cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimism for the Future in Younger and Older Adults.

Objectives Research has suggested that older adults are less optimistic about their future than younger adults; however, a limitation of prior studies is that younger and older adults were forecasting to different ages and stages of life. To address this, we investigated whether there are age differences in future optimism when people project to the exact same age. We also tested whether optimism differs when projecting one's own future versus another person's future. Method Participants were 285 younger and 292 older adults recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants completed writing and word-rating tasks in which they imagined their own future in 15 years, their own future at age 85, or the average person's future at age 85. Results Younger adults were more optimistic than older adults about their own future in 15 years. In contrast, both age groups were similarly optimistic about their future at age 85 and expected it to be more positive than others' future at age 85. Discussion Contrary to previous research, younger and older adults had comparable future forecasts when projecting to the exact same age. These findings emphasize the need to consider age and stage of life when examining age differences in future optimism.
The Future of the German Past

All art is dialogue. So is all interest in the past. And one of the parties lives and comprehends in a contemporary way, by his very existence. It seems also to be inherent in human existence to turn and return to the past (much as powerful voices may urge us to give it up). The more precisely we listen and the more we become aware of its pastness, even of its near inaccessibility, the more meaningful the dialogue becomes. In the end, it can only be a dialogue in the present, about the present.—M.I. Finley, Aspects of Antiquity (1968)
Symbiodinium Functional Diversity in the Coral Siderastrea siderea Is Influenced by Thermal Stress and Reef Environment, but Not Ocean Acidification

Coral bleaching events are increasing in frequency, demanding examination of the physiological and molecular responses of scleractinian corals and their algal symbionts (Symbiodinium sp.) to stressors associated with bleaching. Here we quantify the effects of long-term (95-day) thermal and CO2-acidification stress on photochemical efficiency of in hospite Symbiodinium within the coral Siderastrea siderea, along with corresponding coral color intensity, for corals from two reef zones (forereef, nearshore) on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. We then explore the molecular responses of in hospite Symbiodinium to these stressors via genome-wide gene expression profiling. Elevated temperatures reduced symbiont photochemical efficiencies and were highly correlated with coral color loss. However, photochemical efficiencies of forereef symbionts were more negatively affected by thermal stress than nearshore symbionts, suggesting greater thermal tolerance and/or reduced photodamage in nearshore corals. At control temperatures, CO2-acidification had little effect on symbiont physiology, although forereef symbionts exhibited constitutively higher photochemical efficiencies than nearshore symbionts. Gene expression profiling revealed that S. siderea were dominated by Symbiodinium goreaui (C1), except under thermal stress, which caused shifts to thermotolerant Symbiodinium trenchii (D1a). Comparative transcriptomics of conserved genes across the host and symbiont revealed few differentially expressed S. goreaui genes when compared to S. siderea, highlighting the host’s role in the coral’s response to environmental stress. Although S. goreaui transcriptomes did not vary in response to acidification stress, their gene expression was strongly dependent on reef zone, with forereef S. goreaui exhibiting enrichment of genes associated with photosynthesis. This finding, coupled with constitutively higher forereef S. goreaui photochemical efficiencies, suggests that functional differences in genes associated with primary production exist between reef zones.
Morphological Diversity of Immature Scydmaeninae

Larvae of ant-like stone beetles are exceptionally poorly known. Scydmaeninae comprises over 5000 species, but the immature stages have been described for less than 0.5% of them; the pupa has been illustrated for four species, and the first larval instar for only one species. In several tribes, larvae still remain unknown, and many descriptions are inaccurate or poorly illustrated. Chaetotaxic structures have been coded in only six species. Our knowledge of larval Scydmaeninae is so fragmentary that even for the largest, most common, and abundant genus, Euconnus Thomson (nearly 2500 nominal species!), the immature stages have never been adequately described. Known larvae of Scydmaeninae show a great diversity of body shapes and structures, more than expected within one subfamily of Staphylinidae. Known larvae of Eutheiini, Scydmaenini, Glandulariini, Mastigini, Clidicini, and Leptomastacini have a ten-segmented abdomen, whereas those of Cephenniini have only nine abdominal segments. Larvae of Eutheiini and Mastigitae are campodeiform, subcylindrical, or flattened, resembling those of other subfamilies of Staphylinidae. However, larvae of Scydmaenus s. str. are nearly onisciform, with demarcated laterotergites of thoracic segments, densely and asymmetrically covered with setae and microtrichia. Larvae of Glandulariini are also onisciform, but without demarcated laterotergites; they are sparsely setose and have nearly smooth cuticles. Larvae of some tribes have short, unsegmented urogomphs, whereas in others the urogomphs are absent. This chapter summarizes known data on the immature stages of Scydmaeninae, including their biology, indicating major problems and future directions.
Modeling Ozone in the Eastern U.S. using a Fuel-Based Mobile Source Emissions Inventory.

