cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crowdsourcing-based copyright infringement detection in live video streams

With the increasing popularity of online video sharing platforms (such as YouTube and Twitch), the detection of content that infringes copyright has emerged as a new critical problem in online social media. In contrast to the traditional copyright detection problem that studies the static content (e.g., music, films, digital documents), this paper focuses on a much more challenging problem: one in which the content of interest is from live videos. We found that the state-of-the-art commercial copyright infringement detection systems, such as the ContentID from YouTube, did not solve this problem well: large amounts of copyright-infringing videos bypass the detector while many legal videos are taken down by mistake. In addressing the copyright infringement detection problem for live videos, we identify several critical challenges: i) live streams are generated in real-time and the original copyright content from the owner may not be accessible; ii) streamers are getting more and more sophisticated in bypassing the copyright detection system (e.g., by modifying the title, tweaking the presentation of the video); iii) similar video descriptions and visual contents make it difficult to distinguish between legal streams and copyright-infringing ones. In this paper, we develop a crowdsourcing-based copyright infringement detection (CCID) scheme to address the above challenges by exploring a rich set of valuable clues from live chat messages. We evaluate CCID on two real world live video datasets collected from YouTube. The results show our scheme is significantly more effective and efficient than ContentID in detecting copyright-infringing live videos on YouTube.
Remodeling the cancer epigenome: mutations in the SWI/SNF complex offer new therapeutic opportunities

Introduction: Cancer genome sequencing studies have discovered mutations in members of the SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin-remodeling complex in nearly 25% of human cancers. The ...
Revisiting Normalized Gradient Descent: Fast Evasion of Saddle Points

The paper considers normalized gradient descent (NGD), a natural modification of classical gradient descent (GD) in optimization problems. It is shown that, contrary to GD, NGD escapes saddle points “quickly.” A serious shortcoming of GD in nonconvex problems is that it can take arbitrarily long to escape from the neighborhood of a saddle point. In practice, this issue can significantly slow the convergence of GD, particularly in high-dimensional nonconvex problems. The paper focuses on continuous-time dynamics. It is shown that 1) NGD “almost never” converges to saddle points and 2) the time required for NGD to escape from a ball of radius $r$ about a saddle point $x^*$ is at most $5\sqrt{\kappa }r$ , where $\kappa$ is the condition number of the Hessian of $f$ at $x^*$ . As a simple application of these results, a global convergence-time bound is established for NGD under mild assumptions.
Viral vector delivery of follistatin enhances recovery of reinnervated muscle

INTRODUCTION Poor recovery following nerve repair is due to progressive temporal loss of muscle function. Follistatin (FS), a glycoprotein with anabolic properties, may enhance muscle recovery following reinnervation. METHODS Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent temporary (3 or 6 month) denervation or sham denervation. After reinnervation, rats were administered adeno-associated viral vectors expressing FS deoxyribonucleic acid (isoform FS-317) injected into the target muscle or sham treatment. Final assessment included muscle function testing, muscle histomorphology, nerve histomorphology, and FS protein quantification. RESULTS FS improved muscle mass and type IIB muscle fiber size, and increased G-ratios and mean axon diameter in the 6-month temporary denervation group (P < .05). Elevated FS protein levels were detected in treated muscle (P < .05). FS increased satellite cell counts following temporary denervation and repair (P < .05). DISCUSSION FS treatment had anabolic, neurotrophic, and satellite cell stimulatory effects when administered following prolonged (6-month) temporary denervation and repair.
HirePeer: Impartial Peer-Assessed Hiring at Scale in Expert Crowdsourcing Markets.

Expert crowdsourcing (e.g., Upwork.com) provides promising benefits such as productivity improvements for employers, and flexible working arrangements for workers. Yet to realize these benefits, a key persistent challenge is effective hiring at scale. Current approaches, such as reputation systems and standardized competency tests, develop weaknesses such as score inflation over time, thus degrading market quality. This paper presents HirePeer, a novel alternative approach to hiring at scale that leverages peer assessment to elicit honest assessments of fellow workers' job application materials, which it then aggregates using an impartial ranking algorithm. This paper reports on three studies that investigate both the costs and the benefits to workers and employers of impartial peer-assessed hiring. We find, to solicit honest assessments, algorithms must be communicated in terms of their impartial effects. Second, in practice, peer assessment is highly accurate, and impartial rank aggregation algorithms incur a small accuracy cost for their impartiality guarantee. Third, workers report finding peer-assessed hiring useful for receiving targeted feedback on their job materials.
DRONESCAPE: Distributed Rapid On-Site NEtwork Self-Deploying Cellular Advanced Phone Environment

