cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein Sorting in Plasmodium Falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum is a unicellular eukaryote with a very polarized secretory system composed of micronemes rhoptries and dense granules that are required for host cell invasion. P. falciparum, like its relative T. gondii, uses the endolysosomal system to produce the secretory organelles and to ingest host cell proteins. The parasite also has an apicoplast, a secondary endosymbiotic organelle, which depends on vesicular trafficking for appropriate incorporation of nuclear-encoded proteins into the apicoplast. Recently, the central molecules responsible for sorting and trafficking in P. falciparum and T. gondii have been characterized. From these studies, it is now evident that P. falciparum has repurposed the molecules of the endosomal system to the secretory pathway. Additionally, the sorting and vesicular trafficking mechanism seem to be conserved among apicomplexans. This review described the most recent findings on the molecular mechanisms of protein sorting and vesicular trafficking in P. falciparum and revealed that P. falciparum has an amazing secretory machinery that has been cleverly modified to its intracellular lifestyle.
The Trouble with Numbers: Difficult Decision Making in Identifying Right-Wing Terrorism Cases. An Investigative Look at Open Source Social Scientific and Legal Data

Terrorism research has gained much traction since the 9/11 attacks, but some sub genres of terrorism, such as right-wing terrorism, have remained under-studied areas. Unsurprisingly data sources to...
Relationship between ankle function and walking ability for children and young adults with cerebral palsy: A systematic review of deficits and targeted interventions.

Abstract Background A primary goal of treatment for children with cerebral palsy is improved walking ability to allow for a more active and independent lifestyle. With the importance of ankle function to walking ability, and the deficits in ankle function associated with cerebral palsy, there is good rationale for targeting this joint in an effort to improve walking ability for this population. Research Question How do deficits and targeted interventions of the ankle joint influence walking ability in children with cerebral palsy? Methods A specific search criteria was used to identify articles that either (1) provided information on the relationship between ankle function and walking ability or (2) investigated the effect of a targeted ankle intervention on walking ability in cerebral palsy. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched from 1980–April, 2020. Resulting citations were compared against a prospective set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data relevant to the original research question was extracted, and the level of evidence for each intervention study was scored. Interpretation was focused on specific, pre-determined mobility measures. Results Sixty-one citations met all criteria for data extraction, six of which were observational, and fifty-five of which were interventional. Level of evidence ranged from 2 to 4. Self-selected walking speed was the most common measure of walking ability, while physical activity level was the least common. Significance Ankle function is an important contributor to the walking ability of children with cerebral palsy, and most interventions targeting the ankle seem to demonstrate a benefit on walking ability, but future higher-powered and/or controlled studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
ERROR DUE TO SEGREGATION IN QUANTITATIVE CLAY MINERAL X-RAY DIFRACTION MOUNTING TECHNIQUES

Experimental study of seven common mounting techniques for quantitative analysis of clays by x-ray diffraction showed an acceptable precision, or reproducibility (about plus or minus 10%) for all techniques. Accuracy, or closeness to "true" value, however, varied as much as 250% in the four techniques involving particle settling in aqueous solutions. Use of these techniques resulted in a surface segregation of montmorillonite due to its smaller size and therefore lower (1/100) settling velocity than kaolinite or illite. This segregation was demonstrated by (1) analysis of samples with the surface layer removed and (2) top and bottom analysis of samples mounted on x-ray-transparent plastic membrane. The four techniques not acceptable for clay mineral analysis include: centrifuge-on-glass slide and centrifuge-on-ceramic tile techniques; pipette- or dropper-on-glass slide technique; and beaker-on-glass slide technique. The three mounting techniques acceptable for clay mineral analysis with regard to precision and accuracy are: smear-on-glass slide, suction-on-ceramic tile and powder press techniques. /AUTHOR/
Sequencing of superficial trunk muscle activation during range-of-motion tasks

Altered lumbo-pelvic activation sequences have been identified in individuals with low back pain. However, an analysis of activation sequences within different levels of the trunk musculature has yet to be conducted. This study identified the activation sequences characteristic of the trunk musculature during upright standing and range-of-motion tasks. Surface electromyography was recorded for eight trunk muscles bilaterally during trunk range-of-motion movement tasks in 30 participants. Cross-correlation was performed on 48 pairings of muscles, consisting of one lower- and one mid-level muscle, or one mid-level and one upper muscle. Time lags of the maximum cross-correlation coefficient were extracted and defined as a top-down or bottom-up activation sequence, or similar activation timing. Pairings that demonstrated a specific activation sequence in 50% or more of participants were then identified. Similar activation timing was consistently identified between muscle pairings for upright standing. Top-down sequences and similar timing were identified for abdominal - mid-level pairings in maximum flexion and slumped standing, respectively, while both tasks were characterized by bottom-up sequences when considering the lumbar and lower-thoracic erector spinae. Sequences were more variable across muscle pairings for lateral bend and axial twist tasks. These results provide insight into the synergy of the trunk musculature for movements in the three planes of motion. These findings can be used for comparison to low back pain populations, as altered activation sequences in these individuals may contribute to maladaptive loading patterns and consequently the development or exacerbation of low back pain.
On the feasibility of large-scale infections of iOS devices

