cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in rhTRIM5α restriction of HIV-1

Background: rhTRIM5α is a restriction factor that blocks HIV-1 infection by interacting with the capsid core early after entry. Although rhTRIM5α blocks accumulation of reverse transcription products, proteasome inhibitors rescue reverse transcription while maintaining a block to infection, supporting the involvement of the proteasome in the mechanism of restriction. Methods: First, rhTRIM5α was examined by immunofluorescence and characterized with specific ubiquitin antibodies. Next, mutations were made in rhTRIM5α to prevent involvement in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, and mutants were analyzed by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and real-time PCR. A mutant virus was constructed to prevent ubiquitination of capsid, and used to infect cells expressing rhTRIM5α to characterize restriction and reverse transcription. Finally, a fluorescently tagged subunit of the proteasome, LMP2-GFP, was co-expressed with rhTRIM5α and analyzed by fixed and live cell microscopy. Results: Staining with specific ubiquitin antibodies revealed that rhTRIM5α cytoplasmic bodies contained polyubiquitinated proteins, but proteasome inhibitors decreased polyubiquitinated proteins within cytoplasmic bodies. rhTRIM5α mutants showed reduced restriction of HIV-1, and localized to cytoplasmic bodies with different patterns of ubiquitination. The mutant virus exhibited reduced infectivity and an intermediate phenotype with regard to the block of reverse transcription. Analysis of fluorescently tagged proteasomes in cells expressing rhTRIM5α showed that proteasomes were recruited to rhTRIM5α cytoplasmic bodies in the presence of virus, and live cell microscopy revealed interactions between virus and proteasomes. Conclusions: The relocalization of polyubiquitinated proteins upon proteasome inhibition may indicate an efflux of polyubiquitinated proteins, implicating cytoplasmic bodies in the process of ubiquitination. Analysis of rhTRIM5α mutants revealed that rhTRIM5α may play a partial role in conjugating and receiving ubiquitination. The mutant virus showed that ubiquitination of capsid is not required for rhTRIM5α restriction, but reverse transcription is affected. Finally, proteasomes are recruited to rhTRIM5α cytoplasmic bodies in the presence of virus, which may lead to proteasomal destruction of rhTRIM5α-virus complexes. Supplement: Workshop Report and Abstracts “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them Shirin Heidari, Marie-Capucine Penicaud, Celine Cheng, International AIDS Society http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1758-2652-13-S3-info.pdf Conference: International AIDS Society’s Workshop “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them 16–17 July 2010 Vienna, Austria (Published: 4 November 2010) doi:10.1186/1758-2652-13-S3-O9 Cite this article as: Danielson and Hope: The role of the ubiquitinproteasome pathway in rhTRIM5a restriction of HIV-1. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2010 13(Suppl 3):O9. Full text: PubMed Central: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2999394/
The Two Blogospheres: Political Blog Use, Participation, and Sophistication during the 2008 U.S. Election Season

Despite the attention given to political blogs in recent campaigns, scholars have often overlooked something without which they could not thrive: readers. Moreover, literature has considered that readers have generally done so without taking account of significant differences between conservative and liberal blogs. This study uses panel data collected during the 2008 U.S. election to examine how conservative, liberal, and non-blog readers differ. Results show little demographic difference between readers and non-readers. However, blog readers consume political media that is aligned with their blog use. Blog readers participate more in politics than non-readers as a result of their blog use, particularly readers of liberal blogs. Finally, blog readers exhibit greater political sophistication than non-readers, and develop greater political interest as a result of blog reading.
Why It Is Important to Understand Animal Behavior

Ader R, Felten DL, Cohen N, editors. Psychoneuroimmunology. 2nd ed. Orlando: Academic Press, p 447-474. Novak MA, Suomi SJ. 1988. Psychological well-being of primates in captivity. Am Psychol 43:765-773. Ottaway CA, Husband AJ. 1992. Central nervous system influences on lymphocyte migration. Br Behav Immunol 6:97-116. Ottaway CA, Husband AJ. 1994. The influence of neuroendocrine pathways on lymphocyte migration. Immunol Today 15:511-517. Phoenix CH, Chambers KC. 1984. Sexual behavior and serum hormone levels in aging rhesus males: Effects of environmental change. Horm Behav 18:206-215. Reite M, Capitanio JP. 1985. On the nature of social separation and social attachment. In: Reite M, Field T, editors. The Ppsychobiology of Attachment and Aseparation. Orlando: Academic Press, p 223-255. Schapiro SJ, Bloomsmith MA. 1995. Behavioral effects of enrichment on singly housed, yearling rhesus monkeys: An analysis including three enrichment conditions and a control group. Am J Primatol 35:89101. Suzuki S, Toyabe S, Moroda T, Tada T, Tsukuhara A, Hai T, Minagawa M, Maruyama S, Hatakeyama K, Endoh K, Abo T. 1997. Circadian rhythm of leucocytes and lymphocyte subsets and its possible correlation with the function of the autonomic nervous system. Clin Exp Immunol 110:500-508. von Bertalanffy L. 1968. General system theory—A critical review. In: Buckley W, editor. Modern Systems Research for the Behavioral Scientist. Chicago: Aldine. p 11-30. Westermann J, Pabst R. 1990. Lymphocyte subsets in the blood: A diagnostic window on the lymphoid system? Immunol Today 11:406-410.
High Energy Neutron Multiple-Bit Upset