When disasters happen, the speed with which first responders and emergency personnel can contact and be contacted by the people affected by the disaster during the first minutes or hours is critical. Early communications can make the difference between life and death. During a disaster communications infrastructure of the affected area is likely to be compromised. This project proposes an inexpensive, rapidly deployable cloud of autonomous drones, each coupled with a micro-cellular base station that deploys from a transportable deployment module. The goal is to temporarily restore communications for both first responders to communicate amongst themselves as well as for the rest of the impacted population.
Draft Genome Assemblies of Two Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Strains Isolated from Canine Skin Biopsy Specimens

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a Gram-positive bacterial species highly relevant to animal and human health. In this study, we report the draft genome sequences of two clinical isolates of S. pseudintermedius from canine skin biopsy specimens at the Dermatology Service of the Auburn University Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
Interventional Radiofrequency Treatment for the Sympathetic Nervous System: A Review Article

Interventional techniques such as radiofrequency (RF) treatment can be used to interrupt pain signals transmitted through the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). RF treatments including the pulsed (PRF) and continuous (CRF) modalities show enhanced control over lesion size and enhanced ability to confirm accurate positioning compared to other interventional methods. PRF also acts to reduce the area of the lesion. In this article, we characterize the currently available evidence supporting the use and efficacy of RF treatments in sympathetically mediated pain (SMP) conditions. A comprehensive literature review. A PubMed and Cochrane Library database search was performed for human studies applying RF treatment at sympathetic sites (sphenopalatine ganglion, stellate ganglion, cervical, thoracic, or lumbar sympathetic ganglia, celiac plexus, splanchnic nerves, superior hypogastric plexus, and ganglion impar) between January 1970 to May 2020. Data were extracted, summarized into tables, and qualitatively analyzed. PRF and CRF both show promise in relieving SMP conditions, such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), pain in the perineal region, headache and facial pain, and oncologic and non-oncologic abdominal pain, in addition to other types of pain, with minimal complications. Furthermore, in most comparative studies, outcomes using RF treatments exceeded other interventional techniques, such as anesthetic block and chemical neurolysis. RF treatments can be effective in carefully selected patients who are refractory to conservative management. However, further randomized controlled studies are needed prior to implementing it into common practice.
Time-Restricted Eating to Improve Cardiovascular Health

Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a form of intermittent fasting that involves confining the eating window to 4–10 h and fasting for the remaining hours of the day. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature pertaining to the effects of TRE on body weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Human trial findings show that TRE reduces body weight by 1–4% after 1–16 weeks in individuals with obesity, relative to controls with no meal timing restrictions. This weight loss results from unintentional reductions in energy intake (~350–500 kcal/day) that occurs when participants confine their eating windows to 4–10 h/day. TRE is also effective in lowering fat mass, blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and markers of oxidative stress, versus controls. This fasting regimen is safe and produces few adverse events. These findings suggest that TRE is a safe diet therapy that produces mild reductions in body weight and also lowers several key indicators of cardiovascular disease in participants with obesity.
Post-traumatic stress disorder as a moderator of transdiagnostic, residential eating disorder treatment outcome trajectory.

Objective Residential treatment for severe eating disorders (EDs) is associated with primarily positive outcomes. However, less is known about the moderators of treatment response. Comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis is associated with increased ED symptom severity. This study investigated whether PTSD moderated outcomes of transdiagnostic, residential ED treatment based upon the Unified Protocol. Method Female patients (N = 1055) in residential ED treatment completed a clinical interview to assess PTSD diagnosis and self-reported ED, depression, and anxiety symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness. We tested whether PTSD moderated trajectories of symptom change from treatment admission to discharge and 6-month follow-up using multilevel models. Results PTSD moderated change in ED symptoms, depression severity, and experiential avoidance. Patients with PTSD showed steeper symptom improvements from admission to discharge. However, PTSD was associated with greater symptom recurrence after residential treatment. Conclusions Patients with comorbid PTSD demonstrated more improvement during residential treatment, but experienced steeper posttreatment symptom recurrence.
Rapid age estimation of longnose skate (Raja rhina) vertebrae using near-infrared spectroscopy

There is a paucity of age data for chondrichthyan fishes owing, in large part, to limitations in traditional age estimation methods. Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy has shown promise as an alternative, more efficient method for acquiring age data from chondrichthyans. However, studies are limited to sharks in the southern hemisphere. We explored FT-NIR spectroscopy to predict age for a batoid species in the northern hemisphere. The longnose skate (Raja rhina) is one of a small number of batoids for which annual band periodicity in vertebral centra has been validated, allowing for traditional age estimation and making it an ideal candidate for this study. We fit a multivariate partial least-square predictive model between FT-NIR spectra collected from vertebral centra and traditional age estimates, and tested model predictive skill by using external validation. Using FT-NIR spectroscopy, we were able to predict age for longnose skates between the ages of 1 and 14 years with precision and bias near equal to those of traditional methods in less than a quarter of the time. These results support potential for FT-NIR spectroscopy to increase the amount of age data available for assessments used to inform the conservation and management of this sensitive group of species.
RER1: A Novel Regulator of Alpha-Synuclein (S17.003)

