cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Internet service via UAV: user centric comprehensive attack surface analysis

Usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in civil application domains such as real-time monitoring, wireless internet, remote sensing, delivery of foods, security, and surveillance, and industrial infrastructure inspection has grown rapidly in recent times. The proliferation of UAVs in commercial and civilian use has increased the importance of security in these applications. In this paper, we are exploring the security threats associated with a civilian UAV use case. We are addressing the use case of UAVs providing internet to users and exploring the attack surface of UAV internet scenarios specifically focused on user-level security. We list specific threats associated with UAV internet scenarios and compiles various attack vectors to present a comprehensive attack surface analysis. This research work has identified 4 attack cases for the initial study. 1) Malicious UAV trying to exploit a user through the service. 2) Adversary targeting the legitimate UAV and users connected to the service. 3) User is targeted through malicious entity or a program in the user's device, and 4) External entity or a hacker attacking the user through a UAV communication channel. We are exploring the attack surfaces of the UAV internet use case extending the 4 cases mentioned above.
Defining the Tradespace for Passively Defending Against Rogue Drones

While increasingly popular, small unmanned aerial vehicles, aka drones, are often flown illegally over outdoor public gatherings or public facilities like prisons, threatening the safety of those nearby. There is a clear need to address interloping drones in public spaces from a sociotechnical perspective, including understanding the tradespace of variables. Through surveys, interviews, technology and infrastructure design, and experimentation, we developed a tradespace model of those variables that managers and designers of high-risk settings like public spaces and prisons need to consider in their development or renovation. These include cost considerations, both capital and infrastructure, as well as technology design elements of range and false alarm rates potentially exacerbated by convolutional neural networks (aka, deep learning). Results also highlight that environmental design elements can provide a possible low-tech solution in the design of obstructions that either eliminate or complicate a drone pilot’s line of sight. This effort demonstrates that managers and designers of high-risk settings like public spaces and prisons will have to balance sometimes competing objectives to obtain the best possible outcomes for public safety.
Japan's Worker Co-operative Movement into the 21st Century

The pace of Japan’s economy is picking up again after more than a decade of stasis. During this long period of economic stagnation, the many personnel practices favoring employees known by the rubric “lifetime employment” have been subjected to increased criticism by pro-investor, neo-liberal voices. Yet other less-well-amplified voices in Japan offer an alternative criticism of, and look for opportunity in, the changing status quo as well. In the last quarter of the 20th century e f f o r t s t o c r e a t e w o r k e r o w n e d a n d democratically governed businesses in Japan began to emerge with the support of a wide variety of economic actors -among them labor unions and union organizers, consumer cooperatives, income-seeking housewives, the elderly, employees of small businesses, farmers and farm workers, employees of failing firms and maverick employees of large firms. And as worker owned and managed businesses have increased in size and number, their awareness of each other and their common interest in alternative ways to organize production has also grown.
On the computability of circumscription

Abstract Circumscription has been used to formalize the nonmonotonic aspects of common-sense reasoning. The structure of second-order sentences expressing circumscription for which an equivalent first-order sentence can easily be constructed has been studied by Lifschitz (1985). This paper studies the computability aspects of circumscription. We show that even if the circumscription is expressible as a first-order sentence, it is not computable. We also prove the undecidability of determining whether a given set of first-order sentences has a minimal model, a unique minimal model, a finite number of minimal models or an infinite number of minimal models. In addition, we demonstrate the undecidability of determining if the extension of the minimal predicate is finite or infinite, and whether it is expressible as a first-order sentence.
Sedation after spinal anesthesia in elderly patients: a preliminary observational study with the PSA-4000

Purpose Neuraxial blockade is known to have a sedative effect, decreasing the need for inhalational and iv anesthetic agents. The purpose of the present study was to quantify the sedative effect of spinal anesthesia and to determine the time of maximum sedation.
Economic Distress, Labor Market Reforms, and Dualism in Japan and Korea

This article seeks to examine the rapid rise of labor market dualism and inequality in Japan and Korea. It argues that the path-dependent trajectories of labor market and social protection reforms biased in favor of labor market insiders explain recent institutional developments in the two countries. In Japan, political coalitions between conservative policymakers, large firms, and core regular workers in reform politics consolidated labor market dualism and inequality during its protracted recession. Meanwhile, the organizational capacity of large chaebol unions deepened the inequality and the segmentation of the dualistic labor market in Korea. By examining three key institutional domains of the labor market—labor market reform, wage bargaining, and social protection—this article analyzes the ways in which Japan and Korea have reinforced dualism and inequality over the past two decades.
A Forest Fire Theory of Recessions and Unemployment