While Apple iOS has gained increasing attention from attackers due to its rising popularity, very few large scale infections of iOS devices have been discovered because of iOS' advanced security architecture. In this paper, we show that infecting a large number of iOS devices through botnets is feasible. By exploiting design flaws and weaknesses in the iTunes syncing process, the device provisioning process, and in file storage, we demonstrate that a compromised computer can be instructed to install Apple-signed malicious apps on a connected iOS device, replace existing apps with attacker-signed malicious apps, and steal private data (e.g., Facebook and Gmail app cookies) from an iOS device. By analyzing DNS queries generated from more than half a million anonymized IP addresses in known botnets, we measure that on average, 23% of bot IP addresses demonstrate iOS device existence and Windows iTunes purchases, implying that 23% of bots will eventually have connections with iOS devices, thus making a large scale infection feasible.
Personalized content delivery to mobile devices

Mobile computing has become an interesting field of research due to the advancement of wireless technology. With the rapidly increasing bandwidth of wireless networks and demand of acquiring information anytime, anywhere, delivering content to mobile devices in an effective, efficient, and personalized manner has been recognized as one of the important capabilities for enabling information-on-demand. In this study, the concept of 'user profile' is used for delivering customized content to mobile users. The user profiles reside in an application server, which includes users' information interests, properties of mobile devices, and media preferences. When a wireless application receives an information request from a mobile user, it obtains relevant content from either company databases or other sources including the Internet based on keywords specified by the user, customizes it based on users' preferences and network condition, and returns it to the user. In other cases, a wireless application may automatically multicast certain information to a group of users who share the common interest via the 'push' technology. This study aims to explore effective ways to enable delivery of personalized content to mobile devices under the restrictions imposed by wireless networks and mobile devices.
Teacher Development and Educational Reform

This chapter is based on the claim that we need a theory of teacher education for social change, one that is grounded in the relevant educational scholarship as well as grounded in the practice of school-based teachers. The components of the grounded theory include: knowledge and interpretation frameworks, ideology and political frameworks, K-12 pedagogy for social change, and teacher education as inquiry across the life span. Implications for policy, practice and research are identified.
Measurement of applied J-integral produced by residual stress

Abstract An approximate method for measuring the applied J- integral produced by residual stresses was developed and applied to four wide plates. The technique uses multiple strain measurements during the cutting of a notch in the weld. Results for welded and post-weld-heattreated (PWHT) plates with semi-elliptical surface cracks and tube hole ligament cracks were compared. The PWHT plates had much lower J levels. Comparisons with the Newman-Raju linear elastic calculation for surface cracks in bending indicated that the present results are reasonable. Comparison of the present result for the ratio of stress intensity factor to crack mouth opening displacement with values calculated for through and surface cracks provides additional confidence in the correctness of the present results.
Automated generation of configurable media processors

Low-power media processors are important components in wireless multimedia cell phones, multimedia personal digital assistants, and other handheld multimedia devices. The ideal media processor implementation for these systems varies greatly based on cost, performance, and power requirements. This paper presents a design methodology for automatically generating synthesizable hardware description language (HDL) models for multimedia processors. The multimedia processors support the PLX instruction set architecture, and are configured based on a high-level machine definition file, which specifies the size of the processor datapath, the types of functional units, and the configuration for on-chip memory.
Effects of arterial hypoxemia and hyperoxia on oxygen availability for myocardial metabolism. Patients with and without coronary heart disease.

Abstract Nineteen patients breathed different gas mixtures to induce arterial hypoxemia and hyperoxia. In 10 patients without heart disease, the level of coronary venous blood oxygen saturation fell during moderate arterial hypoxemia (O2 saturation 64 to 85 per cent) and rose during arterial blood hyperoxia. However, the coronary venous blood lactate/pyruvate concentration ratio ( L P v ) remained nearly constant, thereby providing evidence that the blood O2 changes did not reflect changes in O2 availability for myocardial metabolism. During severe arterial hypoxemia (O2 saturation 47 to 58 per cent), in 1 of 3 patients the myocardium produced lactate, which is a sign of supplementary anaerobic metabolism. In most of the 9 patients with coronary heart disease, the changes in coronary venous blood O2 saturation were similar to those in the control patients. However, exceptions occurred. In 3 patients with coronary heart disease, moderate arterial hypoxemia increased the L P v , thus suggesting myocardial hypoxia. In 2 of these, the myocardium produced lactate (anaerobic metabolism). L P v remained constant during hyperoxia; therefore, there is no evidence that the blood hyperoxia augmented myocardial O2 availability or relieved chronic myocardial hypoxia.
Religion and violence against nature