Neutron-induced multiple-bit upsets (MBU) in a 90 nm CMOS SRAM are examined using Monte-Carlo simulations. While the single-bit upset (SBU) cross section is nearly independent of angle, the probability of MBU increases for neutrons incident at grazing angles.
Evolutionary Analyses of Tacit Communication in Van Huyck, Battalio, and Beil's Game Experiments

This paper provides evolutionary interpretations of Van Huyck, Battalio, and Beil's experimental results on coordination game with auction. A set-valued solution concept is defined for a finite population model under a best response evolutionary dynamic and applied to their games. It is shown that our solution concept captures the role of auction as a tacit communication device and predicts the equilibria chosen by players in the real experiments. We also discuss the possibility of constructing a more realistic evolutionary learning model to explain the experimental results.Journal of Economic LiteratureClassification Numbers: C72, C92.
The history, logic and uses of the Equivalent Initial Flaw Size approach to total fatigue life prediction

Abstract Total fatigue life is traditionally composed of the time to crack initiation plus the time for the initiated crack to grow to a critical crack size. Fracture mechanics does reasonably well in predicting the growth portion but there is still a lot of uncertainty about the definition of an initiated crack and scatter associated with the number of cycles to “initiation”. This paper will review some of the history, logic and uses of the Equivalent Initial Flaw Size (EIFS) approach to total life prediction. In short, this is a method where found cracks are analytically grown backwards to time equal zero (time or cycles) to determine an initial flaw, referred to as an EIFS. By growing a number of found cracks back to time equal zero a distribution of EIFS can be established. Example of establishing this distribution are given for the C-130 aircraft with a 7075 aluminum structure and for gas powered turbine blades made of directional solidified super-alloys.
Dynamic rupture of the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku‐Oki earthquake: Roles of a possible subducting seamount

[1] Using a hybrid MPI/OpenMP parallel finite element method for spontaneous rupture and seismic wave propagation simulations, we investigate features in rupture propagation, slip distribution, seismic radiation, and seafloor deformation of the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake to gain physical insights into the event. With simplified shallow dipping (10°) planar fault geometry, 1D velocity structure, and a slip-weakening friction law, we primarily investigate initial stress and strength conditions that can produce rupture and seismic radiation characteristics of the event revealed by kinematic inversions, and seafloor displacements observed near the epicenter. By a large suite of numerical experiments aided by parallel computing on modern supercomputers, we find that a seamount of a dimension of ∼70 km by 23 km just updip of the hypocenter on the subducting plane, parameterized by higher static friction, lower pore fluid pressure, and higher initial stress than surrounding regions, may play a dominant role in the 2011 event. Its high strength stalls updip rupture for tens of seconds, and its high stress drop generates large slip. Its failure drives the rupture to propagate into the shallow portion that is likely velocity-strengthening, resulting in significant slip near the trench within a limited area. However, the preferred model suggests that the largest slip in the event occurs near the hypocenter. High-strength patches along the downdip portion of the subducting plane are most effective among several possible factors in generating high-frequency seismic radiations, suggesting the initial strength distribution there is very heterogeneous.
Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gases and Energy Consumption for Material and Construction Phases of Pavement with Traffic Delay:

This paper discusses an approach to life-cycle assessment (LCA) for pavement construction applications. The scope of the study included the material production and construction phases pertaining to the upper layers of pavement; the aim was to quantify energy consumption and greenhouse gases. Life-cycle inventory data were taken from literature sources and questionnaires, with system boundaries including upstream processes for the production of major materials and fuels. The use of regionalized data was necessary to ensure proper application of LCA. Thus, for the material production phase, this LCA included preliminary data collected from regional surveys and incorporated a localized life-cycle model for asphalt binder production. The impact of traffic delay was modeled in the construction phase with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator. A case study was performed for a simulated two-lane reconstruction of an existing Interstate in northern Illinois. The energy consum...
Peer review: strengthening the weak link of academic radiology.

