cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exchange rate dynamics and stock prices in small open economies: Evidence from Asia-Pacific countries

Abstract This study investigates the short-run and long-run dynamics between exchange rates and stock prices and the path through which monetary policy shocks impact on these markets in four small open economies in the Asia-Pacific region over the period 1999–2016. Three aspects of the dynamics being explored include 1) the efficiency of stock price responses to exchange rate and monetary policy shocks; 2) the dynamics of exchange rate movements in responding to stock price and monetary policy shocks; and 3) the causality between exchange rate and stock price changes in the short run and long run. Three conclusions are drawn from this study. First, while the impact of monetary policy shocks to stock price changes are contemporaneous for all four countries, stock price changes converge to the baseline relatively apace in Singapore and Hong Kong than in Taiwan and South Korea. Second, exchange rate shocks cause less short-run volatility in the stock markets of Singapore and Hong Kong though the long run convergence to the baseline in all of the four countries takes approximately equal amount of time. Third, an exchange rate shock induces an instantaneous change in the stock price but a stock price shock leads to a gradual variation in the exchange rate of all four countries.
Calcium Signaling Deficits in Glia and Autophagic Pathways Contributing to Neurodegenerative Disease

Abstract Significance: Numerous cellular processes and signaling mechanisms have been identified that contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology; however, a comprehensive or unifying pathway ...
Formalist thinking and language arts instruction: teachers’ and students’ beliefs about truth and caring in the teaching conversation

Abstract Two studies illustrate the concern that the connection between teachers’ beliefs and their instructional practices can be a troublesome one if beliefs are informed by formalist thinking related to truth and caring in the teaching conversation. Twenty-seven middle school language arts teachers and 216 8th grade students were asked what they thought would constitute appropriate responses to a middle school student’s request for feedback about his poem. In spite of their training and experience, the instructional strategies of the teachers were guided by formalist beliefs about what they believed to be sound pedagogy. As a consequence, they minimized the importance of what the student actually said in his poem. Honest criticism and instruction were minimized. Teachers interpreted caring as helping the child to feel good about his work and about himself independent of the work’s merits. In contrast, students called out for honesty and for academic instruction and interpreted caring as receiving academic help. Few expressed formalist principles, and most argued that their teachers need not surrender truth, criticism, or instruction to express care and concern. They also revealed that they could, and would, see through their teachers’ efforts at impression management. Findings are interpreted within a framework provided by S. Cavell (1969) ’s criteria for reciprocal conversation.
Abstract 4287: Whole-genome CRISPR/Cas9 screen of the CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib implicates FAM122A loss as a potential resistance mechanism

Introduction: Phase I clinical trials of the CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib have been completed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other cancers and several Phase I-II trials are currently recruiting. By inhibiting the G2/M and S-phase checkpoints, prexasertib has been shown to cause increased replication stress, DNA damage and premature entry into mitosis, resulting in mitotic catastrophe and cell death. While the inhibitor is showing therapeutic promise, acquired resistance is of concern. Little is known about how cancer cells may become resistant to CHK1 inhibitors. Understanding potential resistance mechanisms may help predict patient responses, design CHK1 therapy combinations and implement means of re-sensitization. Materials and Methods: NSCLC cell lines A549 and NCI-H460 stably expressing the Cas9 endonuclease were obtained from the Genetic Perturbation Platform at the Broad Institute. Cells were infected with the Brunello v2 lentiviral sgRNA library and grown for 15 days in prexasertib-treated media. Cells were collected pre- and post-drug selection, genomic DNA was extracted, and sgRNA sequences were PCR amplified and Illumina sequenced. Top hits among knockouts that conferred drug resistance were identified by the STARS gene-ranking algorithm. Hit validation was performed with sgRNAs and pooled siRNAs (Qiagen). Prexasertib IC50s were assessed by colony formation and CellTiter-Glo cell viability assays. Cell cycle analysis was performed by propidium iodide flow cytometry. PP2A activity was measured using Ser/Thr phosphatase assay kits (Upstate Biotechnology). Dinaciclib and LB-100 were obtained from Selleck and Apexbio, respectively. Results: CRISPR knockouts of several individual genes were found to promote resistance of both cell lines to prexasertib with false discovery rates Conclusion: Although CHK1 inhibitors like prexasertib show promise, one mechanism of resistance may be through other cell-cycle regulating compensatory pathways. Identification of FAM122A loss as a potential mechanism for resistance suggests a predictive biomarker and means for re-sensitization of cancer cells to CHK1 inhibitors. Citation Format: Peter Deraska, Hunter Reavis, Shelby Labe, Alan D9Andrea, David Kozono. Whole-genome CRISPR/Cas9 screen of the CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib implicates FAM122A loss as a potential resistance mechanism [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4287.
Inductance Model-based Sensorless SRM Drive with Torque Ripple Minimization