We develop a model of matching from rms’ perspectives and draw resulting conclusions for the macro-dynamics of an economy. The key insight is that rms may wish to hire workers that are bad matches (having low productivity) in high-demand states, even if the worker must be hired to a long-run contract. This results an increasing fraction of bad worker-rm matches as an economy booms, making it increasingly likely that a recession will occur the longer it has been since the last recession, and increasing the depth of the recession when it occurs. While employment is lowest immediately following a recession, an economy has its highest fraction of good to bad matches as it emerges from a recession. These dynamics result in fully-rational, endogenous business cycles featuring non-stationary distributions of unemployment for a given stationary exogenous shock: in particular, the longer it has been since the last recession the more fragile the economy becomes and the more dramatic its response to exogenous shocks of xed size. Examining US economic areas data from 1969-2012, we nd that the longer the time elapsed since the last recession, the larger the drop in employment during the recession.
Intelligent LAN Concentrators Evolution to ATM

Disclaimer The information presented hereunder is a sequence of what is expected to be generally available in the industry. The devices as shown and concepts developed are generic in nature and are not necessarily going to be mapped into IBM products Abstract The following pages consider the main drivers of the evolution of Local Area Networks (LAN) and try to project the future of current Intelligent Concentrators (I-HUBs). The trend toward ATM is rationalized and explained. Then some possible ways to implement ATM as the LAN technology of the late 90's are explored.
Fat metabolism in higher plants. Enzymatic preparation of E. coli stearyl-acyl carrier protein.

Abstract A procedure is described for the acylation of E. coli acyl carrier protein by employing a crude extract of developing safflower seeds. This extract contains both the de, novo system which synthesizes palmityl-acyl carrier protein from [14C]malonate, ATP, CoA, Mg+2, and E. coli acyl carrier protein, and the elongation system which converts palmityl-acyl carrier protein to stearyl-acyl carrier protein. Stearyl-acyl carrier protein is purified by a four-step procedure consisting of acid precipitation, ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The purification yields a mixture of stearyl-acyl carrier protein and unreacted acyl carrier protein-SH, which can only be separated by 0.1% SDS-12% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzymatically prepared stearyl-acyl carrier protein has a one to one ratio of [14C]stearyl group to thioester, and it is consistently a substrate of high reactivity with stearyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase in sharp contrast to chemically acylated acyl carrier protein which invariably was of low substrate reactivity. Evidence confirming the identity of the product is presented.
High-dispersion spectroscopic studies of Venus: II. The water vapor variations

We have carried out an extensive series of spectroscopic observations of Venus in the 8300-a H2O band during 1967. From April through June our results are negative, giving upper limits of 16 and 32 μ of precipitable H2O in a vertical column “above the clouds” of Venus. This agrees with the simultaneous results of Owen at 8300-A and Kuiper at 1.4 and 1.9 μ. In November and December our results were positive, and gave H2O abundances of 30–40 μ. At the same time, Kuiper also obtained a positive result from the 1.9 and 2.7 μ bands, although his abundance was much lower—only few microns. The Cytherean H2O lines appeared to be substantially stronger near the equator of Venus than at the poles.
Active Networking Means Evolution (or Enhanced Extensibility Required)

A primary goal of active networking is to increase the pace of network evolution. Evolution is typically achieved via extensibility; that is, typical active network implementations provide an interface to extend network nodes withdyna mically loaded code. Most implementations employ plug-in extensibility, a technique for loading code characterized by a concrete, pre-defined abstraction of future change. While flexible and convenient, we argue that plug-in extensibility alone is not sufficient for true network evolution. Instead, we propose dynamic software updating, a technique that reduces the a priori assumptions of plug-in extensibility, improving flexibility and eliminating the need to pre-plan extensions. However, this additional flexibility creates issues involving validity and security. We discuss these issues, and describe the state-of-the-art in systems that support dynamic software updating, thus framing the problem for researchers developing next-generation active networks.
Intrauterine medication with epsilon aminocaproic acid. Effect on Rhesus monkeys wearing intrauterine devices.

Abstract Menstrual blood loss was quantitated in a group of rhesus monkeys before and after intrauterine insertions of silicone rubber devices alone, polyethylene devices alone, and polyethylene plus silicone rubber devices. Silicone rubber was used as the carrier of epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) in order to provide sustained drug release in utero . Silicone rubber devices without EACA were used as control devices. A beneficial effect of intrauterine medication with EACA on uterine hemorrhage was demonstrated in monkeys wearing intrauterine devices (IUDs). With the nonmedicated silicone rubber devices alone, MBL increased 96% over preinsertion values, whereas the EACA-releasing silicone rubber devices resulted in only a 33% increase, during the first menstrual period after insertion. Mean menstrual blood volume was increased 109% over preinsertion values (baseline) in animals wearing polyethylene IUDs alone and 132% over baseline in those wearing polyethylene plus control silicone rubber devices; whereas, average menstrual blood loss was increased only 44% in monkeys wearing polyethylene plus EACA silicone rubber devices. Neither a localized or disseminated intravascular coagulation resulting from intrauterine EACA medication was detectable by assay of circulating levels of fibrinogen, plasminogen, and fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products.
Mutations in an essential U2 small nuclear RNA structure cause cold-sensitive U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein function by favoring competing alternative U2 RNA structures.