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the role of retention in endoplasmic reticulum protein 1 (Rer1) in regulating α-synuclein levels. BACKGROUND: Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is a principle component of Lewy bodies found pathologically in Parkinson disease (PD) and related synucleinopathies. Recent studies suggest that abnormal accumulation of αSyn disrupts intracellular protein/vesicular trafficking and impairs endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) leading to ER stress and toxicity. Rer1 has recently been identified as an ER retrieval/retention factor that may play a critical role in regulating protein transport (between the ER and golgi) and homeostasis. In Alzheimer’s disease Rer1 has been shown to negatively regulate Amyloid beta peptide levels by modulating gamma-secretase and APP trafficking (Park HJ, et al. JBC 2012). We hypothesized that Rer1 expression may also help to regulate αSyn trafficking, levels, and mediate toxicity in Parkinson models. DESIGN/METHODS: The levels of αSyn wild type, A30P, A53T, or E46K mutant were assessed following Rer1 co-expression in human cell lines. Several Rer1 mutants (such as Rer1Δ25, Y174A, or KRSS) were also utilized to verify the functional domain of αSyn regulation. The effects of proteasome or autophagy inhibitors on αSyn levels were also assessed to determine which protein degradation mechanism is involved in Rer1-related αSyn regulation RESULTS: Rer1 expression significantly decreased both αSyn wild type and mutants levels. The Rer1Δ25 mutant, which lacks the C-terminus that appears important for substrate localization, had a significantly attenuated effect on αSyn, indicating that Rer1-mediated ER recycling may be important for regulating αSyn levels. Interestingly, proteasome inhibition rescued the Rer1-mediated decrease in αSyn levels suggesting that Rer1 facilitates αSyn degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), likely via the ERAD. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide preliminary evidence that Rer1 may play an important role in protein trafficking and regulation of αSyn levels and associated toxicity in PD and related disorders. Study Supported by: NIH K08NS067024 Disclosure: Dr. McFarland has nothing to disclose. Dr. Park has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ricchiuti has nothing to disclose.
A Review of “Finding Jesus on the Metro: And Other Surprises Doing Church in a New Day”

Paul Nixon, a Methodist minister, offers this hindsight-account of his experience as a contemporary Christian minister in the Washington, D.C. area. What it means to be “church,” or as he puts it “...
Global functional profiling of gene expression

The typical result of a microarray experiment is a list of tens or hundreds of genes found to be differentially regulated in the condition under study. Independent of the methods used to select these genes, the common task faced by any researcher is to translate these lists of genes into a better understanding of the biological phenomena involved. Currently, this is done through a tedious combination of searches through the literature and a number of public databases. We developed Onto-Express (OE) as a novel tool able to automatically translate such lists of differentially regulated genes into functional profiles characterizing the impact of the condition studied. OE constructs functional profiles (using Gene Ontology terms) for the following categories: biochemical function, biological process, cellular role, cellular component, molecular function, and chromosome location. Statistical significance values are calculated for each category. We demonstrate the validity and the utility of this comprehensive global analysis of gene function by analyzing two breast cancer datasets from two separate laboratories. OE was able to identify correctly all biological processes postulated by the original authors, as well as discover novel relevant mechanisms.
Are software patents bad? (keynote)

Pamela Samuelson is recognized as a pioneer in digital copyright law, intellectual property, cyberlaw and information policy. She has written and spoken extensively about the challenges that new information technologies are posing for public policy and traditional legal regimes. Since 1996, she has held a joint appointment with the Berkeley Law School and the School of Information. She is the director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology, serves on the board of directors of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and on advisory boards for the Public Knowledge, and the Berkeley Center for New Media. She is also an advisor for the Samuelson Law, Technology, and Public Policy Clinic. Since 2002, she has also been an honorary professor at the University of Amsterdam.
Time-dependent aspects of electron degradation—III. High-energy electrons incident on molecular hydrogen

Abstract We show how to calculate the yields of initial products such as ions and excited states formed in gases following pulsed excitation. The underlying quantity in the calculation is the electron degradation spectrum, which was originally introduced by Spencer and Fano for stationary irradiation and has now been generalized to treat temporal behavior. Our numerical results concern molecular hydrogen as a prototype case for which basic cross section data are well established.
Local volume estimate for manifolds withL 2-bounded curvature

We obtain a local volume growth for complete, noncompact Riemannian manifolds with small integral bounds and with Bach tensor having finite L2 norm in dimension 4.
Absorption and Activity of Some Derivatives of Griseofulvin

Some derivatives of the 4'-keto group of griseofulvin were prepared which had increased water solubility and greater absorption potential. The derivatives, which exhibited little or no in vitro activity against Microsporum gypseum , were found to be converted to griseofulvin in vivo . After intravenous administration to rabbits, several of the derivatives were rapidly converted to griseofulvin. Griseofulvin plasma levels resulting from oral doses of the derivatives were found to be equal to, or in most instances significantly higher than, the levels produced by equal doses of griseofulvin, but of shorter duration. Evidence for the degradation of the derivatives in the gastrointestinal tract is presented.
Porphyrins with exocyclic rings. Part 24. Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of pyrenoporphyrins, potential building blocks for porphyrin molecular wires

