cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metasemiosis and Metapragmatics

Long confined to mathematical and logical investigation of metalanguage–object language relations, metasemiosis (the process by which signs come to represent other signs) has become, in recent decades, the focus of a growing body of empirical research. The key development has been the recognition by Michael Silverstein of a distinction between metasemantics and metapragmatics. Whereas metasemantics deals with the reflective use of metasigns (in particular, metalanguage) to represent language understood in the Saussurean sense, metapragmatics deals with the reflective use of signs to represent the uses of language and other object signs. Metapragmatic semiosis turns out empirically to be a widespread and important feature of language use around the globe. Metasemiotic research has also brought into clearer focus the nature of reflective processes themselves. Explicit awareness or consciousness of signs (such as words) appears to be a metasemiotic phenomenon created by the deployment of semantic metasigns. Pragmatic metasigns, however, where the metasign–object sign relationship is based upon icons and indices, are relatively less accessible to explicit consciousness, although research suggests that humans are able to acquire implicit understandings, attitudes, and skills through such pragmatically reflective processes. The study of metasemiosis promises new insights into the nature of knowledge and consciousness, as well as a more adequate conceptualization of reflection and its agentive role in human conduct.
TWO – LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES

Publisher Summary The notion of a limit plays a central role in calculus and in much of modern mathematics. This chapter provides an overview of limits. It presents examples to show how some limits can be calculated and discusses what is meant by something approaching a limit. The chapter presents several theorems that will make the calculations of a number of limits a great deal easier. The proofs of these theorems are a bit technical. The chapter discusses infinite limits, limits at infinity, and one-sided limits. It also presents the derivation of a special limit that will be of great importance in the discussions of the trigonometric functions in the chapter. The chapter discusses tangent lines and derivatives and describes some of the geometric properties of tangent lines. The central concept in the study of calculus is the concept of a derivative. The chapter presents the calculation of derivatives with examples and presents the method of Newton and Leibniz that resolved the tangent problem posed so long ago by the Greek mathematicians.
THREE COVERING PROPERTIES

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a survey of the results obtained in research on the properties of metacompactness, submetacompactness, and subparacompactness. Each of these three properties is weaker than the property of paracompactness. Of the many generalizations of paracompactness introduced in the past 30 years, the chapter highlights three of the most important of those generalizations of paracompactness. These can be studied by modifying techniques invented to prove results on paracompactness; some generalizations for which these techniques do not seem to apply, for example, the para-Lindelof property, are potentially interesting, but the theory connected with these properties is still very fragmentary. The chapter also presents some of the techniques of proof that have been used to analyze these properties.
Two Ways to Interpret Plural Noun Phrases

In this chapter I offer two sets of rules, each a very elementary theory of the truth conditions for sentences containing definite plural noun phrases such as John and Mary or the boys. The goal here is to try to have as sparse a framework as possible that still allows us to represent competing approaches in this area. A limited overview of these approaches will be given in chapter 2 below. It is not my purpose in this chapter to argue for either theory. But I will analyze some sentences of English to give the reader a rough appreciation of the consequences of each theory and I will give a few examples of the type of data that my predecessors have been concerned with.
Characterization of plant carbon substrate utilization by Auxenochlorella protothecoides

Abstract Algae hold great potential as a source of renewable fuel due to their ability to produce refinery-compatible diesel and jet fuel precursors. Significant effort has been made to maximize productivity under photoautotrophic growth conditions; however, little progress has been made to discover and understand reduced carbon assimilation pathways or enzymatic degradation of complex carbon substrates in algae. We purport that utilization of plant-based carbon substrates in addition to photosynthesis (mixotrophic growth) for biochemical assimilation into biomass, biofuels, and bioproducts, can increase cultivation productivity and improve the economic viability of algal-derived biofuels. Herein we report that a freshwater production strain of microalgae, Auxenochlorella protothecoides UTEX 25, is capable of directly degrading and utilizing non-food plant substrates, such as switchgrass, for cell growth. Glycome profiling of plant substrates before and after addition to A. protothecoides cultures demonstrates the utilization of xyloglucans. Genomic, proteomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed the identity of many enzymes that are hypothesized to be involved in complex carbohydrate degradation, including several family 5 and 9 glycosyl hydrolases. This work paves the way for future designer engineering of plant‑carbon utilization to further improve productivity of algal production strains.
Impact of a commercially available ion-exchange resin used in red wines to reduce toxic compounds: effect on pH, oxidation–reduction potential, color, and sensory attributes

