional contribution of the receptor protein to the molecular weight of the protein-detergent complex. The molecular weight of the dihydropyridine receptor-calcium channel complex was estimated to be 370,000. The protein-detergent complex was found to have a frictional coefficient of 1.39, consistent with a large transmembrane protein.
An S-band negative-inductance integrated circuit

Negative inductance has been shown to drastically improve the bandwidth of metamaterials and conformal antennas. This paper reports a floating variable negative inductance integrated circuit at S-band frequencies that is intended to be placed in parallel with inductive loads such as artificial magnetic conductors and slot antennas. Measurement data shows that the IC is stable when shunted by a 5 nH inductor in parallel with 50 Ω and achieves inductance that varies from −13 to −5.9 nH in response to a control voltage.
Taking a Chance in the Classroom: Uncounted Votes: A Case Study in Analyzing Aggregated Data

The aim of CHANCE magazine is showcasing and encouraging sound statistical practice in the social, biological, physical, and medical sciences. This education column will foster these aims by showin...
Sea ice impacts on spring bloom dynamics and net primary production in the Eastern Bering Sea

[1] In the Eastern Bering Sea, changes in sea ice have been implicated in recent major upper-trophic level shifts. However, the underlying relationships between sea ice and primary producers have not been well tested. Here, we combine data from multiple satellite platforms, reanalysis model results and biophysical moorings to explore the dynamics of spring and summer primary production in relation to sea ice conditions. In the northern Bering Sea, sea ice consistently retreated in late spring, leading to ice-edge phytoplankton blooms in cold (0–1 °C) waters. However, in the southeastern Bering Sea, sea ice retreat was far more irregular. Although this did not significantly alter bloom timing, late retreat led to blooms at the ice-edge while early retreat led to blooms in open waters that were warmer (≤5.4 °C) and >70% more productive. Early sea ice retreat also led to higher productivity in summer, likely due to weaker thermal stratification. Overall, annual net primary production during warm years of early sea ice retreat was enhanced by 40–50% compared to years with late sea ice retreat in the southeastern Bering Sea. These findings suggest the potential for future sea ice loss to enhance overall carrying capacity of the southeastern Bering Sea ecosystem. Consistently warm blooms in the future may also channel more energy flow toward the pelagic, rather than benthic, environment. To date, however, neither sea ice extent nor the timing of its retreat have undergone long-term changes in the Eastern Bering Sea.
Characterizing microscopic domains of birefringence in thin tissue sections

A tissue engineering problem that we anticipate will become increasingly of interest is how to grow protein layers and filaments in preferred orientations. For example, the polymerization of monomers into an oriented structure which may exert influence on adherent cells. In this paper, we report on an optical solution using polarized light measurements to probe the structure and orientation of fibers. In particular in this initial study, we measure the fast-axis orientation and retardance of micro-domains in thin sections of liver, muscle, and skin tissues using a polarizing microscope. The size of microdomains of iso- retardance is in the range 10-100 μm, which suggests that optical measurements with laser beams that are on the order of 1-mm in diameter or with imaging cameras with pixels sizes on the order of 100 s of μm will average over several microdomains and consequently complicate interpretation of measurements.
Stability of the Wide Range Achievement Test in an Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Setting

The Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) is widely used to assess school achievement. The present investigation examined the stability of WRAT scores in 50 adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Comparisons were made between testing results near admission and immediately prior to discharge. The results supported the WRAT as a stable measure of school achievement in an inpatient adolescent population across time and diagnoses.
Regional variation in the representation of the visual field in the visual cortex of the siamese cat

In Siamese cats, many ganglion cell fibers from the temporal retina misproject to the contralateral hemisphere; as a result, each lateral geniculate nucleus contains an abnormally large representation of the ipsilateral visual field. The manner in which the visual cortex processes this aberrant visual information has been examined in several previous studies. In some Siamese cats, the region of the 17/18 border was found to contain an extensive, systematic map of the ipsilateral field, while in other animals no such map was found, and the 17/18 border appeared to represent the zero meridian of azimuth (as in normal cats). These results have led to the suggestion that there are two distinct types of Siamese cat ("Boston" and "Midwestern") which can be distinguished on the basis of cortical topography and the anatomical organization oif the geniculocortical pathway. In the present study, we have recorded from four Siamese cats in order to examine the visual field map in the region of the 17/18 border; in each cat we recorded at anterior coronal levels corresponding to the representation of the lower visual field, and also at more posterior levels near the horizontal meridian representation. In all of the animals we found that the anterior penetrations (corresponding to mean receptive field elevations inferior to -7 degrees) yielded 15-20 degrees of ipsilateral field representation at the 17/18 border; however, the posterior, horizontal meridian penetrations (with mean elevations from +1 degrees to -4 degrees) showed excursions of only about 5 degrees into the ipsilateral field. This large difference in the representation of azimuth was not due to rotation of the eyes during our recording sessions. The finding of appreciable differences in the amount of ipsilateral field represented at different anterior-posterior levels of the same animal might lead to the suggestion that there are not two distinct populations (or types) of Siamese cat with regard to the cortical map of the ipsilateral field. Rather, we raise the possibility that Siamese cats form one population in which there is a continuous variation in the extent of ipsilateral field represented in the cortex.
Patron-Client Relationships in the Urban Social Structure: A Brazilian Case Study