Abstract Porphyrins with fused pyrene units have been prepared by ‘2+2’ and ‘3+1’ methodologies. Nitration of 1,2,3,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrene, followed by oxidation with DDQ, gave 4-nitropyrene and this condensed with ethyl isocyanoacetate in the presence of DBU or a phosphazene base to generate a pyrenopyrrole ethyl ester. Ester saponification and decarboxylation with KOH in ethylene glycol at 190 °C gave the parent pyreno[4,5-c]pyrrole and this was further condensed with 2 equiv of acetoxymethylpyrroles to afford the corresponding tripyrranes protected at the terminal positions with tert-butyl esters. In a one pot procedure, the ester protective groups were cleaved with TFA and following dilution with dichloromethane, ‘3+1’ condensation with a pyrrole dialdehyde, and dehydrogenation with DDQ, the targeted pyrenoporphyrins were generated in good overall yields. A dialdehyde was also prepared from the pyrenopyrrole intermediate and this reacted to give an opp-dipyrenoporphyrin. The pyrenopyrrole ethyl ester reacted with dimethoxymethane in the presence of an acid catalyst to give a dipyrenopyrrolylmethane, and this was used to prepare an adj-dipyrenoporphyrin using the MacDonald ‘2+2’ approach. The pyrenopyrrole dialdehyde was also used to prepare a porphyrin with fused pyrene and phenanthroline moieties. Although the UV–vis spectra of these new porphyrin systems are unexceptional, pyrenoporphyrins show many of the features necessary for the construction of porphyrin molecular wires.
The oxidation state of the photosystem II manganese cluster influences the structure of manganese stabilizing protein.

Abstract Exposure of photosystem II membranes to trypsin that has been treated to inhibit chymotrypsin activity produces limited hydrolysis of manganese stabilizing protein. Exposure to chymotrypsin under the same conditions yields substantial digestion of the protein. Further probing of the unusual insensitivity of manganese stabilizing protein to trypsin hydrolysis reveals that increasing the temperature from 4 to 25°C will cause some acceleration in the rate of proteolysis. However, addition of low (100 μM) concentrations of NH2OH, that are sufficient to reduce, but not destroy, the photosystem II Mn cluster, causes a change in PS II-bound manganese stabilizing protein that causes it to be rapidly digested by trypsin. Immunoblot analyses with polyclonal antibodies directed against the N-terminus of the protein, or against the entire sequence show that trypsin cleavage produces two distinct peptide fragments estimated to be in the 17–20 kDa range, consistent with proposals that there are 2 mol of the protein/mol photosystem II. The correlation of trypsin sensitivity with Mn redox state(s) in photosystem II suggest that manganese stabilizing protein may interact either directly with Mn, or alternatively, that the polypeptide is bound to another protein of the photosystem II reaction center that is intimately involved in binding and redox activity of Mn.
Do Common Risk Factors in the Returns on Stocks and Bonds Explain Returns on REITs

The monthly returns on equity and mortgage real estate investment trusts (REITs) are analyzed over the period July 1976 to December 1992. The results indicate that risk premiums on equity REITs are significantly related to risk premiums on a market portfolio of stocks as well as to the returns on mimicking portfolios for size and book-to-market equity factors in common stock returns. Mortgage REIT risk premiums are significantly related to the three stock market factors and two bond market factors in returns. Also, mortgage REIT shares underperform by an average of 6.8% per year.
Infrared spectrum of the NH4-dn+ cation trapped in solid neon

The NH4+ cation has been stabilized in solid neon in sufficient concentration for the identification of both of its infrared-active vibrational fundamentals, which appear within a few wavenumbers of the gas-phase band centers. Systematic alteration of the concentrations and positions of introduction of NH3 and H2 in the discharge sampling experiments demonstrated that the highest yield of NH4+ resulted when both the NH3 and the H2 were introduced downstream from a discharge through pure neon. In this configuration, each of these molecules can be ionized by excited neon atoms and their resonance radiation (16.6 eV to 16.85 eV), but fragmentation is minimized. Both infrared-active vibrational fundamentals of ND4+ and several fundamentals of each of the partially deuterium-substituted isotopomers of NH4+ were also identified. Evidence is presented for complexation of NH4+ with an H atom or with one or more H2 molecules.
The multiple effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetate in several model lipid peroxidation systems.

