cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DISSECTING THE RED SEQUENCE. III. MASS-TO-LIGHT VARIATIONS IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL FUNDAMENTAL PLANE SPACE

The fundamental plane (FP) of early-type galaxies is observed to have finite thickness and to be tilted from the virial relation. Both of these represent departures from the simple assumption that dynamical mass-to-light ratios (M{sub dyn}/L) are constant for all early-type galaxies. We use a sample of 16,000 quiescent galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to map out the variations in M {sub dyn}/L throughout the three-dimensional FP space defined by velocity dispersion ({sigma}), effective radius (R{sub e}), and effective surface brightness (I{sub e}). Dividing M{sub dyn}/L into multiple components allows us to separately consider the contribution to the observed M{sub dyn}/L variation due to stellar population effects, initial mass function (IMF) variations, and variations in the dark matter fraction within one R{sub e} . Along the FP, we find that the stellar population contribution given some constant IMF (M{sub *,IMF}/L) scales with {sigma} such that M{sub *,IMF}/L {proportional_to} f({sigma}). Meanwhile, the dark matter and/or IMF contribution (M{sub dyn}/M {sub *,IMF}) scales with M{sub dyn} such that M{sub dyn}/M {sub *,IMF} {proportional_to} g(M{sub dyn}). This means that the two contributions to the tilt of the FP rotate the plane around different axes in the three-dimensional space. The observed tiltmore » of the FP requires contributions from both, with dark matter/IMF variations likely comprising the dominant contribution. Looking at M {sub dyn}/L variations through the thickness of the FP, we find that M{sub dyn}/L variations must be dominated either by IMF variations or by real differences in the dark matter fraction with R{sub e} . This means that the finite thickness of the FP is due to variations in the stellar mass surface density within R{sub e} ({Sigma}{sub *,IMF}), not the fading of passive stellar populations. It therefore represents genuine structural differences between early-type galaxies. These structural variations are correlated with galaxy star formation histories such that galaxies with higher M{sub dyn}/M {sub *,IMF} have higher [Mg/Fe], lower metallicities, and older mean stellar ages. We discuss several physical mechanisms that might explain the observed co-variation between M {sub dyn}/M {sub *,IMF} and galaxy star formation histories. It is difficult to explain the observed enhancement of {alpha}-elements in lower-surface-brightness galaxies by allowing the IMF to vary. Differences in dark matter fraction can be produced by variations in the 'conversion efficiency' of baryons into stars or by the redistribution of stars and dark matter through dissipational merging. The former explanation, specifically a model in which some galaxies experience low conversion efficiencies due to premature truncation of star formation, provides a more natural explanation for the co-variation of M{sub dyn}/M {sub *,IMF} and the observed stellar population properties.« less
Many X-linked microRNAs escape meiotic sex chromosome inactivation

Meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) during spermatogenesis is characterized by transcriptional silencing of genes on both the X and Y chromosomes in mid-to-late pachytene spermatocytes. MSCI is believed to result from meiotic silencing of unpaired DNA because the X and Y chromosomes remain largely unpaired throughout first meiotic prophase. However, unlike X-chromosome inactivation in female embryonic cells, where 25-30% of X-linked structural genes have been reported to escape inactivation, previous microarray- and RT-PCR-based studies of expression of >364 X-linked mRNA-encoding genes during spermatogenesis have failed to reveal any X-linked gene that escapes the silencing effects of MSCI in primary spermatocytes. Here we show that many X-linked miRNAs are transcribed and processed in pachytene spermatocytes. This unprecedented escape from MSCI by these X-linked miRNAs suggests that they may participate in a critical function at this stage of spermatogenesis, including the possibility that they contribute to the process of MSCI itself, or that they may be essential for post-transcriptional regulation of autosomal mRNAs during the late meiotic and early postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis.
X-ray crystal structure of proto-oncogene product c-Rel bound to the CD28 response element of IL-2.

Abstract Background: The proto-oncogene product c-Rel is a Rel/NF-κB family transcription factor that plays a critical role in lymphoid cell development and mediates CD28-induced expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2). The CD28 response element (CD28RE) in the IL-2 enhancer is nonameric and similar to the κB DNA target sites recognized by p65 homodimers. Results: We have determined and refined the X-ray crystal structure of the c-Rel homodimer complexed to the CD28RE DNA site, 5′-AGAAATTCC-3′, to 2.85 A resolution. The c-Rel homodimer binds CD28RE in a mode similar to that observed in the p65/IL-8 κB crystallographic complex. Binding studies reveal that the c-Rel homodimer recognizes the CD28RE with higher affinity as compared to other canonical κB sequences despite the nonconsensus A:T base pair at the 5′ end of the CD28RE. Preferential recognition of the CD28RE by c-Rel results from the direct contacts between the protein and the DNA as well as intrasubunit interactions between the βf-βg loop in the dimerization domain and the DNA-contacting loop L1 of the N-terminal domain. Not only do these loops have different conformations in other Rel/DNA crystallographic complexes, but they also contain two of the five oncogenic point mutations found in v-Rel. Conclusions: The current structure indicates that a non-DNA-contacting loop in the dimerization domain and the DNA-contacting loop L1 may play critical roles in defining affinity and specificity. Two amino acid changes in these segments may account for the differential DNA binding by v-Rel as compared to that of c-Rel.
Using defined finger-finger interfaces as units of assembly for constructing zinc-finger nucleases.

Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) have been used for genome engineering in a wide variety of organisms; however, it remains challenging to design effective ZFNs for many genomic sequences using publicly available zinc-finger modules. This limitation is in part because of potential finger–finger incompatibility generated on assembly of modules into zinc-finger arrays (ZFAs). Herein, we describe the validation of a new set of two-finger modules that can be used for building ZFAs via conventional assembly methods or a new strategy—finger stitching—that increases the diversity of genomic sequences targetable by ZFNs. Instead of assembling ZFAs based on units of the zinc-finger structural domain, our finger stitching method uses units that span the finger–finger interface to ensure compatibility of neighbouring recognition helices. We tested this approach by generating and characterizing eight ZFAs, and we found their DNAbinding specificities reflected the specificities of the component modules used in their construction. Four pairs of ZFNs incorporating these ZFAs generated targeted lesions in vivo, demonstrating that stitching yields ZFAs with robust recognition properties.
I—Meaning, Understanding and Normativity

I defend the normativity of meaning against recent objections by arguing for a new interpretation of the ‘ought’ relevant to meaning. Both critics and defenders of the normativity thesis have understood statements about how an expression ought to be used as either prescriptive (indicating that speakers have reason to use the expression in a certain way) or semantic (designating certain uses as correct in a sense explicable in terms of truth). I propose an alternative view of the ‘ought’ as conveying the primitively normative attitudes speakers must adopt towards their uses if they are to use the expression with understanding.
A Directional Entropic Force Approach to Assemble Anisotropic Nanoparticles into Superlattices

Abstract : Not touching but sticking: By using cationic surfactant micelles as depletants, a directional entropic force approach (DEFA) assembles anisotropic nanoparticles into superlattices in solution. The micelles induce the face-to-face stacking of the nanoparticles to maximize the system's entropy. The shape of the nanoparticles determines the symmetry of the superlattice, the interparticle spacing is determined by the charged surfactant.
Systemic Sarcocystosis in a Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

A striped skunk with neurological signs was euthanized and examined via necropsy. Histologically, protozoa were found in multiple tissues. Protozoal schizonts measured 15 to 25 mum in diameter and contained 4 to 6 mum crescent-shaped merozoites. Protozoa were associated with necrosis and inflammation in the lung, brain, liver, and nasal epithelium. Immunohistochemistry labeled protozoa strongly positive for Sarcocystis neurona. Polymerase chain reaction-amplified products from the protozoan were 99.6% identical to the corresponding portion of the nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of S neurona. S neurona origin was further confirmed by amplifying a 451-base pair DNA fragment from the skunk lung, which differed by just 2 or 3 base pairs from the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of S neurona. Striped skunks act as intermediate and aberrant hosts for S neurona; however, S neurona has rarely been found in extraneural tissues in any species, and systemic sarcocystosis has not been reported in skunks. Additionally, canine distemper virus infection was confirmed with histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Concurrent canine distemper suggests that immunosuppression may have played a role in S neurona infection in this skunk.
Vocational Psychology at the Fork in the Road: Staying the Course or Taking the Road Less Traveled

In response to the question posed in this special issue of the Journal of Career Assessment regarding the next big question in vocational psychology, this article poses that the field is at a critical fork in the road. The choice point for vocational psychology is to continue to create knowledge and services for middle-class populations with some degree of choice in their lives or to expand our inclusiveness to include people without as much volition about education, training, and work. In advocating for the road less traveled, some of the challenges and benefits that may result from examining the work lives of the poor and unemployed are reviewed. Selected contributions that vocational psychology can add to the discourse in unemployment and poverty are outlined.
Use of 3' untranslated sequences of human cDNAs for rapid chromosome assignment and conversion to STSs: implications for an expression map of the genome

Abstract A general mapping strategy is described in which the 3'untranslated regions of human cDNAs are used to design PCR primers which will selectively amplify human genomic sequences in a rodent background. When applied to panels of human x hamster somatic cell hybrid DNAs, this approach provides a PCR-based method for rapidly assigning genes to specific chromosomes and chromosomal regions. In addition, it follows from the virtual absence of introns in the 3'untranslated region of vertebrate genes that within this region the cDNA sequences almost always will be identical to those of the genomic DNA and can therefore be used to automatically generate gene-specific sequence-tagged sites (STSs). We have applied this strategy to six human cDNAs and demonstrate that 1) the primers selectively amplify human genomic DNA and 2) the PCR product is of the size predicted from the cDNA. To test this approach further we have utilized it to confirm the known chromosomal location of the retinoblastoma gene. Lastly, we describe how this strategy can readily be applied to unknown human cDNAs, and thereby be integrated into efforts to generate a human STS expression map of the genome. A strategy for production of such a map, using human brain cDNAs as a model, is described.
Thermodilution cardiac output: Comparison between automated and manual injection of indicator