function invitro. Cold-sensitive U2small nuclear RNA adopts analternative conformation thatoccludes theloopanddisrupts thestembutdoessoatbothrestrictive andpermissive temperatures. To determine whether alternative U2RNA structure causes thedefects, wetested second-site mutations inU2 predicted todisrupt thealternative conformation. We findthatsuchmutations efficiently suppress the cold-sensitive phenotypes andpartially restore correct U2 RNA folding. A genetic search foradditional suppressors ofcoldsensitivity revealed twounexpected mutations inthebaseofanadjacent stem-loop. Direct probing ofRNA structure invivoindicates thatthesuppressors ofcoldsensitivity acttoimprove thestability oftheessential stemrelative tocompeting alternative structures bydisrupting thealternative structures. We suggest thatmanyofthenumerous cold-sensitive mutations inavariety ofRNAsandRNA-binding proteins could bearesult ofchanges inthestability ofafunctional RNAconformation relative toacompeting structure. Thepresence ofanevolutionarily conserved U2sequence positioned toformanalternative structure argues thatthisregion ofU2isdynamic during theassembly orfunction oftheU2smallnuclear ribonucleoprotein. RNA-RNA interactions betweensmallnuclear RNAs (snRNAs) orbetweensnRNAsandthepre-mRNAplay critical roles intheaccuracy andefficiency ofsplicing (for reviews, seereferences 15and16). Notall ofthese interactions areestablished simultaneously, nordothey persist onceestab- lished. Rather, interactions areformed, modified, disrupted,
Implementing Randomized Experiments: Lessons from BJA's Intensive Supervision Project

Eleven jurisdictions across the country are participating in the Intensive Supervision Demon stration Projectfunded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The demonstration is designed to asses...
Preliminary Phytochemical Investigation of Wild Rice Ergot

Ergot parasitizing wild rice was analyzed for moisture, fat, and alkaloid content. Results indicated 4.6 percent moisture, 32 percent fat, and a total alkaloid content of approximately 0.1 mg. percent. The fungus was cultured in a modified Claviceps culture medium, but alkaloids could not be detected in culture filtrates.
The Molecular Basis for Relative Physiological Functionality of the ADP/ATP Carrier Isoforms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

AAC2 is one of three paralogs encoding mitochondrial ADP/ATP carriers in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and because it is required for respiratory growth it has been the most extensively studied. To comparatively examine the relative functionality of Aac1, Aac2, and Aac3 in vivo, the gene encoding each isoform was expressed from the native AAC2 locus in aac1Δ aac3Δ yeast. Compared to Aac2, Aac1 exhibited reduced capacity to support growth of yeast lacking mitochondrial DNA or of yeast lacking the ATP/Mg-Pi carrier, both conditions requiring ATP import into the mitochondrial matrix through the ADP/ATP carrier. Sixteen AAC1/AAC2 chimeric genes were constructed and analyzed to determine the key differences between residues or sections of Aac1 and Aac2. On the basis of the growth rate differences of yeast expressing different chimeras, the C1 and M2 loops of the ADP/ATP carriers contain divergent residues that are responsible for the difference(s) between Aac1 and Aac2. One chimeric gene construct supported growth on nonfermentable carbon sources but failed to support growth of yeast lacking mitochondrial DNA. We identified nine independent intragenic mutations in this chimeric gene that suppressed the growth phenotype of yeast lacking mitochondrial DNA, identifying regions of the carrier important for nucleotide exchange activities.
Malignant pericardial effusion from squamous cell cancer of the cervix.

Although rarely diagnosed in women with gynecologic cancers, pericardial metastasis and effusion are often considered preterminal events. As newer therapies result in prolongation of survival for women with advanced cervical cancer, uncommon metastatic sites may be seen with increasing frequency, and warrant increased attention by the gynecologist with oncologic expertise. Cases: Two women with squamous cell carcinoma and symptomatic pericardial effusion, one at initial presentation and the other as recurrent disease, are presented. Following pericardiocentesis, both patients received cisplatinum-based chemotherapy. The patient with effusion at diagnosis survived four months, with recurrent effusion at death. The second patient had no return of cardiac symptoms, with twelve month survival. As demonstrated by the cumulative experience of the six reported cases of this entity, many women with pericardial involvement are candidates for aggressive radiation or chemotherapy. Duration of time from primary therapy prior to occurrence of effusion correlates with survival. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Curriculum-based measurement and literature-based reading: Is curriculum-based measurement meeting the needs of changing reading curricula?