An inductance model-based sensorless control strategy with torque ripple and acoustic noise minimization for switched reluctance machines is proposed. In order to simultaneously reduce the torque ripple and acoustic noise, a specific-shaped current waveform that is needed and obtained from a torque-sharing function (TSF) is used in this paper. With the inductance model-based sensorless control strategy and the specific-shaped current modulation, the any rotor position within the entire electrical angle can be calculated by the bisection algorithm so that a specific current profiling can be obtained and therefore torque ripple and acoustic noise minimization can be achieved. The traditional trapezoid-shaped current modulation is compared with the specific current profiling in term of torque ripple. A 2 kW 12/8 SRM sensorless drive is modelled using the PSIM software. The simulated results indicate that the new sensorless control strategy is effective in reducing torque ripple. A hardware prototype of 2 kW converter with TMS320F28335 is also constructed and tested. The experimental results indicate that the new sensorless control strategy is effective in rotor position estimation.
Examining the Impact of Anxiety on Contingent Contracting and Bargaining in Negotiations

Contingent contracts have been increasingly important in negotiation research. However, research on the psychological foundation of contingent contracting has been limited. The existing research on...
Epigenetic biomarker screening by FLIM-FRET for combination therapy in ER+ breast cancer

Hormone-dependent gene expression involves dynamic and orchestrated regulation of epigenome leading to a cancerous state. Estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer rely on chromatin remodeling and association with epigenetic factors in inducing ER-dependent oncogenesis and thus cell over-proliferation. The mechanistic differences between epigenetic regulation and hormone signaling provide an avenue for combination therapy of ER-positive breast cancer. We hypothesized that epigenetic biomarkers within single nucleosome proximity of ER-dependent genes could serve as potential therapeutic targets. We described here a Fluorescence lifetime imaging-based Forster resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET) methodology for biomarker screening that could facilitate combination therapy based on our study. We screened 11 epigenetic-related markers which include oxidative forms of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and methyl-binding domain proteins. Among them, we identified H4K12acetylation (H4K12ac) and H3K27 acetylation (H3K27ac) as potential epigenetic therapeutic targets. When histone acetyltransferase inhibitor targeting H4K12ac and H3K27ac was combined with tamoxifen, an enhanced therapeutic outcome was observed against ER-positive breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Together, we demonstrate a single molecule approach as an effective screening tool for devising targeted epigenetic therapy.
Abstract # 3149 Sex differences in the consequences of early-life immune activation on microglia-neural signaling and the ontogeny of hippocampal-dependent learning in the juvenile rat

Developmental disorders associated with learning deficits, including Autism, have been linked to early-life immune activation, and notably, are male-biased. Microglia are the immune cells of the brain and are in constant communication with neurons, thus, microglia influence the function of surrounding neurons. Recent data indicate that microglia-neuron signaling is necessary for the proper formation of neural circuits during brain development. We determined that immune activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100ug/ml/kg) on postnatal day (P) 21 produces sex-dependent deficits in the emergence of hippocampal-dependent learning on P24 in rats. Gene expression analysis in the hippocampus at 2-, 4-, 8-, and 24-h following LPS showed sex differences in IL-1 β and IL-6 expression. Males, but not females, have a persistent decrease in BDNF expression starting 4hr post-LPS that persists until 24hr and an increase in C3 expression, an immune molecule that tags synapses for elimination, at 24hr. We are investigating whether we can rescue learning deficits by administering the microglia inhibitor minocycline at the time of LPS. We found a sex difference in the effectiveness of minocycline such that minocycline inhibits microglia in males, but is not as effective in females. Behavioral results following minocycline treatment will be discussed. Our data suggest that changes in microglia-neural communication following early-life immune activation are different in males and females, thus males and females may respond differently to therapies that target microglia.
When the carrot goes bad: The effect of solar rebate uncertainty

Abstract Although meant to encourage investment in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, some incentive policies may themselves become a barrier in instances where policy-related uncertainty is present, as potential solar adopters delay their investment until uncertainty is resolved. This study utilizes a quasi-experimental setting to quantify the effect of solar policy uncertainty. Focusing on the California Solar Initiative's residential rebate program, I exploit the temporary exhaustion of funds within one of the utility territories as an exogenous source of increased uncertainty and estimate that it leads to a 67% drop in rebate applications in an average ZIP code-week. There is considerable heterogeneity in this effect depending on household income and PV system size. Among households that are least likely to invest in PV without a rebate incentive, program participation drops by up to 69%. This suggests potentially significant loss in program effectiveness due to lower PV adoption and underscores the importance of accounting for uncertainty in policy evaluations.
Mesoscale to Microscale Simulations over Complex Terrain with the Immersed Boundary Method in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