Abstract In clinical practice, cardiac output (CO) is usually reported as the average of thermodilution determinations with injection of the thermal indicator performed at end-exhalation. However, an average of multiple determinations with injections equally dispersed throughout the respiratory cycle has been shown to provide the best estimate of mean CO. This study sought to determine the reproducibility of CO determinations obtained with manual injections of indicator solution performed at end-exhalation, compared with those determined by computer-controlled injections equally dispersed throughout the breathing cycle of 27 patients undergoing cardiac operations. Mean CO was calculated by averaging the four determinations obtained with each technique before induction of anesthesia, after induction of anesthesia, after sternotomy, after cardiopulmonary bypass, and after sternal closure. A total of 130 pairs of mean CO estimations were obtained with manual and automated injections. Mean CO values obtained with manual injections were significantly lower than those obtained with the dispersed injection technique (5.0 ± 1.4 L/min vs 5.3 ± 1.6 L/min, P = 0.002). The bias between CO values measured with the manual technique was −0.25 ± 0.47 L/min lower than those obtained with the dispersed technique. The mean relative bias for the group was 7 ± 18% with 95% confidence intervals of ± 26%. During mechanical ventilation, the thermodilution technique with manual injection of indicator solution significantly underestimated CO. Variability in the manual injection technique and inappropriate representation of the mean CO by injections timed to occur at end-exhalation contributed to the disparity. These results indicate that the manual technique of determining CO at end-exhalation may not accurately reflect the average CO.
Prevalence of advance directives and guardianship in nursing home patients

The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) now requires federally funded nursing homes to inform newly admitted patients of their right to determine their future medical care. Many nursing home patients may not be able to understand these rights, given the high prevalence of mental disorders, particularly dementia, in this population, and will need family members for assistance.Prior to the onset of the PSDA we surveyed the families of all residents of a large, proprietary nursing home to determine whether family members understood the concept of advance directives and guardianship. We also ascertained the rate of use of these instruments in the population studied.We found that the majority of family member respondents understood these concepts, but that substantial proportions of both competent and incompetent patients lacked surrogate decision-making authority, either in the form of a court-appointed guardian or a written advance-directive instrument.Informing newly admitted patients and their families a...
Managing Digital Rights using Linear Logic

Digital music players protect songs by enforcing licenses that convey specific rights for individual songs or groups of songs. For licenses specified in industry, we show that deciding whether a license authorizes a sequence of actions is NP-complete, with a restricted version of the problem solvable efficiently using a reduction to maximum network flow. The authorization algorithm used in industry is online, deciding which rights to exercise as actions occur, but we show that all online algorithms are necessarily non-monotonic: each allows actions under one license that it does not allow under a more flexible license. In one approach to achieving monotonicity, we exhibit the unique maximal set of licenses on which there exists a monotonic online algorithm. This set of well-behaved licenses induces an approximation algorithm by replacing each license with a well-behaved license. In a second approach, we consider allowing the player to revise its past decisions about which rights to exercise while still ensuring compliance with the license. We propose an efficient algorithm based on Linear Logic, with linear negation used to revise past decisions. We prove our algorithm monotonic, live, and sound with respect to the semantics of licenses.
Understanding the impact of communications technologies on virtual team performance: an agent-based simulation model

Enterprises are constantly looking for ways to get the most from their geographically dispersed human resources by forming virtual teams, and leveraging communications technologies for enabling good team performance. The experience in using these technologies by virtual teams has been mixed at best, and the extant literature has gaps in offering satisfactory explanation for the variations. To address that gap, we have developed an agent-based simulation model to understand the dynamic complexities of the interplay between the characteristics of a virtual team, the task of the team, individuals forming the team, and the key functionalities provided by communications technologies, and to simulate the collaboration and work done by the team for its assigned tasks. Preliminary results point to the potential usefulness of the model to investigate the impact of communications technologies on virtual team performance.
Resistance mutations in HIV-1 infected pregnant women and their infants receiving antiretrovirals to prevent HIV-1 vertical transmission in China.