This research was performed to evaluate the impact of a novel ion-exchange treatment on the organoleptic, pH, color (hue and intensity), and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) properties of commercial red wines. The ion-exchange treatment used in this study is a commercially available device containing a double cation–anion exchange resin. The device is applied, directly by the consumer, to finished bottled wines with the purpose of mitigating the effects of potentially noxious compounds such as biogenic amines and sulfites. Sensory evaluation tests included discriminative, affective, and Quantitative Descriptive Analysis sensory tests were employed to evaluate the impact on the perceived taste of treated wines. The pH, ORP and color parameters (hue and intensity) of wines were measured to assess any physicochemical alterations that may help to explain the results of the sensory evaluation. While no significant changes in color hue or intensity were found, the results showed a reduction in pH (0.07–0.12) and an increase in ORP (2.667–6.666 mV). However, the changes in pH and ORP did not result in a detectable change in wine taste for the sensory panelists. These findings have important implications for the wine industry, where many consumers select wines for their characteristic taste qualities. Thus, any treatment to potentially remove noxious compounds should not impact the characteristic organoleptic properties of a chosen wine.
Thermoregulation in epilepsy

Several aspects of thermoregulation play a role in epilepsy. Circuitries involved in thermoregulation are affected by seizures and epilepsy, hyperthermia may be both cause and result of seizures, and hypothermia may prevent or abort seizures. Autonomic manifestations of seizures including thermoregulatory disturbances are common in a variety of clinical epilepsy syndromes. Experimental hyperthermia has been studied extensively, predominantly to investigate febrile seizures of childhood. In particular prolonged or complex febrile seizures have been associated with the later development of epilepsy in adulthood and the pathophysiology of how febrile seizures cause epilepsy is of tremendous interest. Febrile seizures represent an opportunity to potentially intervene early in life in susceptible individuals and affect epileptogenesis. The pathophysiologic underpinnings of how hyperthermia induces seizures and how this in turn results in epilepsy are controversial, but likely involve multiple factors. Both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission is affected, and numerous mutations in genes encoding ion channels have been identified. Cytokines such as interleukin-1β have been implicated in febrile seizures as well as susceptibility to provoked seizures later in life. Hyperthermia is a common feature of generalized convulsive status epilepticus, but may also be seen with nonconvulsive seizures, indicating involvement of thermoregulatory centers.
Improved Logical Passing Strategy and Gameplay Algorithm for Humanoid Soccer Robots Using Colored Petri Nets

RoboCup, a project originally named the Robot World Cup Initiative, challenges people around the world to program robots that are capable of competing in a soccer tournament. The goal is that one day, a group of robots will be able to match the playing ability of a human soccer team, and even be able to win against humans in soccer. The RoboCup Standard Platform League utilizes teams of humanoid NAO robots. These robots must be successfully programmed with image recognition, positioning, ball kicking, and a playing strategy in order to successfully get through a match. In human soccer, a team strategy is crucial to winning a match, but not all RoboCup teams have programmed their team strategies to call on the robots to work together in order to score a goal. The improved Passing with Logical Strategy (iPaLS) is an algorithm that proposes passing of the ball between players to more quickly score a goal. This algorithm is an extension of the Passing with Logical Strategy (PaLS) algorithm, which proposed a more rudimentary method of passing between players. iPaLS builds upon PaLS by further exploring the kicking decisions that must be made by the NAO robot and considers ways to hinder the opposing team’s ability to gain possession of the ball and ways to regain possession of the ball if possession is lost. Colored Petri net modeling and simulation is used in order to test the various scenarios of a system that implements iPaLS and helps to prove the advantages of this algorithm over a strategy of having each NAO robot kick the ball towards the goal without regard for their teammates.
Persistent radiation-induced alopecia in patients with central nervous system tumors and head and neck sarcomas.

e23072Background: Persistent radiation-induced alopecia (pRIA), or incomplete hair regrowth 6 months following radiotherapy (RT) completion, poses a significant quality of life burden, but its clin...
Using an Iterative Reallocation Partitioning Algorithm to Verify Test Multidimensionality

This article addresses the issue of assigning items to different test dimensions (e.g., determining which dimension an item belongs to) with cluster analysis. Previously, hierarchical methods have been used (Roussos et al. 1997); however, the findings here suggest that an iterative reallocation partitioning (IRP) algorithm provides interpretively similar solutions and statistically better solutions to the problem. More importantly, it is shown that the inherent nature of locally optimal solutions in the IRP algorithm leads to a method that aids in determining the appropriateness of performing a cluster analysis—a feature that is lacking in the standard hierarchical methods currently in the literature.
Erratum to: Energy calibration of gamma spectra in plastic scintillators using Compton kinematics. [Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 594 (2008) 232-243]