Abstract This study examined the extent to which curriculum-based measurement (CBM) procedures could be implemented in a nonbasal reading curricula. Participants included 160 students from 31 second, third, fourth, and fifth grades, located in two school districts. Half of the students (20 from each grade) were instructed primarily in a literature-based reading series, while the remaining 80 participants (20 from each grade) were instructed primarily in a traditional skills-based reading program. CBM passage probes from each reading series were administered to all students twice weekly over an 8-week period. Students' rate of progress in each reading series was indexed using the slope of their data series' calculated by ordinary least squares regression. Results showed small yet significant main effects for the type of probe used for progress monitoring; however, this effect was not consistent across grades. In addition, significant main effects were found for grade. Students' growth in oral reading rate was found to increase linearly with grade until fifth grade where a leveling off in growth rate was observed. Results are discussed in relation to CBM as an applied measurement methodology for use in both practical and research applications.
Foreign body arterial embolus to the hand

I ntravascular foreign body emboli to the upper extremity, although distinctly uncommon, can result from penetrating central or peripheral arterial trauma. L-3 These have previously been reported in the axillary and brachial arteries4‘9 but not in the arteries of the forearm or hand. A novel case of metal embolus from the radial artery in the forearm to the deep palmar arch in the hand is described. Plain x-ray films and physical examination supported the diagnosis. Physical examination, Doppler evaluation, and occasionally angiography can reliably define the urgency of surgical intervention.
PbTe Colloidal Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Characterization, and Multiple Exciton Generation

We report an alternative synthesis and the first optical characterization of colloidal PbTe nanocrystals (NCs). We have synthesized spherical PbTe NCs having a size distribution as low as 7%, ranging in diameter from 2.6 to 8.3 nm, with first exciton transitions tuned from 1009 to 2054 nm. The syntheses of colloidal cubic-like PbSe and PbTe NCs using a PbO "one-pot" approach are also reported. The photoluminescence quantum yield of PbTe spherical NCs was measured to be as high as 52 +/- 2%. We also report the first known observation of efficient multiple exciton generation (MEG) from single photons absorbed in PbTe NCs. Finally, we report calculated longitudinal and transverse Bohr radii for PbS, PbSe, and PbTe NCs to account for electronic band anisotropy. This is followed by a comparison of the differences in the electronic band structure and optical properties of these lead salts.
Negotiating complementary and alternative medicine use in primary care visits with older patients

Objective To empirically investigate the ways in which patients and providers discuss Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatment in primary care visits.
«Comment signer maintenant?» Le pseudonyme raconté par les femmes de lettres (1830–1870)

The use of pseudonyms was a common practice among the ever-growing number of women writers in the nineteenth century, although the elusive nature of the phenomenon makes it difficult to ascertain its importance and frequency. A comparative analysis of the discourse on authorship and identity in the personal writings of four women novelists and memoirists—George Sand, Marie d'Agoult, Delphine de Girardin, and the Comtesse Dash, all of whom adopted, at least temporarily, a masculine nom de plume—reveals conflicted and often contradictory representations of the pseudonymic figure. While some authors, like Sand, Agoult, and to a certain extent Girardin, clearly saw the pseudonym as a means to achieve literary legitimacy and agency, others like the Comtesse Dash remained under the “cover” of their pseudonyms, as they fell into a form of anonymity while struggling to make a name for themselves.
Water distribution in fiber-bed coalescers

Abstract An experimental study of the effects of liquid velocity, fiber-bed density and thickness, and inlet free-water content on the water distribution inside a fiberglass bed coalescing free water from a fuel/water emulsion has indicated that the highest water retention occurs at the influent face of the bed, followed by a sharp drop to a much lower water retention at a bed depth of approximately 1 16 inch. Similar curves were obtained for a range of flow rates and bed thicknesses and densities.
Similarity of electroosmotic flows in nanochannels

This paper investigates the similarity of electroosmotic flows in nanochannels numerically using the NEMD method and therefore analyzes the applicability of the embedding technique. The results indicate that the near-wall ion distribution is greatly influenced by the wall charge density, the ion arrangement and the interaction between ions and walls. If all these factors are same, the electroosmotic flows in different channel sizes are of similarity, which is to say that the ion distributions close to walls are same and the velocities across the channel are similar. The embedding method is available once the similarity holds. One can predict the ion distributions and fluid flow in larger channels using the continuum equations by introducing MD results of near-wall effective potential or transport coefficients of smaller channels. The results also suggest the similarity is preferred to the channel size larger than 10 times diameter of fluid molecules.
From culture for the people to culture for profit: the PRC’s journey toward a cultural industries approach

This paper seeks to explore the internal driving forces behind the emergence and prosperity of China’s cultural industries. The paper traces the Chinese Communist Party’s radical transformation from stressing the class stand and ideological nature of culture to concluding with the concept of ‘cultural industries’ so as to expand an orthodox Marxist/Leninist/Maoist notion of culture. The Chinese party-state legalizes ‘cultural industries’ by extending the market mechanism into the cultural arena, and acknowledges the triple statuses of culture as a public service provider, a market profit contributor, and an essential builder of the ‘socialist core value system.’ By doing so, the Chinese Party-state is able to take advantage of the economic power of the market while retaining the ideological control function of culture. As such, cultural industries become a mode of governance for the CCP to maintain cultural security and national identity, and a source of soft power to maneuver.
Does change in the neighborhood environment prevent obesity in older women

