cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Signal detectability enhancement with auto-associative backpropagation networks

Abstract Feedforward networks having a one-to-one correspondence between input and output units are readily trained using backpropagation to perform auto-associative mappings. A novelty filter is obtained by subtracting the network output from the input vector. Then the presentation of a ‘familiar’ pattern tends to evoke a null response; but any anomalous component is enhanced. This principle motivates the design of an Adaptive Novelty Filter (ANF) to enhance the detectability of weak signals added to a statistically stationary or slowly-varying noise background and to serve as a pre-processor to any device which performs signal detection, estimation, or classification. The ability of the ANF to enhance the detectability of weak signals in wideband ocean acoustic background was measured by comparing the signal-to-noise ratios out of two matched filter detectors one of which received the time series directly while the other received the output of the ANF. The resulting Detectability Enhancement Ratio (DER) was found to increase with the number of hidden units for the first several thousand iterations of the learning algorithm. Subsequent devolution of the network pushes the noise power lower but the DER likewise drops off. We explore the causes of this phenomenon by studying the internal behavior of the auto-associative network as it learns to reconstruct the input vectors as linear combinations of intrinsic basis vectors each of which is defined by the weights of connections fanning out from a single hidden unit to the output layer.
Salinity of the Little Colorado River in Grand Canyon Confers Anti-Parasitic Properties on a Native Fish

ABSTRACT. Water in the Little Colorado River within Grand Canyon is naturally high in salt (NaCl), which is known to prohibit development of external fish parasites such as Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis). The naturally high salinity (>0.3%) of the Little Colorado River at baseflow may be one factor allowing survival and persistence of larval and juvenile humpback chub (Gila cypha) and other native fishes in Grand Canyon. We compared salinity readings from the Little Colorado River to those reported in the literature as being effective at removing protozoan parasites from fish. In laboratory tests, 10 juvenile roundtail chub (Gila robusta; 61–90 mm TL) were randomly placed into each of 12, 37-L aquaria filled with freshwater, water obtained from the Little Colorado River (0.3% salinity), or freshwater with table salt added until the salinity reached 0.3%. Roundtail chub was used as a surrogate for humpback chub in this study because the species is not listed as endangered but is morphologically and eco...
Flexible backbone aromatic polyimide adhesives

Continuing research at Langley Research Center on the synthesis and development of new inexpensive flexible aromatic polyimides as adhesives has resulted in a material identified as LARC-F-SO2 with similarities to polyimidesulfone, PISO2, and other flexible backbone polyimides recently reported by Progar and St. Clair. Also prepared and evaluated was an endcapped version of PISO2. These two polymers were compared with LARC-TPI and LARC-STPI, polyimides research in our laboratory and reported in the literature. The adhesive evaluation, primarily based on lap shear strength (LSS) tests at RT, 177 C and 204 C, involved preparing adhesive tapes, conducting bonding studies and exposing lap shear specimens to 204 C air for up to 1000 hrs and to a 72-hour water boil. The type of adhesive failure as well as the Tg was determined for the fractured specimens. The results indicate that LARC-TPI provides the highest LSSs. LARC-F-SO2, LARC-TPI and LARC-STPI all retain their strengths after thermal exposure for 1000 hrs and PISO2 retains greater than 80 percent of its control strengths. After a 72-hr water boil exposure, most of the four adhesive systems showed reduced strengths for all test temperatures although still retaining a high percentage of their original strength (greater than 60 percent) except for one case. The predominant failure type was cohesive with no significant change in the Tgs.
NR2B subtype-selective NMDA receptor antagonists: 2001 – 2004

Discovery of the NR2A – D subtypes of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and of an allosteric binding site on the NR2B receptor subunit, has renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of NMDA receptor antagonists. Many previous clinical efforts with non-selective NMDA antagonists have failed due to unacceptable CNS side effects. NMDA antagonists that selectively bind to the NR2B subunit, however, have demonstrated a larger therapeutic window in animal models of a number of disease states. In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the structural diversity of small-molecule NR2B-selective NMDA antagonists. This review will focus on patents and patent applications published from 2001 to 2004 and will divide compounds into the three general classes of phenols, phenol replacements and non-phenols, with further subdivisions within these classes.
Studies on Species of Asclepias. VII. Determination of Palisade Ratio

The determination of palisade ratios for six species of the genus Asclepias is presented. After these ratios are obtained, their reliability as diagnostic aids in the differentiation of closely related species is determined by the application of the “Statistical Quality Control Chart Technique” of industry. By the use of this method, it is possible to distinguish one species from another.
Distinct cellular pools of perilipin 5 point to roles in lipid trafficking