The objective of this study was to assess the resistance baseline in HIV-1-infected pregnant women in China and the emergence of drug resistance (DR) among them and their infants after receiving single-dose nevirapine (sdNVP) or zidovudine plus sdNVP (ZDV-sdNVP) for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). The prospective study followed 62 drug-naive HIV-1-infected mothers and their infants who received sdNVP for PMTCT and 18 who received ZDV-sdNVP. Primary DR was detected in 8.8% (7/80) of pregnant women at baseline. Two (2.5%) women had mutations associated with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI). Six (7.5%) women harboured mutations associated with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI). No protease inhibitor (PI) DR was detected. The DR rates in infected mothers selected by sdNVP and ZDV-sdNVP regimen were 16.3% and 0%, respectively. Women with the emergence of DR after sdNVP had lower CD4 cell counts at delivery than women without DR after sdNVP (178 vs.364 cells/mm(3), P 0.05). The study indicates that NVP resistance after sdNVP was associated with CD4 cell count at delivery. ZDV-sdNVP regimen was of more significance in the prevention of the emergence of NNRTI-related DR than sdNVP.
Bar-grid oscillators

Grid oscillators are an attractive way of obtaining high power levels from the solid-state devices, since potentially the output powers of thousands of individual devices can be combined. The active devices do not require an external locking signal, and the power combining is done in free space. Thirty-six transistors were mounted on parallel brass bars, which provide a stable bias and have a low thermal resistance. The output power degraded gradually when the devices failed. The grid gave an effective radiated power of 3 W at 3 GHz. The directivity was 11.3 dB, and the DC-to-RF efficiency was 22%. Modulation capabilities of the grid were demonstrated. An equivalent circuit model for the grid is derived, and comparison with experimental results is shown. >
The use of muscle flaps for salvage of failed total knee arthroplasty

Abstract Deep infections occur in 1–5% of all patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, and may result in failure of the prosthesis and subsequent arthrodesis. Two-stage reimplantation is often successful, but depends upon the presence of good soft tissue coverage. We have treated 9 patients in whom chronic infection developed which required removal of the prosthesis, debridement, and implantation of antibiotic impregnated spacers for control. These patients all had poor quality soft tissue cover precluding prosthesis reimplantation. The use of muscle flaps resulted in 7 of the 9 patients having successful reimplantation of a prosthesis and remaining free of infection in a follow-up ranging from 1–5 years.
Initial Investigation of Acoustic Droplet Vaporization for Occlusion in Canine Kidney

Acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) shows promise for spatially and temporally targeted tissue occlusion. In this study, substantial tissue occlusion was achieved in operatively exposed and transcutaneous canine kidneys by generating ADV gas bubbles in the renal arteries or segmental arteries. Fifteen canines were anesthetized, among which 10 underwent laparotomy to externalize the left kidney and five were undisturbed for transcutaneous ADV. The microbubbles were generated by phase conversion of perfluoropentane droplets encapsulated in albumin or lipid shells in the blood. A 3.5-MHz single-element therapy transducer was aligned with an imaging array in a water tank with direct access to the renal artery or a segmental artery. In vivo color flow and spectral Doppler imaging were used to identify the target arteries. Tone bursts of 1 kHz pulse repetition frequency with 0.25% duty cycle vaporized the droplets during bolus passage. Both intracardiac (IC) and intravenous (IV) injections repeatedly produced ADV in chosen arteries in externalized kidneys, as seen by B-mode imaging. Concurrent with this in two cases was the detection by pulse-wave Doppler of blood flow reversal, along with a narrowing of the waveform. Localized cortex occlusion was achieved with 87% regional flow reduction in one case using IC injections. Vaporization from IV injections resulted in a substantial echogenicity increase with an average half-life of 8 min per droplet dose. Gas bubbles sufficient to produce some shadowing were generated by transcutaneous vaporization of intrarenal artery or IV-administered droplets, with a tissue path up to 5.5 cm.
Low dose furosemide modulates taste responses in the nucleus of the solitary tract of the rat

Taste-evoked neural responses in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) are subject to both excitatory and inhibitory modulation by physiological conditions that influence ingestion. Treatments that induce sodium appetite predominantly reduce NST gustatory responsiveness to sapid stimuli. When sodium appetite is aroused with 10 mg of the diuretic furosemide (Furo), however, NST gustatory neurons exhibit an enhanced responsiveness to NaCl. In addition to inducing a sodium appetite, 10 mg Furo supports a conditioned taste aversion (CTA). A lower, 2-mg dose of Furo induces an equivalent sodium appetite, but not a CTA. To determine whether the anomalous electrophysiological results reflected the adverse effects of the 10-mg dose, we replicated the original experiment but instead used 2 mg of Furo. In chronically prepared, lightly anesthetized rats, the responses of 49 single NST neurons to 12 taste stimuli were recorded after subcutaneous injections of either 2 mg Furo or saline. There was no effect of treatment on NST neural responses to the four standard taste stimuli. In the NaCl concentration series, however, 2 mg Furo evoked significantly higher responses to the two highest concentrations of NaCl. There was no effect of treatment in the sucrose concentration series. Thus, unlike other methods that induce a sodium appetite, Furo increases NST neural responsiveness to NaCl. At least as far as the first central relay, sodium appetite apparently does not depend on specific changes in the sensory neural code for taste.
Virtual chromosome modeling for learning human cytogenetics