Recent studies suggest overestimates in current U.S. emission inventories of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2). Here, we expand a previously developed fuel-based inventory of motor-vehicle emissions (FIVE) to the continental U.S. for the year 2013, and evaluate our estimates of mobile source emissions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Emissions Inventory (NEI) interpolated to 2013. We find that mobile source emissions of NOx and carbon monoxide (CO) in the NEI are higher than FIVE by 28% and 90%, respectively. Using a chemical transport model, we model mobile source emissions from FIVE, and find consistent levels of urban NOx and CO as measured during the Southeast Nexus (SENEX) Study in 2013. Lastly, we assess the sensitivity of ozone (O3) over the Eastern U.S. to uncertainties in mobile source NOx emissions and biogenic volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. The ground-level O3 is sensitive to reductions in mobile source NOx emissions, most notably in the Southeastern U.S. and ...
The dimensions and language of transcendence

For sake of a good beginning let’s assume the belief that transcendence as a unitary power manifests itself in two forms, the positive and negative. Both types have multiple functions. In its positive authentic from transcendence is an integral part of purposive beings striving in the confines of existence. On its negative side the power of transcendence goes above and beyond the finite search for wholeness to some given totality. Negative transcendence operates by a separate awareness apart from the directional awareness of purposive beings. It is the synonym of separateness which defines the negative transcendence as an alienated power. This power no longer accepts the directive agency of finite beings in their search for wholeness. For example, this power can go beyond man’s directive agency to a given totality and adopt the directionality of that totality. This switch in directive agencies is made by such an alienated transcendence. This power can also go below the context of human striving to some given totality, as in Heidegger’s case, to the Being of beings. Here the Dasein prefers the intentions and the call of Being to human directional awareness. In both instances the totalist, who identifies with negative and alienated transcendence, is looking for alternate worlds, given totalities, as substitute forms of directionality.
Abstract 11495: The Association between Amino Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Incident Heart Failure in Diabetes- The Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background Heart Failure has become a common manifestation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among diabetics. There is limited data on the role of amino-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) as a predictor of incident heart failure (HF) in diabetics. Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma levels of NT-proBNP and incident HF in diabetics in a large mult-ethnic cohort free of CVD. Methods The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) is a multicenter cohort study of 6,814 white, African American, Hispanic, and Chinese participants aged 45 to 84 years. NT-proBNP was assayed in 5597 participants. Cox proportional hazard (CPH) models were used to analyze the association of NT-proBNP with incident HF in diabetes and to formally test for an interaction between NT-proBNP and diabetes. Results During a median follow-up of 6.4 years, 124 participants developed HF. The incidence rate was significantly higher in diabetics compared to non-diabetics (9.66 vs 2.72 per 1000 person-years). Similarly, the adjusted incidence rates by NT-proBNP quartiles demonstrated a signficantly higher incidence of HF in patients with diabetes and NT-proBNP values above the 75th percentile (Table 1). Participants with diabetes had higher NT-proBNP values (56.5 pg/ml [50.7- 62.9]) than those without diabetes (50.1 pg/ml [48.5-51.8]) (p=0.024). In CPH models, participants with diabetes had 2.32 times higher risk of incident HF when compared to non-diabetics (p Conclusions NT-proBNP levels were significantly elevated in diabetics compared with non-diabetics. Participants with elevated NT-proBNP had significantly increased risk of incident HF in diabetics compared to non-diabetics. Our data suggest that screening diabetic patients for plasma NT-proBNP may identify those that need further evaluation by echocardiogram and intervention for left ventricular dysfunction.
Dual-Seeded Four-Wave Mixing in Portable Quantum Light Source

The noise spectrum of intensity-difference squeezed light exhibits excess noise at high frequencies when a tapered amplifier is used as a pump beam. Our dual-seed technique corrects this noise.
Empowering Students to Create Community Standards

How can we create a sense of community and shared responsibility among students in residence halls— and for that matter elsewhere in their campus lives? The residential life staff at the University...
The Significance of So-Called Equivocal Immunohistochemical Staining for Cytomegalovirus in Colorectal Biopsies

Context.— Recent studies examining immunohistochemical staining of colorectal biopsies for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reported that some cases showed only occasional small positive nuclei that were call...
The Johannesburg exile and the death of Reza Shah, 1942-44

Reza Shah spent the last two years of his life in exile in Johannesburg, being allowed to relocate after several unhappy months on the island of Mauritius. He was more content in Johannesburg than ...
À Propos du style de Houellebecq