Peer review has long been recognized as a process fraught with flaws, biases, and poor reproducibility. 1-3 Criticisms of the peer review process are many. Reviewers are often pressured with other clinical and academic responsibilities and lack the luxury of time necessary to perform thorough literature searches and critical analyses. Journals have limited pools of reviewers and sometimes have difficulty in ensuring an adequate depth and breadth of reviewer expertise. Moreover, academic departments and employers provide few or no incentives for radiologists to act as reviewers. The perils of the peer review process are particularly exposed in academic radiology. Radiology has evolved with a growing emphasis on subspecialization in training and education, and also in academic and clinical practices. 4-7 With the same workforce pursuing higher degrees of subspecialization, the pool of expertise in each field is stretched even thinner with more uneven availability of resources for peer review. Although radiology faces some of the biggest challenges in ensuring a high quality of peer review participation, the field of radiology has the opportunity to become a leader among other disciplines in addressing the potential pitfalls of the peer review process.
Reduction in the number of Early Cambrian helicoplacoid species

Abstract Helicoplacoid echinoderms occur in Lower Cambrian shales and mudstones along the northern coast of Laurentia, now western North America. The group originally contained four genera and nine species, diagnosed by differing ambulacra, plate length-to-width ratios, and plate ornament. Ambulacra are identical in all specimens except for the single example of Waucobella nelsoni, and the remaining morphologic differences are caused by ontogeny. The characters used to diagnose seven of the original nine species are therefore invalid, reducing the group to three genera and three species. These are: Helicoplacus gilberti Durham and Caster, 1963, Waucobella nelsoni Durham, 1967, and Polyplacus kilmeri Durham, 1967, which has a test composed of ambulacra, and likely represents a developmental oddity.
Proton Permeability of HIV Virus like Particles and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Enveloped viruses have been assumed to be impermeable to protons around neutral pH. Here we report the permeability of bald as well as VSV G pseudotyped HIV virus like particles (VLPs) in their mature and immature states as well as wild type VSV virions. Permeability was measured on single isolated virions incorporating pHlorins by changing the external PH from neutral pH to 6.2. pHlorin's fluorescence depends on their protonation state with a pKa of 7.18. We found all HIV VLPs and VSV virions to be permeable to protons, with fast permeation due to nanopore formation at the initial phase followed by the diffusion of protons across the membrane. Maturation of the HIV VLPs increased the permeation rate by a factor of two suggesting the Gag lattice lowers the permeability of immature VLPs. The average permeation rate of the VSV virions as well as HIV VLPs was similar to the previously measured rate for 150 nm lipid vesicles and all virions equilibrated to the outside pH well below 10 min after being subjected to pH 6.2. Our data suggests that permeation of envelopes within VSV virions and HIV VLPs is governed through the same permeation mechanism as lipid vesicles with similar sizes and none of the virions in this study are impermeable, at least if one can wait a sufficiently long time.
The rationale of partial denture choice

Abstract Because the Kennedy classification of removable partial dentures has many excellent features and is established, 7 it is urged that this classification be retained and simply modified. The addition of two groups provides six classes with which to designate different structural and anatomic situations that require dissimilar designs. Within the proposed classification, there exists a logical correlation with the principles of design and construction of removable partial dentures. Unless the same principles are applicable in the design of such restorations when the same oral conditions are present, something less than principles is being applied. There can be but one logical conclusion. There has been an inaccurate grouping, and this grouping needs to be changed. The suggested classification eliminates the defects in a practical manner. However, the advantages of an established method of classification of partially edentulous conditions are not lost.
Systematic trends in the radiative emission rates for low- and medium-Z elements in high-temperature plasmas

Abstract The power radiated by an optically thin, low-density (Ne ≤ 1014 electrons/cm3) plasma has been calculated for the electron temperature range 1–106 eV taking into account resonance line emission, direct recombination radiation, dielectronic recombination radiation, and bremsstrahlung from the ions of a given element. The ionization structure has been determined by using a corona equilibrium model in which collisional ionization and inner-shelled excitation followed by autoionization are balanced by direct radiative and dielectronic recombination. Based on the results for respresentative elements from carbon through nickel, graphs are presented of the maximum radiated power, the maximum emission temperature, and the mean charge at the maximum for each shell as functions of the atomic number Z. Assuming that the maximum emission temperature can be achieved, aluminum and iron are predicted to be the most efficient K-shell radiators for Z ≤28.
"Diverging Paths: Social, Human, and Intellectual Capital Across Organizational Life Cycle Stages"

While scholars and practitioners alike posit that acquiring the right mix of organizational capital can help achieve and sustain a firm’s competitive advantage, we have little understanding of the type of capital that best fits the various stages of an organization’s life cycle and the effects on firm success. Employing life cycle theory, which suggests that organizations will progress along a prescribed path as the firm reacts to endogenous and exogenous changes, we propose that a diverse selection of organizational capital, including social, human, and intellectual capital, is needed at different organizational stages to enhance a firm’s competitive position and to achieve its strategic goals. We build a framework that considers each stage as an intersection of dynamic life cycle characteristics and environmental factors that drive distinctive organizational capital needs. Our framework reveals that some stages will have substantial similarity in organizational capital needs, but as the organization pro...
Critical factors governing the fire performance of high strength concrete systems