Neighborhood environment is consistently associated with obesity; changes to modifiable aspects of the neighborhood environment may curb the growth of obesity in the US and other developed nations. However, currently the majority of studies are cross-sectional and thus not appropriate for evaluating causality. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of a neighborhood-changing intervention on changes in obesity among older women. Over the past 30 years the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region has made significant investments in plans, regulatory structures, and public facilities to reduce sprawl and increase compact growth centers, transit-oriented development approaches, and green space. We used geocoded residential addresses to link data on land-use mix, public transit access, street connectivity, and access to green space from four time points between 1986 and 2004, with longitudinal data on body mass index (BMI) from a cohort of 2003 community-dwelling women aged 66 years and older. Height and weight were measured at clinic visits. Women self-reported demographics, health habits, and chronic conditions, and self-rated their health. Neighborhood socioeconomic status was assessed from census data. Neighborhood walkability and access to green space improved over the 18-year study period. On average there was a non-significant mean weight loss in the cohort between baseline (mean age 72.6 years) and the study's end (mean age 85.0 years). We observed no association between neighborhood built environment or change in built environment and BMI. Greater neighborhood socioeconomic status at baseline was independently associated with a healthier BMI at baseline, and protected against an age-related decline in BMI over time. BMI decreases with age reflect increased frailty, especially among older adults with complex morbidities. Future research should consider the influence of the neighborhood environment on additional relevant health outcomes and should include measures of the social environment in conjunction with built environment measures.
Deposition and bioassay of insecticides applied by leaf dip and spray tower against Bemisia argentifolii nymphs (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Two application methods, spray and leaf dip, were evaluated as bioassays for insecticides to nymphs of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring (formerly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius strain ‘B’). Sprays were applied at different volumes and pressures with the Potter Spray Tower®. Spray deposition was evaluated using a tracer dye, and also plain water in the case of the spray tower. Coverage on water-sensitive paper was evaluated with a computerized imagescanning system. Insecticide efficacy was evaluated as mortality to whitefly nymphs. Materials assayed included ‘M-Pede’® (an insecticidal soap), ‘Sunspray’® Ultra-Fine Spray Oil (a mineral oil), ‘Margosan-O’® (an extracted concentration of azadirachtin + 10% neem oil), and bifenthrin (‘Brigade’® 10WP), a pyrethroid, with purified water as a control. Differing results were obtained with the two bioassay methods, depending on material tested. Mortality of whitefly nymphs from bifenthrin, and to a lesser extent neem extract, was largely independent of application method. In contrast, ‘Sunspray’ (mineral) oil, and to a lesser extent insecticidal soap, was more efficacious when applied as a dip than as a spray. Differences in respect of effects of application method on treatment mortality were attributed to differences between materials in mode of action.
Classification of the factorial functions of Eulerian binomial and Sheffer posets

We give a complete classification of the factorial functions of Eulerian binomial posets. The factorial function B(n) either coincides with n!, the factorial function of the infinite Boolean algebra, or 2^n^-^1, the factorial function of the infinite butterfly poset. We also classify the factorial functions for Eulerian Sheffer posets. An Eulerian Sheffer poset with binomial factorial function B(n)=n! has Sheffer factorial function D(n) identical to that of the infinite Boolean algebra, the infinite Boolean algebra with two new coatoms inserted, or the infinite cubical poset. Moreover, we are able to classify the Sheffer factorial functions of Eulerian Sheffer posets with binomial factorial function B(n)=2^n^-^1 as the doubling of an upside-down tree with ranks 1 and 2 modified. When we impose the further condition that a given Eulerian binomial or Eulerian Sheffer poset is a lattice, this forces the poset to be the infinite Boolean algebra B"X or the infinite cubical lattice C"X^<^~. We also include several poset constructions that have the same factorial functions as the infinite cubical poset, demonstrating that classifying Eulerian Sheffer posets is a difficult problem.
BP initial image repair strategies after the Deepwater Horizon spill

Abstract The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded on April 20, 2010 off the coast of Louisiana, and the ensuing oil spill caused substantial economic and environmental damage to states on the U.S. Gulf Coast. British Petroleum received strong public criticism for its role in the disaster and quickly attempted image repair strategies. These strategies centered on describing what they were doing to correct the problem and compensate the victims, but did not include strategies such as shifting the blame to the other companies involved nor admitting their own blame. This study applies Benoit's work in Image Repair to a content analysis of the press releases from British Petroleum in the initial aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon spill. We also note the difficulty of using this theory to capture the nuances of responses.
International Conference on Challenges for Solar Cycle 24