AbstractFrom the shootings on the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, to the Nice attacks on Bastille Day, France has experienced two “anni horribiles” (2015 and 2016). My article notes an enthusias...
Solving Cyber Alert Allocation Markov Games with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Companies and organizations typically employ different forms of intrusion detection (and prevention) systems on their computer and network resources (e.g., servers, routers) that monitor and flag suspicious and/or abnormal activities. When a possible malicious activity is detected, one or more cyber-alerts are generated with varying levels of significance (e.g., high, medium, or low). Some subset of these alerts may then be assigned to cyber-security analysts on staff for further investigation. Due to the wide range of potential attacks and the high degrees of attack sophistication, identifying what constitutes a true attack is a challenging problem. In this paper, we present a framework that allows us to derive game-theoretic strategies for assigning security alerts to security analysts. Our approach considers a series of sub-games between the attacker and defender with a state maintained between sub-games. Due to the large sizes of the action and state spaces, we present a technique that uses deep neural networks in conjunction with Q-learning to derive near-optimal Nash strategies for both attacker and defender. We assess the effectiveness of these policies by comparing them to optimal policies obtained from brute force value iteration methods, as well as other sensible heuristics (e.g., random and myopic). Our results show that we consistently obtain policies whose utility is comparable to that of the optimal solution, while drastically reducing the run times needed to achieve such policies.
Alternative Pathways to Retirement in a Household Context

Provides a more robust understanding of retirement decisions by examining joint work-to-retirement trajectories.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Painful Neuromas: Targeted Muscle Reinnervation

Neuromas are often underdiagnosed and poorly understood consequences from various mechanisms of nerve injury. Neuromas form when a nerve cannot properly regenerate resulting in disorganized nerve fibers and scar tissue. When reconstruction of the nerve to its intended distal target is possible, primary reconstruction should be attempted first. When reconstruction to intended distal target is not an option, neuroma ablative treatments and pain preventative techniques are presented including nerve transposition, regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces (RPNI), targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), targeted nerve implantation (TNI), and TMR with vascularized RPNI.
A diffraction-limited Wolter nested-shell telescope concept with pico-radian resolution

We present a novel nested-shell Wolter x-ray telescope design that can achieve diffraction-limited performance over the entire telescope aperture. The new design features a compact single-spacecraft mirror assembly, similar in form to that proposed for Lynx, and a separate detector spacecraft. A wide range of design parameter space was considered. We present a specific example which features 10 micro-arcsec resolution, a wide band (0.1-10 keV) with > 2 m2 effective area out to 10 keV, a large flat field (>1010 pixels), achieving diffraction-limited performance (Strehl ratio > 0.8). We will also briefly discuss a potential science case for this telescope.
Clinical Chemistry for Developing Countries: Mass Spectrometry

Early disease diagnosis is necessary to enable timely interventions. Implementation of this vital task in the developing world is challenging owing to limited resources. Diagnostic approaches devel...
Family SES Is Associated with the Gut Microbiome in Infants and Children.

Background: While early life exposures such as mode of birth, breastfeeding, and antibiotic use are established regulators of microbiome composition in early childhood, recent research suggests that the social environment may also exert influence. Two recent studies in adults demonstrated associations between socioeconomic factors and microbiome composition. This study expands on this prior work by examining the association between family socioeconomic status (SES) and host genetics with microbiome composition in infants and children. Methods: Family SES was used to predict a latent variable representing six genera abundances generated from whole-genome shotgun sequencing. A polygenic score derived from a microbiome genome-wide association study was included to control for potential genetic associations. Associations between family SES and microbiome diversity were assessed. Results: Anaerostipes, Bacteroides, Eubacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Lachnospiraceae spp. significantly loaded onto a latent factor, which was significantly predicted by SES (p 0.05). Our results indicate that SES did not predict alpha diversity but did predict beta diversity (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that modifiable environmental factors influence gut microbiome composition at an early age. These results are important as our understanding of gut microbiome influences on health continue to expand.
IEEE BigData 2021 Cup: Soft Sensing at Scale.

IEEE BigData 2021 Cup: Soft Sensing at Scale is a data mining competition organized by Seagate Technology, in association with the IEEE BigData 2021 conference. The scope of this challenge is to tackle the task of classifying soft sensing data with machine learning techniques. In this paper we go into the details of the challenge and describe the data set provided to participants. We define the metrics of interest, baseline models, and describe approaches we found meaningful which may be a good starting point for further analysis. We discuss the results obtained with our approaches and give insights on what potential challenges participants may run into. Students, researchers, and anyone interested in working on a major industrial problem are welcome to participate in the challenge!
Aerobic Respiration and Its Regulation in the Metal Reducer Shewanella oneidensis.