Abstract Experiments were performed which illustrate the various ways EDTA can influence lipid peroxidation. Either detergent-dispersed linoleate, or liposomes made from extracted microsomal phospholipids were utilized as substrates for peroxidation. Peroxidation was accomplished using Fe 2+ or Fe 3+ . In systems utilizing Fe 2+ , EDTA chelation facilitated Fe 2+ autoxidation which in turn caused peroxidation of detergent-dispersed linoleate. Peroxidation was not initiated during EDTA-Fe 2+ autoxidation when the substrate lipids were in a liposomal configuration. Systems utilizing Fe 3+ required an enzyme (either xanthine oxidase or NADPH-cytochrome P 450 reductase) to reduce the iron for peroxidative activity. EDTA chelation of Fe 3+ enhanced the xanthine oxidase and NADPH-cytochrome P 450 reductase-catalyzed peroxidation of detergent-dispersed linoleate, presumably by facilitating the reduction of Fe 3+ . Catalase and mannitol inhibited both EDTA-Fe 2+ - and EDTA-Fe 3+ -dependent lipid peroxidation. EDTA-Fe 3+ was not capable of initiating peroxidation of phospholipid liposomes following enzymatic reduction by either enzyme, but ADP-chelated iron effectively initiated liposomal peroxidation in similar systems. With xanthine oxidase-catalyzed peroxidation of liposomes with ADP-Fe 3+ , the inclusion of EDTA-Fe 3+ caused a modest enhancement of activity. EDTA-Fe 3+ greatly stimulated NADPH-cytochrome P 450 reductase-catalyzed peroxidation of liposomes with ADP-Fe 3+ . In contrast, the addition of EDTA, rather than EDTA-Fe 3+ inhibited the liposomal peroxidation catalyzed by either enzyme with ADP-Fe 3+ when the EDTA concentration exceeded the concentration of Fe 3+ .
Effect of Thyroidectomy of Immature Male Chickens on Circulating Thyroid Hormones and on Response to Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone and Chronic Cold Exposure

Abstract Previous studies in the author’s laboratory established that thyroidectomized (Tx) immature male chickens had significant levels of circulating thyroid hormones, and it was proposed that extrathyroidal tissue might be present. Three experiments were conducted to further investigate this possibility. In all experiments, thyroid glands were removed surgically at 3 wk of age. In the first experiment, birds were kept until 20 wk of age. It was found that only triiodothyronine levels were reduced significantly in the Tx birds. In the second experiment, Tx as well as sham-operated control groups received a single iv injection of bovine thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to determine if extrathyroidal tissue in Tx birds would respond to exogenous TSH. It was found that circulating thyroxine (T4) concentrations in sham-operated control birds, but not Tx birds, were increased following TSH injection. In the third experiment, Tx and sham-operated birds were exposed chronically to cold (7 C), and only circulating T4 was found to be elevated in both groups. It was concluded that extrathyroidal tissue in Tx birds does not respond to TSH.
The role of dysfunctional attitudes, negative life events, and social support in the prediction of depressive dysphoria: A prospective longitudinal study

The present study examined the role of dysfunctional attitudes, negative life events, and social support in predicting depressive dysphoria. Undergraduates ( N = 196) completed the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS; Weissman, 1980); the Hammen Life Events Survey (HLES; Hammen, Marks, Mayol, & deMayo, 1985); the Social Support Questionnaire-6 (SSQ-6; Sarason, Sarason, Shearin, & Pierce, 1987); and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961) at three different times separated by five-week intervals. Multiple regression analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction between dysfunctional attitudes, negative life events, and social support predicting subsequent levels of depressive dysphoria. Decomposition of the three-way interaction using residualized change scores indicated that the combination of dysfunctional attitudes and negative life events, regardless of the size of their social support network, were associated with significantly higher levels of depressive dysphoria than individuals reporting lower levels of negative life events and larger social support networks, regardless of level of dysfunctional attitudes. These findings are discussed in terms of Beck’s (1967, 1976) theory of vulnerability to depression and the need for additional research to clarify further the role of each factor.
Generation of oxygen, carbon and metallic ion beams by a compact microwave source

Abstract A small microwave ion source fabricated from a quartz tube and enclosed externally by a cavity has been operated with different geometries and for various gases in a cw mode. This source has been used to generate oxygen ion beams with energy as low as 5.5 eV. Beam energy spread has been measured to be less than 1 eV. By installing different metal plates on the front extraction electrode, metallic ion beams such as (Be, Cu, Al, etc.) can be produced. It has also been demonstrated that the source can be used to form steady state beams of volume-produced negative ions such as H−, Li− and C−.
Statistical validation of new ventricular tachycardia detection schemes.