The PAT family of lipid storage droplet proteins comprised five members, each of which has become an established regulator of cellular neutral lipid metabolism. Perilipin 5 (also known as lsdp-5, MLDP, PAT-1, and OXPAT), the most recently discovered member of the family, has been shown to localize to two distinct intracellular pools: the lipid storage droplet (LD), and a poorly characterized cytosolic fraction. We have characterized the denser of these intracellular pools and find that a population of perilipin 5 not associated with large LDs resides in complexes with a discrete density (~1.15 g/ml) and size (~575 kDa). Using immunofluorescence, western blotting of isolated sucrose density fractions, native gradient gel electrophoresis, and co-immunoprecipitation, we have shown that these small (~15 nm), perilipin 5-encoated structures do not contain the PAT protein perilipin 2 (ADRP), but do contain perilipin 3 and several other as of yet uncharacterized proteins. The size and density of these particles as well as their susceptibility to degradation by lipases suggest that like larger LDs, they have a neutral lipid rich core. When treated with oleic acid to promote neutral lipid deposition, cells ectopically expressing perilipin 5 experienced a reorganization of LDs in the cell, resulting in fewer, larger droplets at the expense of smaller ones. Collectively, these data demonstrate that a portion of cytosolic perilipin 5 resides in high density lipid droplet complexes that participate in cellular neutral lipid accumulation.
Building support for a humanities electronic text center: the experience at Indiana Univerisity

The Library Electronic Text Resource Service (LETRS) at Indiana University began in 1992. LETRS combines a facility with an online service. Staff have tried many different ways to raise awareness of an build support for both parts of LETRS, with varying degrees of success. The most successful publicity efforts were based on an understanding of how humanists conduct research.
Growth studies of Wolinella recta, a gram‐negative periodontopathogen

The effects of varying concentrations of ammonium formate, fumarate, nitrate, pyruvate and hemin, on growth and end-product formation in Wolinella recta ATCC 33238 were examined. Mycoplasma broth base supplemented with 30 mM formate and 20 mM fumarate supported growth of W. recta to an optical density of 0.471 with a generation time of 2.15 h. Increasing formate and fumarate concentrations to 150 mM and 75 mM, respectively, resulted in a maximum optical density of 0.600. Neither stirring nor the addition of pyruvate, enhanced growth. Hemin was not required for growth. Growth of W. recta in a defined medium required the addition of at least 0.4% yeast extract. In both complex and defined media, fumarate supported significantly higher maximum optical densities than nitrate. The omission of formate from the growth medium or the adjustment of the pH of the medium to 6.6 resulted in essentially no growth of W. recta. The metabolic products of growth on nitrate and fumarate were nitrite and succinate, with ammonia and hydrogen sulfide also being observed. Growth in all media was accompanied by increases in pH to a maximum of 8.0.
Adaptive vector median filters

In this paper we present a class of order statistic filters named adaptive vector median. These filters generalize the median by using the concept of the median vector. The principal advantage of using median vectors is a significant reduction of computation. The proposed filter uses an adaptive algorithm that examines whether individual pixels are contaminated by impulsive noise, and if not, no filtering is performed on these pixels. The combination of the vector median and the adaptive algorithm results in a computationally efficient filter that preserves much of the image fine detail while removing impulsive noise, and also avoids alteration of noise-free images. Computer simulation results and comparisons with other filters are presented.
The Making of the First World War. By Ian F. W. Beckett. (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012. Pp. xii, 263. $28.50.)

This book represents a pendant to Philip Bell's recent Twelve Turning Points of the Second World War. Like that volume, Ian F. W. Beckett's is addressed to the general reader. It seeks not only to ...
The effect of bed rest on bone turnover in young women hospitalized for anorexia nervosa: a pilot study.

Context: Malnourished adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) requiring medical hospitalization are at high risk for skeletal insults. Even short-term bed rest may further disrupt normal patterns of bone turnover. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of relative immobilization on bone turnover in adolescents hospitalized for AN. Design: This was a short-term observational study. Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Study Participants: Twenty-eight adolescents with AN, aged 13–21 yr with a mean body mass index of 15.9 ± 1.8 kg/m2, were enrolled prospectively on admission. Intervention: As per standard care, all subjects were placed on bed rest and graded nutritional therapy. Main Outcome Measure: Markers of bone formation (bone specific alkaline phosphatase), turnover (osteocalcin), and bone resorption (urinary N-telopeptides NTx) were measured. Results: During the 5 d of hospitalization, serum osteocalcin increased by 0.24 ± 0.1 ng/ml · d (P = 0.02). Urine N-telopeptides reached a nadir on d 3, declining −6.9 ± 2.8 nm bone collagen equivalent per millimole creatinine (P = 0.01) but returned to baseline by d 5 (P > 0.05). Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase exhibited a decline that was strongly age dependent, being highly significant for younger subjects only [age 14 yr: −0.42 ± 0.11 (P = 0.0002); age 18 yr: −0.03 ± 0.08 (P = 0.68)]. Age had no effect on other outcome measures. Conclusion: Limitation of physical activity during hospitalization for patients with AN is associated with suppressed bone formation and resorption and an imbalance of bone turnover. Future interventional studies involving mechanical stimulation and/or weight-bearing activity are needed to determine whether medical protocols prescribing strict bed rest are appropriate.
Intelligence Level and Personality