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is a facultative anaerobe known for its ability to reduce metal oxides. Anaerobic respiration, especially metal reduction, has been the subject of extensive research. In contrast, S. oneidensis aerobic respiration has received less attention. S. oneidensis expresses cbb3 - and aa3 -type cytochrome c oxidases and a bd-type quinol oxidase. The aa3 -type oxidase, which in other bacteria is the major oxygen reductase under oxygen replete conditions, does not appear to contribute to aerobic respiration and growth in S. oneidensis. Our results indicated that although the aa3-type oxidase does not play a role in aerobic growth on lactate, the preferred carbon source for S. oneidensis, it is involved in growth on pyruvate or acetate. These results highlight the importance of testing multiple carbon and energy sources when attempting to identify enzyme activities and mutant phenotypes. Several regulatory proteins contribute to the regulation of aerobic growth in S. oneidensis including CRP and ArcA. The 3',5'-cAMP phosphodiesterase (CpdA) appears to play a more significant role in aerobic growth than either CRP or ArcA, yet the deficiency does not appear to be the result of reduced oxidase genes expression. Interestingly, the ∆cpdA mutant was more deficient in aerobic respiration with several carbon sources tested compared to ∆crp, which was moderately deficient only in the presence of lactate. To identify the reason for ∆cpdA aerobic growth deficiency, we isolated a suppressor mutant with transposon insertion in SO_3550. Inactivation of this gene, which encodes an anti-sigma factor, restored aerobic growth in the cpdA mutant to wild-type levels. Inactivation of SO_3550 in wild-type cells, however, did not affect aerobic growth. The S. oneidensis genome encodes two additional CRP-like proteins that we designated CrpB and CrpC. Mutants that lack crpB and crpC were deficient in aerobic growth, but this deficiency was not due to the loss of oxidase gene expression.
Decision Analysis Models for Risks in the Distant Future

Cost-benefit and risk analysis studies that model tradeoffs between the present and the distant future by means of present value discounting have been criticized for according the future, and thus future generations, far too little importance. This paper presents an alternative means of modeling tradeoffs between different periods that accords the future far more importance than present value discounting, and that is no more difficult to apply.
Hypertension in the African American population: A succinct look at its epidemiology, pathogenesis, and therapy

Arterial hypertension is prevalent in the black population in the United States. It is directly related to cardiovascular and kidney damage. Its pathogenesis is complex and includes the high incidence of obesity, salt sensitivity and the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. This complexity requires a therapeutic combination that includes changes in dietary habits and appropriate antihypertensive regimes. The International Society of Hypertension in Blacks recommends initiating dietary intervention for values of systolic/diastolic arterial blood pressure above 115/75 mmHg and maintaining arterial blood pressure below 135/85 mmHg using appropiate antihypertensive medication. The most adequate antihypertensive drug for this population has yet to be determined.
Wafer-scale integration as a technology choice for high speed ATM switching systems

This paper presents a new architecture of multigigabit ATM switching system using wafer-scale integration (WSI). Clearly, the crucial delay constraints in a switching network using discrete VLSI components fall within the off-chip interconnections. We propose the use of WSI to facilitate higher speed operation. WSI allows us to consider new design alternatives that would not be practical in a system using discrete components. In the architecture presented in this paper, identical units called self-driven crosspoints will make up the entire ATM switching fabric in a wafer-scale system. >
Wittkower, Eric D

Eric Wittkower was born in Berlin on April 4, 1899 and died in Montreal on January 6, 1983. Keywords: abnormal; psychopathology; depression; schizophrenia
Application of Computational Thermodynamics and Calphad in Magnesium Alloy Development

This paper presents two examples of using computational thermodynamics and CALPHAD modeling in the selection and development of new magnesium alloys. The Scheil model simulation of the solidification microstructure suggests that calcium is more effective than rare earth elements (such as cerium) in suppressing the formation of Mg17Al12 phase in binary Mg-Al alloys. Calcium additions also introduce more thermally stable phases in the ternary alloys, thus improving their creep resistance and strength at elevated temperatures.
Need and utility of a polyethylene glycol marker to ensure against urine falsification among heroin users.

Background Deceptive methods of falsifying urine samples are of concern for anyone who relies on accurate urine toxicology results. A novel method to combat these efforts utilizes polyethylene glycol (PEG) markers administered orally prior to providing a urine sample. By using various PEG combinations to create a tracer capsule of unique composition, each urine sample can be matched to that individual. The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using the PEG marker system among active heroin users screening for research studies.
Berubicin, a brain tumor targeting anthracycline: Discovery and clinical evaluation

LB-303 Abstract LB-303 is scheduld in a Late-Breaking Abstract session and is embargoed until Friday, April 11. It will be posted to the online Proceedings at that time.
Situated Meaning: Inside and Outside in Japanese Self, Society, and Language.

Situated Meaning: Inside and Outside in Japanese Self, Society, and Language.Jane M. Bachnik and Charles J. Quinn, Jr. eds. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1994. 309 pp.
The chronotope of trauma in national cinema

In recent South Korean cinema, the idea of northerness has become a tropological and aesthetic motif through which film seeks a visual language to express national trauma. What I call the films of the chronotopic North stage South Korea's traumatic encounter with a North that stands in as its unmodern Other. I look at films in which those encounters occur in Manchuria and which introduce a subject that cannot be confined within the ideologies and practices of the South Korean modern nation-state. This subject reveals what Jacques Lacan describes as the Real, which in terms of film analyses means a cinematic element that disrupts narrative cinema's ideological project to secure a normalized subject position. In film theory, current discussions regarding the disruption of narrative tend to focus on so-called Hitchcockian blots. These are images within a film that exceed the narrative's diegesis and make the symbolic meaning of objects falter (the crop duster in North by Northwest, for example, or a windmill...
Dynamic ensemble selection with local expertise consistency