In recent work at our laboratory, we were re-examining our data and found an inconsistency between the values listed for 137Cs in Table 2 (Siciliano et al. 2008) and results plotted for that source in Figures 11 and 12. In the course of fitting the parabolic function (Equation 4) to the Compton maxima, two ranges of channels were used when determining the parameters for 137Cs. The parabolic fit curve shown in Figure 11 resulted from fitting channels 50 to 70. The parameters for that fit are: are: A = 0.972(12), B = 1.42(24) x 10-3, and CNO = 60.2(5). The parameters for 137Cs listed in Table 2 (and also used to determine the calibration relations in Figure 12—the main result of this paper) came from fitting the 137Cs data in channels 40 to 80. Although the curves plotted from these two different sets of parameters would be visually distinguishable in Figure 11, when incorporated with the other isotope values shown in Figure 12 to obtain the linear energy-channel fit, the 50-70 channel parameter set plus the correction from the Compton maximum to the Compton edge gives a negligible change in the slope [6.470(41) as opposed to the reported 6.454(15) keV/channel]more » and a small change in the intercept [41(8) as opposed to 47(3) keV] for the dashed line. The conclusions of the article therefore do not change as a result of this inconsistency.« less
Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery

Psychiatric rehabilitation is a critical component of schizophrenia care in order to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes despite having a serious psychiatric illness. Rehabilitation focuses on improving function not on symptoms. We want our patients to be able to take care of themselves with as little help as possible, to have meaningful work, to enjoy their families, and to be part of a larger community. This chapter reviews rehabilitation tools available to reach these goals, including the goal of recovery from mental illness with the help of peers. Recovery if viewed as a process toward living well as defined by the patient, despite an illness, does not stand in opposition to traditional psychiatric care and taking psychiatric medications. In this sense, all modern mental healthcare must strive to be recovery-oriented and person-centered.
Impact of Temperature-Dependent Heat Source/Sink and Variable Species Diffusivity on Radiative Reiner–Philippoff Fluid

The principle aim of the current communication is to scrutinize the impact of distinguished effects like variable thermal conductivity and variable molecular diffusivity on non-Newtonian Reiner–Philippoff fluid moving over a stretchable surface. The process of heat transfer is carried out in the presence of nonlinear thermal radiation, variable thermal conductivity, and heat generation/absorption. Furthermore, the study of mass transfer phenomena is carried out in the existence of variable molecular diffusivity. The PDEs regarding our model are renovated into ODEs by utilizing similarity transformation. Furthermore, the dimensionless model is tackled with the help of the RK4 method in conjunction with the shooting technique. The effects of different physical parameters that emerged during the numerical simulation on mass transfer rate, heat transfer rate, and velocity field are portrayed in the form of tables and graphs. It is noteworthy that an elevation in the heat source/sink parameters causes a reduction in the temperature profile. Moreover, a positive variation in the species diffusivity parameter augments the mass fraction field. A variation in the fluid parameter is found to be significantly affecting the shear thinning and shear thickening behaviour of the fluid. Reliability of the numerical outcomes is judged by comparing the obtained outcomes with the already available literature. The article is unique in its sense that the heat and mass transfer analysis of Reiner–Philippoff fluid under the aforementioned effects has not been investigated yet.
Harvest Impacts in Uneven-Aged and Even-Aged Missouri Ozark Forests

Forest managers are concerned about the potential damage to residual trees and site from cyclic harvest re-entries into the same forest stand. This study summarizes logging and felling damage resulting from the harvesting of silvicultural treatments on a large landscape experiment in southern Missouri that is designed to compare impacts of even-aged, uneven-aged and no management on a wide array of ecosystem components. Although damage levels to bole and crown of leave trees was low for all treatments, the individual tree selection (uneven-aged) treatment did show: (1) higher levels of surface area skidder impact; (2) higher percentage of leave trees with one or more bole wounds; (3) higher number of bole wounds; (4) higher percentage of wounded trees in the dominant and co-dominant crown classes; and (5) the highest percentage of leave trees impacted by logging activity. Preharvest planning that involves the layout and discussion with the skidder operator(s) will reduce the area impacted by skidding to less than 12%. Also, the probability of a bole wound to a residual tree can be reduced to less than 5% if skid trails are kept 30 ft or more from the leave tree. North. J. Appl. For. 21(4):187-193.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake: Will emergency managers be willing and able to report to work?

This study examines the factors that are likely to influence emergency managers’ willingness and ability to report to work after a catastrophic event using the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake threat as an example. The population approached for participation in this study was state-level emergency managers in Oregon and Washington, the areas anticipated to be the most impacted by the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Concept mapping was utilized to elucidate factors influencing emergency managers’ ability and willingness to report to work following a catastrophic earthquake, as well as to identify specific strategies for addressing these factors to facilitate reporting to work. The six-step concept mapping process (i.e., preparation, generation, structuring, representation, interpretation, and utilization) is a structured and integrated mixed-method process that employs both qualitative and quantitative components to gather ideas and concepts of participants, and subsequently produces visual representation of these ideas and concepts through multivariate statistical methods (Caracelli and Green in Eval Program Plan 12(1):45–52, 1993; Kane and Trochim in Concept mapping for planning and evaluation, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, 2007). Results influence across a wide range of the levels of the ecological framework for both ability (transit barriers and infrastructure impacts, family/pet health and safety, social support and preparedness, work-related influences, personal health and resources, professional obligations, and location) and willingness (family/community preparedness and safety, emergency management responsibility and professionalism, motivation to come to work, transit barriers and infrastructure impacts, professional contribution, physical and mental health, worksite operations: structure and process, family first, personal contribution and history).
Investigation of three-dimensional vibration measurement by three scanning laser Doppler vibrometers in a continuously and synchronously scanning mode