Most of us are well aware of the environmental crisis of our day. Yet, scholars of religion or peace studies rarely consider en­vironmental issues when theorizing about violence. Why think about religion when we ponder environmental degradation? Religion provides a framework by which we can understand a group’s relationship to non-human nature and to actions on behalf of the environment. As is the case with human-to-human violence, religious ideology may also either encourage or discourage assaults on the environment. Taking religious traditions and actors into account, deepens our understanding of the contemporary environmental crisis and environmental struggles and movements, as is argued in this article.
Switched-gain feedback amplifiers

We describe a simple switched-gain control technique for improving the settling time and peak overshoot of closed-loop amplifiers under power constraints. We consider the important particular case of two-pole amplifiers and show that the proposed compensation method out-performs standard linear compensation based on pole-splitting. Our results are supported by circuit simulations in a 0.18µm CMOS process.
A READING TECHNIQUE IN ELEMENTARY FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION: RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS

Author's summary.— Details of organization of course of study described in previous article. Accomplishment as shown by records and standard tests. General deductions.
Treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis: Results of the CARE study

Treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis: Results of the CARE study. Most patients with end-stage renal disease develop hyperphosphatemia because their dietary intake exceeds phosphorus elimination by intermittent thrice-weekly dialysis. Inadequately treated hyperphosphatemia plays a central role in the pathogenesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism and extraosseous calcification. Moreover, in the last 15 years, this biochemical abnormality has become increasingly important following the publication of two epidemiologic studies that demonstrated an association between elevated serum phosphorus and increased mortality risk in patients with end-stage renal disease. As a result, the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcome and Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) Bone Metabolism and Chronic Kidney Disease Guidelines recommend that serum phosphorus levels be maintained between 3.5 and 5.5 mg/dL. Unfortunately, cross-sectional studies have shown a mean serum phosphorus of 6.2 mg/dL in the maintenance hemodialysis population in the United States. An alarming 60% of patients have serum phosphorus in excess of the 5.5 mg/dL level recommended by K/DOQI guidelines. In order to achieve this new target for serum phosphorus, the most efficacious and cost-effective phosphate binders currently available should be utilized. In this review, we discuss the results of the Calcium Acetate Renagel Evaluation (CARE study), which clearly demonstrated the superiority of calcium acetate over sevelamer hydrochloride for controlling serum phosphorus and calcium-phosphate product to the levels recommended by the K/DOQI guidelines.
Electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography coupled on-line with electrospray mass spectrometry.

Electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography (EMLC) has been coupled to an electrospray mass spectrometer. This combination takes advantage of the ability of EMLC to manipulate retention and enhance separation efficiency solely through changes in the potential applied to a conductive stationary phase, thereby minimizing complications because of possible changes in analyte ionization efficiencies when gradient elution techniques are used. Three examples are presented that demonstrate the attributes of this EMLC/electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS) coupling. The first two examples involve the separation of mixtures of corticosteroids or of benzodiazepines, showing the general utility of the union for eluent identification and low-level detection. The ability to identify products from on-column redox transformations is also demonstrated using the benzodiazepine mixture. The third example investigates the electrooxidation of aniline by utilizing an EMLC column as an on-line electrochemical reactor and ...
Biosynthetic studies on flavones and C-glycosylflavones: B-ring oxidation patterns

Abstract Data obtained by feeding 14 C-labeled amino acids, a flavanone, flavones, and a C -glycosyl-flavone to axenically cultured Spirodela polyrhiza indicated that: the B-ring oxidation pattern of flavone- O -glycosides was determined at the flavone level of biosynthesis and was essentially irreversible; that the B-ring oxidation pattern of C -glycosylflavones was determined prior to C -glycosylation, probably at the flavanone stage; and that flavones and C -glycosylflavones were not static end products of metabolism but undergo turnover. Specific activities were determined for the in vivo incorporation of each of the above kinds of compounds into flavone C - and O -glycosides of S. polyrhiza .
A novel in vitro screen to discover agents which increase the absorption of molecules across the intestinal epithelium

Abstract A major obstacle in the development of many new pharmaceuticals, particularly proteins and peptides, is their absorption across the small intestine mucosal barrier. We have developed a cell culture screen to discover novel compounds that increase the intestinal absorption of poorly transported molecules. The absorption screen uses Caco-2 cells, a human-derived intestinal epithelial cell line, grown as monolayer cultures on a permeable membrane which separates apical (luminal) and basal (serosal) chambers. The baseline absorption of the Caco-2 cell system was measured by adding marker molecules to the apical chamber and measuring their appearance in the basal chamber. The amount of these marker molecules in the basal chamber after a 1 h(37°C) incubation was used as a measure of baseline absorption (
Goal Attainment Through Factionalism: A Guatemalan Case1