In classification tasks, ensemble selection methods select some base learners from the learners pool instead all of them to classify a query patterns. Static ensemble selection schemes determine the final ensemble immediately after training and apply it to all test patterns. On the other hand, dynamic ensemble selection (DES) construct a customized ensemble for every query pattern by incorporating its local information. Most DES differ each other only on the selection scheme. We propose Dynamic Ensemble Selection with Local Expertise Consistency (DES-LEC) that focus on generating a learners pool dedicated to the latter selection phase. Experiment results on 4 medical data sets suggest that DES-LEC is able to improve the performance over the DES systems that select from a regular learners pool.
Protracted Methemoglobinemia after Phenazopyridine Overdose in an Infant

Acquired methemoglobinemia may be produced by the ingestion or absorption of certain chemicals and xenobiotics. A case of methemoglobinemia in an 8.5-month old infant who ingested approximately 227 mg/kg of phenazopyridine is presented. Although this adverse event is often reversed with a single dose of methylene blue, this patient required three doses of methylene blue (1 mg/kg) over a 25-hour period. It is suggested that the need for repeated doses of methylene blue in this case was not only related to the large dose of phenazopyridine, but also its metabolites (i.e., aniline), which have the potential to produce methemoglobinemia. This case illustrates the need for close observation and serial monitoring of methemoglobin levels in patients who are at increased risk for the development of protracted methemoglobinemia. Integration of knowledge of developmental pharmacology, drug metabolism, and pharmacodynamic properties are critical determinants in the evaluation and treatment of patients with drug-induced methemoglobinemia.
Continuum Damage-Healing Mechanics with Introduction to New Healing Variables:

In this study, damage and healing mechanisms are discussed in detail with special emphasis given on two new healing variables. They are introduced in terms of healing variable based on area and hea...
Ground-penetrating radar reflection profiling of groundwater and bedrock in an area of discontinuous permafrost

We have used ground‐penetrating radar to profile the depth of permafrost, to groundwater beneath permafrost, and to bedrock within permafrost in alluvial sediments of interior Alaska. We used well log data to aid the interpretations and to calculate dielectric permittivities for frozen and unfrozen materials. Interfaces between unfrozen and frozen sediments above permafrost were best resolved with wavelet bandwidths centered at and above 100 MHz. The resolution also required consideration of antenna configuration, season, and surface conditions. Depths to subpermafrost groundwater were profiled where it was in continuous contact with the bottom of the permafrost, except near transitions to unfrozen zones, where the contact appeared to dip steeply. The complexity of the responses to intrapermafrost bedrock, detected at a maximum depth of 47 m, appears to distinguish these events from those of subpermafrost saturated sediments. The relative dielectric permittivity ranged between 4.4 and 8.3 for the permafro...
Adoptive transfer of immunity to Plasmodium berghei by spleen and lymph node cells from young and old mice.

SYNOPSIS. Different numbers of spleen and lymph node cells of 6-week and 6–8 month A/J mice, immune to Plasmodium berghei, were transferred into normal 4-week old mice. Better protection was observed with 2.5 × 10s than with 107 spleen cells, and spleen cells afforded better protection than an equal number of lymph node cells. Further, spleen cells from older mice were more effective than those from young animals. Possible mechanisms of immunity transfer are discussed.
Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the diaphragm: an unusual cause of adolescent pseudo-achalasia.

We report an adolescent male who presented with progressive dysphagia. Barium examination and upper endoscopy revealed the presence of a smoothly tapered stricture at the lower end of a dilated oesophagus typical of achalasia. Further evaluation by computed tomography (CT), demonstrated the presence of a bulky infiltrating diaphragmatic mass encasing the lower oesophagus. CT guided biopsy of the mass and subsequent post mortem examination revealed the presence of a primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the diaphragm encasing the lower oesophagus. A diagnosis of pseudoachalasia secondary to a primary diaphragmatic tumour was made.
The tautological rings of the moduli spaces of stable maps to flag varieties

We show that the rational cohomology classes on the moduli spaces of genus zero stable maps to SL flag varieties are tautological. The Kontsevich moduli stacks of stable maps arise as generalizations of the classical Deligne-Mumford spaces of stable curves. Their intersection theory has been intensively studied in the last decade in relation to enumerative geometry and string theory. Partial results are known about the cohomology or the Chow groups of the DeligneMumford spaces in low codimension or low genus. Higher genera are particularly difficult since nontautological classes do exist [GP]. Very little is known even about the tautological rings. However, the genus zero case is well understood. Keel proved that the cohomology is tautological, in fact generated by boundary classes of curves with fixed dual graph [K]. An easy Hodge theoretic proof of Keel’s result is outlined in [Ge]. This result has implications, for instance, in the study of the tree-level cohomological field theories [M]. 0.1. The tautological rings. As the moduli spaces of stable curves are examples of Kontsevich spaces, it was suggested in [Pa3] that it may be useful to push the investigation of the tautological rings in the context of Gromov-Witten theory. Here, we study the generalization of Keel’s theorem to the genus zero Kontsevich spaces of maps to flag varieties X. There are natural cohomology classes defined on the moduli spaces of stable maps; their intersection numbers are the Gromov-Witten invariants of X. We show that these natural classes generate the rational cohomology. This implies that the Gromov-Witten invariants essentially capture the entire intersection theory of the Kontsevich moduli spaces. Among the natural cohomology classes, we single out the boundary classes of maps with fixed dual graph. We may impose additional constraints making the marked points or nodes map to certain Schubert subvarieties of X and requiring that the image of the map intersect various Schubert subvarieties. There is a cleaner way of bookkeeping the geometric Schubert-type classes we just described which leads to the definition of the tautological rings. To set the stage, we let X be a convex complex projective manifold, usually a flag variety, and β ∈ H2(X,Z) a homology class. The moduli stacks M0,S(X,β) parametrize S-pointed genus zero stable maps to X in the homology class β. We use the 1
Electrodeposited, high-moment magnetic alloys for recording write heads