AbstractImprovements to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model are made to enable multiscale simulations over highly complex terrain with dynamically downscaled boundary conditions from t...
Consider a broccoli stalk: How the concept of edibility influences quantification of household food waste

Food waste measurement and policy often seek to differentiate between edible food and associated inedible parts, acknowledging different underlying causes for discard and different preferred solutions for waste management. Given the varying views of edibility within and across cultures, there is no widely agreed upon or universal categorization. To understand how edibility influences the outcome of food waste quantification, we applied four different categorizations to 489 household kitchen diaries from Denver, CO and New York City, NY. We also compared them to how respondents self-characterized edibility. We found that the percentage of total food discarded considered edible ranged from 52% to 71% and that the top ten lists of most discarded edible foods changed based on the categorization used. We found that edibility does matter when studying household food waste in terms of defining the extent of the problem, identifying hot spots for intervention, and tracking progress over time. Additionally, we found that respondents' perceptions of edibility varied and were not aligned with any of the four categorizations. Our findings suggest that how edibility is defined should be rigorously and transparently considered and that the varied perceptions of edibility may influence what and how interventions to reduce wasted food are designed, targeted, and evaluated.
Pricing Medicine Fairly

Recently, dramatic price increases by several pharmaceutical companies have provoked public outrage. These scandals raise questions both about how pharmaceutical firms should be regulated and about how pharmaceutical executives ethically ought to make pricing decisions when drug prices are largely unregulated. Though there is an extensive literature on the regulatory question, the ethical question has been largely unexplored. This article defends a Kantian approach to the ethics of pharmaceutical pricing in an unregulated market. To the extent possible, pharmaceutical companies must price drugs so that those who genuinely need them can get them without financial ruin. This requirement is an ethical side constraint, like the moral prohibitions on deception and theft, that takes precedence over a business’s interest in maximizing profit. That said, the requirement’s application is sensitive to the need to recoup the costs of research and to produce a return that financially justifies the original investment. It may not be either feasible or desirable for government to attempt to enforce the ethical requirements concerning just pharmaceutical pricing. Either price regulation or subsidy could fulfill government’s obligation to protect patients from being objectionably vulnerable to pricing decisions by private companies.
Advancing the fundamental understanding and practical applications of photo-bioelectrocatalysis

Photo-bioelectrocatalysis combines the natural and highly sophisticated process of photosynthesis in biological entities with an abiotic electrode surface, to perform semi-artificial photosynthesis. However, challenges must be overcome, from the establishment and understanding of the photoexcited electron harvesting process at the electrode to the electrochemical characterization of these biotic/abiotic systems, and their subsequent tuning for enhancing energy generation (chemical and/or electrical). This Feature Article discusses the various approaches utilized to tackle these challenges, particularly focusing on powerful multi-disciplinary approaches for understanding and improving photo-bioelectrocatalysis. Among them is the combination of experimental evidence and quantum mechanical calculations, the use of bioinformatics to understand photo-bioelectrocatalysis at a metabolic level, or bioengineering to improve and facilitate photo-bioelectrocatalysis. Key aspects for the future development of photo-bioelectrocatalysis are presented alongside future research needs and promising applications of semi-artificial photosynthesis.
Judeofilia en la cuentítisca medieval: anonimato del judío en El Conde Lucanor

The following article examines the representation of the Jew in the tales compilation, El Conde Lucanor by Juan Manuel (1282-1348). I argue that this religious group is alluded to in several exempla, only recognizable by the professions attributed to them by European folklore: physicists, moneylenders, alchemists, and necromancers. Studying the out-group interactions under the mechanisms of re-fencing (Allport 1954) and extended contact hypothesis (Wright 1997), I will analyze the literary techniques used by Juan Manuel to portray these “Jewish” occupations in positive terms while silencing the protagonists’ religious affiliation as a means to minimize the growing popular animosity toward this group.
Documenting the Antitrust Revolution over Seven Editions of Kwoka and White

By a market test of longevity, seven successive editions of The Antitrust Revolution (“TAR”) is a remarkable publishing event. John E. Kwoka and Lawrence J. White (editors) assembled a collection o...
Navigating Clinical Utilization of Direct-from-Specimen Metagenomic Pathogen Detection: Clinical Applications, Limitations, and Testing Recommendations