Two types of patron-client relationships are delineated as a means of addressing the problem of the nature of social participation of impoverished and working class urbanites in Brazil. Based on research in a squatter settlement in Salvador, the survival type and the alliance type are distinguished by the analysis of household incomes, household networks and the processes by which the relationships are formed. The types differ by household income level, gender of clients and patrons, the form of the household network, number of patrons, what is exchanged and the function of the tie. The extensive division of labor in urban areas, some of which is reflected in the characteristics of the types, means that the ties are dispersed in networks and across the urban area. The lack of ties between patron-client relationships has an effect on solidarity. The function of the alliance tie, in some cases, promotes vertical alliances without vertical solidarity. The survival type, rather than promoting vertical solidar...
Rate Allocation Algorithm with Successive Refinement in Peer-to-Peer Networks

We introduce a new across-peer rate allocation algorithm with successive refinement to improve the video transmission performance in P2P networks, based on the combination of multiple description coding and network coding. Successive refinement is implemented through layered multiple description codes. The algorithm is developed to maximize the expected video quality at the receivers by partitioning video bitstream into different descriptions depending on different bandwidth conditions of each peer. Adaptive rate partition adjustment is applied to ensure the real reflection of the packet drop rate in the network. Also the granularity is changed to the scale of atomic blocks instead of stream rates in prior works. Through simulation results we show that the algorithm outperforms prior algorithms in terms of video playback quality at the peer ends, and helps the system more adjustable to the peer dynamics.
Afferent reinnervation of the autotransplanted heart in dogs.

Patients have been observed with a chest pain syndrome after cardiac transplantation. For this pain to be cardiac in origin the afferent nerves carrying sensory information from the heart would have to reinnervate the heart. A previous study in dogs indicated that afferent reinnervation is uncommon during the first 2 years after transplantation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether afferent reinnervation of the heart occurs in the long term. The decreases in arterial pressure and renal nerve activity resulting from chemical stimulation of left ventricular sensory receptors with vagal afferents with cryptenamine (veratrum alkaloid) were assessed in three dogs 8 to 12 years and in four dogs 6 to 8 weeks after cardiac autotransplantation and in six sham-operated dogs (thoracotomy-pericardiotomy 6 to 8 weeks before study). Responses of renal nerve activity to physiologic stimulation of cardiac receptors by volume expansion were also determined. Left ventricular cryptenamine inhibited renal nerve activity by 72 ± 8% in dogs with long-term and by 10 ± 6% in dogs with short-term autotransplantation and by 92 ± 5% in sham-operated dogs. Decreases in mean arterial pressure in these groups were 34 ± 4, 11 ± 3 and 67 ± 16 mm Hg, respectively. Volume expansion inhibited renal nerve activity in long-term autotransplant (43%) and sham-operated (48%) groups but less in the short-term transplant group (33%) for comparable increases in cardiac filling pressure. It is concluded that in dogs there is extensive afferent reinnervation of the long-term autotransplanted heart that results in relatively normal cardiopulmonary baroreflex responses to volume expansion. Responses to physiologic stimuli in the short term probably are mediated by residual atrial receptors and by arterial baroreflexes.
Virtual Slope Control of a Forward Dynamic Bipedal Walker

Active joint torques are the primary source of power and control in dynamic walking motion. However the amplitude, rate, timing and phasic behavior of the joint torques necessary to achieve a natural and stable performance are difficult to establish. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and stable behavior of an actively controlled bipedal walking simulation wherein the natural system dynamics were preserved by an active, nonlinear, state-feedback controller patterned after passive downhill walking. A two degree-of-freedom, forward-dynamic simulation was implemented with active joint torques applied at the hip joints and stance leg ankle. Kinematic trajectories produced by the active walker were similar to passive dynamic walking with active joint torques influenced by prescribed walking velocity. The control resulted in stable steady-state gait patterns, i.e. eigenvalue magnitudes of the stride function were less than one. The controller coefficient analogous to the virtual slope was modified to successfully control average walking velocity. Furture developments are necessary to expand the range of walking velocities.
The implacable raspberry