The magnetic and structural properties of Fe-Co-Ni alloys electrodeposited from solutions containing no organic additives have been investigated. The range of compositions corresponding to high moment and low coercivity is seen to correspond closely with the range of compositions where the films show a mixed FCC-BCC phase structure. The best films showed B, values in excess of 20 kG with H c < 2Oe and low magnetostriction.
Role of nitrogen in the homoepitaxial growth on diamond anvils by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition

The catalytic effect of nitrogen during the homoepitaxial diamond growth on a diamond anvil was investigated using isotopically enriched carbon-13 methane in a feed-gas mixture in a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition reactor. The use of isotopically enriched carbon-13 allows us to precisely measure the film thickness in this homoepitaxial growth process by Raman spectroscopy. It is found that the addition of 0.4 sccm of nitrogen to an H2/CH4/O2 gas-phase mixture increases the growth rate by a factor of 2.3. This enhanced growth rate with the addition of trace amounts of nitrogen allows for a quick encapsulation of embedded sensors in the designer diamond anvils and is a key control parameter in the fabrication process. Photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals nitrogen-vacancy defect centers in the high-growth-rate diamonds. Atomic force microscopy reveals dramatic changes in the surface microstructure as is indicated by a total loss of step-flow growth morphology on the addition of nitrogen in the plasma.
The learning of exclusive-or categories by monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and humans (Homo sapiens).

A central question in categorization research concerns the categories that animals and humans learn naturally and well. Here, the authors examined monkeys’ and humans’ learning of the important class of exclusive-or (XOR) categories. Both species exhibited—through a sustained level of ongoing errors—substantial difficulty learning XOR category tasks at three stimulus dimensionalities. Clearly, both species brought a linear-separability constraint to XOR category learning. This constraint illuminates the primate category-learning system from which that of humans arose, and it has theoretical implications concerning the evolution of cognitive systems for categorization. The present data also clarify the role of exemplar-specific processes in fully explaining XOR category learning, and suggest that humans sometimes overcome their linear-separability constraint through the use of language and verbalization.
Assessment and Enhancement of Synthetic Vision Systems Experimentation Software

Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) are cockpit technologies which depict computer generated perspective displays of terrain surrounding an aircraft in order to prevent incidents of controlled flight into terrain. This paper evaluates a toolset designed to support experiments that assess the ability of different SVS displays to convey spatial awareness by having participants make spatial and temporal judgments after viewing videos of SVS displays in flight. The paper discusses the limitations of this toolset and identifies SVS experiments that the toolset could support. These experiments are used to derive requirements for toolset improvements. The paper then describes the toolset's current implementation status and establishes a trajectory for future development.
A Variational Framework for Partially Occluded Image Segmentation using Coarse to Fine Shape Alignment and Semi-Parametric Density Approximation

In this paper, we propose a variational framework which combines top-down and bottom-up information to address the challenge of partially occluded image segmentation. The algorithm applies shape priors and divides shape learning into shape mode clustering and non-rigid transformation estimation to handle intraclass and interclass coarse to fine variations. A semi-parametric density approximation using adaptive meanshift and L2E robust estimation is used to model the likelihood. A set of real images is used to show the good performance of the algorithm.
Effect of Intraperitoneal Insulin on Solute Kinetics in CAPD: Insulin Kinetics in CAPD

The authors evaluated the transport kinetics of insulin and inulin administered intraperitoneally to six diabetic patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The mass transfer coefficients (MTC) calculated from dialysate to blood for 1.5% and 4.25% dextrose dialysate were (ml/min): insulin 2.9 +/- 0.9, 2.0 +/- 0.5; inulin 3.3 +/- 1.4; 2.9 +/- 1.7, respectively. The MTC for inulin calculated from blood to dialysate was 2.0 +/- 0.7 ml/min. Because insulin disappears from the peritoneal cavity at a rate similar to inulin, it suggests that insulin transport can be defined by diffusion. The derived MTC values for glucose were not altered by the addition of intraperitoneal insulin. The derived MTCs for eight diabetic to thirteen nondiabetic patients were compared. The MTC derived for urea was less among the diabetics (16.6 +/- 2.2 vs. 24.6 +/- 2.6 p less than 0.05), but there were no differences for creatinine, uric acid, glucose, inulin, and protein. The derived values were found to be normally distributed and patients in the upper quartile for one solute were generally in the upper quartile for other solutes.
Brief Report: Aggression and Stereotypic Behavior in Males with Fragile X Syndrome—Moderating Secondary Genes in a “Single Gene” Disorder