Background Metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) is becoming increasingly available for pathogen detection directly from clinical specimens. These tests use target-independent, shotgun sequencing to detect potentially unlimited organisms. The promise of this methodology to aid infection diagnosis is demonstrated through early case reports and clinical studies. However, the optimal role of mNGS in clinical microbiology remains uncertain. Content We reviewed studies reporting clinical use of mNGS for pathogen detection from various specimen types, including cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, lower respiratory specimens, and others. Published clinical study data were critically evaluated and summarized to identify promising clinical indications for mNGS-based testing, to assess the clinical impact of mNGS for each indication, and to recognize test limitations. Based on these clinical studies, early testing recommendations are made to guide clinical utilization of mNGS for pathogen detection. Finally, current barriers to routine clinical laboratory implementation of mNGS tests are highlighted. Summary The promise of direct-from-specimen mNGS to enable challenging infection diagnoses has been demonstrated through early clinical studies of patients with meningitis or encephalitis, invasive fungal infections, community acquired pneumonia, and other clinical indications. However, the proportion of patient cases with positive clinical impact due to mNGS testing is low in published studies and the cost of testing is high, emphasizing the importance of improving our understanding of 'when to test' and for which patients mNGS testing is appropriate.
Widefield en face optical coherence tomography monitoring of the peri-venular fern-like pattern of paracentral acute middle maculopathy.

Abstract Purpose To demonstrate the ability of widefield en face swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to monitor peri-venular fern-like patterns of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) associated with retinal arterial occlusions. Observations The peri-venular fern-like pattern of PAMM was diagnosed on the 12 × 12 mm en face structural OCT images from three patients. Fluorescein angiography images were unremarkable. Over time, all three patients demonstrated significant improvement in visual acuity with resolution of their peri-venular PAMM. Conclusions The peri-venular fern-like pattern of PAMM is usually associated with retinal vein occlusions, but we identified three cases with this pattern in eyes with presumed incomplete retinal arterial occlusions. Our cases support the ischemic cascade theory that begins within the deep capillary plexus and ascends in the retina depending on the severity of the ischemic event. Using the 12 × 12 mm en face structural OCT images, we are able to demonstrate a wider area of ischemia in PAMM compared with the traditional 6 × 6 mm scans.
The Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Ghana: Exploring the Research Capacity Building Potential of a Higher Education Informal Science Learning Program

The development of informal science learning programs (ISLPs) is a growing strategy among scientists seeking to engage communities. However, little scholarship exists on higher education ISLPs, limiting best practices for program development. This article explores the perceived impacts for student learners and scientist instructors of an international ISLP focused on marine science, using a mixed-methods approach of questionnaires, interviews, a task-based focus group, and participant observation. Learners perceived an increase in research skills and knowledge, and identified positive impacts associated with networking and forming connections. Learners did not significantly change their attitudes toward marine science or beliefs about careers in science. Instructors felt they helped advance their field and perceived positive impacts from cultural exchange, whereas only a few identified professional development impacts. This study suggests that higher education ISLPs should focus on creating space for different types of connections and increasing how scientists’ participation is valued within the profession.
Drop impact on solids: contact-angle hysteresis filters impact energy into modal vibrations

The energetics of drop deposition are considered in the capillary-ballistic regime characterized by high Reynolds number and moderate Weber number. Experiments are performed impacting water/glycol drops onto substrates with varying wettability and contact-angle hysteresis. The impacting event is decomposed into three regimes: (i) pre-impact, (ii) inertial spreading and (iii) post contact-line (CL) pinning, conveniently framed using the theory of Dussan & Davis (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 173, 1986, pp. 115–130). During fast-time-scale inertial spreading, the only form of dissipation is CL dissipation () interface is found to vibrate with the frequencies and mode shapes predicted by Bostwick & Steen (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 760, 2014, pp. 5–38), irrespective of the pre-impact energy. Resonant mode decay rates are determined experimentally from fast Fourier transforms of the interface dynamics.
How the immune system shapes atherosclerosis: roles of innate and adaptive immunity

Atherosclerosis is the root cause of many cardiovascular diseases. Extensive research in preclinical models and emerging evidence in humans have established the crucial roles of the innate and adaptive immune systems in driving atherosclerosis-associated chronic inflammation in arterial blood vessels. New techniques have highlighted the enormous heterogeneity of leukocyte subsets in the arterial wall that have pro-inflammatory or regulatory roles in atherogenesis. Understanding the homing and activation pathways of these immune cells, their disease-associated dynamics and their regulation by microbial and metabolic factors will be crucial for the development of clinical interventions for atherosclerosis, including potentially vaccination-based therapeutic strategies. Here, we review key molecular mechanisms of immune cell activation implicated in modulating atherogenesis and provide an update on the contributions of innate and adaptive immune cell subsets in atherosclerosis.
Citicorp Tower, New York City, NY, USA