Abstract This paper presents for the first time an investigation of three-dimensional (3D) vibration measurement by three scanning laser Doppler vibrometers (SLDVs) in a continuously and synchronously scanning mode. Three laser spots from the three SLDVs continuously move along the same scan trajectory and synchronously measure vibration of the same point on a surface of a structure. The three SLDVs, i.e., Top, Left, and Right SLDVs, are from a Polytec PSV-500-3D system and input signals to scan mirrors of each SLDV are controlled by an external dSPACE MicroLabBox control unit. The whole system is called a 3D continuously SLDV (3D-CSLDV) system. Methodologies are developed in this investigation to achieve the continuously and synchronously scanning mode by the system. First, the geometrical model of a CSLDV is built to obtain locations of the three CSLDVs with respect to a specified measurement coordinate system (MCS). Second, a scan trajectory on the measured surface is defined and rotation angles of scan mirrors of the Top CSLDV are obtained by scanning the trajectory. Third, since locations of the three CSLDVs with respect to the MCS have been obtained in the first step, rotation angles of scan mirrors of Left and Right CSLDVs to scan the defined trajectory can be obtained from those of the Top CSLDV based on spatial relations among the three CSLDVs. Experiments to scan a beam and a plate were conducted using the 3D-CSLDV system. Operating deflection shapes (ODSs) of the beam and plate in three directions of the MCS were obtained and they were in good agreement with those obtained by traditional step scanning. The results demonstrate the feasibility of 3D vibration measurement by the 3D-CSLDV system in a continuously and synchronously scanning mode.
Having less and wanting more: an investigation of socioeconomic status and reinforcement pathology.

In the United states obesity and socioeconomic status (SES), or one’s standing in society based on income, education, and/or occupation, are strongly associated. The mechanisms for this relationship may include having high levels of motivation to get food (reinforcing value of food; RRV) and low levels of inhibitory control (delay discounting; DD) which, when combined, is referred to as reinforcement pathology (RP). We sought to examine the relationships among multiple measures of household SES, RP, and age-adjusted body mass index (zBMI) among adolescents. These data were collected as part of ongoing longitudinal study of risk factors for obesity in 244 adolescents. The adolescents and one parent/guardian had height and weight measured and completed surveys. The adolescents completed an adjusting amount DD task and a computer-based RRV task. Analyses consisted of correlations among measures of SES and RRV, DD, and BMI z-scores. In the case of significant associations, multiple regression models were created with theoretically informed covariates. Household income, parent/guardian education, parent/guardian occupation, and food insecurity status were all related to one another. Among the adolescents, a significant portion of the variance in RRV was accounted for by household income after controlling for covariates. For DD, it was parent/guardian education that was most associated after controlling for covariates. When low income and low parent/guardian education occur together, there may be an increased risk of RP. Separately, food insecurity was predictive of higher parent/guardian BMI. Future research should continue to explore the effects of low income and parent/guardian education on RP among youth by examining them over time.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: Vaccine Hesitancy Among Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups With HIV in Miami, Florida.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disproportionally affect underrepresented ethnoracial groups in the United States. Medical mistrust and vaccine hesitancy will likely impact acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. This study examined SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among underrepresented ethnoracial groups with HIV and identified factors that may reduce vaccine uptake. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults ≥18 years of age with HIV residing in Miami, Florida. Participants were invited to participate in the ACTION (A Comprehensive Translational Initiative on Novel Coronavirus) cohort study. A baseline survey was administered from April to August 2020 and followed by a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy survey from August to November 2020. The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy survey was adapted from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts survey. Comparisons by race and ethnicity were performed using the Freedman-Haltmann extension of the Fisher exact test. Results: A total of 94 participants were enrolled; mean age was 54.4 years, 52% were female, 60% were Black non-Latinx, and 40% were non-Black Latinx. Black non-Latinx participants were less likely to agree that vaccinations are important for health when compared to non-Black Latinx (67.8% vs 92.1%, Pâ =â .009), less likely to agree that vaccines are effective in preventing disease (67.8% vs 84.2%, Pâ =â .029), less likely to believe that vaccine information is reliable and trustworthy (35.7% vs 71.1%, Pâ =â .002), and less likely to believe vaccines were unnecessary because COVID-19 would disappear soon (11% vs 21%, Pâ =â .049). Conclusions: Medical mistrust, vaccine hesitancy, and negative sentiments about SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are prevalent among underrepresented ethnoracial groups with HIV, particularly Black non-Latinx. Targeted strategies to increase vaccine uptake in this population are warranted.
Nanoelectronic architectures