Resume On essaie dans cette etude de determiner les relations possibles entre le niveau de l 'intelligence et chacun des quatre “traits” de l 'introversion-extraversion, la tendance nevrosique, la dominance, et la suffisance donnes dans l 'Inventaire de Personalite de Bernreuter. Les sujets employes sont un groupe de 324 etudiants du “junior college” ayant de tres hauts resultats dans les tests d 'intelligence (dans les cinq pour cent superieurs de la distribution des resultats de 10.000 etudiants du “junior college”) et un second groupe de 240 etudiants ayant des resultats tres peu eleves dans les tests d 'intelligence (dans les quinze pour cent inferieurs de la měme distribution de 10.000 resultats). On n 'a trouve aucune difference entre les deux groupes dans les resultats moyens nevrosiques ni d 'introversion mais on a trouve des differences constantes sur les echelles de suffisance et de dominance. Le groupe de grande intelligence a ete significativement plus “suffisant” que le groupe moyen du colleg...
Analysis of bioproduct separation using gel‐enclosed adsorbents

The concept of “gel-enclosed” adsorbents was recently introduced for whole fermentation broth processing. The term “gel-enclosed adsorbents” in this paper refers to small adsorbent particles such as the ones used in affinity or ion-exchange chromatography enclosed within a protective, spherical, semipermeable gel barrier. The barrier can be in the form of an entrapment matrix where a porous gel matrix in itself contains entrapped adsorbent particles, or in the form of an encapsulating membrane where an aqueous spherical core containing the adsorbent particles is enclosed by a gel membrane. Both experimental and theoretical analyses were carried out to elicit a more fundamental view of the diffusion and adsorption phenomena occurring within these forms of adsorbents. Furthermore, the effective porosity of the gel matrix and the effective diffusivities of the species being separated, as well as their adsorption behavior combined result in what is here termed “kinetic selectivity”.
The Hormonal Origin of Uterine Fibroids: An Hypothesis

Uterine fibroids are the commonest of pelvic neoplasms and therefore should command the interest of all gynecologists. What is the source of these tumors is a question that is asked daily and one which can be answered only in generalities. In three former contributions (1, 2, 3) excessive stimulation of the myometrium by the ovarian follicular hormone has been suggested as a cause. That the action of this hormone is not specific for the endometrium, as demonstrated by the endometrial changes during the normal menstrual cycle, but that it affects the genital tract as a whole, is easily proved (4). When the action on the endometrium is abnormal, with resulting endometrial hyperplasia, there is an equally abnormal action upon the myometrium, which, if it is prolonged sufficiently, results in cellular metaplasia of the uterine muscle cell or cells, with the subsequent development of uterine fibroids. According to Meyer (5), the histogenetic study of fibroids does not reveal any distinctive myoma mother cells in the uterine muscle from which a proliferating myoma might develop. He reports that the earliest appearance of a myoma is represented by a thickening of the uterine muscle bundles which are directly connected with the normal musculature of the uterus. De Snoo (6), on the other hand, claims that the uterus is a very primitive special organ which contains many undifferentiated cells, genitoblasts. During embryonic life these cells form the uterus proper, while in later life they provide the means of gestational hyperplasia and of regeneration of the endometrium during the puerperium. Under pathological conditions, due to ovarian hormonal dysfunction, these genitoblasts can give rise to the formation of uterine fibroids, endometriomas, or adenomyomas.
The Postprandial Effects of a Moderately High-Fat Meal on Lipid Profiles and Vascular Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease Patients: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease of aging with unknown causative factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation and neurovascular dysfunction play important roles in AD. The postprandial period following a moderately high-fat meal is associated with vascular inflammation in young, healthy individuals; however, this relationship has not been investigated in Alzheimer’s patients despite their exaggerated inflammatory state. Methods: Patients with AD and age-matched control subjects were recruited through the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center. All subjects consumed a moderately high-fat breakfast meal. Fasting and postprandial blood samples were collected for lipid, lipoprotein, and oxylipin analyses, as well as assays for cytokine levels and monocyte activation. Results: The plasma lipid analyses revealed similar levels of triglycerides and esterified oxylipins between groups, but there was an interaction between postprandial non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels and body mass index in the AD group compared to the control subjects. The AD group also had increased behenic acid and decreased linoleic and oleic acids in the postprandial period; however, these were not significantly different. Inflammatory assays revealed elevated fasting levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 p70, but no change in monocyte activation in the AD group. Conclusion: The postprandial period following a moderately high-fat meal is not associated with an exaggerated inflammatory state in Alzheimer’s patients, and basal esterified oxylipin profiles do not indicate elevated oxidative stress. However, the baseline inflammatory state during fasting in AD patients includes elevated levels of plasma IL-10 and IL-12 p70, which may indicate a balance between immune responses mediated by these interleukins.
On the Advantages and Disadvantages of Reading Heidegger Backwards: White's Time and Death ∗

In Time and Death: Heidegger's Analysis of Finitude, Carol White pursues a strange hermeneutic strategy, reading Heidegger backwards by reading the central ideas of his later work back into his ear...
Courtly Letters in the Age of Henry VIII: Literary Culture and the Arts of Deceit