The G-banding technique is routinely used for generating characteristic banding patterns for chromosome identification and karyotyping. Since G-band patterns are not static, training cytogenetics technologists to master the skills of chromosome analysis is a long process. Furthermore, the opportunities for biology students to access a wide range of different chromosome aberrations for practice are limited. To increase the resource for analyzing normal and abnormal human chromosomes, we hereby introduce an image processing and recognition method to create virtual chromosomes for education purposes at universities and clinical laboratories. While maintaining the entire characteristic features of digitized G-banded chromosomes from prepared microscope slides, the newly developed virtual chromosome modeling system is dynamic with the capability of changing shapes and creating certain chromosome abnormalities such as deletions in association with diseases including cancers. The virtual chromosomes will also provide a foundation for developing chromosome based genetics learning program linking both transmission and molecular genetics.
Interval-Weighted Graphs and Flow Networks

Weighted graphs are useful computational models and have broad applications in decision making and knowledge processing. In contrast to the classical definition, weights in real-world applications often vary within intervals rather than being constant. In this chapter, we study interval-weighted graphs. By defining a fuzzy partial order relationship for intervals, we extend classical graph algorithms to interval-weighted graphs and capacity flow networks. An application on task management is modeled with an interval capacity flow network as an example.
High-Throughput Ligand Discovery Reveals a Sitewise Gradient of Diversity in Broadly Evolved Hydrophilic Fibronectin Domains

Discovering new binding function via a combinatorial library in small protein scaffolds requires balance between appropriate mutations to introduce favorable intermolecular interactions while maintaining intramolecular integrity. Sitewise constraints exist in a non-spatial gradient from diverse to conserved in evolved antibody repertoires; yet non-antibody scaffolds generally do not implement this strategy in combinatorial libraries. Despite the fact that biased amino acid distributions, typically elevated in tyrosine, serine, and glycine, have gained wider use in synthetic scaffolds, these distributions are still predominantly applied uniformly to diversified sites. While select sites in fibronectin domains and DARPins have shown benefit from sitewise designs, they have not been deeply evaluated. Inspired by this disparity between diversity distributions in natural libraries and synthetic scaffold libraries, we hypothesized that binders resulting from discovery and evolution would exhibit a non-spatial, sitewise gradient of amino acid diversity. To identify sitewise diversities consistent with efficient evolution in the context of a hydrophilic fibronectin domain, >105 binders to six targets were evolved and sequenced. Evolutionarily favorable amino acid distributions at 25 sites reveal Shannon entropies (range: 0.3–3.9; median: 2.1; standard deviation: 1.1) supporting the diversity gradient hypothesis. Sitewise constraints in evolved sequences are consistent with complementarity, stability, and consensus biases. Implementation of sitewise constrained diversity enables direct selection of nanomolar affinity binders validating an efficient strategy to balance inter- and intra-molecular interaction demands at each site.
System compliance dictates the effect of composite filler content on polymerization shrinkage stress.

Abstract Objective The effect of filler content in dental restorative composites on the polymerization shrinkage stress (PS) is not straightforward and has caused much debate in the literature. Our objective in this study was to clarify the PS/filler content relationship based on analytical and experimental approaches, so that guidelines for materials comparison in terms of PS and clinical selection of dental composites with various filler content can be provided. Methods Analytically, a simplified model based on linear elasticity was utilized to predict PS as a function of filler content under various compliances of the testing system, a cantilever beam-based instrument used in this study. The predictions were validated by measuring PS of composites synthesized using 50/50 mixtures of two common dimethacrylate resins with a variety of filler contents. Results Both experiments and predictions indicated that the influence of filler content on the PS highly depended on the compliance of the testing system. Within the clinic-relevant range of compliances and for the specific sample configuration tested, the PS increased with increasing filler content at low compliance of instrument, while increasing the compliance caused the effect of filler content on the PS to gradually diminish. Eventually, at high compliance, the PS inverted and decreased with increasing filler content. Significance This compliance-dependent effect of filler content on PS suggests: (1) for materials comparison in terms of PS, the specific compliance at which the comparison being done should always be reported and (2) clinically, composites with relatively lower filler content could be selected for such cavities with relatively lower compliance (e.g. a Class-I cavity with thick tooth walls or the basal part in a cavity) and vice versa in order to reduce the final PS.
Why Do We Resist Hard Incompatibilism? Thoughts on Freedom and Punishment

One of the most difficult challenges for the “hard incompatibilist” is to deal with the overwhelming objections to the therapeutic/incapacitative approach to crime control that seems to follow naturally from his theory. See, for example, Pereboom’s Living without Free Will, Chapter 6. Responding to this challenge requires the hard determinist (1) to find a way to distinguish between those who have traditionally been found responsible for their crimes and those who have been found not to be responsible; and (2) to justify the infliction of intentionally harsh treatment on at least some of those who fall into the first category. I attempt to develop a theory that satisfies both those requirements.
Carbon reductions and health co-benefits from US residential energy efficiency measures