Abstract Northern Cheyenne is used to illustrate the semantic basic of the the animate gender in Algonquian. Nouns are in two gender classes, inanimate and animate; the latter includes all persons, animals, spirits, and large trees, and some other objects such as tobacco, maize, apple, raspberry (but not strawberry), calf of leg (but not thigh), stomach, spittle, feather, bird's tail, horn, kettle, pipe for smoking, snowshoes. Leonard Bloomfield (1946: 449‐50)
Efficiently finding unusual shapes in large image databases

Among the visual features of multimedia content, shape is of particular interest because humans can often recognize objects solely on the basis of shape. Over the past three decades, there has been a great deal of research on shape analysis, focusing mostly on shape indexing, clustering, and classification. In this work, we introduce the new problem of finding shape discords, the most unusual shapes in a collection. We motivate the problem by considering the utility of shape discords in diverse domains including zoology, microscopy, anthropology, and medicine. While the brute force search algorithm has quadratic time complexity, we avoid this untenable lethargy by using locality-sensitive hashing to estimate similarity between shapes which enables us to reorder the search more efficiently and thus extract the maximum benefit from an admissible pruning strategy we introduce. An extensive experimental evaluation demonstrates that our approach is empirically linear in time.
Strategic planning for human resources—let's get started

Abstract This article sets forth a basic starting framework for a strategic human resource planning system. The framework involves several complex subsystems which require sustained effort and persistence in developing a workable model. The incomplete practices often used by organizations run the risk of reducing human resource planning to an unproductive management activity, instead of recognizing it as an important component in the total strategic planning process of a business.
Communicating Hope: the Bridge between Science and the Future It Creates

Stem cells and hope. For those who place their futures in the perpetuation of biomedical research, these two constructs—stem cells and hope—have become nearly synonymous. For the scientific community, the potential for their work to be the basis of hope seems all too obvious. Science has long been the very vehicle by which society tackles its most pressing and perplexing challenges. It was Vannevar Bush, the first US presidential science advisor and the intellectual powerhouse behind the National Science Foundation, who championed the role that science would need to play in addressing broad social, economic, and technological problems.
S100A7, a Novel Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker with Non-Amyloidogenic α-Secretase Activity Acts via Selective Promotion of ADAM-10

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among older people. At present, there is no cure for the disease and as of now there are no early diagnostic tests for AD. There is an urgency to develop a novel promising biomarker for early diagnosis of AD. Using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry SELDI-(MS) proteomic technology, we identified and purified a novel 11.7-kDa metal- binding protein biomarker whose content is increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in the brain of AD dementia subjects as a function of clinical dementia. Following purification and protein-sequence analysis, we identified and classified this biomarker as S100A7, a protein known to be involved in immune responses. Using an adenoviral-S100A7 expression system, we continued to examine the potential role of S100A7 in AD amyloid neuropathology in in vitro model of AD. We found that the expression of exogenous S100A7 in primary cortico-hippocampal neuron cultures derived from Tg2576 transgenic embryos inhibits the generation of β-amyloid (Aβ)1–42 and Aβ1–40 peptides, coincidental with a selective promotion of “non- amyloidogenic” α-secretase activity via promotion of ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase)-10. Finally, a selective expression of human S100A7 in the brain of transgenic mice results in significant promotion of α-secretase activity. Our study for the first time suggests that S100A7 may be a novel biomarker of AD dementia and supports the hypothesis that promotion of S100A7 expression in the brain may selectively promote α-secretase activity in the brain of AD precluding the generation of amyloidogenic peptides. If in the future we find that S1000A7 protein content in CSF is sensitive to drug intervention experimentally and eventually in the clinical setting, S100A7 might be developed as novel surrogate index (biomarker) of therapeutic efficacy in the characterization of novel drug agents for the treatment of AD.
Development of Glucose Oxidation in Isolated Nerve Endings

A HIGH proportion of oxidative metabolism in the cerebral cortex is thought to occur in dendritic areas which are rich in synapses1,2. With the development of methods to prepare isolated nerve endings (synaptosomes) from brain3, it has become possible to investigate the characteristics of oxidative metabolism at the synapse without significant glial contamination4,5. Glucose is taken up into synaptosomes by a high-affinity carrier-mediated transport process6 and subsequently oxidized to support synthesis of ATP and phosphocreatine4,5. Mitochondria probably do not metabolize glucose directly4,5 and glucose transport and metabolism are largely abolished if synaptosomes are ruptured by hyposmotic shock4,6.
Topological Hopf Algebras and Braided Monoidal Categories

The relation between a monoidal category which has an exact faithful monoidal functor to a category of finite rank projective modules over a Dedekind domain, and the category of continuous modules over a topological bialgebra is discussed. If the monoidal category is braided, the bialgebra is topologically quasitriangular. If the monoidal category is rigid monoidal, the bialgebra is a Hopf algebra.
Sources of parent-adolescent conflict: Content and form of parenting.