List of illustrations Acknowledgements Note on editions and abbreviations 1. Pretexts: Chaucer's Pandarus and the origins of courtly discourse 2. The King's Pandars: performing courtiership in the 1510s 3. The King's hand: body politics in the letters of Henry VIII 4. Private quotations, public memories: Troilus and Criseyde and the politics of the manuscript anthology 5. Wyatt, Chaucer, Tottel: the verse epistle and the subjects of the courtly lyric Notes Index.
Marketing computer support services through relationship and training strategies

In 2002, Harvard University's Division of Continuing Education (DCE) expanded its computer lab facility. This expansion allowed DCE to change its previous policy of restricting computer services to a small percentage of students to its current policy of extending these services to all DCE students.This flexibility enabled DCE's Institute for English Language (IEL) to change its previous position of assuming that all students did not have access to computer technology to its new position of assuming all students have access to computer technology. This new position has expanded the way IEL courses can be taught and managed. Church Street Staff initiated the building of relationships with IEL instructors to empower them with the skills and knowledge to infuse more technology into their courses.Church Street Staff organized and hosted a colloquium for IEL instructors in which they showcased services focused on a Harvard-developed instructional development Instructor's Toolkit. Main contacts for future support constituted the colloquium organization team. Team members conducted various parts of the colloquium to begin the process of building relationships with the instructors.The lab staff arranged bi-monthly follow-up training in the Instructor's Toolkit to a targeted cohort of IEL instructors. These instructors would then serve as peer mentors to their colleagues. The bi-monthly training culminated in a launch week in which the lab staff focused their attention on one-on-one help for the IEL instructors to launch their course websites.The success of the campaign was determined by the percentage of full-time instructors using email, website, bulletin board, and announcement tool as management and pedagogical tools complementing the classroom instruction.
Resolution Phase of Inflammation: Novel Endogenous Anti-Inflammatory and Proresolving Lipid Mediators and Pathways

Resolution of inflammation and the return of tissues to homeostasis are essential. Efforts to identify molecular events governing termination of self-limited inflammation uncovered pathways in resolving exudates that actively generate, from essential omega fatty acids, new families of local-acting mediators. These chemical mediator families, termed resolvins and protectins, are potent stereoselective agonists that control the duration and magnitude of inflammation, joining the lipoxins as signals in resolution. This review examines the mapping of these circuits and recent advances in our understanding of the biosynthesis and actions of these novel proresolving lipid mediators. Aspirin jump-starts resolution by triggering biosynthesis of specific epimers of these mediators. In addition to their origins in inflammation resolution, these compounds also display potent protective roles in neural systems, liver, lung, and eye. Given the potent actions of lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins in models of human disease, deficiencies in resolution pathways may contribute to many diseases and offer exciting new potential for therapeutic control via resolution.
Resolving dual-task interference: an fMRI study

The human cognitive system is severely limited in the amount of information it can process simultaneously. When two tasks are presented within a short stimulus-onset-asynchrony (SOA), reaction time of each task, especially task 2, is dramatically delayed. Previous studies have shown that such delay is accompanied by increased activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus (GFi). In this study, we address the role of right GFi in resolving dual-task interference at two different stages: allocation of perceptual attention and response selection. We scan 12 subjects using functional MRI while they conduct two tasks—shape discrimination in task 1 and color discrimination in task 2—and vary the SOA between tasks as 100 or 1500 ms. The targets are located at the center or at the periphery. When both are at the center, they compete primarily for response selection. When both are at the periphery, they additionally compete for the allocation of perceptual attention. Results show that the right GFi and frontal operculum regions are significantly more active in the short SOA than the long SOA condition, but only when subjects attend to the periphery in both tasks. We conclude that the right lateral frontal regions are important for resolving dual-task interference at the perceptual attention stage.
Literature core zones adjusted by impact factors

This paper reports a study of the effect of adjusting the frequency of occurrence of journals with impact factors in the literatures of acid rain, superconductivity and management by objectives. Three different Bradford methods were used to demarcate the core-zone journals of the literatures. The effects of adjustment by impact factors created three paradigms: (1) the acid rain literature illustrated the first paradigm, where journals from the unadjusted literature were thrust forward in the adjusted literature, and no unadjusted journal fell into obscurity: (2) the superconductivity literature illustrated the second paradigm, where the most voluminous journal was also the most prestigious and led both the unadjusted and adjusted literatures; and (3) the management by objectives literature illustrated the third paradigm, where the adjustment by impact factors only churned the placement of the journals.
Posterior Cramer-Rao Bounds for State Estimation with Quantized Measurement

Under the assmuption that the components of the measurement noise vector are uncorrelated with each other, the posterior Cramer-Rao lower bound (PCRLB) for state estimation with quantized measurements is given in this paper. A typical aircraft altitude tracking scenario in the air traffic control (ATC) field is studied through Monte-Carlo simulation, which illustrates the usefulness of the proposed PCRLB to evaluate the performance of the widely used Sheppard's correction method for state estimation with quantized measurement.
Failure of Demand Pacemaker Sensing Due to Electrode Fracture