Until recently, anthropologists have tended to stress the negative aspects of factionalism. In a northern Guatemalan town, San Andres, factional conflicts have had positive consequences for the attainment of sectarian and community political goals. The starting point is an examination of the units between which conflict occurs, the factions. This approach directs attention to the functions factions may have for a social group. Three empirical factors appear responsible for the satisfaction of political demands in San Andres: (a) the manner in which the factions, in the absence of durable political parties, organize conflict; (b) the absence of a dominant faction (or the dispersion of power) in the community; (c) the relative effectiveness of the local county government. It is suggested that varying combinations of these factors may help account for the variable consequences of factionalism. This paper also may have implications for community development research.
Computer Simulation Exercises for Economics Statistics.

Pulley and Dolbear report on a two-year project in which a number of supplemental computer exercises were developed for an economics statistics course. Four of these are described by the authors.
Reaction time measurement of temporal integration and organization of form

Temporal integration of patterned stimuli was investigated by introducing an interstimulus interval (ISI) between brief exposures of two matrices of illuminated squares. These matrices were identical except for their spatial displacement, arranged such that they could be superimposed to yield either horizontal or vertical stripes. Choice reaction times to the composite stripe orientation were a progressively increasing function of ISI, suggesting some integration over an ISI range in excess of 224 msec. Similar functions were obtained with both regular and irregular order of ISI presentation. The results from an additional experiment employing an extraneous warning signal discounted the possibility that preparatory factors developing over the ISI were responsible for the obtained reaction time functions.
The lattice of closure relations on a poset

In this paper we show that the set of closure relations on a finite posetP forms a supersolvable lattice, as suggested by Rota. Furthermore this lattice is dually isomorphic to the lattice of closed sets in a convex geometry (in the sense of Edelman and Jamison [EJ]). We also characterize the modular elements of this lattice (whenP has a greatest element) and compute its characteristic polynomial.
Structural asymmetry in the CTP-liganded form of aspartate carbamoyltransferase from Escherichia coli.

Abstract The protein and solvent structure of the CTP-liganded form of aspartate carbamoyltransferase from Escherichia coli yields an R -factor of 0.155 for data to a resolution of 2.6 A. The model has 7353 protein atoms, 945 sites for solvent, and two molecules of CTP. A total of 25 of the 912 residues of the model exist in more than one conformation. The root-mean-square deviation of bond lengths and angles from their ideal values is 0.013 A and 2.1 °, respectively. The model reported here reflects a correction in the trace of the regulatory chain. One molecule of CTP binds to each of the two regulatory chains of the asymmetric unit of the crystal. The interactions between the pyrimidine of each CTP molecule and the protein are similar. The 4-amino group of CTP binds to the carbonyl groups of residues 89 (tyrosine) and 12 (isoleucine) of the regulatory chain. The nitrogen of position 3 of the pyrimidine binds to the amide group of residue 12; the 2-keto group binds to lysine 60. The 2′-OH group of the ribose forms hydrogen bonds with lysine 60 and the carbonyl group of residue 9 (valine). The binding of the phosphate groups of CTP to the regulatory chain probably reflects an incomplete association of CTP with the enzyme at pH 5.8. A lattice contact influences the interaction between the triphosphate group of one CTP molecule and the protein. For the other CTP molecule, only lysine 94 binds to the phosphate groups of CTP. Of the two regulatory and two catalytic chains of the asymmetric unit of the crystal, there are only two significant violations of non-crystallographic symmetry. The active site in the vicinity of arginine 54 of one catalytic chain is larger than the active site of its non-crystallographic mate. The “expanded” cavity accommodates four solvent molecules in the vicinity of arginine 54 as opposed to two molecules of water for the “contracted” cavity. Furthermore, arginine 54 in the “expanded” pocket adopts two conformations, either hydrogen-bonding to glutamate 86 or to the phenolic oxygen atom of tyrosine 98; residues 86 and 98 are in a catalytic chain related by 3-fold symmetry to the catalytic chain of arginine 54. In the “contracted” pocket, arginine 54 binds only to glutamate 86. The second violation of non-crystallographic symmetry occurs at the interface between regulatory and catalytic chains, where the absence of a salt link between glutamate 204 of a catalytic chain and arginine 130 of a regulatory chain permits serine 131, tyrosine 197, glutamate 204 and leucine 211 of the catalytic chain and aspartate 133 of the regulatory chain to adopt multiple conformations. We discuss the significance of these violations of non-crystallographic symmetry with respect to the biochemical properties of the enzyme.
Profiling of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia antibody levels in patients with and without diabetes.