Configurable crossbars are the easiest computational structures to fabricate at the nanoscale. By creating multiple types of crossbars and assembling them into larger structures, we may implement general computation. Architectures for diode-based and transistor-based logic are presented, along with latching mechanisms. We present simulation results from defect-tolerance studies on two applications (a 3-bit adder and a 4-bit microprocessor) mapped onto defective, nanoelectronic fabrics, and outline strategies for fault tolerance.
The Universal Askey-Wilson Algebra and the Equitable Presentation of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$

Let F denote a field, and fix a nonzero q 2 F such that q 4 6 1. The univer- sal Askey{Wilson algebra is the associative F-algebra =
Correlated MIMO Rayleigh fading channels: capacity and optimal signaling

The capacity of the MIMO channel is investigated under the assumption that the elements of the channel matrix are zero mean proper complex Gaussian random variables with a general correlation structure. It is assumed that the receiver knows the channel perfectly but that the transmitter knows only the channel statistics. The analysis is carried out using an equivalent virtual representation of the channel that is obtained via a spatial discrete Fourier transform. The non-vanishing virtual channel coefficients are approximately independent and their variances correspond to samples of the underlying two-dimensional spatial scattering function that reflects the channel gain in different receive and transmit angular directions. It is shown that, in the virtual domain, the capacity achieving input vector is a zero mean proper complex Gaussian vector, with a diagonal covariance matrix /spl Lambda//spl deg/, whose components can be computed numerically. Furthermore, in the asymptotic regime of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), it is shown that only one element of /spl Lambda//spl deg/ is non-zero, i.e., that beamforming along one virtual transmit angle is asymptotically optimum. In the more general cast of arbitrary SNR, a necessary and sufficient condition for the optimality of beamforming is also derived.
Calcium phosphate formation in vitro. I. Factors affecting initial phase separation.

Abstract The major events comprising the de novo formation of calcium phosphate salts from buffered solutions were: (1) the initial deposition of amorphous calcium phosphate; (2) its subsequent transformation into small crystals of apatite; and (3) the ultimate growth or ripening of those crystals. The degree of metastability for any given calcifying solution was shown to be an exact function of pH, ionic strength, temperature, sol Ca P molar mixing ratio, and initial Ca × P millimolar product. Initial mineral-phase formation lag time was also sensitive to changes in solution viscosity and dielectric constant. The presence of pyrophosphate, fluoride, magnesium, carbonate, collagen, or gelatin always enhanced amorphous calcium phosphate formation, while addition of lysozyme, casein, phosvitin, poly- l -lysine, or protein-polysaccharides enhanced initial mineral-phase formation only at relatively low initial Ca × P millimolar products. Citrate, poly- l -glutamate, and polyacrylate always inhibited amorphous calcium phosphate formation, whereas chondroitin sulfate and protein-polysaccharides were inhibitory only at relatively high initial Ca × P millimolar products.
Global Branding: Three Keys for Global Brand Success

Recognizing that brands represent one of their most important intangible assets, firms are increasingly looking to leverage their brands across geographical boundaries and regions. The lure of global branding, however, is matched by its challenges and obstacles, as even top marketing firms have found it difficult to successfully launch their existing brands into new markets. We outline three keys for global brand success: (i) understand the global consumer context; (ii) build a solid global marketing foundation; and (iii) strike a balance in global brand management. We raise a number of different issues and offer a number of different examples in each case. Keywords: global marketing; global brands; global branding; global brand management; global consumers
Abstract 18779: sFRP2, Even When Overexpressed in Myocytes, is a Novel Mechanism for Myocardial Ischemic Protection through Angiogenesis

We found that the most upregulated gene induced by delayed ischemic preconditioning of 1 week duration, termed the 3rd window, was “Secreted frizzled related protein 2” (sFRP2). This gene was not upregulated in traditional 1st or 2nd window preconditioning, suggesting that sFRP2 is a novel mediator of cardiac protection conferred by chronic ischemia, as occurs in patients with coronary disease. Accordingly, we developed a transgenic (TG) mouse with cardiac myocyte specific sFRP2 overexpression and examined the effects of permanent coronary artery occlusion (CAO). WT and TG mice (n=10/group), with no differences in baseline cardiac function, were subjected to complete CAO for 4 wks. After 4 wks CAO, the sFRP2 TG mice, compared to WT, showed improved left ventricular (LV) function as reflected by increased LV ejection fraction (EF) (64±2% vs. 46±8%, p<0.05), reduced scar size (9±1% vs. 20±3% p<0.05), and reduced fibrosis in the adjacent zone (16±2% vs. 24±3% p<0.05). We hypothesized that the protection was mediated by angiogenesis or arteriogenesis, since these are the only mechanisms to induce cardiac protection in the face of permanent CAO. The hypothesis was confirmed by demonstrating increased angiogenesis, using isolectin/Ki67 staining (9±3 vs. 6±2 positive cells/field, p<0.05). This was surprising, since the sFRP2 gene was overexpressed only in myocytes. To determine if sFRP2 in myocytes could induce angiogenesis, we isolated rat neonatal myocytes and infected them with either sFRP2 protein, vehicle, sFRP2 adenovirus or s-gal adenovirus. Myocyte culture medium was collected 24 hours after infection and added to the culture medium of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). The medium from sFRP2 protein and adenovirus treated myocytes exhibited significant increases in vascular tube formation in HUVEC by 27 % and 12 % respectively (p<0.05 vs. WT) compared with vehicle and control s-gal adenovirus. This activation of angiogenesis was abolished in the presence of Sunitinib, an inhibitor of vascular growth factor receptor. Thus, sFRP2, even when overexpressed in myocytes, is a novel mechanism for induction of angiogenesis and consequent protection against chronic myocardial ischemia induced by permanent CAO.
Human Performance Requirements for an Innovative Transit Bus Operation