Defects in temporary pacemaker electrode catheters should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inappropriate pacing by ventricular inhibited demand units. In two of three patients, sensing failure was the only manifestation of electrode fracture. Fractures often occur near the junction of the steel pin terminal and electrode and, if intermittent, may be overlooked if flexion maneuvers are omitted from the routine of catheter testing. Unless this complication is appreciated and corrected it may progress to further disruption of the circuit with complete loss of pacing.
A test of the frozen-flux approximation using a new geodynamo model

The physics underlying the frozen–flux approximation is reviewed. Recent high–resolution geodynamo simulations, described here for the first time, afford opportunities of testing the approximation, and the results from a very simple test are reported. This consists in evaluating the unsigned flux of magnetic field from the core at three successive epochs separated by about 150 years, and in showing that this changes by only ca .3% in the intervals between the epochs. Because of the smallness of this change, which is created by the electromagnetic diffusion excluded in the frozen–flux approximation but present in the simulations, we argue that the approximation is useful in analogous analyses of the geomagnetic field over similar time–scales.
Field studies of the responses of tsetse flies (Glossinidae) and other Diptera to carbon dioxide, acetone and other chemicals

In studies in the Zambesi Valley, Zimbabwe, carbon dioxide alone dispensed at 2·5 to 15 litres/min, or acetone alone dispensed at 0·3 to 300 g·h, increased by up to six times the catches of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westw, and G. pallidipes Aust. from stationary biconical traps, stationary electrocuting traps used with and without a visual target, and a mobile party of hand-net catchers. Catches were increased further when the chemicals were dispensed together. Carbon dioxide at 2·5 litres/min plus acetone at 15 g/h was about half as effective as ox odour for enhancing the catches from an electrocuting trap plus target; the efficacy of carbon dioxide at 15 litres/min plus acetone at 300 g/h was not significantly different from that of ox odour. Several short-chain ketones, and also formaldehyde and propionaldehyde, were attractive. Several long-chain ketones, and also heptaldehyde and caproic acid, were repellent. Carbon dioxide was attractive for Tabanidae, Stomoxyinae and non-biting Muscidae. Acetic acid was repellent for Stomoxyinae and non-biting Muscidae.
An algebraic solution to rotation recovery in HARDI from correspondences of orientation distribution functions

We consider the problem of aligning high angular resolution diffusion images characterized by orientation distribution functions (ODFs). We cast this problem as an optimization problem where we seek the rotation that aligns the source and target ODFs. This rotation induces a linear transformation of the spherical harmonic coefficients of the ODFs, which can be parametrized by the rotation Euler angles. We propose an algebraic approach to estimate this transformation from a number of ODF correspondences. We evaluate the proposed method on synthetic ODFs as well as on a diffusion MR phantom dataset.
Regulation of SMN protein stability.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by mutations of the survival of motor neuron (SMN1) gene and deficiency of full-length SMN protein (FL-SMN). All SMA patients retain one or more copies of the SMN2 gene, but the principal protein product of SMN2 lacks exon 7 (SMNΔ7) and is unable to compensate for a deficiency of FL-SMN. SMN is known to oligomerize and form a multimeric protein complex; however, the mechanisms regulating stability and degradation of FL-SMN and SMNΔ7 proteins have been largely unexplored. Using pulse-chase analysis, we characterized SMN protein turnover and confirmed that SMN was ubiquitinated and degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). The SMNΔ7 protein had a twofold shorter half-life than FL-SMN in cells despite similar intrinsic rates of turnover by the UPS in a cell-free assay. Mutations that inhibited SMN oligomerization and complex formation reduced the FL-SMN half-life. Furthermore, recruitment of SMN into large macromolecular complexes as well as increased association with several Gemin proteins was regulated in part by protein kinase A. Together, our data indicate that SMN protein stability is modulated by complex formation. Promotion of the SMN complex formation may be an important novel therapeutic strategy for SMA.
Criollo Cattle: Heritage Genetics for Arid Landscapes

On the Ground Precipitation variability within and across years remains a major challenge for livestock producers in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Cattle adapted to harsh desert ecosystems may offer exciting genetic opportunities for optimizing beef production from arid ecosystems. A type of Criollo cattle, introduced from the Chinipas region of Chihuahua, Mexico, may provide opportunities to use cattle adapted to arid and semiarid environments that require minimal management yet provide quality beef.
Cryptococci of commercial bird feeds.