The reliability of three new template matching techniques for detecting ventricular tachycardia (VT) using intracardiac waveform morphology was assessed using nonparametric tolerance intervals. These new techniques, the bin area method (BAM) , the normalized area of difference (NAD), and the derivative area method (DAM), were compared with correlation waveform analysis (CWA), an established method of waveform analysis. All four methods are independent of amplitude fluctuations and produced a bounded similarity measure, H, between 1 and 1. Like CWA, BAM and DAM are independent baseline changes. The BAM adds five consecutive sample points to form bins, removes the mean value, and compares each waveform with a similarly processed template. The NAD is identical to BAM, except that the mean is not subtracted. The DAM uses the zero-crossings of the derivative of the template to partition the template into areas. The same partitioning is then enforced on each subsequent waveform, and partitioned areas are compared to the corresponding areas in the template. The BAM and DAM required only
The Clinical Measurement of Sensory Functioning in Infants

A 24-item test entitled the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants was developed to measure sensory processing and reactivity in infants. It focused on evaluation of responses to tactile deep-pressure, visual-tactile integration, adaptive motor, ocular motor, and reactivity to vesicular stimulation. Data were collected on 196 normal, 27 developmentally delayed, and 27 different temperament infants from 4 to 18 months of age. The psychometric quality of the test was investigated in terms of domain validity, construct validity, and interobserver reliability. The findings were that: (1) the items and subtests validly measure the domain of sensory functioning in infants, (2) the total test scores can be used reliably and validly for screening decisions, particularly fro 7- to 18 month-old infants, and (3) the five subtests can be used reliably and validly for guiding clinical decisions for infants with delays or difficult temperament and 10 to 18 months of age. The reactivity to tactile deep-pressure and reacti...
Non-oscillatory and Non-diffusive Solution of Convection Problems by the Iteratively Reweighted Least-Squares Finite Element Method

In this paper we first introduce the least-squares finite element method (LSFEM) for two-dimensional steady-state pure convection problems with smooth solutions and compare the LSFEM with other finite element methods. We prove that the LSFEM has the same stability estimate as the original equation; i.e., the LSFEM has better control of the streamline derivative than the streamline upwinding Petrov-Galerkin method. Numerical convergence rates are given to show that the LSFEM is almost optimal. Then we use this LSFEM as a framework to develop an iteratively reweighted least-squares finite element method (IRLSFEM) to obtain non-oscillatory and non-diffusive solutions for problems with contact discontinuities. This new method produces a highly accurate numerical solution that has a sharp discontinuity in one element. A number of examples solved by using triangular and bilinear elements are presented to show that the method can convect contact discontinuities without error.
Degradation of low-molecular-weight opioid peptides by vascular plasma membrane aminopeptidase M

Abstract Since both aminopeptidases and angiotensin I-converting enzyme are reported to degrade circulating enkephalins, we have examined the degradation of low-molecular-weight opioid peptides by a vascular plasma membrane-enriched fraction previously shown to contain both angiotensin I-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) and aminopeptidase M (EC 3.4.11.2). Except for an enkephalin analog resistant to amino-terminal hydrolysis, [ D -Ala2]enkephalin, the purified vascular plasma membrane preferentially degraded low-molecular-weight opioids by hydrolysis of the N-terminal Tyr-1-Gly-2 bond. Enkephalin degradation was optimal at pH 7.0 and was inhibited by the aminopeptidase inhibitors amastatin (I50 = 0.08 μM), bestatin (9.0 μM) and puromycin (80 μM). Maximal rates of hydrolysis, calculated per mg plasma membrane protein, were highest for the shorter peptides (18.3, 15.6 and 16.6 nmol/min per mg for Met5-enkephalin, Leu5-enkephalin and Leu5-enkephalin-Arg6, respectively) and decreased with increasing peptide length (0.7 nmol/min per mg for dynorphin(1–13)). No significant hydrolysis of β- and γ-endorphin was detected. Km values decreased significantly with increasing peptide length (Km = 72.9 ± 2.7, 43.6 ± 4.7 and 21.4 ± 0.9 μM for Met5-enkephalin, Leu5-enkephalin-Arg6 and Met5-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7, respectively). However, no further decreases were seen with even larger sequences, i.e., dynorphin(1–13). Other peptides hydrolyzed by the plasma membrane aminopeptidase (angiotensin III, kallidin and hepta(5–11)-substance P) inhibited enkephalin degradation in a competitive manner. Thus, localization, specificity and kinetic data are consistent with identification of aminopeptidase M as a vascular enzyme with the capacity to differentially metabolize low-molecular-weight opioid peptides within the microenvironment of vascular cell surface receptors. Such differential metabolism may play a role in modulating the vascular effects of peripheral opioids.
Mechanism of the bisphosphatase reaction of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase probed by (1)H-(15)N NMR spectroscopy.

The histidines in the bisphosphatase domain of rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase were labeled with 15N, both specifically at N1‘ and globally, for use in heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) NMR spectroscopic analyses. The histidine-associated 15N resonances were assigned by correlation to the C2‘ protons which had been assigned previously [Okar et al., Biochemistry 38, 1999, 4471−79]. Acquisition of the 1H-15N HSQC from a phosphate-free sample demonstrated that the existence of His-258 in the rare N1‘ tautomeric state is dependent upon occupation of the phosphate binding site filled by the O2 phosphate of the substrate, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, and subsequently, the phosphohistidine intermediate. The phosphohistidine intermediate is characterized by two hydrogen bonds involving the catalytic histidines, His-258 and His-392, which are directly observed at the N1‘ positions of the imidazole rings. The N1‘ of phospho-His-258 is protonated (1H chemical shift, 14.0 pp...
Intervalley effective-mass theory: Pseudopotential formulation.