The United States (US) Clean Power Plan established state-specific carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction goals for fossil fuel-fired electricity generating units (EGUs). States may achieve these goals through multiple mechanisms, including measures that can achieve equivalent CO2 reductions such as residential energy efficiency, which will have important co-benefits. Here, we develop state-resolution simulations of the economic, health, and climate benefits of increased residential insulation, considering EGUs and residential combustion. Increasing insulation to International Energy Conservation Code 2012 levels for all single-family homes in the US in 2013 would lead to annual reductions of 80 million tons of CO2 from EGUs, with annual co-benefits including 30 million tons of CO2 from residential combustion and 320 premature deaths associated with criteria pollutant emissions from both EGUs and residential combustion sources. Monetized climate and health co-benefits average $49 per ton of CO2 reduced from EGUs (range across states: $12–$390). State-specific co-benefit estimates can inform development of optimal Clean Power Plan implementation strategies.
Joking through hardship: humor and truth-telling among displaced Timbuktians

This article argues that one way in which internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees from Timbuktu, Mali, negotiated and made sense of the occupation of northern Mali in 2012 and the hardships of displacement was through joking. A genre of unofficial communication, joking asserted local truths and produced counternarratives. Sharing in this humorous reproduction helped to alleviate some of the anxieties of displacement and strengthen interpersonal relationships. The result was a communitas that reproduced the local Timbuktian community in exile. Resume: Cet article fait valoir que, en 2012, c’est en partie grâce a la plaisanterie que les personnes deplacees en internes (PDI) et les refugies originaires de Tombouctou au Mali, ont gere les difficultes du deplacement et fait sens de l’occupation du nord du Mali. En tant que genre de communication officieuse, la plaisanterie a affirme des verites locales et produit des contre-narrations. Faire partie de cette reproduction humoristique a contribue a attenuer certaines des inquietudes dues au deplacement et a renforcer les relations interpersonnelles. Le resultat a ete une “communitas” qui a reproduit la communaute tombouctienne locale en exil.
Maintenance of species-specificity in a Neotropical fig- pollinator wasp mutualism.

While the one-to-one specificity of the fig pollinator mutualism is often discussed in reviews of coevolution, the means by which specificity of the interaction is enforced and the frequency of pollinator errors have not been examined. Specificity at different stages in the interaction was studied in a common neotropical fig, Ficus pertusa L., particularly in relation to its sympatric congener F. tuerckheimii Standley. 99% of pollinators arriving at sticky traps on flowering figs were the specialist species. Foreign pollinators virtually never entered F pertusa syconia to oviposit or emerged from mature fruits. Pollinators arrive at F pertusa trees in a one-day burst that is well timed with the presence of unpollinated syconia, providing evidence for the existence of a species-specific volatile attractant. Some nonpollinating wasps associated with F pertusa appear to use the same attractant to locate the tree.
Simplified Classification of Focal Cortical Dysplasia

Sections of cortex from 52 of 224 (23%) patients with cortical dysplasia, operated on for drug-resistant partial epilepsy, were retrospectively re-examined histologically at Niguarda Hospital, and Istituto Nazionale Neurologico ‘C. Besta’, Milan, Italy.
Clinical Use of the Leukocyte Esterase Test in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

The clinical usage of the one-minute leukocyte esterase test (LET) was evaluated in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The LET results correlated with cell counts of peritoneal effluents, but, like other tests, was not helpful in the early diagnosis of peritonitis. The LET may be useful in monitoring treatment of peritonitis and in self-testing ambulatory dialysis cases.
Analysis of Network Topologies for On-Demand, Intra- Theater Air Mobility Command Operations

The U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command (AMC) operates global air transportation networks and has been tasked in recent years with greater and more diverse missions. To fulfill these demands with constrained resources, AMC continually seeks more efficient and effective operational strategies for fleet utilization. This paper presents a weighted network analysis tool enabling a user to quickly determine the effectiveness of some network strategies in achieving objectives (e.g., minimum time, fuel burn, and distance). The tool also provides insight into how a network may be modified to more effectively realize these goals under multi-objective scenarios. The capabilities of the network analysis tool are demonstrated using real-world cargo aircraft movement data within the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility in 2006. Analysis of this data reveals how changes to network structure, operational procedures, and “on-demand” route determination may enable reductions in fuel consumption, flight time, and intermediate basing. Network solutions are visualized in nodal grid maps. These maps can augment formal optimization and heuristics employed by USCENTCOM in the dynamic, unpredictable, and real-time planning environment in which its missions operate.
Batch reservations in autonomous intersection management