What will be the nature of magnetic fields at various spatial and temporal scales on the Sun during the next activity cycle? This and other outstanding questions of solar physics were the focus of discussion at the International Conference on Challenges for Solar Cycle 24. Observational solar research is equipped with ever advanced instrumentation during each solar cycle. The use of modern instrumentation for solar observations will yield better results when planned with prior knowledge gained during previous activity cycles. With this motivation, the goal of the conference was to consider the most effective strategies for studying and understanding the solar energetic events of cycle 24.
D-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E) enhances radiation-induced chromosomal damage levels in human cancer cells, but reduces it in normal cells

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure and compare the effect of d-α-tocopheryl succinate (α-TS) in modifying radiation-induced chromosomal damage in human normal cells and cancer cells in culture.Methods: Three human normal fibroblast cell lines (GM2149, AG1522 and HF19) and three human cancer cell lines, cervical cancer (HeLa) and ovarian carcinoma cells (OVG1 and SKOV3) were treated with α-TS (37.6 μM) 20 hours before 100 cGy γ-irradiation. After 30 minutes of irradiation, colcemid was added and cells were fixed. One hundred randomly selected metaphase cells were scored for the presence of chromatid gaps and breaks. To study the cellular accumulation of α-TS, cells were incubated in the presence of α-TS (18.8 and 37.6 μM) for 24 hours, and α-TS was extracted with hexane using α-tocopheryl acetate as an internal standard. The levels of α-TS were determined by HPLC.Results: Results showed that α-TS induced chromosomal damage in both human cervical cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells, but n...
Ideal suture diameter is critical for consistent middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice.

Objective The use of transgenic and knockout mice has led to a need for a consistent model of mouse transient focal cerebral ischemia. In a great majority of the published mouse middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion studies, the methods indicated the type of intraluminal suture used without indicating the actual suture diameter after modification. We attempted to determine the ideal suture diameter to produce consistent occlusion in the MCA of adult male C57BL/6 mice. Methods Suture tips were coated to a depth 4 mm with glue, and 6-0 sutures of eight different, precisely measured diameters were produced. The coated 6-0 sutures in different diameters were introduced 10 mm into the internal carotid artery via the external carotid artery of the mice to produce MCA occlusion (n = 40; five animals for each diameter), and the mice (22-24 g) were transaortically perfused with saline. The base of the brain was exposed, and photographs of the vessels were obtained before and after transaortic injection of Evans blue dye to determine the consistency of MCA occlusion for each suture diameter. Cerebral blood flow was measured 10 minutes before occlusion and 20 minutes after reperfusion, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining was performed to demonstrate the ischemic damage in additional animals with 110-microm (n = 5) and 180-microm (n = 8) diameter sutures. Results Sutures measuring 170 microm and 180 microm in diameter consistently occluded the MCA of C57BL/6 mice. In addition, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining demonstrated consistent infarction with 180-microm diameter sutures. The infarct volume was 36.3 +/- 4.2 mm3. Conclusion Small changes in the diameter of the occlusion suture tip affect consistency in the mouse MCA occlusion model.
Assessment of the impact of an educational course on knowledge of appropriate EUS indications

Background The knowledge level of EUS among gastroenterologists likely influences the appropriateness of requested indications for EUS. It remains unknown what the impact is of a short EUS course, involving didactic teaching, on knowledge levels of EUS indications for EUS. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a 3-day educational course on knowledge levels of attending gastroenterologists regarding the appropriateness of indications for EUS. Methods A questionnaire was designed that tested knowledge of indications for EUS in 4 anatomic sites: esophagus, gastroduodenum, hepatopancreatobiliary system, and colorectum. This questionnaire was distributed to all attendees of a 3-day EUS educational course. All attendees completed the survey before and immediately after the course. Results A total of 24 gastroenterologists completed the pre- and post-course survey. Before the course, respondents scored highest in questions on EUS applications in the gastroduodenum (94%) and the hepatopancreatobiliary system (88%) compared with the esophagus (72%) and the colorectum (74%). Statistically significant improvements in knowledge were recorded in all organ categories: gastroduodenum (100%, p =0.002 vs. pretest score), hepatopancreatobiliary system (99%, p p p =0.0004). The biggest improvement was observed in knowledge levels for the esophagus (20%) and the colorectum (18%). Conclusions There was a consistent improvement in the gastroenterologists' knowledge levels of EUS indications among all organ categories after an educational course. Our findings suggest that education enhances gastroenterologists' understanding of EUS. Future studies should seek to assess the impact of these improved knowledge levels on the appropriateness of EUS referral patterns.
WNK4 Kinase Stimulates Caveola-mediated Endocytosis of TRPV5 Amplifying the Dynamic Range of Regulation of the Channel by Protein Kinase C