Citicorp Center building is a 59-story, mid-Manhattan tower well known for its unique urban form. The building is supported by four, nine-story columns located on the center points of the lot lines, rather than the corners that define the block that it occupies. This peculiarity is a result of the deal that the owners had to strike in order to purchase the air rights of the church, which still occupies one of the corners of the site. It was this unique form that caused a series of events, which eventually lead the principal design engineer of the building to discover a major structural flaw. The discovery was surrounded by a certain drama highlighting important professional and DAV issues.
Portfolio risk management via interval probability

The foundations of portfolio theory was established by Harry Markowitz in his pioneering work of 1952. In that work, Markowitz introduced the principle of diversification base d on the minimal risk - the hallmark of modern portfolio optimization. The expected return (mean) and the variance, the foundation stones of his theory, lead to a popular name, mean - variance ap- proach. The center of our criticism is association of the ris k with the variance. True, the larger the variance, the more uncertainty in the return outcome. The variance (or standard deviation) is an integral symmetric measure but risk is asymmetric in nature. For example, the loss from a low return typically is more harmful than the gain from a high return. The goal of the present work is to extend the mean - variance approach to a separate analysis of downside and upside risk assuming that the investor specifies the lower and upper limits of the expected return. Our optimal portfolio allocation minimizes the risk to get the return o utside of the interval. Specifically, the optimal portfolio weight s are chosen to maximize the probability of obtaining the return within specified limits. We introduce the fundamental solution to p ortfolio optimization and show that many criteria can be derived from the interval probability approach as special cases. We beli eve that the interval return is better suited for expressing investors' financial goals and facilitates decision making. Subject classifications: decision making; mean-variance; VaR; CVar; Markowitz bullet; low return
Isolation of Escherichia coli K-12 Mutants with Altered Levels of β-N-Acetylglucosaminidase

Abstract Eight mutants with less than 25% of the wild-type level of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity have been isolated from Escherichia coli K-12. Studies on these mutants suggest that less than 1% of the wild-type level of this enzyme may be adequate for the normal growth and division of E. coli cells.
Structural and Functional Diversity in the FGf Receptor Multigene Family

Publisher Summary The fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) constitute a family of closely related polypeptide mitogens. There are seven members of this family, identified on the basis of amino acid sequence homologies. The FGF family has distinguished itself from other growth factor families by virtue of the pleiotropic actions of its members. This chapter discusses the structural and functional diversity in the FGF receptor multigene family. The effects of FGFs are known to be mediated by high-affinity receptor tyrosine kinases. The structurally diverse receptor molecules are also functionally different. The characterization of structural and functional diversity within the FGF receptor shows the differences in the mechanisms of action among members of the FGF family. The first members of the FGF family to be purified and characterized were acidic FGF (aFGF) and basic FGF (bFGF), which are purified on the basis of their mitogenicity toward fibroblasts by using bovine pituitary. Functional differences among the different receptor forms are observed in the chapter at two levels. The long-range goal of designing the effective agonist and antagonists of FGF action has considerable therapeutic value.
Life sentences: Hunters and gatherers

After a year's break as a columnist (erstwhile for Current Biology), I had decided to resume writing several months ago, but my natural tendency to procrastinate and the difficulty in choosing a title for the column have delayed me until now. The title had to reflect interests in reading, writing, and biology. An early choice, The Fifth Column, was rejected on the grounds that it had nothing to do with the purposes of the column and also, as somebody was quick to point out, it was only the third (after Loose Ends and False Starts) and not the fifth title I have employed.
CREB-binding protein and p300: molecular integrators of hematopoietic transcription

Differentiation of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells into mature circulating blood cells is coordinated by a complex series of transcriptional events. During the last decade, numerous transcription factors have been identified whose expression is highly lineage-restricted within the hematopoietic
Intermodulation analysis of FET resistive mixers using Volterra series

We have implemented the Volterra-series method to analyze intermodulation (IM) distortion in FET resistive mixers. The nonlinearities of the channel conductance of a NE71000 MESFET and a NE32400 HFET were first characterized using a low-frequency harmonic power measurement. The data was then used in a simulation program and results for two-tone IM distortion in X-band were compared with the measured data for both MESFET and HFET resistive mixer circuits. Very good agreement was achieved in each case. We have also shown by simulation that the two separate contributions to the third-order IM distortion from the mixing between the input signals themselves and the mixing between the input signals and the second-order mixing products have a very strong cancellation, which results in the low IM distortion in the FET resistive mixers observed in measurements.
L-Glutamate decarboxylase from brain.