Eighteen samples of commercial bird feeds were examined for the presence of Cryptococcus neoformans to determine the source of that fungus in pigeon droppings. Fourteen of the 18 samples contained at least 1 species of Cryptococcus, but none was found to be contaminated with C. neoformans. Predominant cryptococci in descending order of incidence were: C. albidus, C. laurentii, C. luteolus, and C. albidus var diffluens.
The Impacts of the Military on State and Society in Angola During the Colonial and Post-Independence Periods

This paper analyzes the impacts of the military on state and civil society in Angola during the Portuguese colonial rule and in the Angolan independent state. The military played a dominant role during both of these periods and had enduring effects on the country's state structure and regime. After centuries of Portuguese military dominance in the colony, in a period of almost constant warfare and organized violence, the army became the most effective and developed institution in colonial Angola. Its influence continued to increase during the colonial war in which not only did it grow dramatically in size but also became responsible for most of the colony’s programs of education, health, and socioeconomic development. After Angola's independence, the army drew from increasing oil revenues and external aid to strengthen its position and face civil war and the external threats and support during the Cold War. Our analysis draws from this long history of state militarism to illuminate some aspects of contemporary relations of state, military, and civil society in Angola.
International coordination of environmental policies: is it always worth the effort?

We study entry policies as an alternative form of environmental policy. Given the strong political opposition to standard output subsidies and taxes, several countries have recently used entry policies to promote renewable energy technology, such as solar panels and biofuels. We study a two-stage game in which two regulators choose an entry policy (i.e., tax, subsidy or permit) to maximize domestic welfare. Observing the policy, firms decide the region in which to enter and compete as Cournot oligopolists. We find that both domestic (uncoordinated) policies and internationally coordinated policies increase welfare relative to unregulated settings. However, the welfare gains from international policy coordination are only large when the product is extremely clean. These results indicate that the welfare gains of international policy coordination may only offset the costs of negotiation in relatively clean industries.
A Case Study of a Private Foundation's Governance and Self-Interested Fiduciaries Calls for Further Regulation

Since their early history, American private foundations have warranted and have received both consistent praise and repeated criticism. The plaguing criticisms have focused on abuses facilitated by a relatively compliant, permissive and under-regulated environment. Many individuals have attacked private foundations and their donors, leading to waves of new federal tax laws and state legislation attempting to curtail undesirable behaviors of donors, private foundations and their decision-makers. Nonetheless, so far, the existing laws have failed to eliminate the opportunities for abuse.The core of the article is a case study. The case study fictionalizes names, times, mission of the private foundation and values of its assets, but it is based on a real private foundation. It is the story of a particular donor, the private foundation that the donor established, and the positive programs undertaken by the foundation. But, it also is the story of what may be numerous abuses perpetrated on the foundation after the donor's death by executors of the donor's estate who were also members of the foundation's board of directors. Thus, the case study serves as a "real life" vehicle to illustrate failures of the existing regulatory regimes applicable to private foundations, their donors and fiduciaries.It is the intimate fiduciary structure, the lack of serious attention to formal protocol, and the under-regulated nonprofit sector environment that enabled the possible abuses to occur in this case study. It is submitted that creators of foundations have a duty to ensure that their philanthropic and charitable purposes are not thwarted through the lack of attention to formal structures, management responsibilities and policies. Current laws, as well as monitoring and enforcement activities, are inadequate to deter abusive behaviors. Numerous possible remedies are suggested, among which are increasing budgets and staffs of state attorneys general offices and the Internal Revenue Service to permit improved monitoring and enforcement, and modifying existing legislation and regulations and the addition of new legislation. Appropriate regulatory structures are a necessary means of supporting and maintaining the public's trust of private foundations and of assuring the healthy future of the nonprofit sector.
Local Autonomy, Community Control, and Home Rule: Municipal Takeover in Michigan and New Jersey

This paper draws on the cases of New Jersey and Michigan, both states that have utilized municipal takeover policies in recent years, to examine differences in home rule protection regarding the use of municipal takeover policy. This paper begins with a discussion of the normative arguments regarding the value of local autonomy and local democracy and continues with a review of the history of municipal home rule and its relationship to debates over local autonomy. The paper then presents the case studies of New Jersey and Michigan. Drawing upon primary source data from each state, including legal text, judicial opinions, and court briefs the paper highlights the relationship between home rule and municipal takeover in each state. Findings from the analysis show that home rule protection, whether constitutional or legislative, does not protect municipal governments from municipal takeovers, partially due to decades of eroding home rule principles in both states.
Renault-Volvo Strategic Alliance (D): December 2, 1993, and Beyond

The D case briefly presents the epilogue: the board withdraws the merger proposal and Volvo's CEO of 20 years resigns; the strategic alliance is dissolved; and Volvo embarks on a new strategy, focused on the automotive industry. The task for the student is to assess the reasons for dissolving the alliance, the merits of Volvo's new strategy, and the causes of Gyllenhammar's downfall. See also the A (UVA-G-0480), B (UVA-G-0481), C (UVA-G-0482), and B (abridged; UVA-G-0484) cases.
Morphology of a New Loculoascomycete on Bambusa Arundinacea

Cerodothis aurea Muthappa gen. nov., sp. nov., occurring on the leaves of Bambusa arundinacea Retz., is an exceptional member of the Dothideales characterized by multiloculate, waxy, bright-colored...
Preparation and Properties of UV Curable Inorganic-Organic Composite Coatings