We formulate an intervalley effective-mass theory within a consistent pseudopotential scheme, and apply it in an extensive study of various donors in Si. When the impurity pseudopotentials are required to reproduce the experimental transition energies of the free-atom core, the theoretical predictions are substantially independent of the particular form of the assumed pseudopotential. Screening due to the host valence electrons is obtained within the nonlinear Thomas-Fermi approximation. We discuss shallow group-V and deep group-VI substitutional donors; we also analyze in detail the ``inverted ground state'' structure of an interstitial Li donor.
Sustained Mechanical Self-Oscillations in Carbon Nanotubes

The potential size and power benefits of resonant NEMS devices are frequently mitigated by the need for relatively large, high-frequency, high-power electronics. Here we demonstrate controllable, sustained self-oscillations in singly clamped carbon nanotubes operating with a single dc voltage supply, and we develop a model that predicts the required voltage on the basis of the material properties and device geometry. Using this model, we demonstrate for the first time top-down, self-oscillating NEMS devices suitable for large-scale integration.
Electromigration and the electroplastic effect in aluminum SiC MMCs

Aluminum SiC metal-matrix composites fabricated by standard powder-metallurgy compaction and sintering were subjected to high-density alternating-current pulses during transverse rupture testing. Results indicate increased strength due to electromigration. Decreases in flow stress were observed during plastic deformation and were attributed to the electroplastic effect.
Diverse cellular and apoptotic responses to variant shapes of UHMWPE particles in a murine model of inflammation.

The wear of orthopaedic prostheses results in the release of a markedly heterogeneous assortment of particulate debris, with respect to both size and shape. Although particle size has been extensively examined, the role of particle shape in adverse inflammatory reactions to debris remains unclear. Using an in vivo murine model of inflammation, we assessed tissue responses to globular and to elongated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) particles with a similar surface area, and investigated whether inflammation and cellular apoptosis varied with particle shape in the debris–tissue interaction. Histological changes of UHMWPE-stimulated pouch membrane were assessed using a computerized image analysis system. Quantitative real time PCR and ELISA were performed to assess mRNA expression and protein level of the cytokines, and TUNEL assays were conducted to quantify apoptotic cells. The data revealed that elongated particles generated more active inflammatory air pouches, stimulated more severe membrane proliferation and the inflammatory cellular infiltration compared to globular particles. Increased levels of IL-1β and TNFα were detected in the lavage and homogenate of pouches stimulated with elongated particles in comparison to pouches with globular particles, and the apoptotic assay indicated more severe apoptotic changes within the inflammatory membrane provoked with elongated particles. Our results suggest that cellular responses to UHMWPE wear debris are dependent on the shape of the particles.
WHY ARE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES PRIVATIZATION

This article tests alternative hypotheses about why developing countries are pursuing privatization, a policy that gained considerable popularity in the 1980s. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicate that privatization was more likely to be pursued by countries with high budget deficits, high foreign debt, and high dependence on international agencies like the World Bank and the IMF. In regions such as Latin America and Asia, the trend was also more likely in countries (a) that seemed to have “overused” state enterprises in the past, and (b) those in which the private sector had grown faster than average and was thus more ready to assume tasks once assigned to state enterprises. In Africa, however, the policy may have been imposed by external agencies on countries that were not necessarily ripe for privatization. For multinational firms, the international opportunities created by privatization are likely to be greater in the 1990s than in the 1980s.
Chemosensory Convergence on Primary Olfactory Cortex

Food perception and preference formation relies on the ability to combine information from both the taste and olfactory systems. Accordingly, psychophysical investigations in humans and behavioral work in animals has shown that the taste system plays an integral role in odor processing. However, the neural basis for the influence of taste (gustation) on odor (olfaction) remains essentially unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that gustatory influence on olfactory processing occurs at the level of primary olfactory cortex. We recorded activity from single neurons in posterior olfactory (piriform) cortex (pPC) of awake rats while presenting basic taste solutions directly to the tongue. A significant portion of pPC neurons proved to respond selectively to taste stimuli. These taste responses were significantly reduced by blockade of the gustatory epithelium, were unaffected by blockade of the olfactory epithelium, and were independent of respiration behavior. In contrast, responses to olfactory stimuli, recorded from the same area, were reduced by nasal epithelial deciliation and phase-locked to the respiration cycle. These results identify pPC as a likely site for gustatory influences on olfactory processing, which play an important role in food perception and preference formation.
Split hand and foot anomaly in Macaca mulatta: a report of two cases.