High strength concrete (HSC), is being increasingly used in a number of building applications, where structural fire safety is one of the major design considerations. Many research studies clearly indicate that the fire performance of HSC is different from that of normal strength concrete (NSC) and that HSC may not exhibit same level of performance (as NSC) in fire. This paper discusses the material, structural and fire characteristics that influence the performance of HSC under fire conditions. Data from earlier experimental and numerical studies is used to illustrate the impact the concrete (material) mix design and structural detailing (design) has on fire performance of HSC systems. An understanding of various factors influencing fire performance will aid in developing appropriate solutions for mitigating spalling and enhancing fire resistance of HSC members.
Altered intracellular targeting properties associated with mutations in the Legionella pneumophila dotA gene

Legionella pneumophila dot mutations cause defects in intracellular targeting of the microorganism within cultured macrophages. Each of the previously characterized dot mutations was shown to be complemented by a single open reading frame designated dotA. The defects caused by the mutations appear to be due to disrupted function of the predicted 1048-amino-acid residue DotA protein, and not by polarity effects on a downstream gene. Complementation studies indicated that the product of the dotA53 mutation results in a partially functional DotA protein, consistent with a stable N-terminal fragment having biological activity.
THE USE OF SINGLE COLUMN ION CHROMATOGRAPHY TO MEASURE ION CONCENTRATIONS IN INVERTEBRATE BODY FLUIDS

Abstract 1. 1. Single column ion chromatography was used as a method for determination of the concentrations of the major ions in invertebrate body fluids. 2. 2. This method allows the precise measurement of ion concentrations (to the low μmol/1 range) in very small (5–10μl) fluid samples. 3. 3. Ions not previously known to be present in a sample may be detected while analyzing for known ions. 4. 4. The resulting data can be used in physiological studies requiring the preparation of physiological saline solutions having the same ion concentrations as the fluid which was analyzed.
Detection of olive oil adulteration by measuring its authenticity factor using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract Addition of as little as 1% of linoleic-rich vegetable oils to olive oil can be detected easily and quantitatively by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on an octyl-bonded silica stationary phase (Supelcosil-LC 8). The mobile phase was acetone-acetonitrile (70:30, v/v), used isocratically. The chromatogram of pure olive oil was compared with those of mixtures of soybean, sunflower and corn oils with olive oil. The results indicate the possibility of the detection of adulteration by less than 1% of linoleic-rich vegetable oils in olive oil qualitatively and quantitatively in less than 15 min. An olive oil authenticity factor was established as a rapid indicator of adulteration and a simple equation for determining the extent of adulteration was derived.
Is dentistry in peril? Our educational institutions and their influence on dental practice

Letters to the Editor may not be enough. The issues facing dentistry today are numerous. So are the number of opinions on any given issue. We initiate this new section of the journal to encourage responsible and well-written expressions of opinion. Articles for this section will be chosen on a competitive basis. As in other parts of the journal, opinions expressed or implied are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policies or position of the American Dental Association.
Experimental Study of Supersonic Turbulent Flow on a Blunted Axisymmetric Body

Mesure de la distribution de pression de surface et des profils de vitesse de couche limite turbulente sur un modele cylindrique a ogive pour des angles d'attaque de 0 a 4,5° et des nombres de Reynolds eleves a Mach 3
Pgc-1α overexpression downregulates Pitx3 and increases susceptibility to MPTP toxicity associated with decreased Bdnf.

Multiple mechanisms likely contribute to neuronal death in Parkinson’s disease (PD), including mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) positively regulates the expression of genes required for mitochondrial biogenesis and the cell’s antioxidant responses. Also, expression of PGC-1α-regulated genes is low in substantia nigra (SN) neurons in early PD. Thus upregulation of PGC-1α is a candidate neuroprotective strategy in PD. Here, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) was used to induce unilateral overexpression of Pgc-1α, or a control gene, in the SN of wild-type C57BL/6CR mice. Three weeks after AAV administration, mice were treated with saline or MPTP. Overexpression of Pgc-1α in the SN induced expression of target genes, but unexpectedly it also greatly reduced the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) and other markers of the dopaminergic phenotype with resultant severe loss of striatal dopamine. Reduced Th expression was associated with loss of Pitx3, a transcription factor that is critical for the development and maintenance of dopaminergic cells. Expression of the neurotrophic factor Bdnf, which also is regulated by Pitx3, similarly was reduced. Overexpression of Pgc-1α also led to increased sensitivity to MPTP-induced death of Th+ neurons. Pgc-1α overexpression alone, in the absence of MPTP treatment, did not lead to cell loss in the SN or to loss of dopaminergic terminals. These data demonstrate that overexpression of Pgc-1α results in dopamine depletion associated with lower levels of Pitx3 and enhances susceptibility to MPTP. These data may have ramifications for neuroprotective strategies targeting overexpression of PGC-1α in PD.
It Wasn’t in My Contract: Security Privatization and Civilian Control

