cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Land Rights and Indigenous Peoples: The Role of the Inter‐American Commission on Human Rights

Land Rights and Indigenous Peoples: The Role of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Shelton H. Davis. Cambridge, MA: Cultural Survival, Inc., 1988. 118 pp. $19.95 (cloth), $8.00 (paper). ISBN 0-939521-42-3, ISBN 0-939521-28-8.
Cavernous carotid injury during functional endoscopic sinus surgery: case presentations and guidelines for optimal management.

BackgroundSurgery in the parasellar and paranasal regions is technically challenging because of the complex anatomic relationships between the sphenoid sinus, cavernous sinus, optic nerve, and inte...
Reactive ion etching of GaN using CHF3/Ar and C2ClF5/Ar plasmas

III–V nitride semiconductors have great potential for optoelectronic and electronic devices due to their wide direct band gaps. Because GaN is chemically very stable, dry etching techniques must be established in order to fabricate devices. In this work, we report the reactive ion etching (RIE) of GaN using CHF3/Ar and C2ClF5/Ar plasmas. GaN films on (001) GaAs were grown by electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma associated molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and the films showed (0001)hex orientation along the surface normal. We used a Drytek DRIE‐184 rf plasma discharge RIE system with no ECR discharge or high energy Ar ion beam. The effects of rf plasma power, pressure, and gas flow rates on the etch rate were investigated and the surface contamination due to RIE was examined by XPS. The etch rate varied between 60 and 470 A/min. The conditions for etching were 100–500 W of rf plasma power, 60–300 mTorr of pressure, a CHF3 or C2ClF5 flow rate of 5–50 sccm and an Ar flow rate of 0–50 sccm. The highest etch ...
The evolution of language from social cognition

Despite their differences, human language and the vocal communication of nonhuman primates share many features. Both constitute a form of joint action, rely on similar neural mechanisms, and involve discrete, combinatorial cognition. These shared features suggest that during evolution the ancestors of modern primates faced similar social problems and responded by evolving similar systems of perception, communication and cognition. When language later evolved from this common foundation, many of its distinctive features were already in place.
A superior descriptor of random textures and its predictive capacity

Two-phase random textures abound in a host of contexts, including porous and composite media, ecological structures, biological media, and astrophysical structures. Questions surrounding the spatial structure of such textures continue to pose many theoretical challenges. For example, can two-point correlation functions be identified that can be manageably measured and yet reflect nontrivial higher-order structural information about the textures? We present a solution to this question by probing the information content of the widest class of different types of two-point functions examined to date using inverse “reconstruction” techniques. This enables us to show that a superior descriptor is the two-point cluster function C2(r), which is sensitive to topological connectedness information. We demonstrate the utility of C2(r) by accurately reconstructing textures drawn from materials science, cosmology, and granular media, among other examples. Our work suggests a theoretical pathway to predict the bulk physical properties of random textures and that also has important ramifications for atomic and molecular systems.
A Bipartite Model of 2-5A-dependent RNase L

The 2-5A-dependent RNase (RNase L) is a tightly regulated endoribonuclease of higher vertebrates that is catalytically active only after engaging unusual effector molecules consisting of the 2′,5′-linked oligoadenylates, p1–3A(2′p5′A)≥2 (2-5A). Progressive truncations from either terminus have provided insight into the structure, function, and regulation of RNase L. We determined that deletion of the N-terminal 335 amino acids of RNase L, about 45% of the enzyme, produced a constitutively active endoribonuclease, thus effectively eliminating the requirement for 2-5A. The truncated nuclease had 6-fold lower catalytic activity against an oligo(rU) substrate than wild type RNase L. However, the two enzymes showed identical RNA cleavage site preferences with an mRNA as substrate. The repressor function required only the last three of a series of nine ankyrin-like repeats present in the N-terminal part of RNase L. In contrast, the entire ankyrin repeat region was necessary and sufficient for 2-5A binding activity. Deletion of a 10-amino acid sequence near the C terminus of RNase L, between residues 710 and 720, eliminated both the catalytic and RNA substrate binding functions of the enzyme. The ability to bind native RNase L in response to 2-5A required amino acid sequences near both termini of the protein. A bipartite model for the structure of RNase L emerged in which the regulatory functions of the molecule are located in the N-terminal half, while the catalytic domain is present in the C-terminal half.
The Periodic Health Examination in College Students Revisited