UV curable inorganic-organic composite coatings containing SiO 2 nanoparticles based on the epoxy acrylate( EA) w ere prepared by the blending method. The structure,thermal stability and physical properties of the composite coatings w ere investigated. The results indicated that Si—O—Si crosslinked netw ork structures are generated in the coatings due to the incorporation of SiO 2 nanoparticles,w hich contributed to improve the thermal stability of the coatings. The composite coating w ith 5% mass fraction of SiO 2 nanoparticles exhibits the most excellent thermal stability. With the increase of the content of SiO 2,the gloss of the coatings decreases. Moreover,the reasonable amounts of SiO 2 addition can improve the hardness of the coatings. When the mass fraction of SiO 2 is 3% ~ 5%,the composite coating exhibits 3H pencil hardness.
Breeding of Quality Indica CMS Line Ming 218A in Rice

Ming 218A is a new WA-type indica CMS Line in rice,developed from the cross of Yuefeng A(a WAtype CMS line) and elite plants selected from the F 3 generation of Eyou 540(a quality inbred rice variety) / Jin 23B(a maintainer line) by Sanming Academy of Agricultural Sciences through the successive backcrossing method.It is characteristic of stable and complete male sterility,large panicles with many grains,good flowering habits with high outcrossing rate,good grain quality and high combining ability.In April,2012,Ming 218A was certified by Fujian Provincial Crop Variety Release Committee.
The Effect of ‘Naian'Ease Herbicide Phytotoxicity

This study use 40% Oxadiazon( ronstar) · butachlor EC for test herbicides weeding the paddy fields,test the effect of the‘Naian'ease herbicide phytotoxicity. Study on this test indicated that,spray 40% Oxadiazon( ronstar) · butachlor EC has created serious phytotoxicity on after transplanting rice seedlings. Added ‘Naian'can effectively alleviate the phytotoxicity of herbicides and quickly restore growth vigor of rice,enhancing the stress resistance of rice.
Abstract 3528: The SMARCA2/4 catalytic activity, but not the bromodomain, is a drug target in SWI/SNF mutant cancers

The SWI/SNF multi-subunit complex modulates chromatin structure through the activity of two mutually exclusive catalytic subunits, SMARCA2 and SMARCA4, which both contain a bromodomain and an ATPase domain. Using RNAi, cancer-specific vulnerabilities have been identified in SWI/SNF mutant tumors, including SMARCA4-deficient lung cancer, however, the contribution of conserved, druggable protein domains to this anticancer phenotype is unknown. Here, we functionally deconstructed the SMARCA2/4 paralog dependence of cancer cells using bioinformatics, genetic and pharmacological tools. We evaluated a potent and selective SMARCA2/4 bromodomain inhibitor (PFI-3) and characterized its activity in chromatin-binding and cell-functional assays focusing on cells with altered SWI/SNF status (e.g. Lung, Synovial Sarcoma, Leukemia, and Rhabdoid tumors). We demonstrated that PFI-3 is a cell-permeable probe capable of displacing ectopically expressed, GFP-tagged SMARCA2-bromodomain from chromatin, yet contrary to target knockdown, the inhibitor failed to display an antiproliferative phenotype. Mechanistically, the lack of pharmacological efficacy was reconciled by the failure of bromodomain inhibition to displace endogenous, full-length SMARCA2 from chromatin as determined by in situ cell extraction, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and target gene expression and promoter occupancy studies. Using RNAi and cDNA complementation (bromodomain and ATPase-dead constructs), we identified the catalytic ATPase domain, and not the bromodomain of SMARCA2, as a relevant therapeutic target. Taken together, our complementary genetic and pharmacological studies exemplify a general strategy for bromodomain drug-target validation and in case of SMARCA2/4 highlight the requirement for drugging the more challenging helicase/ATPase domain affording potential synthetic-lethal treatment options to cancer patients with genetically defined alterations in SWI/SNF. Citation Format: Bhavatarini Vangamudi, Thomas Paul, Parantu K. Shah, Maria K. Alimova, Lisa Nottebaum, Xi Shi, Yanai Zhan, Elisabetta Leo, Harshad S. Mahadeshwar, Alexei Protopopov, Andrew Futreal, Trang N. Tieu, Mike Peoples, Alessia Petrocchi, Joseph R. Marszalek, Carlo Toniatti, Timothy P. Heffernan, Dominique Verhelle, Giulio Draetta, Dafydd Owen, Philip Jones, Wylie Palmer, Shikhar Sharma, Jannik N. Andersen. The SMARCA2/4 catalytic activity, but not the bromodomain, is a drug target in SWI/SNF mutant cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3528. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3528
Enhancing Pediatric Trainees' and Students' Knowledge in Providing Care to Transgender Youth.