Publisher Summary γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the major neurotransmitters in the vertebrate central nervous system. L-Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), which catalyzes α-decarboxylation of L-glutamate to form GABA and CO 2 , is the rate-limiting enzyme that normally determines the steady-state levels of GABA in vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. There is good correlation between GABA levels and GAD activity in vertebrate nervous system. Hence, GAD is a better marker for GABAergic neurons than GABA per se, which may redistribute or may be metabolized during the preparation of the tissues. This chapter discusses the various purification procedures, assay methods, and criteria of purity of GAD preparations. The immunochemical characterization of anti-GAD serum and immunocytochemical studies of GAD are also discussed. GAD is assayed by a radiometric method based on the formation of 14 CO 2 from either L-[1- 14 C] - or L-[U- 14 C] glutamate.
Speech signal detection at the output of a cochlear model

A two dimensional, linear state-space model of the cochlea of the human ear, the receiver side of the speech communications paradigm, is investigated. The ear is viewed as a serial to parallel converter of information: the input to the cochlear model is a time dependent single channel signal, whereas the output of the cochlear model is a spatially discretized representation of the displacement of the basilar membrane from its rest position. A characterization of the system response of the cochlear filters is given. An approach to detecting known signals at the input using only the information available at the output based upon methods akin to 'beamforming' for a linear array is presented. The detector threshold is set using an adaptive technique that uses spatially local information. Simulation results showing the capabilities of the detection system for processing speech signals are also discussed. >
A Language Achievement Scale

IN an effort to effect a more meaningful appraisal of student progress in French, the following rating scale has been worked out in New College. With the exception of the "Civilization" item, only the technical phases of language learning are covered by the scale. As is indicated in bold type, various steps in the scale are used as standards for general students, minors in French, and majors in French. It was felt necessary to have a very simple and easily comprehensible scale on which could be checked off significant and perceptible stages in the learning of the language. Everything was couched in terms that could be understood by anyone, including the students themselves.
Superadditive characterizations of pure integer programming feasibility

We derive a new family of integer programming (IP) Farkas’ lemmas based on superadditive duality. We construct a certificate of infeasibility for an IP as a function of its right-hand side. We develop a recursive approach to compute such a function.
Structure of asparagine monohydrate.

THE structure of asparagine has been discussed several times during recent years1–5. A number of properties would be better explained by a ring structure than by the conventional straight-chain structure1,2, but on the other hand, the carboxylic group had to be free3. The structure of crystalline asparagine monohydrate has now been determined by us with X-rays, and although this does not give definite information about the structure of the molecule in solution, it does give some indications about it.
Sucrose in the diet and coronary heart disease

Abstract The widely publicized theory that sucrose in the diet is a major factor in the development of coronary heart disease has been examined. The theory is not supported by acceptable clinical, epidemiological, theoretical or experimental evidence. It has been claimed that the theory is supported by international statistics, by the time trend of the incidence rate, by comparison of dietary habits of coronary patients and “controls,” and by experiments. Not one of these claims is justified by the actual evidence.
Using stakeholder engagement to inform endangered species management and improve conservation

Abstract Successful endangered species conservation requires understanding, support, and participation from user groups and stakeholders in conjunction with biological information. A representative survey of the boat-based angling population in Puget Sound, WA, USA, was conducted to provide baseline information regarding angler knowledge about rockfish, fishing practices, perceptions of threats to rockfish, and preferences for recovery measures to inform the recovery plan for three rockfish species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the hypothesis that variation in stakeholders׳ perceived threats to rockfish and preferences for rockfish recovery measures is related to their fishing practices and knowledge of rockfish biology. Knowledge of rockfish longevity and past experience fishing for rockfish were important predictors of support for conservation measures and willingness to take personal action to recover rockfish. These findings highlight the important role education may play in garnering the necessary long-term support for rockfish recovery. Further, locations where anglers fished in Puget Sound were found to shape perceptions of threats to rockfish, suggesting that place-based management options should be considered where biologically appropriate. This study illustrates the complexity of species management in social-ecological systems and provides a framework for comprehensively engaging stakeholders and understanding their relationships with endangered and threatened species prior to the development of a recovery plan. Such engagement may not only better inform management and outreach decisions but also pave the way toward more collaborative and effective endangered species management and conservation.
Acoustic propagation in ducts with varying cross sections and sheared mean flow.