Although fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a single gene disorder with a well-described phenotype, it is not known why some individuals develop more significant maladaptive behaviors such as aggression or autistic symptoms. Here, we studied two candidate genes known to affect mood and aggression, the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA-VNTR) polymorphisms, in 50 males with FXS ages 8–24 years. Mothers and fathers of participants reported the frequency and severity of aggressive/destructive, self-injurious, and stereotypic behaviors. Polymorphism genotypes were unrelated to age and IQ. Results showed a significant effect of 5-HTTLPR genotype on aggressive/destructive and stereotypic behavior; males with FXS who were homozygous for the high-transcribing long (L/L) genotype had the most aggressive and destructive behavior, and individuals homozygous for the short (S/S) genotype had the least aggression. Those with the L/L genotype also had the highest levels of stereotypic behavior. There was no effect of MAOA-VNTR on behavior; however those with the high-activity, 4-repeat genotype were more likely to be taking SSRI or SNRI medication. This preliminary study prompts consideration of secondary genes that may modify behavioral phenotype expression in neurodevelopmental disorders, even those with a single gene etiology such as FXS.
Free radical theory of aging: The “free radical” diseases

The free radical theory of aging postulates that free radical reactions are responsible for the progressive accumulation of changes with time associated with or responsible for the ever-increasing likelihood of disease and death that accompanies advancing age.
Immunotoxicity of the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Monocrotaline following Subchronic Administration to C57BI/6 Mice

Abstract Monocrotaline (MCT) is a member of a class of compounds known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). PAs are found in the leaves and seeds of a variety of plant species. The potential intoxication of livestock and man through the ingestion of contaminated grains and other foods makes PAs a significant toxicological concern. MCT exposure in rats results in lesions to hepatic and cardiopulmonary tissues as well as alterations in lymphoid organ cellularity. However, no previous studies have investigated MCT-induced functional alterations in the immune system. In the present study, MCT was administered by gavage for 14 days at 0, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 150 mg/kg to female C57B1 6 mice. The antibody-mediated immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was assessed using the plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay and the hemolytic antibody isotope release assay (HAIR). Additionally, the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to allogeneic P815 tumor cells was determined after MCT exposure. Although hepatic and pulmonary lesions are common sequelae to MCT exposure in rats, the C57B1 6 mouse appeared to be more resistant to these effects on the basis of histopathological examination. Furthermore, the overt toxicity of MCT was minimal with respect to organ weight changes in liver, kidney, and lung. In contrast, a dose-dependent suppression in the antibody response to SRBC was observed with a minimum significant dose of 25 mg/kg. At this dose the number of anti-SRBC PFC per 106 spleen cells and the amount of anti-SRBC antibody measured in the HAIR assay were 57 and 59% of control, respectively. The CTL response was significantly decreased (38% of control, 30:1 E:T), and the total number of CTL lytic units per spleen was 12% of control at 75 mg/kg. Antibody titers to P815 were also dose-dependently suppressed. Therefore, we conclude that the immune system in C57B1 6 mice is a sensitive target of MCT toxicity.
Prostaglandin-Forming Cyclooxygenase in Renal Medulla of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats during Development

Increased activity of prostaglandin synthetase in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) during development has previously been reported. The investigations reported herein utilized an immunofluorescent technique to qualitatively assess the activity of the first enzyme in the PGE2 biosynthetic pathway, the prostaglandin-forming cyclooxygenase (PG-C), in SHR kidneys during development. PG-C antigenicity increased from 4 to 15 weeks in both SHRs and Wistar Kyoto normotensive rats. However, in agreement with our previous in vitro data no difference in PG-C was observed between strains at any age.
Cardiovascular stability during carotid endarterectomy: Endotracheal intubation versus laryngeal mask airway