Human performance requirements for an innovative transit bus operation system utilizing exclusive bus lanes in a downtown are described. Requirements for transit company personnel and bus patrons are discussed. Performance levels achieved during a test and demonstration of the system in downtown Rochester, New York are analyzed. Transit company personnel performed at an average level of 94% compliance with their particular requirements; bus patrons at an average level of 87 percent. Overall compliance level (transit personnel plus patrons) was 74 percent. The system was found to be feasible; it was successfully integrated into regular transit operations. It provided a reserve capacity potential 26% above the then-scheduled flow. Computer simulation using Rochester, New York parameters as inputs suggest that, with certain operational changes, potential capacity could be increased 59% over flows scheduled at the time of the experiment.
The Equivalence of Panel Data Estimators under Orthogonal Experimental Design

This paper demonstrates the equivalence between pooled OLS, Fixed Effects, and Random Effects estimates when applied to data generated from an orthogonal experimental design under certain conditions. We show that the point estimates of the treatment effects are identical between these three panel data estimators but that the estimated standard errors differ. Specifically, the estimated variance covariance matrices are identical between FE and RE but differ from that of OLS. Despite the equivalence it is meaningful to test for OLS vs FE/RE because the error distributional assumptions are different.
The Physician's Role in the Distribution of Limited Resources

The physician must routinely decide whether to use limited resources for an individual patient and may be tempted to justify denial of care in an attempt to conserve resources for other current and future patients. This justification puts the physician's fiduciary duty to the individual patient in jeopardy. However, if the physician abdicates the role of decision-maker, it may be undertaken by someone whose interests conflict with those of the patient, such as a third party payer. The case presentation in this article illustrates some of the features of this dilemma, and the case discussion argues that the physician's fiduciary duty to an individual patient supercedes any duty to ensure equitable distribution of resources. However, outside of this primary fiduciary duty, physicians have a separate duty to prospectively study treatment outcomes and use this information to ensure that resources are distributed appropriately.
Polarized Molecular Orbital Model Chemistry 3. The PMO Method Extended to Organic Chemistry.

The polarized molecular orbital (PMO) method, a neglect-of-diatomic-differential-overlap (NDDO) semiempirical molecular orbital method previously parametrized for systems composed of O and H, is here extended to carbon. We modified the formalism and optimized all the parameters in the PMO Hamiltonian by using a genetic algorithm and a database containing both electrostatic and energetic properties; the new parameter set is called PMO2. The quality of the resulting predictions is compared to results obtained by previous NDDO semiempirical molecular orbital methods, both including and excluding dispersion terms. We also compare the PMO2 properties to SCC-DFTB calculations. Within the class of semiempirical molecular orbital methods, the PMO2 method is found to be especially accurate for polarizabilities, atomization energies, proton transfer energies, noncovalent complexation energies, and chemical reaction barrier heights and to have good across-the-board accuracy for a range of other properties, including...
Fractal pattern formation in human retinal vessels

Abstract The mechanism for the formation of retinal vessel patterns in the developing human eye is an unresolved question of considerable importance. The current hypothesis is based on the existence of a variable oxygen gradient across the developing photoreceptors which stimulates the release of angiogenic factors which diffuse in the plane of the retina and result in the growth of retinal vessels. This implies that the limiting step in the formation of retinal blood vessels is a diffusion process. To test this hypothesis we have performed a fractal analysis of the human retinal vessels using two different methods. Within the limited range of length scales available in the red-free fundus photographs, we find that the human retinal blood vessels have a self-similar structure with a fractal dimension D ≈ 1.7. Since this value of D is the same as the value found for a diffusion limited growth process, our result supports the hypothesis that diffusion is the fundamental process in the formation of human retinal vessel patterns.
Tactile spatial resolution in blind braille readers.