An analysis is presented of the wave propagation and attenuation in two-dimensional ducts with slowly varying cross sections which carry sheared mean flow. A uniformly valid asymptotic expansion of the acoustic waves is obtained in terms of the maximum slope of the wall by using the method of multiple scales. The result is a first-order differential equation describing the amplitude variation with the axial distance. This equation is used to evaluate the effects of variations of the duct cross section and growing boundary layers on the different acoustic modes.
Schwinger-Dyson equations in reduced, quenched, chiral models☆

Abstract It is shown that Schwinger-Dyson equations for the infinite volume U(N) chiral model and the reduced chiral model, quenched according ot Parisi's prescription, agree to leading order in N for all values of the coupling and in any number of dimensions d. The conditions under which these equations can determined a theory uniquely are discussed. It is concluded that the two models are equivalent for d ⩽ dc = 2, but not necessarily for d > dd.
Differentiation of Tobacco Plants from Single, Isolated Cells in Microcultures

Single cells isolated from pith callus of fresh stem of hybrid tobacco (Nicotiana glutinosa male symbol x N. tabacum female symbol) gave rise to small colonies of cells in microcultures which upon transfer to agar medium produced clones of callus tissue. These single-cell clones differentiated roots, and shoots with green leaves, on a completely defined nutrient medium. The rooted shoots developed into normal plants after transfer to soil in pots in the greenhouse. Buds and flowers were produced by these plants.
Recent Developments of the Molecular Dynamics Flexible Fitting Method

Molecular Dynamics Flexible Fitting (MDFF) is a computational method that combines structural information from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Cryo-EM provides structural data on biomolecules in their functional states but not at atomic resolution, while X-ray crystallography yields atomic-resolution data but for molecules in crystalline form that renders them often non-functional. MDFF employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to bridge the two sets of data, by adding an attractive potential derived from cryo-EM maps to the MD force field, driving atoms toward high-density regions while maintaining a stereochemically correct conformation of the molecules. MDFF has already been successfully applied to study several macromolecular complexes such as the ribosome.To further advance MDFF, we have created a test set consisting of different types of biomolecules in different conformational states. Using this test set, MDFF has been optimized for different types of molecules and conformational changes, providing a useful guideline for users applying MDFF to different biological systems. Moreover, helical symmetry restraints have been incorporated into MDFF as many biological systems studied by MDFF have helical symmetry, such as the family of microbial nitrilases. Information about helical symmetry can now be included in MDFF, improving the quality of the fit on these kinds of systems.
Survey of information theory in visual quality assessment

We survey information theoretic approaches to solve a variety of visual quality assessment (QA) problems. These approaches are generally built on natural scene statistical models and lead to practical automatic QA algorithms delivering excellent performance in terms of correlation with human judgments of quality. We study all three categories of image QA models: full reference (FR), reduced reference (RR) and no reference (NR) image QA, as well as FR video QA and information weighting strategies for FR image and video QA. We demonstrate the application of information theory in each of these problems. Each of these problems presents its own challenges in the design of information theoretic QA indices leading to different algorithms under different scenarios. In the algorithms, we survey, FR image and video QA algorithms are based on mutual information or conditional Kolmogorov complexities; RR image QA algorithms either use relative entropy or entropic differences, while the NR QA algorithm applies Renyi entropy, and the weighting strategies rely on mutual information. We also discuss various open research questions, particularly in the realm of NR image QA and all classes of video QA.
Halide vapor transport of binary rare-earth arsenides, antimonides and tellurides

Abstract Single crystals of LaTe 2 , La 2 Te 3 , GdAs, NdAs, LaAs, LaAs 2 , NdAs 2 , LaSb 2 (high-temperature form) and LaSb 2 (low-temperature form) have been grown by vapor transport reactions using iodine as the transporting agent. The phenomenon of attack on the fused silica container which always accompanies crystal growth in the antimonide systems and also occurs at certain compositions in the arsenide and telluride systems has been used to obtain qualitative indication of the vapor composition. It is concluded that the growth of crystals of binary rare-earth arsenides and tellurides by iodide vapor transport occurs as a result of reactions in which volatile ternary iodides are involved. In the case of transport of lanthanum antimonides, it appears that binary iodides are involved in the vapor system.
Successful Treatment of T‐cell Post‐Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder with the Retinoid Analog Bexarotene

T-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a rare life threatening complication of organ transplantation. It is usually resistant to treatment with reduction in immunosuppression or chemotherapy and carries a poor prognosis. We report on a combined kidney and pancreas transplant patient with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive T-cell PTLD that had recurred after chemotherapy and reduction in immunosuppression. The patient was successfully treated with bexarotene, a novel synthetic retinoid analog, achieving a complete clinical response. Bexarotene may be a promising treatment for T-cell PTLD.
Developing a river protection policy for Texas: Paddling upstram against the current