An increase in the use of private military and security contractors over the last two decades has sparked a debate over whether their employment enhances or detracts from government control of its ...
Response calculations for light-scattering aerosol counters and photometers

Mie theory angular scattering distributions for spherical particles of refractive index m = 1.2 (0.2) to 2.4 and 2 − i, and of size 0.1 1μ then varies little with m for 1.4 10 μ at least, but as much flux may be received from absorbing as from transparent particles. In instruments measuring the forward lobe of the scattering pattern the differences in response for transparent and absorbing particles are least, but not negligible, and the collection of this lobe is difficult for particles larger than a few microns. Axially symmetric instruments do not necessarily measure forward scattering. No single instrument design can meet all requirements of aerosol measurement.
Association between blood pressure, ultrafiltration, and hemodialysis graft thrombosis: a multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Although a low blood flow (Q(a)) is the most important cause of graft thrombosis, several studies have shown that Q(a) measurements do not accurately predict thrombosis. This suggests that additional variables may influence thrombosis. Identification of such variables may be essential to designing surveillance protocols that accurately predict thrombosis. In this nested case-control study, we prospectively followed 105 patients for up to 2.5 years in order to test the association of a number of variables with thrombosis. These included Q(a) (monthly by ultrasound dilution), percentage stenosis (quarterly by duplex ultrasound), mean arterial pressure (MAP), percentage ultrafiltration (%UF) during dialysis (%UF = 100[liters]/[kilogram of weight]), and other variables that defined patient and graft characteristics. Patients were divided into patent (n = 53) and thrombosed groups (n = 52), and MAP and %UF from seven consecutive dialysis sessions were analyzed. In the thrombosed group, the last session was the final session before thrombosis. A multivariable logistic regression model showed that Q(a), MAP (the predialysis average of seven sessions), and %UF (from the last session) were independently associated with thrombosis, whereas all other variables were not. The model yielded the following odds ratios for thrombosis: for a single Q(a) value (reduction of 1,000 mL/min), 12.0 (P or =20% versus <20%), 2.4 (P = 0.12). We conclude that in addition to Q(a), both %UF at the last session before thrombosis and average predialysis MAP from seven sessions are independently associated with thrombosis. These results help explain why Q(a) alone does not accurately predict thrombosis. A prospective study is needed to determine whether %UF at each session and a moving average MAP from seven sessions improve the prediction of thrombosis. However, it should be recognized that a large %UF is a preterminal event that likely provides too short a warning for intervention before thrombosis.
Models of the Lateral Heterogeneity of the Earth Consistent with Eigenfrequency Splitting Data

Summary Let ωk k = 1,2,…, 2l+1, denote the 2l+1 non-degenerate split eigenfrequencies associated with some isolated elastic-gravitational normal mode multiplet of the Earth, and let denote the corresponding degenerate eigenfrequency of the spherically averaged and non-rotating terrestrial monopole. The multiplet variance is a quantity which, correct to first order, depends only upon the small deviations of the Earth away from the terrestrial monopole, i.e. upon the slow angular rotation, the hydrostatic ellipsoidal shape, and the lateral heterogeneity. If it is assumed that the N observed Fourier spectral peaks ωi, i = 1,2,…, N, which have been assigned to any multiplet constitute a random sampling with replacement of the 2l+1 split eigenfrequencies ωk, k= 1, 2,…, 21+1, then the sample mean and the sample variance provide estimates of ωo and Δω2, respectively. This paper analyses the recently compiled sample variances for the fundamental toroidal and spheroidal multiplets oTl and oSl in an attempt to infer certain gross features and properties of the lateral heterogeneity of the Earth. This requires a preliminary correction of the raw sample variance data for the bias introduced by random errors in the observed Fourier spectral peaks ωi, i = 1, 2,…, N, as well as an a priori estimation of the contribution to the splitting from the rotation and the hydrostatic ellipsoidal shape of the Earth. These adjustments are sufficiently large and uncertain that any formal inversion of fundamental mode multiplet variance data seems unwarranted at this time; instead, direct calculations have been performed for a number of hypothetical models of the lateral heterogeneity of the Earth. A comparison of the results of these calculations with observed multiplet variances points strongly to two main conclusions; the first is that there must be significant lateral heterogeneity in the lower mantle, and the second is that oceanic-continental differences must persist to depths of at least several hundred kilometres.
Women and Households in Indonesia: Cultural Notions and Social Practices

Women and Households in Indonesia: Cultural Notions and Social Practices. Juliette Koning. Marleen Nolten. Janet Rodenburg. and Ratna Saptari. eds. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon Press. 2000 pp.
Compression algorithm for infrared hyperspectral sounder data