Heparin/platelet factor 4 (H:PF4) antibodies are the causative agent in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). The antibodies are frequently formed after exposure to heparin, most commonly without any signs of clinical HIT. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia antibodies have been detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in individuals who have not been exposed to heparin. It is possible that the antibodies could be elicited by PF4 associated with endogenous, heparin-like glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This risk would be higher in individuals with endothelial dysfunction and chronic platelet activation. In the setting of an outpatient endocrinology clinic, both diabetic and nondiabetic patients were studied and compared with healthy volunteers. Heparin/platelet factor 4 antibody titers were measured by ELISA and analyzed to determine the frequency of clinically seropositive responses, and median and interquartile ranges of baseline antibody titers. The study found no increase in frequency of ELISA-p...
The Relationship between Tropical Cyclone Intensity Change and the Strength of Inner-Core Convection

AbstractConvective intensity proxies measured by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI), Precipitation Radar (PR), and Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) are used to assess the relationship between intense convection in the inner core and tropical cyclone (TC) intensity change. Using the cumulative distribution functions of 24-h intensity changes from the 1998–2008 best-track data for global TCs, five intensity change categories are defined: rapidly intensifying (RI), slowly intensifying, neutral, slowly weakening, and rapidly weakening. TRMM observations of global TCs during 1998–2008 are used to generate the distributions of convective properties in the storm’s inner-core region for different storm intensity change categories. To examine the hypothesis of hot towers near the eye as an indicator of RI, hot towers are defined by precipitation features with 20-dBZ radar echo height reaching 14.5 km.The differences in the convective parameters between rapidly intensifying TCs...
Influence of Microstructural Transformations on the Stress-Strain State of a Steel Cylinder Irradiated by Heat Pulses

We consider the axially symmetric problem of irradiation of the end face of a cylinder made of 35KhMA steel by heat pulses. To simulate the mechanical behavior of the material, we use the Bodner–Partom model of flow generalized to the case of influence of microstructure on the plastic properties of the material. The problem is solved by the finite-element method. We also present quantitative estimates of the influence of microstructure on the current and residual state of the cylinder.
A bacterial artificial chromosome library for soybean and identification of clones near a major cyst nematode resistance gene.

We constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library for soybean (Glycine max) consisting of approximately 30 000 clones with an average insert size of 120 kilobase pairs. The library was successfully screened with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and microsatellite markers tightly linked to a major resistance gene for the cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines. Since many soybean RFLPs hybridize to duplicate loci, BACs homologous to duplicate RFLP loci were distinguished by digestion with the restriction enzyme originally used to map the RFLP, followed by a comparison of the hybridizing fragments. Linkage mapping of BAC clones identified with markers linked to the cyst nematode resistance gene demonstrated that these clones were located at the expected chromosomal positions and that there were no indications of chimeras within the genomic inserts.
The portrayal of homosexuality in abnormal psychology and sociology of deviance textbooks

This study examines the portrayal of homosexuality in abnormal psychology and sociology of deviance textbooks published in the United States and in print in 1995; publication dates for these books ranged between 1980 and 1995. A total of 27 textbooks—16 in psychology and 11 in sociology—were used. Books published during the 1980s were compared with those published in the 1990s. Results from textbooks in print in 1995 were compared with results from an earlier study of textbooks in print in 1980. As was found in the earlier study, three models of homosexuals and homosexuality appear in these books—homosexuality as illness, homosexuality as sin, and homosexuals as a minority group. However, striking changes have occurred in the relative importance of these models over the past 15 years. None of the textbooks currently in print explicitly describes homosexuality as an illness, compared with 30% in 1980, although many implicitly do so. The model of homosexuality as sin, meanwhile, has gained new life with the...
A note on tests for exponentiality by Deshpande

SUMMARY Recently Deshpande (1983) has proposed a class of simple tests for testing exponentiality against the increasing failure rate average class of nonexponential probability distributions. These tests have a number of desirable properties. However, they suffer from some omissions. The object of this note is to provide the missing arguments so that the paper can be more useful.
Observer performance comparison of digital radiograph systems for stereotactic breast needle biopsy