WNK4 (with-no-lysine (K) kinase-4) is present in the distal nephron of the kidney and plays an important role in the regulation of renal ion transport. The epithelial Ca(2+) channel TRPV5 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 5) is the gatekeeper of transcellular Ca(2+) reabsorption in the distal nephron. Previously, we reported that activation of protein kinase C (PKC) increases cell-surface abundance of TRPV5 by inhibiting caveola-mediated endocytosis of the channel. Here, we report that WNK4 decreases cell-surface abundance of TRPV5 by enhancing its endocytosis. Deletion analysis revealed that stimulation of endocytosis of TRPV5 involves amino acids outside the kinase domain of WNK4. We also investigated interplay between WNK4 and PKC regulation of TRPV5. The maximal level of TRPV5 current density stimulated by the PKC activator 1-oleoyl-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) is the same with or without WNK4. The relative increase of TRPV5 current stimulated by OAG, however, is greater in the presence of WNK4 compared with that without WNK4 (approximately 215% increase versus 60% increase above the level without OAG). Moreover, the rate of increase of TRPV5 by OAG is faster with WNK4 than without WNK4. The enhanced increase of TRPV5 in the presence of WNK4 is also observed when PKC is activated by parathyroid hormones. Thus, WNK4 exerts tonic inhibition of TRPV5 by stimulating caveola-mediated endocytosis. The lower basal TRPV5 level in the presence of WNK4 allows amplification of the stimulation of channel by PKC. This interaction between WNK4 and PKC regulation of TRPV5 may be important for physiological regulation of renal Ca(2+) reabsorption by parathyroid hormones or the tissue kallikrein in vivo.
Physiological and neurocognitive correlates of adaptive behavior in preschool among children in head start

This study examined physiological and neurocognitive correlates of teacherreported adaptive behavior in preschool among children in Head Start. Child physiology was assessed by cardiac vagal tone and was measured during a baseline period and during the administration of a mildly effortful cognitive task. Neurocognitive function was measured using two tasks of executive function, which require children to inhibit a prepotent response, while remembering and executing the rule for correct responding. Parents reported on aspects of child negative emotionality associated with fear and anger. Information on child receptive language ability was also collected. Although correlates of teacher-reported social competence and on-task behavior were expected to be similar, some evidence for differentiation was obtained. Results indicated that higher resting vagal tone, vagal increase during the administration of the cognitive task, and higher levels of fearful emotionality were related to higher ratings of social competence, after adjusting for levels of on-task behavior. In contrast, lower resting vagal tone, vagal suppression in response to the cognitive task, and higher levels of executive function were associated with higher teacher ratings of on-task behavior, adjusted for social competence. Implications are considered of findings for developmental relations between social and academic competence and adaptation to preschool among children in Head Start.
Properties of normal-dispersion femtosecond fiber lasers

We report a systematic study of all-normal-dispersion mode-locked fiber lasers. Spectral filtering of a chirped pulse in the cavity is a major component of the pulse shaping in these lasers. We identify the nonlinear phase shift accumulated by the pulse, spectral filter bandwidth, and group-velocity dispersion as the key parameters that determine the behavior and properties of these lasers. Trends in the performance as these parameters are varied are summarized. A wide range of pulse shapes and evolutions can occur. Experimental results from Yb-doped all-normal-dispersion fiber lasers agree reasonably well with the results of numerical simulations.
Male extraterritorial forays, age and paternity in the socially monogamous reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Genetic studies have shown that extra-pair paternity is widespread among socially monogamous bird species. Yet, the role of males and females and their behavior leading to this mixed reproductive strategy is poorly understood. Here, we analyze paternity in relation to male age and mating behavior in the socially monogamous reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus). We report a positive relation between male extraterritorial forays and success in obtaining extra-pair fertilizations. Extraterritorial forays tended to increase in frequency with male age and older males sired a larger number of extra-pair offspring than young males. Identified extra-pair sires were old in nine out of ten cases. The likelihood of being cuckolded was not affected by male age. Although based on correlative data, our results highlight age-dependent explorative male behavior as a key determinant for the understanding of extra-pair mating in the reed bunting. We do, however, emphasize the need for further studies to reveal the role of females in extra-pair copulations and fertilizations.
Persistent systemic inflammation in chronic critical illness.

Chronic critical illness (CCI) is syndrome of neuromuscular weakness, brain dysfunction, malnutrition, endocrinopathies, and symptom distress. Two conceptual themes may be useful in discussing CCI. The first is a clinical roadmap in which a patient suffers an acute critical illness, survives the initial insult, but yet is unable to be liberated from the ventilator. The second framework considers the effect of systemic inflammation and CCI, linking acute CCI risk factors with the common clinical features of CCI. Given the association between common CCI antecedents and inflammation, attempts to control and balance the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators should begin as early as possible and continue throughout the ICU stay. Since surrogate measures such as biomarkers often fail to predict the effect of interventions, the focus should be on the outcomes patients experience. As of now, providing evidence-based, high quality ICU management of patients at risk for CCI appears to be the best strategy of care.
A kernel-independent FMM in general dimensions