Objective: To determine if blind people have heightened tactile spatial acuity. Background: Recently, studies using magnetic source imaging and somatosensory evoked potentials have shown that the cortical representation of the reading fingers of blind Braille readers is expanded compared to that of fingers of sighted subjects. Furthermore, the visual cortex is activated during certain tactile tasks in blind subjects but not sighted subjects. The authors hypothesized that the expanded cortical representation of fingers used in Braille reading may reflect an enhanced fidelity in the neural transmission of spatial details of a stimulus. If so, the quantitative limit of spatial acuity would be superior in blind people. Methods: The authors employed a grating orientation discrimination task in which threshold performance is accounted for by the spatial resolution limits of the neural image evoked by a stimulus. The authors quantified the psychophysical limits of spatial acuity at the middle and index fingers of 15 blind Braille readers and 15 sighted control subjects. Results: The mean grating orientation threshold was significantly ( p = 0.03) lower in the blind group (1.04 mm) compared to the sighted group (1.46 mm). The self-reported dominant reading finger in blind subjects had a mean grating orientation threshold of 0.80 mm, which was significantly better than other fingers tested. Thresholds at non-Braille reading fingers in blind subjects averaged 1.12 mm, which were also superior to sighted subjects’ performances. Conclusion: Superior tactile spatial acuity in blind Braille readers may represent an adaptive, behavioral correlate of cortical plasticity.
Stress response genes protect against lethal effects of sleep deprivation in Drosophila.

Sleep is controlled by two processes: a homeostatic drive that increases during waking and dissipates during sleep, and a circadian pacemaker that controls its timing1. Although these two systems can operate independently2,3, recent studies indicate a more intimate relationship4,5. To study the interaction between homeostatic and circadian processes in Drosophila, we examined homeostasis in the canonical loss-of-function clock mutants period (per01), timeless (tim01), clock (Clkjrk) and cycle (cyc01)6,7,8,9. cyc01 mutants showed a disproportionately large sleep rebound and died after 10 hours of sleep deprivation, although they were more resistant than other clock mutants to various stressors. Unlike other clock mutants, cyc01 flies showed a reduced expression of heat-shock genes after sleep loss. However, activating heat-shock genes before sleep deprivation rescued cyc01 flies from its lethal effects. Consistent with the protective effect of heat-shock genes, was the observation that flies carrying a mutation for the heat-shock protein Hsp83 (Hsp8308445)10 showed exaggerated homeostatic response and died after sleep deprivation. These data represent the first step in identifying the molecular mechanisms that constitute the sleep homeostat.
On some decision questions concerning pushdown machines

Abstract Certain decision questions (e.g., equivalence, ambiguity, single-valuedness, monotonicity, etc.) concerning pushdown transducers and acceptors are investigated. Examples of results shown are the following: 1. (1) There is an algorithm to decide given two deterministic pushdown transducers, one of which has a ‘finite-turn’ counter for a pushdown stack, whether they are equivalent (i.e., they define the same input/output relation). 2. (2) There are subclasses of pushdown acceptors which have a decidable ambiguity problem but an undecidable inherent ambiguity problem. (It seems that these classes are the first known to exhibit this property.) 3. (3) There is an algorithm to decide given a homomorphism h and a language L accepted by a finite-turn nondeterministic counter automaton whether h is one-to-one on L . In contrast, there is no such algorithm if L is accepted by a 1-turn deterministic pushdown automaton or by an unrestricted deterministic counter automaton.
Constrictive pericarditis in a mare: attempted treatment by partial pericardiectomy.

Summary Chronic constrictive pericarditis was diagnosed in a 6-year-old Thoroughbred mare based on the clinical findings of right congestive heart failure, hyperechoic pericardium without pericardial effusion, and a dip-and-plateau shape of the right ventricular pressure curve with equilibration of the diastolic pressures in all cardiac chambers. Treatment was attempted by partial pericardiectomy using a right lateral thoracotomy approach. Because of severe epicardial involvement recurrence of the constrictive pathology was noted 6 weeks after the surgical procedure. However, in selected cases in which the disease process is limited to the pericardium, partial pericardiectomy may offer a mode of therapy in horses suffering from constrictive pericarditis.
Algal oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons: formation of 1-naphthol from naphthalene by Agmenellum quadruplicatum, strain PR-6.

Agmenellum quadruplicatum, strain PR-6, Coccochloris elabens, strain 17A and Oscillatoria sp., strain JCM, grown photoautotrophically in the presence of [14C]-naphthalene, produced six metabolites that were detected by radioautography. A large scale biotransformation experiment with Agmenellum quadruplicatum, strain PR-6 led to the isolation and identification of 1-naphthol as the major reaction product. Preliminary evidence was also obtained for the formation of cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene.
Capture of Phobos and Deimos by photoatmospheric drag