Two cases of split hand and foot anomaly in male Macaca mulatta are described. Radiographs and dissection of the muscular anatomy of the first case showed that the muscular changes could be directly related to the osseous deformities. Comparison of the anatomy of case 1 with that of two other nonhuman primate cases on record suggests that two different developmental patterns and possibly two different genotypes may underlie the anatomical differences observed. The second case of the anomaly has been sent to the University of Washington Medical Lake Breeding Facility where it is hoped future pedigree data may provide information on some of the embryological and genetic questions raised by the existing materials.
First order perturbation effects in iron-dominated two-dimensional symmetrical multipoles

The effects of several perturbations are investigated. They are: modification of the shape of a pole, error excitation, displacement, and rotation of a pole. The effects are described in terms of changes of multipole coefficients. General relationships between some of these coefficients are described, and formulae are derived that allow their calculation for a model 2N-pole magnet. Numerical values of these coefficients are given for a quadrupole, sextupole, and octupole.
Total synthesis of (±)-methyl 3-(3-isocyano-6-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-en-5-yl)-2-propenoate

Abstract The total synthesis of (±)-methyl 3-(3-isocyano-6-oxabilcyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-en-5-yl)-2-propenoate has been achieved using 3-tosyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene as a key starting material.
“Where simulation ends and training begins” The effect and durability of a pre-graduation prep course for medical students entering surgical training

Introduction Medical school does not specifically prepare students for internship. Pre-internship courses are known to increase confidence in multiple key areas. Several prior studies have looked at courses given at the beginning of internship when anxiety is high. We examined the immediate effect and durability of effect of a pre-graduation prep course (PGPC) on provider confidence in medical management and technical skills. Methods A four day simulation PGPC (refer to Table) was offered to medical students (MS) entering surgical programs (n=18; 2009-2010). MS were anonymously surveyed before, after and 6 months following the course. The same survey was given 6 months into internship to a control group of surgical interns who did not have a PGPC prior to graduation. Data was compared between the time intervals and across cases and controls using the Wilcoxon rank-sum and signed-rank tests.Medical Management SkillsTechnical SkillsRespiratory DistressCricothyroidotomyPost-operative FeverChest tubePost-operative BleedingCentral LineOliguriaArterial LineChange in Mental StatusPeripheral LineElectrolyte DisturbancesUrinary CatheterChest PainNasogastric Tube Placement (and) ManagementAcute Deterioration Unknown EtiologyACLS algorithms Results MS (n=12) confidence post-PGPC compared to pre-PGPC improved significantly in all areas except placement of an IV or urinary catheter. Six months into internship there was no difference in confidence levels between the MS PGPC group (n=18) and the controls (n=9), except the MS PGPC group felt more confident in their ability to perform a crichothyroidotomy (2.5 vs 1.4 p=0.04) or place a chest tube (3.3 vs 2.1, p=0.05). Conclusions PGPC can improve self-confidence in young doctors prior to enrolling in surgical residency in many areas of peri-operative care. The effect is most durable in high risk, infrequently performed technical tasks. Future studies are under design to examine the impact of PCs on the "July Effect."
Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for detection and quantification of fibrosis in human myocardium in vitro

The availability of a non-invasive test to detect and quantify interstitial and replacement fibrosis would be a useful advance for evaluation of cardiac therapies that could prevent fibrosis progression. There is an established role for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of replacement fibrosis (when fibrosis replaces myocytes), but the potential for assessment of interstitial fibrosis (when amount of fibrosis increases between myocytes) has not been evaluated. A novel in vitro MRI technique was developed for comparison of gadodiamide contrast distribution volume as a measure of both kinds of myocardial fibrosis, with histologically determined myocardial collagen volume fraction, the current gold standard for quantification of myocardial fibrosis. Eight samples of human myocardium were obtained postmortem and a fast spin-echo sequence (3 Tesla) with non-slice selective inversion pulse performed before and after immersion in a gadodiamide saline solution for determination of the gadodiamide partition coefficient. T1 values were calculated from the inversion recovery signal curves. The same samples were fixed in formalin, and collagen volume fraction was determined by the picrosirius red method using a semi-automated, polarized, digital microscopy system. Both gadodiamide distribution volumes as well as CVF values were significantly different in normal myocardium versus interstitial fibrosis (P = 0.001), and normal versus replacement fibrosis (P = 0.015). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the two methods, across all three histological categories of myocardial fibrosis (r = 0.73; P = 0.017). These findings indicate an expanded potential for gadodiamide enhanced MRI as a novel, non-invasive alternative to histological evaluation, for the quantification of both interstitial and replacement myocardial fibrosis.
Preliminary report on hypothalamic hyperphagia in ruminants.

Abstract Sustained hyperphagia and subsequent rapid weight increases were induced for the first time in ruminants (goats) by lesions in the ventromedial areas of the hypothalamus. This finding supports the concept that the ventromedial area is functioning in the regulation of food intake of ruminants, although the stimuli monitored may he different from those in monogastric animals.