Summary form only given. The research is undertaken by NOAA/NESDIS, for its GOES-R Earth observation satellite series, to be launched in the 2013 time frame, to enable greater distribution of its scientific data, both within the US and internationally. We have developed a new lossless algorithm for compression of the signals from NOAA's environmental satellites using current spacecraft to simulate data from the upcoming GOES-R instrument, and focusing on Aqua Spacecraft's AIRS (atmospheric infrared sounder) instrument in our case study. The AIRS is a high resolution instrument which measures infrared radiances at 2378 wavelengths ranging from 3.74-15.4 /spl mu/m. The AIRS takes 90 measurements as it scans 48.95 degrees perpendicular to the satellite's orbit every 2.667 seconds. We use Level 1A digital count data granules, which represent 6 minutes (or 135 scans) of measurements. Therefore, our data set consists of a 90/spl times/135/spl times/1502 cube of integers ranging from 12-14 bits. Our compression algorithm consists of the following steps: 1) channel partitioning; 2) adaptive clustering; 3) projection onto principal directions; 4) entropy coding of the residuals.
Citizens’ Policy Confidence and Electoral Punishment: A Neglected Dimension of Electoral Accountability

If voters punish elected officials who adopt incongruent policy positions, then representatives should take popular positions to avoid electoral sanction. Yet, scholars have noted gaps between citizen preferences and the behavior of elected officials. We argue that one important source of this gap is that individual citizens believe they are sometimes not well qualified to evaluate policy. Our analysis of a series of experiments shows that citizens’ stated confidence in their own ability to evaluate a policy proposal substantially affects their willingness to reward or punish a representative for their votes on that policy. Our results hold both across individuals (within policy areas) and within individuals (across policy areas) and suggest that, rather than a failure of representation, gaps between citizen preferences and policy may reflect citizen deference to “expert” legislators. We also show that understanding differences in policy confidence has important implications for understanding the contours...
the selling of San Juan: the performance of history in an Afro-Venezuelan community

By viewing the Afro-Venezuelan Festival of San Juan in the historical context of a 45-year period, we can see the manner in which this celebration has articulated the changing social and political realities of those who have performed it. From the growth of nationalism and the consolidation of the Venezuelan state during the first years of democracy in the late 1940s, to the developmental fever generated by the oil boom of the 1970s, to the emergence of a new African consciousness in the present, the festival, like all cultural performances, has mirrored transformations within the community itself. Most recently, the celebration of San Juan has served to reconsolidate the community in a time of tremendous social turmoil and has also permitted those participating in it to speak about a subject few Venezuelans have ever wished to address—that of race. [festivals, cultural performance, resistance, Afro-American history, Latin America, Venezuela]
Increased eIF2α Phosphorylation Attenuates Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus 2 vhs Mutants in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts and Correlates with Reduced Accumulation of the PKR Antagonist ICP34.5

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) strains containing mutations in the virion host shutoff (vhs) protein are attenuated for replication compared with wild-type virus in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). However, HSV-2 vhs mutants replicate to near wild-type levels in the absence of the RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR). PKR is one of several kinases that phosphorylates the eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) to inhibit translation initiation, and we previously found that more of the phosphorylated form of eIF2α accumulates in MEFs infected with HSV-2 vhs mutants than with wild-type virus. Here, we show that this increase in phosphorylated eIF2α is primarily PKR dependent. Using MEFs expressing nonphosphorylatable eIF2α, we demonstrate that phosphorylated eIF2α is the primary cause of attenuated replication of HSV-2 vhs mutants and that attenuation correlates with decreased accumulation of viral proteins. Normally, HSV antagonizes eIF2α phosphorylation through the action of ICP34.5, which redirects protein phosphatase 1α (PP1α) to dephosphorylate eIF2α during infection. We show that ICP34.5 does not accumulate efficiently in MEFs infected with HSV-2 vhs mutant viruses, suggesting that the accumulation of phosphorylated eIF2α and the attenuated phenotype of HSV-2 vhs mutants in MEFs result from a deficiency in ICP34.5.
The CLEAR 2006 CMU acoustic environment classification system

We describe the CLEAR 2006 acoustic environment classification evaluation and the CMU system used in the evaluation. Environment classification is a critical technology for the CHIL Connector service [1] in that Connector relies on maintaining awareness of user state to make intelligent decisions about the optimal times, places, and methods to deal with requests for human-to-human communication. Environment is an important aspect of user state with respect to this problem; humans may be more or less able to deal with voice or text communications depending on whether they are, for instance, in an office, a car, a cafe, or a cinema. We unfortunately cannot rely on the availability of the full CHIL sensor suite when users are not in the CHIL room; hence, we are motivated to explore the use of the only sensor which is reliably available on every mobile communication device: the microphone.
A Religious View of the Foundations of International Law