Parent-adolescent conflicts are examined as a function of parental rule construction, use of reason at points of disagreement, and regulation of personal, moral, conventional, and prudential social domains. Multiple regression analyses of interviews with mothers, fathers, and adolescents revealed that, across all perspectives, variations in parental use of reason explain unique variance in conflict frequency above and beyond rule construction or regulation of domains. Furthermore, based on mothers’ reports about their parenting and adolescents’ reports of their mothers, the domains mothers regulate do not explain unique variance in conflict frequency but fathers’ reports about their parenting and adolescents’ reports of their fathers do. Differences in parents’ and adolescents’ perspectives are examined and it is concluded that content and form of parenting are both important in explaining conflict in differential ways between mother-adolescent and father-adolescent dyads.
Effective Learning: Through a Spectrum of Teaching Styles

(1984). Effective Learning: Through a Spectrum of Teaching Styles. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 55, Including Leisure Today, pp. 17-21.
Acoustic mode coupling induced by shallow water nonlinear internal waves: sensitivity to environmental conditions and space-time scales of internal waves.

While many results have been intuited from numerical simulation studies, the precise connections between shallow-water acoustic variability and the space-time scales of nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) as well as the background environmental conditions have not been clearly established analytically. Two-dimensional coupled mode propagation through NLIWs is examined using a perturbation series solution in which each order n is associated with nth-order multiple scattering. Importantly, the perturbation solution gives resonance conditions that pick out specific NLIW scales that cause coupling, and seabed attenuation is demonstrated to broaden these resonances, fundamentally changing the coupling behavior at low frequency. Sound-speed inhomogeneities caused by internal solitary waves (ISWs) are primarily considered and the dependence of mode coupling on ISW amplitude, range width, depth structure, location relative to the source, and packet characteristics are delineated as a function of acoustic frequency. ...
A New State of Venus's Ionosphere

Observations from NASA's Pioneer Venus orbiter, which reached Venus in 1978, suggested that Venus's ionosphere had two states: a magnetized state with a large-scale horizontal magnetic field and an unmagnetized state with no large-scale magnetic field but with numerous small-scale thin magnetic structures known as flux ropes. Venus's ionosphere was observed to be in the unmagnetized state most of the time, but strong solar wind pressure shifted it to the magnetized state.
Computer technology in process systems engineering

Abstract This paper looks at the future of computer aided process systems engineering. Productivity issues are discussed with respect to software, computer design technology, engineering relational data base management systems, and data independent programming. Very large systems integration technology will have a major impact on the structure of process systems engineering software. Standards are proposed for host languages and host operating system. Expert systems will find an increasing role.
Association between urinary cadmium levels and prediabetes in the NHANES 2005-2010 population.

Evidence suggests an association between exposure to cadmium and dysglycemia. To investigate this matter, we examined the relationship between urinary cadmium and prediabetes in the cross sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES participants for the years 2005 through 2010 aged ≥40 years were included in the analysis. Participants with nephropathy, overt diabetes, or missing required data were excluded. To assess the non-linear relationship between cadmium and Prediabetes, non-parametric logistic regression with B spline expansion of urinary cadmium/creatinine ratio was performed. This analysis revealed a complex non-linear association between higher cadmium levels and prediabetes. This relationship persisted, though with varying magnitudes across smoking groups (never smokers, moderate smokers, heavy smokers). In a conventional logistic regression analysis, this relationship was less evident with significantly increased OR for prediabetes was found in the highest quintile of urine cadmium compared to the lowest quintile in the overall population and in moderate smokers. In an age stratified analysis, a significant linear association was found only in the age groups 60–69 and ≥70. We conclude that there is a significant non-linear, complex relationship between urinary Cd levels, age, smoking habits and odds of prediabetes.
Effects of Presentation Speed on Comprehension of Computer-Presented Text

100 students in introductory psychology served as subjects in an experiment designed to assess the effects of various speeds of presenting text on reading comprehension. A computer was used to present textual material of varying difficulty levels to four groups of students via CRT terminals. Presentation speeds were 110, 300, 600, or 1200 baud (11—120 characters per sec.). A fifth group of students was presented the textual material printed on sheets of paper. An analysis of variance indicated that differences in text difficulty were quite reliable whereas the presentation speed did not have a reliable effect on reading comprehension.