Abstract It is suggested that Phobos and Deimos are carbonaceous asteroids captured by drag in an extended protoatmosphere of solar composition. The time scales for regularization of the orbital parameters are estimated, and found to be of the order of a few years. The atmosphere is modeled as a slowly-rotating condensation in the solar nebula; the surface pressure should be a few tenths of a bar. Capture and evolution by such an atmosphere are found to be improbable. The odds are greatly improved if the atmosphere is rapidly rotating or if the pressure is 1 to 2 orders of magnitude greater. Escape of the atmosphere, after removal of the nebular pressure, takes a few years, depending on the solar heat input. But it relaxes much more quickly to a state with negligible density at satellite altitudes. This relaxation is taken as the event that leaves the satellites in stable orbits. Previous candidates presumably were added to the solid body of Mars, and later ones were not captured.
Estimating demand for new products using a discrete price variable

We conduct a set of Monte Carlo sampling experiments to examine the use of discrete explanatory variables in market research for new products. We compare three alternative estimators on the basis of mean square error. As part of the experimental design we vary the number of price points and the distribution of the error term. In addition, we consider demand functions that are linear, linear with structural breaks and nonlinear. In each case, our results show that using two discrete price points leads to the lowest estimation risk.
Stimulus‐Modeling (SM) Videotape for Marital Counseling: Method and Application*

The development of a classification system for analysis of specific verbal marital communications utilizing videotaped Stimulus-Modeling procedures is described. This instrument is applied to a study measuring the relative effects of modeling, modeling plus videotape feedback, and verbal counseling procedures on 30 couples seen in marital counseling. The Stimulus-Modeling (SM) tape portrays both functional and dysfunctional marital communicational patterns. Findings reveal that specific marital verbal behaviors can be operationalized and reliably measured. When these behaviors are depicted through modeling procedures and combined with videotape feedback, they are effective in changing specific problematic verbal behaviors. The results indicate the need to combine modern technology with modeling procedures in marital counseling.
CO-REQUIREMENT FOR CALCIUM AND POTASSIUM IN THE GERMINATION OF SPORES OF THE FERN ONOCLEA SENSIBILIS'

Spores of Onoclea sensibilis L. do not germinate on distilled H20 if they are pretreated for sufficient time with dilute NaClO solution. However, spores will germinate, after NaClO pretreatment, on a simple mineral medium containing the major and trace elements. Complete germination after pretreatment also is obtained on a solution containing only Ca2+ and K+ as the cations, but neither ion by itself is sufficient. Rb+, but not Li+ or Na+, can replace K+. Hypochlorite-treated spores do not require the continuous presence of Ca2+ and K+ to germinate; exposure during the first 4 hr of culture, with the remainder of the time on distilled H20, is sufficient. Extraction of spores with ethylene glycol bis(aminoethyl ether) tetraacetic acid [EGTA] makes their germination dependent on Ca2+, as reported by other workers, but it does not produce a co-requirement for K+. Colorimetric analysis with arsenazo III confirms that Ca2+ is extracted from Onoclea spores by NaClO. Extractable Ca2+ amounts to about 78 nmol/mg spore dry wt. Of this amount, 31% is contained in the perispore. The perispore comprises 13% of the total spore dry wt. SPECIFIC METAL IONS are known to be important
Fake Twitter accounts: profile characteristics obtained using an activity-based pattern detection approach

In Online Social Networks (OSNs), the audience size commanded by an organization or an individual is a critical measure of that entity's popularity. This measure has important economic and/or political implications. Organizations can use information about their audience, such as age, location etc., to tailor their products or their message appropriately. But such tailoring can be biased by the presence of fake profiles on these networks. In this study, analysis of 62 million publicly available Twitter user profiles was conducted and a strategy to retroactively identify automatically generated fake profiles was established. Using a pattern-matching algorithm on screen-names with an analysis of tweet update times, a highly reliable sub-set of fake user accounts were identified. Analysis of profile creation times and URLs of these fake accounts revealed distinct behavior of the fake users relative to a ground truth data set. The combination of this scheme with established social graph analysis will allow for time-efficient detection of fake profiles in OSNs.
Intraaortic Balloon Counterpulsation: A Review

The intraaortic balloon counterpulsation pump (IABP) was successfully placed in 54 patients from 1972 to January 1978. Total overall survival was 46% (25/54). In the past 3 years survival was doubled (54% — 21/39) compared to the initial experience from 1972 through 1975 (27% — 4/15). Eleven percent (6/54) of the patients died after the IABP was removed, 19% (10/54) became balloon-dependent, and 24% (13/54) had either a poor response or no re sponse to IABP.Indications for IABP were cardiogenic shock secondary to myocardial infarction (CS-MI), preinfarction angina, postoperative cardiopulmonary bypass dependency (CPBD), the most common indication, or post cardi otomy cardiogenic shock. Preoperative prophylactic placement of the balloon was used in 7 patients with a 57% (4/7) survival. None of the 10 patients treated for CS-MI survived to discharge. Fifty-one percent (18/35) of CPBD patients were long-term survivors.Complications including difficulty passing the device (15/54), thrombosis (6/54), minor dis...