Rationale and Objectives. Two digital radiograph systems for stereotactic mammography, one using a lens to couple a Lanex Regular screen to a back-illuminated charge-coupled device (CCD) and one using a fiber-optic taper to couple a Min-R Regular-type screen to a front-illuminated CCD, were evaluated with respect to observer performance. Methods. A contrast-detail phantom was imaged in a variety of equivalent exposure conditions on both systems. Six observers viewed images on a video monitor and recorded which objects were detected. Results. Performance (percent correct detections) with the lens-coupled system using the Lanex Regular screen was significantly higher than with the fiber-optic-coupled system using the Min-R Regular-type screen. Conclusion. Differences in absorption efficiencies of phosphors used, as well as differences in design of the two cameras, can explain differences in observer detection performance.
Decreased frontal regulation during pain anticipation in unmedicated subjects with major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by impaired processing of negative information, possibly due to dysfunction in both, the bottom-up emotional network and top-down modulatory network. By acquiring functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on a pain-anticipation task, we tested the hypothesis that individuals with MDD would show increased negative biasing that may be associated with reduced frontal connectivity. Thirty-one (15 females) unmedicated young adults with current MDD and 22 (11 females) healthy subjects with no history of MDD were recruited. Groups did not differ significantly in age, race, level of education, marital status or gender distribution. fMRI data were collected during an event-related pain-anticipation paradigm, during which subjects were cued to anticipate painful heat stimuli of high or low intensity. All temperature stimuli were applied to each subject's left forearm. We found that relative to healthy comparison subjects, participants with MDD showed significantly stronger responses to high versus low pain anticipation within right ventral anterior insula (AI), but overlapping response within right dorsal AI, which correlated positively with the depression symptoms severity in the MDD group. Functional connectivity analyses showed increased functional connectivity between dorsal insula and posterior thalamus and decreased functional connectivity between dorsal insula and the right inferior frontal gyrus in the MDD compared with the non-MDD group. Our results demonstrate that unmedicated individuals with current MDD compared with healthy never-depressed subjects show both differential and overlapping response within AI during anticipation of pain. Furthermore, the overlapping insular response is less regulated by frontal brain systems and is more subservient to affective processing regions in the posterior thalamus in MDD. These results support and provide functional validation of the co-occurring enhanced ‘bottom-up' and attenuated ‘top-down' processing of salient, unpleasant emotional information in MDD.
Tax policies affecting R&D: an international comparison

As more and more emphasis is being given to the role of government in supporting innovation-related activity, a clearer understanding of the historical intent of R&D-related tax policies (by far the most common mechanism for support of R&D) and of the effectiveness of these policies appears warranted. The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, it provides an overview of the history of R&D-related tax policies, both in the USA and in twenty-two other industrial countries Second, it reviews the extant empirical evidence on the effectiveness of R&D tax credits. And third, it offers a critique of R&D tax policies per se.
Suppressive effects of a peripheral grating displacement during saccadic eye movement and during fixation.

Rapid displacement of a peripheral grating reduced sensitivity to test flashes presented at the center of gaze equally well, whether the displacement was produced by mirror movement during fixation or by saccadic eye movement with the grating stationary. Small 0.5 ° flashes in the retinal periphery were not affected by distant grating displacements, but large (5.0 °) flashes were suppressed. Thus there is a size-selective suppressive mechanism which does not affect small stimuli except at the fovea.
Digital subtraction angiographic assessment of the coronary arteries and coronary flow reserve.

Although intravenous digital subtraction angiography was originally intended as a means of performing lessinvasive peripheral angiography, this less invasive approach has not proven feasible for coronary artery studies. Digital imaging has, however, proven helpful for the immediate replay, enhancement and quantification of coronary arteriography and enables the performance of regional blood flow (coronary flow reserve) analysis. Flow analysis is clinically helpful in determining the hemodynamic significance of individual coronary stenoses, which cannot always be assessed even using quantitative stenosis measurements. One method of assessing flow reserve by digital means uses parametric images to display the timing (color coded) and density (intensity coded) of the contrast bolus as it transverses the regional myocardial circulation. Analysis of baseline and hyperemic condition parametric images provides quantitative regional flow reserve information.
Failure Analysis of Virtual and Physical Machines: Patterns, Causes and Characteristics

In today's commercial data centers, the computation density grows continuously as the number of hardware components and workloads in units of virtual machines increase. The service availability guaranteed by data centers heavily depends on the reliability of the physical and virtual servers. In this study, we conduct an analysis on 10K virtual and physical machines hosted on five commercial data centers over an observation period of one year. Our objective is to establish a sound understanding of the differences and similarities between failures of physical and virtual machines. We first capture their failure patterns, i.e., the failure rates, the distributions of times between failures and of repair times, as well as, the time and space dependency of failures. Moreover, we correlate failures with the resource capacity and run-time usage to identify the characteristics of failing servers. Finally, we discuss how virtual machine management actions, i.e., consolidation and on/off frequency, impact virtual machine failures.
Expository content area texts, cognitive style and gender: Their effects on reading comprehension

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to determine if cognitive style (field dependence/independence [FD/I]) and gender interact with passage content to affect reading comprehension. Research on FD/I and its relationship to reading‐related and other academic tasks served as the theoretical and empirical basis for the study. While most of the research has centered on the holistic versus analytic processing differences, this study investigates a less‐frequently examined aspect of FD/I: interest in and preferences for social stimuli. The causal‐comparative study involved two levels of two independent variables: gender and FD/I (field dependent [FD] and field independent [FI]) as determined by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT). Comprehension scores on social content and non‐social content expository passages served as dependent measures. Participants were juniors and seniors (n=90) from a large metropolitan university. Using analysis of variance, no significant differences by gender or FD/I were...
The role of bedside ultrasound in the diagnosis of pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade

This review article discusses two clinical cases of patients presenting to the emergency department with pericardial effusions. The role of bedside ultrasound in the detection of pericardial effusions is investigated, with special attention to the specific ultrasound features of cardiac tamponade. Through this review, clinicians caring for patients with pericardial effusions will learn to rapidly diagnose this condition directly at the bedside. Clinicians will also learn to differentiate between simple pericardial effusions in contrast to more complicated effusions causing cardiac tamponade. Indications for emergency pericardiocentesis are covered, so that clinicians can rapidly determine which group of patients will benefit from an emergency procedure to drain the effusion.
A simplified approach to retrograde/anterograde axonal labeling using combined injections of horseradish peroxidase and ibotenic acid.

Combined injections of ibotenic acid and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were made into the region of the mouse ventrobasal thalamus that is related to the large mystacial vibrissae. Examination 4 and 5 days later of the corresponding area of the primary somatosensory cortex (i.e., barrel cortex), in thick and in thin sections, showed it to contain numerous corticothalamic projection cells the somata, dendrites and axons of which were densely labeled by the retrograde transport of HRP. Analysis of serial thin sections showed that thalamocortical axon terminals, which had degenerated in response to the injection of ibotenic acid, formed approximately 20% of the asymmetrical synapses in barrel cortex. The fine structure and distribution in cortex of degenerating thalamocortical axon terminals and of intrinsic HRP-labeled corticothalamic axon terminals were identical to those reported in previous studies in which the injection of HRP into the thalamus was combined with the making of electrolytic lesions. This indicates that injecting ibotenic acid is an effective replacement for electrolytic lesioning of the thalamus. The combined injection of ibotenic acid and HRP represents a new and efficient approach for studying reciprocal projection pathways.
X-ray study and thermoelectric properties of the USixGe3−x system

Abstract A series of solid solutions of USi 3 and UGe 3 has been prepared to demonstrate that complete solid solubility exists, with dependence on Vegard's Law. The electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity have been determined to characterize the compositions in the USi x Ge 3− x system by their thermoelectric Figure of Merit.
Distributed reinforcement learning for power limited many-core system performance optimization

As power density emerges as the main constraint for many-core systems, controlling power consumption under the Thermal Design Power (TDP) while maximizing the performance becomes increasingly critical. To dynamically save power, Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling (DVFS) techniques have proved to be effective and are widely available commercially. In this paper, we present an On-line Distributed Reinforcement Learning (OD-RL) based DVFS control algorithm for many-core system performance improvement under power constraints. At the finer grain, a per-core Reinforcement Learning (RL) method is used to learn the optimal control policy of the Voltage/Frequency (VF) levels in a system model-free manner. At the coarser grain, an efficient global power budget reallocation algorithm is used to maximize the overall performance. The experiments show that compared to the state-of-the-art algorithms: 1) OD-RL produces up to 98% less budget overshoot, 2) up to 44.3x better throughput per over-the-budget energy and up to 23% higher energy efficiency, and 3) two orders of magnitude speedup over state-of-the-art techniques for systems with hundreds of cores.
Cytotoxic and immunostimulatory effects of Bacteroides cell products

The etiologic role of Bacteroides in both periodontal and periapical infections has been well documented, with current interest focusing on the specific pathogenic mechanisms involved. The effects of cell fractions derived from Bacteroides gingivalis (BG), Bacteroides intermedius (BI), and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (BA) have been studied in vitro through: an assessment of the direct cytotoxic effects on human gingival fibroblasts using a tetrazolium dye reduction assay, an evaluation of murine lymphocyte stimulation and interleukin-1 release, and the induction of human lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. Both BG and BI stimulated interleukin-1 release (P less than 0.001), while BA, a nonoral organism, was not significantly active in this respect. Only BG sonicates were able to induce lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (P less than 0.005). All three Bacteroides species demonstrated direct cytotoxic effects on cultured gingival fibroblasts, and these effects were related to the relative protein content and endotoxin activity of the sonicate preparations for each organism. These data show that BG and BI possess factors which may enhance their virulence through activities not shared with BA.
Characterization of in vivo suppression of syngenic tumor by allogenic effector cells.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of allogenic splenocytes transferred with tumor cells, subcutaneously, to a host syngenic for tumor cells. Cytotoxic effector cells usually resulted in tumors less than half the size of controls at E:T of 10:1. Primary immune splenocytes were more effective than hyperimmune splenocytes in delaying tumor growth. Actively cytotoxic splenocytes by in vitro 51Cr release assay were required for delayed tumor growth; memory cell populations were not effective. Delayed tumor growth correlated with in vitro cytotoxicity of primary immune splenocytes; however, hyperimmune splenocytes, even though they possessed greater in vitro cytotoxic responses, showed lesser tumor suppression in vivo. T cells were necessary for tumor suppresion, as treatment of B6AF1 effector cells with anti-Thy 1.2 serum abrogated suppression; T cell enrichement by nylon-wool treatment of effector cells increased tumor suppression. Delay in tumor growth was an in vivo phenomenon, for anti-Thy 1.2 serum in AKR hosts abrogated the effect of Thy 1.2 effector cells.
Effects of certain amino acids and related compounds on propagation of mouse encephalomyelitis virus.