Over the last ten years there has been something of a crisis in American confidence in, and support for, international law. As the idea of order and justice in the international realm is considered and rationalized from various perspectives, it seems appropriate to consider also how it might be regarded from the viewpoint of the world’s leading religions. These lectures were delivered in late March 2011 as the Charles E. Test Lectures in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Lecture 1 begins the task of considering law beyond the state from a specifically Christian point of view, though it also addresses the difficulties of sustaining a viewpoint of this kind in a multi-faith and indeed increasingly secular world. Lecture 2 considers nationhood, sovereignty, and the basis for the division of the world into separate political communities. Clearly a religious approach to order in the international realm will endorse the position of most modern international jurists that sovereign independence is not to be made into an idol or a fetish, and that the tasks of order and peace in the world are not to be conceived as optional, which sovereigns may or may not support at their pleasure. At the same time, sovereigns have their own mission, ordering particular communities of men and women; and this task, too, should not be slighted. Finally Lecture 3 will consider the rival claims of natural law and positivism in regard to the sources of international law Natural law is no doubt important in any Christian jurisprudence. But the most telling part of natural law jurisprudence from Aquinas to Finnis has always been its insistence on the specific human need for positive law. This holds true in the international realm as much as in any realm of human order - perhaps more so, because in the international realm law has to do its work unsupported by the overwhelming power of a particular state. So this final lecture will address, from a religious point of view, the sources of law in the international realm: treaty, convention, custom, precedent, and jurisprudence. It will focus particularly on the sanctification of treaties.
IBC's conference on pulmonary hypertension: new understanding for therapeutic development.

The International Business Communications conference on ‘Pulmonary Hypertension: New Understanding for Therapeutic Development’ was held in San Diego, CA, USA. Approximately 100 basic scientists and clinicians from academia and industry participated in this highly interactive two-day symposium on pulmonary hypertension (PHT). Topics discussed included current clinical therapies and novel therapeutic strategies, e.g., nitric oxide, phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition, prostacyclin synthase expression, endothelin receptor antagonism and elastase inhibition.
Numerical simulation of three-dimensional Benard convection in air

A numerical model is developed to simulate three-dimensional Benard convection. This model is used to investigate thermal convection in air for Rayleigh numbers between 4000 and 25000. According to experiments, this range of Rayleigh numbers in air covers three regimes of thermal convection: (i) steady two-dimensional convection, (ii) time-periodic convection and (iii) aperiodic convection. Numerical solutions are obtained for each of these regimes and the results are compared with the available experimental data and theoretical predictions.At the Rayleigh number Ra = 4000 the present model is able to produce experimentally realistic wavelengths for the two-dimensional convection. The small amplitude wave disturbances at Ra = 6500 have period τ = 0·24. When they become finite amplitude travelling waves, the period is τ = 0·27. These values are in good agreement with theoretical and experimental results. A detailed study of the form of these waves and of their energetics is given in appendix A. As the Rayleigh number is increased to Ra = 9000 and 25 000, the convection manifests progressively more complex spatial and temporal variations.The vertical heat transport and other mean properties of the convection are calculated for the range of Ra considered and compared with experimental and theoretical data. A detailed comparison is also made between the mean properties of two- and three-dimensional convection at the larger values of Ra. It is found that the heat flux Nu is nearly independent of the dimensionality of the convection.
Signal averaging helps reliable noninvasive monitoring of left ventricular dimensions based on acoustic quantification

The acoustic quantification (AQ) technique for on-line endocardial border detection provides continuous left ventricular (LV) area or volume signals, which may allow noninvasive quantification of valuable clinical indices of LV function. However, these signals are distorted by noise, so that accurate interpretation on a beat-to-beat basis is not possible. An automated signal averaging algorithm was developed based on the stochastic sign change as a criterion for temporal beat alignment and rejection of artifacts, in order to improve noise characteristics of the AQ signals. The algorithm was evaluated using area signals obtained from 8 healthy volunteers. The estimates of a set of systolic and diastolic LV function parameters obtained using this algorithm were found to be highly consistent. This approach provides a fast and easy method for noise reduction in AQ signals, which may significantly improve the accuracy of this new noninvasive method of assessment of LV function based on ultrasound technology. >
Term Limits, Campaign Contributions, and the Distribution of Power in State Legislatures

Using campaign contributions to legislators as an indicator of member influence, we explore the impact of term limits on the distribution of power within state legislatures. Specifically, we perform a cross-state comparison of the relative influence of party caucus leaders, committee chairs, and rank-and-file legislators before and after term limits. The results indicate that term limits diffuse power in state legislatures, both by decreasing average contributions to incumbents and by reducing the power of party caucus leaders relative to other members. The change in contribution levels across legislators in different chambers implies a shift in power to the upper chamber in states with term limits. Thus, the impact of term limits may be attenuated in a bicameral system.
Human performance moderator functions for human-robot peer-based teams