Abstract Purpose To enhance pediatric trainees' and students' knowledge of the psychosocial and medical issues facing transgender youth through a comprehensive curriculum. Methods During the 2015–2016 academic year, we administered a transgender youth curriculum to fourth-year medical students, pediatric interns, psychiatry interns, and nurse practitioner students on their 1-month adolescent and young adult medicine rotation. The curriculum included six interactive, online modules and an observational experience in a multidisciplinary pediatric gender clinic. The online modules had a primary care focus with topics of general transgender terminology, taking a gender history, taking a psychosocial history, performing a sensitive physical examination, and formulating an assessment, psychosocial plan, and medical plan. At the completion of the curriculum, learners completed an evaluation that assessed change in perceived awareness and knowledge of transgender-related issues and learner satisfaction with the curriculum. Results Twenty learners participated in the curriculum with 100% completing the curriculum evaluations, 100% reporting completing all six online modules, and 90% attending the gender clinic. Learners demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in all pre-post knowledge/awareness measures. On a Likert scale where 5 indicated very satisfied, learners' mean rating of the quality of the curriculum was 4.5 ± .7; quality of the modules was 4.4 ± .7; and satisfaction with the observational experience was 4.5 ± .8. Conclusions A comprehensive curriculum comprised interactive online modules and an observational experience in a pediatric gender clinic was effective at improving pediatric learners' perceived knowledge of the medical and psychosocial issues facing transgender youth. Learners also highly valued the curriculum.
Improvement in the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infections in a tertiary cancer center

Background Identifying a central venous catheter (CVC) as the source of bacteremia requires drawing simultaneous blood cultures (BCs) from the CVC and peripheral site and correct labeling of the BC source. In our emergency center (EC), 52% of BCs collected from febrile cancer patients lacked source information, making the diagnosis and management of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) challenging. Methods Between January 2015 and June 2015, we conducted a quality improvement project in our EC aiming to increase the occurrence of simultaneous BC drawing with accurate source labeling by 10%. Results Staff education and monitoring increased average BC source labeling from a baseline of 48% to a much better rate of 70%. Label introduction led to increased source labeling to 94% by June 2015. This project had a significant influence in patients with a CVC and a positive BC because the physician is now able to determine whether the CVC is the source of the bacteremia in 88% of cases compared with 36% at baseline ( P = .0003). Conclusions Education without an active intervention is usually not enough. Simple solutions such as label introduction can have significant influence on patient safety and care. Accurate diagnosis may guide clinicians at the bedside to appropriately manage CVCs in the setting of bacteremia, remove a CVC when indicated, and prevent unnecessary CVC removal with its potential safety and cost-effectiveness implications.
Patient education and anesthesia choice for total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract Objectives Spinal anesthesia (SA) for Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) may be associated with better patients’ outcomes. This study aims to assess the association between preoperative education about the advantage of SA over general anesthesia (GA) for TKA and the likelihood of patient choice of NA. Methods Patients undergoing unilateral primary TKA were identified. Type of anesthesia (GA or SA), attendance of the (joints class), patient demographics, ASA status, anticoagulation status, and diagnosis of back problems were recoded. Regression analysis was used to assess the association between the type of anesthesia and attendance of the joints class. Results 1010 patients were identified to have unilateral primary TKA. 31% of patients attended the joint class. Patients who attended the joints class were more likely to receive SA when compared to those who did not attend (OR = 1.7, CI: 1.2–2.5, P = 0.004) after adjusting for other variables. Conclusion Preoperative education about advantages of SA may be associated with an increase in patients receiving SA for TKA. Practice implications Increase in patients receiving SA for TKA may improve outcomes.
Microtus canicaudus (Gray-tailed meadow mouse)

This species is usually classified as a subspecies of M. montanus (Peale). However, from a number of specimens collected in Oregon, USA, the karyotypes of M. canicaudus were consistent and were different from those of M. montanus (Folio 70). The sex chromosomes of the former are biarmed, and those of the latter, acrocentric.
Acoustic shock and acceleration waves in selected inhomogeneous fluids

Abstract Acoustic shock and acceleration waves in inhomogeneous fluids are investigated using both analytical and numerical methods. In the context of start-up signaling problems, and based on linear acoustics theory, we study the propagation of such waveforms in the atmosphere and in fluids that possess a periodic ambient density profile. It is shown that vertically running shock and acceleration waves in the atmosphere suffer amplitude growth. In contrast, those in the periodic-density fluid have bounded amplitudes that exhibit periodic, but non-trivial, oscillations; this is illustrated via a series of numerically generated profile-evolution plots, which were computed using the PyClaw software package.
Compartmentalization of the plasma membrane.

The compartmentalization of the plasma membrane is essential for cells to perform specialized biochemical functions, in particular those responsible for intracellular and intercellular signaling pathways. Study of membrane compartmentalization requires state-of-the-art imaging tools that can reveal dynamics of individual molecules with high spatial and temporal resolution. In addition, quantitative analyses are employed to identify transient changes in molecule dynamics. In this review, membrane compartments are classified as stable domains, transient compartments, or nanodomains where proteins aggregate. Interestingly, in most cases, the cortical cytoskeleton plays important roles. Recent studies of the membrane–cytoskeleton interface are providing new insights about membrane organization involving a scale-free self-similar fractal structure and cytoskeleton active processes coupled to membrane dynamics.