Summary1. Various amino acids and analogues in concentrations of 1-3 mg/ml inhibit the propagation of Theiler's GDVII strain of mouse encephalomyelitis virus in tissue cultures of one-day-old mouse brain. The most active amino acid was L-lysine which was inhibitory at 0.5 mg/ml. The most effective analogues tested were the ortho-, meta-, or para-fluorophenylalanines, active at 0.1 mg/ml. 2. Partial reversal of lysine inhibition of virus growth was obtained with methionine, leucine, or tyrosine.
Lack of Tremolite in UICC Reference Chrysotile and the Implications for Carcinogenicity

In 1935, Lynch and Smith reported that in addition to causing asbestosis, asbestos might also cause lung cancer and soon after Heuper (1942) felt sufficient evidence existed to call asbestos a carcinogen. There is continuing controversy about aspects of asbestos-related disease. Few argue about the carcinogenicity of asbestos; disagreements exist regarding other issues, such as if asbestosis is needed before a lung cancer can be attributed to asbestos (Churg et al., 1984). Some of these controversial issues have been addressed elsewhere by Frank (1994). One area of controversy has been the ability of chrysotile to produce lung cancer and mesothelioma. In spite of much evidence to the contrary, some still hold to the view that chrysotile, as chrysotile, does not cause these. Central to this belief has been what has been called the "amphibole hypothesis" (Wagner, 1986; McDonald et al., 1989). Certain policy questions may be influenced by the claimed lack of chrysotile's ability to cause disease. One should recall that some have advocated that only certain fibre types, such as tremolite in chrysotile, produce disease, especially cancer (Churg et al., 1984; Wagner, 1986), but other data have shown this to be untenable (Begin et al., 1992; Stayner et al., 1996). There is now evidence by Karjalainen et al. (1994) of the ability even of anthophyllite to produce mesothelioma. Few populations have ever been identified where only chrysotile exposure had taken place, but Mancuso (1988) documented mesotheliomas among such workers in the U.S. Despite evidence to the contrary, some authors (Case, 1991; Dunnigan, 1988; Mossman and Gee, 1989; Mossman et al., 1990) have persisted in putting forth information that is not in keeping with most other scientific evidence. One reason for the erroneous conclusion that chrysotile does not cause mesothelioma may be that tremolite is more readily found in lung tissue than chrysotile (Churg et al., 1984). Although tissue analysis has been useful for some issues, given the differences between amphibole and chrysotile persistence in vivo, concluding that fibres remaining caused disease is fraught with difficulty. A detailed analysis of the issue of the amphibole hypothesis has recently been published by Stayner et al. (1996), with the conclusion that dismissing chrysotile as a cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases is inappropriate.
Status of the spallation neutron source

The superconducting linac for the spallation neutron source is being commissioned. Seventy seven of the 81 niobium cavities resonating at 805 MHz have been installed in the SNS tunnel in 11 medium beta (0.61) cryomodules each containing three cavities and 11 (presently) high beta (0.81) cryomodules each with four cavities. The niobium cavities and cryomodules were designed and assembled at Jefferson Lab to operate at 2.1 K. The central helium liquefier has been tested to 2.1 K but is routinely operated at 4.2 K. At this temperature, all but four cavities have been tested, mostly at 10 pulses per second and at a full pulse length of 1.3 ms. Shorter periods of operation at 2.1 K have also been implemented, with results similar to those at 4.2 K. Beam commissioning is under way and operation with beam at both temperatures has been demonstrated. Negative hydrogen ion energies of 865 and 907 MeV have been reached at 4.2 and 2.1 K respectively, even with a few cavities not being operated. Further beam commissioning is under way.
The Application of Onsager's Reciprocal Relations to Thermoelectric, Thermomagnetic, and Galvanomagnetic Effects

Analysis of the thermoelectric, thermomagnetic, and galvanomagnetic effects by means of the reciprocal relations of Onsager leads to a simple and intuitive interpretation of the thermoelectric effects, provides a valid derivation of the Kelvin relations, and answers the long standing question as to the existence of relations among the effects in a magnetic field. It is shown that there exist two independent relations among the eight commonly defined coefficients in a magnetic field---one of these relations having been previously given by Bridgman. The nature of the second relation is discussed. Also, certain general observations on the applicability of the Onsager relations to steady-state processes are discussed.