State-level wild and scenic river programs currently provide varying levels of protection to over 450 river segments covering 15,500 river miles in 32 states. Collectively, these state-level programs have surpassed the federal system under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in terms of both the number of river miles protected and the quality of protection provided. Content analysis and location quotient analyses are used to evaluate the programmatic features of existing state programs and the spatial distribution of river mileage protected across the United States. Results of the analyses were applied to developing policy recommendations for river protection in Texas, where nine previous legislative attempts to establish a river program have failed. Policy recommendations focus on nurturing local support for watershed and greenway protection programs, and working to overcome riparian landowner fears regarding trespass, littering, and vandalism. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Progressive relaxation as a function of procedural variations and anxiety level

Progressive relaxation is subject to many procedural variations. Although most investigators follow the 5-7 s tension interval advocated by Bernstein and Borkovec (1973), longer tension intervals may contribute to greater relaxation effects. This study compared tension intervals of 5, 15, and 45 s. Since the development of control over muscle tension requires attention to feedback signals, a focus on internal proprioceptive sensations was contrasted with an external condition in which the subjects silently subtracted numbers immediately following the tension-release cycle. Longer periods of tension resulted in lower EMG levels, with the 45-s tension interval producing the greatest relaxation. Those individuals who focused on physiological sensations during training were able to achieve greater levels of relaxation after the training phase was completed. There was a significant interaction between tension interval duration and focusing; subjects in the 45-s interval who focused on physiological functioning showed the greatest arousal reduction. Anxiety level did not differentially influence the effects of procedural variations in training. Clearly, additional parametric studies in relaxation training are needed.
In Appreciation of the Kind of Rhetoric We Learn in School: An Institutional Perspective on the Rhetorical Situation and on Education

Theoretical discussion of the rhetorical situation has been dedicated largely to questions of its ontology and of how it is constituted. Where this ontological orientation has inclined theorists to treat the concept as a theoretical premise, an institutional orientation would instead frame constructivist accounts of the rhetorical situation as a political-pedagogical commitment and treat the ethical obligations that arise from any given situation as bound to specific institutional forms. From an institutional perspective, the rhetorical situation is to conscience as the institution of school is to education. The distinction of both rhetorical situations and schools lies not in their contrivedness per se, but in the inventional capacities their contrived qualities sustain.
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) related acute liver failure: A case series from the US Acute Liver Failure Study Group

Purpose Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare clinical syndrome associated with a high case fatality rate. Asymptomatic primary infection with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is common in the general population while acute hepatitis and jaundice are much less common and ALF has been rarely reported. We reviewed the presenting features as well as clinical outcomes amongst consecutive adults with EBV-related ALF.
Controlled photochemical release of nitric oxide from O2-substituted diazeniumdiolates

Diazeniumdiolates are a well-established class of nitric oxide (NO) donors that have been employed in a wide variety of biochemical and pharmacological investigations. To provide a means of targeting NO release, photosensitive precursors to diazeniumdiolates have been developed and are reviewed here. After a brief description of diazeniumdiolate chemistry and the potential uses of photosensitive precursors to NO, three different classes of phototriggered diazeniumdiolates are discussed: 2-nitrobenzyl derivatives, meta-substituted benzyl derivatives, and naphthylmethyl and naphthylallyl derivatives. In addition, the photochemistry of diazeniumdiolate salts themselves is covered.
Rapid and accurate diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis with computed tomography stereotaxic biopsy

Abstract Four patients with suspected herpes simplex encephalitis underwent cerebral biopsies using a stereotaxic technique coupled with computed tomography (CT) scanning. Typical histopathologic features of viral encephalitis were identified on frozen section, allowing rapid introduction of systemic antiviral therapy. Herpes simplex virus was isolated from cultures from the brain within 24–48 hours. Despite antiviral therapy, three patients died and the fourth patient remains severely neurologically impaired. Treatment was started too late in the clinical course to be effective. To reduce the strikingly high mortality and morbidity associated with herpes simplex encephalitis, a biopsy must be performed as early as possible to confirm the diagnosis or to exclude other treatable conditions. Appropriate antiviral therapy must be predicated on a positive biopsy and instituted immediately after diagnosis. We prefer the CT stereotaxic technique to other biopsy methods because it defines the involved locus in the brain, obviates the need for other time-consuming neurodiagnostic procedures, and provides 1-mm accuracy in reaching the desired biopsy site. Performed early in the clinical course, CT stereotaxic biopsy provides rapid histologic and virologic diagnosis and may eventually reduce the still unacceptably high mortality and morbidity associated with herpes simplex encephalitis.