Interaction between humans and robots in peer-based teams can be dramatically affected by human performance. Our research is focused on determining if existing human performance moderator functions apply to peer-based human-robot interaction and if not, how such functions must be modified. Our initial work focuses on modeling workload. Validation of the models will require human subject evaluations. Future work will incorporate larger numbers of performance moderator functions and will apply the results to distributing tasks to team members.
A critical role for lymphatic endothelial heparan sulfate in lymph node metastasis

Background Lymph node metastasis constitutes a key event in tumor progression. The molecular control of this process is poorly understood. Heparan sulfate is a linear polysaccharide consisting of unique sulfate-modified disaccharide repeats that allow the glycan to bind a variety of proteins, including chemokines. While some chemokines may drive lymphatic trafficking of tumor cells, the functional and genetic importance of heparan sulfate as a possible mediator of chemokine actions in lymphatic metastasis has not been reported.
Auditory brainstem responses from human adults and infants: influence of stimulus onset.

Auditory brainstem responses were recorded from adults and 3-month-old infants in response to gated noise bursts of variable rise/fall time. Stimuli were presented at 50 dB nHL for rise/fall times of 0, 1,2.5, and 5 ms. Acoustic spectra of noise-burst stimuli were identical for all rise/fall conditions. Results show that increases in stimulus rise time were accompanied by increased latency and decreased amplitude of ABR wave V recorded from both adult and infant subjects. Constant differences between adult and infant data were observed across rise/fall conditions for both latency and amplitude values. Adult and infant subjects do not differentially process stimulus onset.Les reponses auditives evoquees du tronc cerebral ont ete enregistrees chez des adultes normaux et des enfants (aˇges de 3 mois) pour des sons brefs. Les stimulations ont ete presentees a 50 dB nHL pour des temps d'etablissement et d'extinction de 0, 1, 2,5 et 5 ms. Le spectre acoustique etait constant pour chaque stimulus. La forme des r...
Solid-State Spectroscopy: An Introduction, 2nd edn., by Hans Kuzmany: Scope: textbook. Level: postgraduates, advanced undergraduates, early career researchers, researchers, teachers, scientists and engineers

Solid-State Spectroscopy: An Introduction, 2nd edn., by Hans Kuzmany, Heidelberg, Springer, 2010, 554 pp., £69.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-3-642-01478-9. Scope: textbook. Level: postgraduates, advanced...
Coordinate Swapping in Standard Addition Graphs for Analytical Chemistry: A Simplified Path for Uncertainty Calculation in Linear and Nonlinear Plots

Uncertainty of the result from the method of standard addition is often underestimated due to neglect of the covariance between the intercept and the slope. In order to simplify the data analysis from standard addition experiments, we propose x–y coordinate swapping in conventional linear regression. Unlike the ratio of the intercept and slope, which is the result of the traditional method of standard addition, the result of the inverse standard addition is obtained directly from the intercept of the swapped calibration line. Consequently, the uncertainty evaluation becomes markedly simpler. The method is also applicable to nonlinear curves, such as the quadratic model, without incurring any additional complexity.
Sol–Gel-Derived Silver-Nanoparticle-Embedded Thin Film for Mass Spectrometry-Based Biosensing

A porous silver-nanoparticle (AgNP)-embedded thin film biosensor was produced by the sol–gel method. The thin films were used as matrix-free laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) biosensors applicable to several chemical classes. In these experiments, UV laser irradiation (337 nm) of the AgNP facilitates desorption and ionization of a number of peptides, triglycerides, and phospholipids. Preferential ionization of sterols from vesicles composed of olefinic phosphosphatidylcholines is also demonstrated, offering the possibility for a simplified approach for sterol analysis from complex mixtures. The composition of the nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–vis spectroscopy. XPS data revealed a binding energy of 368.2 eV, consistent with the previous assignment of the binding energy for the Ag 3d5/2 peak from Ag0 at 368.1 ± 0.1 eV. The surface morphology of the thin films was studied by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and revealed t...
A bilinear relaxation based algorithm for concave piecewise linear network flow problems

We present a continuous relaxation technique for the Concave Piecewise Linear Network Flow Problem (CPLNFP), which has a bilinear objective function and network constraints. We show that a global optimum of the resulting problem is a solution of CPLNFP. The theoretical results are generalized for a concave minimization problem with a separable objective function. An efficient and effective Dynamic Cost Updating Procedure (DCUP) is considered to find a local minimum of the relaxation problem, which converges in a finite number of iterations. We show that the CPLNFP is equivalent to a Network Flow Problem with Flow Dependent Cost Functions (NFPwFDCF), and we prove that the solution of the Dynamic Slope Scaling Procedure (DSSP) is an equilibrium solution of the NFPwFDCF. The numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm can provide a better solution than DSSP using less amount of CPU time and iterations.
High-Speed Optical Phase-Control for Focusing and Imaging through Dynamic Turbid Media

We control light propagation through highly scattering media by an adaptive holographic technique. An FPGA-controlled deformable mirror device generates phase optimized wavefronts at a high rate that approaches the decorrelation time of living biological tissue.