The recent robot car competitions and demonstrations have convincingly shown that fully autonomous vehicles are feasible with current or near-future intelligent vehicle technology. Looking ahead to the time when such autonomous cars will be common, Dresner and Stone proposed a new intersection control protocol called Autonomous Intersection Management (AIM) and showed that by leveraging the capacities of autonomous vehicles we can devise a reservation-based intersection control protocol that is much more efficient than traffic signals and stop signs. Their proposed protocol, however, handles reservation requests one at a time and does not prioritize reservations according to their relative importance and vehicles' waiting times, causing potentially large inequalities in granting reservations. For example, at an intersection between a main street and an alley, vehicles from the alley can take a very long time to get reservations to enter the intersection. In this research, we introduce a prioritization scheme to prevent uneven reservation assignments in unbalanced traffic. Our experimental results show that our prioritizing scheme outperforms previous intersection control protocols in unbalanced traffic.
Kantian Dynamics Revisited: Time-Varying Analyses of Dyadic IGO-Conflict Relationships

The literature on international organizations (IGOs) and interstate conflict in world politics produces a series of contradictory theoretical arguments and empirical findings about how IGOs help to...
A Dose Titration Study Evaluating Terazosin, a Selective, Once-a-Day α1-Blocker for the Treatment of Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

AbstractThe efficacy and safety of terazosin, a selective long-acting alpha-1-adrenergic blocker, were evaluated in 45 normotensive patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia ranging from 50 to 76 years old. All patients underwent a complete urodynamic evaluation and transrectal prostatic ultrasonography before enrollment into the study. The dose of terazosin was titrated to 5mg. per day for a 1-month interval, provided adverse drug reactions were not observed. Of the patients 39 (87%) completed the dose titration study. The parameters used to assess the effectiveness of terazosin included peak and mean urinary flow rates, micturition symptom scores and the global assessment by the patient of symptomatic improvement. Over-all, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures changed by less than 1%. The peak and mean urinary flow rates increased by 42 and 48%, respectively. The obstructive and irritative symptom scores improved by 63 and 35%, respectively. Over-all, 30 of the 45 participants (6...
State Capitalism and Strategic Niches

This chapter builds upon the enabling factors identified in Chapter 2 to analyse in specific detail the mechanisms of the Gulf States’ projection of power and influence at a regional and global level. Officials in GCC states responded pragmatically to the evolving changes in the international system by adapting and implementing a Gulf-specific model of state capitalism and concentrating on developing expertise in clearly defined strategic niches. Underpinning the pursuit of state capitalism and strategic niches was a reliance on small circles of concentrated policymaking clustered around ruling elites. This was at its strongest in the smaller Gulf States of Qatar and the UAE, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where the younger generation of rulers who came to power in the 1990s and 2000s governed far more in the style of executive leaders than political rulers, and was harder in the larger states of Saudi Arabia and Oman and in the particular circumstances of Bahrain, where authority has been dispersed among several competing factions within the ruling family, to replicate the propitious conditions for successful state capitalism.
CSF Glucose in Febrile Convulsions

The effects of convulsion and fever on the CSF and blood glucose concentrations in febrile and non-febrile children, with and without convulsions, have been studied at the Department of Paediatrics, Kuopio University Hospital and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kuopia, Kuopio, Finland.
Commercial vehicle software development, diagnostics and information retrieval

Summary form only given. Hewlett-Packard Company has developed a number of tools that assist the manufacturers of commercial vehicles to dramatically increase their productivity in three critical areas: software development time, technical information storage and retrieval, and vehicle diagnostics. These tools are described. The use by the military of commercial tools in these areas will dramatically reduce costs and increase reliability and uptime. >
Employing ARIMA models to improve wind power forecasts: A case study in ERCOT

Wind power is growing significantly due to its favorable characteristics such as cost-effectiveness and environment-friendliness. This growth of integrating wind energy into the power grid imposes multiple challenges of scheduling and operations. The highly stochastic nature of wind energy due to the intermittent nature of wind speed makes it difficult to dispatch. Hence, it becomes more difficult to keep the balance of supply and demand. In this paper, we focus on the uncertainty in dispatch. Wind Power Forecasts (WPFs) are important for efficient dispatch and unit-commitment (UC). WPF improvement techniques include aerodynamic atmospheric models and time-series based model. This paper presents improvements to WPF using an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model on available historical data of hourly wind power data — forecast and actual — from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
Effect of Cu content on the bimetallic Pt–Cu catalysts for propane dehydrogenation

AbstractSilica supported, 2 nm Pt and Pt–Cu catalysts with different Cu:Pt atomic ratios and similar size were evaluated for propane dehydrogenation at 550 °C. Monometallic Pt showed low propylene selectivity of 61% at 20% conversion and a TOR of 0.06 s−1. For the Pt–Cu catalysts, the dehydrogenation selectivity and TOR continuously increased with increasing Cu level in the nanoparticle, to eventually 96% selective at 20% conversion with a TOR of 0.98 s−1 for a catalyst with a Cu:Pt atomic ratio of 7.3. Synchrotron in situ X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis showed that Pt–Cu catalysts with increasing Cu loading formed solid solution type bimetallic structures. For example, a Pt–Cu catalyst with Cu:Pt atomic ratio of 7.3 formed solid solution containing 87% Cu. In this catalyst, the Pt active sites were geometrically isolated by the inactive metallic Cu, which was suggested to be responsible for high selectivity to propane dehydrogenation. The Cu neighbors surrounding the Pt also ...
Pasta-Filata Cheeses