We introduce a general-dimensional, kernel-independent, algebraic fast multipole method and apply it to kernel regression. The motivation for this work is the approximation of kernel matrices, which appear in mathematical physics, approximation theory, non-parametric statistics, and machine learning. Existing fast multipole methods are asymptotically optimal, but the underlying constants scale quite badly with the ambient space dimension. We introduce a method that mitigates this shortcoming; it only requires kernel evaluations and scales well with the problem size, the number of processors, and the ambient dimension---as long as the intrinsic dimension of the dataset is small. We test the performance of our method on several synthetic datasets. As a highlight, our largest run was on an image dataset with 10 million points in 246 dimensions.
Molecular Cloning and Expression of an Avian Macrophage Nitric-oxide Synthase cDNA and the Analysis of the Genomic 5′-Flanking Region

We report the first nonmammalian inducible nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) cDNA obtained from chicken macrophages. It exhibits an open reading frame encoding 1,136 amino acid residues, predicting a protein of 129,648-Da molecular mass. The deduced NOS protein sequence showed 66.6%, 70.4%, 54.2%, and 48.7% sequence identity to mouse and human inducible NOS and to two constitutive NOSs from rat brain and bovine endothelium. Overall, NOS appears to be a moderately conserved protein. Northern analysis showed that chicken iNOS mRNA is approximately 4.5 kilobases (kb), a size similar to mammalian inducible NOS. Analysis of 3.2 kb of 5′-flanking sequence of the chicken iNOS gene showed a putative TATA box at 30 base pairs (bp) upstream of the transcription initiation site. The functional importance of the upstream region was determined by transient expression of deletion constructs. An endotoxin regulatory region was located exclusively within 300 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site. This is in contrast to the two distinct sites identified in the mouse macrophage NOS promoter. Transcription factor binding sites such as NF-κB, PEA1, PEA3, and C/EBP were identified. Using a NF-κB inhibitor, we showed that NF-κB is indeed involved in the induction of chicken iNOS gene by lipopolysaccharide. Our results suggest that NF-κB is a common regulatory component in the expression of both mammalian and nonmammalian iNOS genes.
Seeing the Impossibility of Seeing or the Visibility of the Undead: Giorgio Agamben's Gorgon

In his Remnants of Auschwitz, Giorgio Agamben situates the so-called Muselmann of the Nazi death camps in two iconographic traditions, that of the Medusa and that of the Christian vera icon. The Muselmann is blind to himself and invisible to others; yet, this figure of blindness and suffering undergoes a transfiguration. As the "true image" of man, he affords us insight into the violence at the hidden center of Western (bio)politics. A similar dialectics of blindness and revelation is at work in Homo Sacer. I argue that the structural blind spot of Agamben's construal of bare life (of which the Muselmann is perhaps the most prominent instantiation) is revealed in the unresolved tension between claims about the putative continuity of Western biopolitics, from Antiquity to the present, and the crisis it it supposed to have entered in the twentieth century.
Open architecture applied to next-generation weapons

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has postulated a new weapons concept known as Flexible Weapons to define and develop technologies addressing a number of challenges. Initial studies on capability attributes of this concept have been conducted and AFRL plans to continue systems engineering studies to quantify metrics against which the value of capabilities can be assessed. An important aspect of Flexible Weapons is having a modular “plug-n-play” hardware and software solution, supported by an Open Architecture and Universal Armament Interface (UAI) common interfaces. The modular aspect of Flexible Weapons is a means to successfully achieving interoperability and composability at the weapon level. Interoperability allows for vendor competition, timely technology refresh, and avoids costs by ensuring standard interfaces widely supported in industry, rather than an interface unique to a particular vendor. Composability provides for the means to arrange an open end set of useful weapon systems configurations. The openness of Flexible Weapons is important because it broadens the set of computing technologies, software updates, and other technologies to be introduced into the weapon system, providing the warfighter with new capabilities at lower costs across the life cycle. One of the most critical steps in establishing a Modular, Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) for weapons is the validation of compliance with the standard.
Pressure Responses From Induced Hydraulic Fractures in Adjacent Wells Within a Petroleum Reservoir: An Experiment

Pressure responses from induced hydraulic fractures in five adjacent oil wells were monitored by 40 wells within the petroleum reservoir in northern Pennsylvania. The multisensor array of pressure transducers were arranged in 4 x 4 five-spot patterns and located a considerable distance away from the stimulated wells. Dynamic pressure behavior from four hydraulic fracturing treatments was observed in three of the wells, a step-function pressure change was monitored in another well during and following fracture extension, and pressure buildup was recorded in the fifth well during a four-staged waterfrac stimulation. Data were analyzed by sequential two and three dimensional contour plots as a means of estimating induced fracture length and orientation. Several interpretations of observed variations in reservoir pressure during stimulation treatments are offered. Concepts advanced as plausible interpretations include (1) pressure wave transmissibility through independent fracture systems connecting the lamellar strata, and (2) pressure buildup perpendicular to the fracture trend as a result of block movement acting in a piston-like manner. 7 fig.