Abstract Study Objective : To compare cardiovascular stability during carotid endarterectomy in groups managed either with laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or endotracheal intubation. Design : Randomized, retrospective, blinded study. Setting : Teaching hospital. Patients : 61 ASA physical status II, III, and IV unpremedicated adult males scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. Interventions : Following standardized anesthetic technique, including intravenous (IV) induction with thiopental sodium 3 to 4 mg/kg, fentanyl 2 to 3 μg/kg), and isoflurane, standard intraoperative cardiovascular monitoring plus direct arterial blood pressure measurements were instituted. Patients were randomly assigned to an endotracheal intubation or LMA group. Measurements and Main Results : Distinct intraoperative episodes of ± 25% increase or decrease of mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) when compared with preinduction baseline values, and the number of such episodes requiring interventional therapy were recorded from a blinded anesthesia record retrospectively. Mean end-tidal isoflurane determination and total case duration enabled calculation of minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) hours of isoflurane administered. The LMA group had a significantly ( p Conclusions : During carotid endarterectomy, a reduced incidence of hypertensive and tachycardic episodes, as well as such episodes requiring interventional drug therapy, was found in the group whose airway is managed by LMA when compared with endotracheal intubation.
Polymerized cyclomaltoheptaose (β-cyclodextrin, β-CDn) inclusion complex formation with chlorogenic acid: solvent effects on thermochemistry and enthalpy-entropy compensation

Abstract The inclusion of chlorogenic acid (CA) by epichlorohydrin-polymerized cyclomaltoheptaose (β-cyclodextrin, β-CDn) was studied with regard to temperature, solvent, and water activity (aH2O ∼ mole fraction = XH2O = 0.8−1 using MeOH as the diluent; 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer). We discovered that the extreme convex curvature in K (the apparent stability constant) as a function of temperature was nearly eliminated at the lowest XH2O. The latter finding argues that this unusual CD behavior in aqueous media was due to perturbations in β-CD's spatial organization in the polymeric matrix with temperature. Related to this we found, from the dependence of K on XH2O (K = K′ XH2Oz), that the β-CDn · CA complex's stoichiometric coefficient, z, for water, varied between 5 and 8, depending on the temperature of the solution (K′ = 400–800 M−1; T ∼ 295–315 K). Our determinations of z were similar to those reported previously for β-CD · (+)-limonene (z ∼ 7), soluble β-CD · CA (z ∼ 6) or obtained by molecular dynamics calculations for β-CD · CA reported herein (z ∼ 5). However, β-CDn · CA's z values did show a significant positive correlation with temperature not evident in equivalent solution experiments. Calculations of ΔH and ΔS at various XH2O values show linear enthalpy-entropy compensation (ΔH plotted against ΔS) but with a slope (T c = ∂ΔH ∂ΔS ∼ 228 K ) significantly less than Tc values determined from either standard aqueous thermodynamic experiments (Tc ∼ 305 K on either β-CD or β-CDn) or variable XH2O (Tc ∼ 272 K) experiments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the smallest Tc value detected in a multitude of CD · guest studies. This evident solvent effect on Tc strongly argues that the chemical part process of inclusion complex formation involves changes in the solvation of the β-CDn's binding site.
The sounds of silence in educational tracking: a longitudinal, ethnographic case study

Foregrounding the nexuses of critical discourse analysis (CDA) and ethnography, specifically in longitudinal research, I draw on case study data that span the course of 10 years to explore the issues salient to understanding the problem of educational tracking. I focus on the struggle of Vicky Treader, an African-American young woman living in Albany, NY, to obtain a high school diploma while labeled as a special education student. Analytically, I construct the context of Vicky's experiences within the educational system through the discursive details of official and unofficial records and transcripts and against the backdrop of neoliberal education policies that reinforce educational and social inequalities. I traverse 10 years of institutionalized discourses and decision-making through three episodes (1998, 1999, 2005) that represent her experiences within the special education in elementary, middle and high school. Educational tracking, I will argue, relies not only on official records and narratives b...
Study of Misfolding and Aggregation for Short Peptide from the Yeast Prion Sup35 Using AFM Imaging and Force Spectroscopy

Protein misfolding is a fundamental pathway of protein self-assembly into nanoaggregates of various morphologies. However, our knowledge of this phenomenon is very limited. Protein aggregation is the cause of many conformational diseases justifying further study of protein misfolding phenomenon. We hypothesized earlier that the protein misfolded conformation is characterized by elevated intermolecular forces ultimately leading to aggregation. In this work we studied a short fragment (-GNNQQNY) of the yeast prion Sup35 which is critical for aggregation of the entire protein and presumably in the protein misfolding. By using force spectroscopy we measured forces for the interactions between a single pair of peptides. We established a correlation between aggregate morphology and strength of inter-peptide interactions as well as their pH dependence. The results of this study provide additional support for the importance of single molecule force spectroscopy for elucidating mechanisms of protein misfolding and aggregation. Using AFM imaging we also show that aggregates formed at different conditions (pH) for this short peptide exhibit distinctly different morphologies that cannot be predicted from the kinetics of aggregation study with ThT fluorescence. We found a dramatic difference of fibrils properties and their structure depending on the aggregation conditions. The difference in the aggregate properties was reflected in their adsorption to the surfaces having different properties: negatively or positively charged surface, PEG modified and hydrophobic surface. Salt concentration has also strong influence on kinetics and aggregate morphology with faster kinetics at higher salt concentration. We also show that the replacement of one amino acid residue in the sequence of this short peptide (Q4P) completely abolishes aggregation. Thus, the primary structure of the peptide is a critical determinant of aggregation propensity.