Abstract Modern methods of manufacturing of low moisture mozzarella cheese (LMMC) are compared to traditional methods with an emphasis on cheese made for use on pizza since world-wide production of such LMMC far exceeds that of other pasta-filata cheeses. Factors that influence each phase of manufacturing of LMMC are described from conversion of milk into cheese curd, plasticization of curd during the pasta-filata process, through cooling, brining, and storage of the cheese. Acid development by the starter cultures contributes to modifying the chemistry of cheese curd through its influence on obtaining the level of protein-bound calcium needed for proper plasticization of the curd in the cooker/stretcher. Design of the cooker/stretcher along with the thermal and mechanical energy input, influences the temperature of the cheese during plasticization which influences the composition and functional properties of LMMC after cooling. The type of starter culture and coagulant used and their survival during the pasta-filata process influences the rate of proteolysis occurring and the subsequent changes in LMMC properties during refrigerated storage. Alternatively, LMMC can be frozen to prevent such changes. The importance of the functional properties of LMMC, such as melting, stretching, browning, and blistering are related to its performance during the baking process of making a pizza.
The Greek functions: gamma, psi, and zeta

Previous chapters of this book cover the elementary functions that are taught in secondary-school mathematics, and included in many programming languages. The gamma, psi, and Riemann zeta functions that we treat in this chapter are among the most important of the class known in mathematics and physics as special functions. As the class name suggests, they are more difficult, and less-commonly encountered, than the elementary functions.
A new measure of colour discrimination for LEDs and other light sources

We show conclusively that, contrary to common belief, larger gamut area is not associated with better colour discrimination. We propose a new measure of colour discrimination, Rd, which quantifies ...
General Strain Theory, Depression, and Substance Use: Results From a Nationally Representative, Longitudinal Sample of White, African-American, and Hispanic Adolescents and Young Adults

Based on the interpretations of Agnew's general strain theory (GST), White, African-American, and Hispanic adolescents and young adults were examined longitudinally to identify the intersection bet...
Statistics Made Simple: Introduction to Biostatistics and Research Design for the Anesthesiologist

The overarching goals of this chapter for the reader are the following: Understand types of data and how to use descriptive statistics Understand the normal distribution, measures of location, and variability Understand hypothesis testing, statistical errors, confidence interval, P-value Be familiar with common study designs, and some of their pros and cons Understand which statistical test to use in basic research situations
Newer Oral Hypoglycemics Do Not Increase or Decrease Mortality.

This seems like a strange question considering that the goal is to decrease mortality with drug therapy. Nevertheless, this study showed that the new kids on the diabetes block—exenatide (Byetta), dulaglutide (Trulicity), sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), and others—do not increase mortality, even in patients with cardiovascular risk.
Presynaptic Modulation by Endocannabinoids

Modulation of neurotransmitter release by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is a prominent presynaptic mechanism for regulation of synaptic transmission. Activation of GPCRs located at the presynaptic terminal can decrease the probability of neurotransmitter release. This presynaptic depression involves activation of Gi/o-type G-proteins that mediate different inhibitory mechanisms, including inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels, activation of potassium channels, and direct inhibition of the vesicle fusion process. A variety of neurotransmitters and modulatory agents can activate GPCRs that produce presynaptic depression. Among these are lipid metabolites that serve as agonists for GPCRs. The discovery of endocannabinoids and their cognate receptors, including the CB 1 receptor, has stimulated intense investigation into the neurophysiological roles of these lipid metabolites. It is now clear that presynaptic depression is the major physiological role for the CB 1 receptor. Endocannabinoids activate this receptor mainly via a retrograde signaling process in which these compounds are synthesized in and released from postsynaptic neuronal elements, and travel back to the presynaptic terminal to act on the CB1 receptor. This retrograde endocannabinoid modulation has been implicated in short-term synaptic depression, including suppression of excitatory or inhibitory transmission induced by postsynaptic depolarization and transient synaptic depression induced by activation of postsynaptic GPCRs during agonist treatment or synaptic activation. Endocannabinoids and the CB1 receptor also play a key role in one form of long-term synaptic depression (LTD) that involves a long-lasting decrease in neurotransmitter release. Endocannabinoid-dependent synaptic modulation and plasticity have now been implicated in a variety of brain processes, including learning and memory. The present chapter discusses our current knowledge about the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in endocannabinoid-mediated presynaptic modulation and endocannabinoid-dependent LTD.