Abstract The periodic health examination is a group of tasks carried out by physicians and nurses at regular intervals, but not always yearly, to determine either the risk of subsequent disease or to identify disease in its early, asymptomatic state. The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, published in 1989 by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, sets common American standards for these procedures. The guide lists those preventive activities recommended for persons aged 19–39 years. Every patient encounter in our student health services should be considered an opportunity for preventive activities. This article offers a simple check list for office use.
Specific inhibition of paramyxovirus and myxovirus replication by oligopeptides with amino acid sequences similar to those at the N-termini of the Fl or HA2 viral polypeptides

Abstract A series of oligopeptides have been synthesized with amino acid sequences that resemble those of the N-terminal regions of the paramyxovirus F 1 , polypeptide or the myxovirus HA 2 polypeptide, N-termini generated by proteolytic cleavage which activates infectivity. Oligopeptides with the appropriate structure are highly active, specific inhibitors of the infectivity of each virus, and of cell fusion and hemolysis induced by paramyxoviruses. Structure-activity studies have revealed the following characteristics of the inhibitory activity. Inhibition is amino acid sequence specific, and the presence of the same N-terminal amino acid on the oligopeptide as the viral polypeptide is crucial for activity. Longer peptides are more active than shorter ones with the same initial sequence. The presence of a carbobenzoxy group (Z) on the N-terminal amino acid of the oligopeptide increases inhibitory activity, and the addition of a methyl group to the carboxyl moiety of the C-terminal amino acid decreases activity. The steric configuration of the first two amino acids has a significant effect; optimum activity was obtained with oligopeptides beginning with Z- d -phenylalanine- l -phenylalanine. The results suggest that the oligopeptides competitively interfere with the N-terminal region of the F 1 or HA 2 polypeptides of paramyxoviruses or myxoviruses, respectively. The availability of these oligopeptide inhibitors provides an additional means for determining the exact site and mechanism by which the F 1 and HA 2 polypeptides initiate infection, and for investigating the biochemical and physical events in virus-induced cell fusion and hemolysis, and membrane fusion in general. The finding of specific inhibition of infectivity by oligopeptides which resemble a region of a viral polypeptide also provides a possible new approach to chemical inhibition of viral replication.
Note on the psychological effects of caffeine.

Barmack (1740) suggests that the mentally stimulating properties of caffeine result from its anti-hypnotic quality; it stimulates central processes, i.e., reticular activating system, which function to allay the development of performance-reducing factors, i.e., boredom and fatigue. Nash (1962) however argues that caffeine acts to enhance specific neural associative capacities. This view Barmack held improbable because he was unable to demon- ' strate an enhancing effect upon initial performance, but the effect appeared under conditions of boredom and fatigue. Nash reported stimulating effects upon performance under conditions of alertness and held that Barmack's task did not meet the requirements for a test of capaciry; the boring nature of adding sers of two six-place numbers for 2 hr. disturbed the necessary boundary conditions required to obtain an unequivocal response to the drug. Two grains of alkaloid caffeine and a 2-gr. lactose placebo were administered on alternate sessions to each of 39 college students following a random double-blind assignment. Blood caffeine level was regulated for 8 hr. prior to administration. During an experimental session lasting 105 min. each, Ss completed rwo different test batteries consisting of short and varied mental tasks (i.e., mathematical and analogical reasoning, reading comprehension, items from personality and interest inventories) designed to be interesting and stimulating, four subjective raring scales, and three different sets of two six-place-number addition problems distributed in the batteries at the beginning, after 70 min., and after 77 min. The number of problems correctly completed was considered to be an operational measure of caffeine effect; it was similarly used by Nash and Barmack. The purpose of the rest of the battery was just to keep Ss engaged and thus meet Nash's objection to Barmack's original experiment. No significant differences were found in the number of problems correctly completed by the drug and placebo groups for all three problem sers. Although the subjective raring~ o€ interest, attentiveness, and wakefulness did deteriorate with time, there was no significant difference between drug and placebo groups; further, Ss did maintain a fairly favorable attitude without fatigue, boredom, or inattentiveness. These results support Barmack's hypothesis which would predict no differences under the prevailing conditions of no performance-reducing factors. Nash's finding of significant differences under such conditions was not confirmed, although the lack of any significant differences does not permit the rejection of Nash's hypothesis. The results suggest it is more probable that caffeine's facilitative effects are due to its anti-hypnotic properties rather than to stimulation of specific neural capacities.
Light-stimulated release of dopamine from the primate retina is blocked by l -2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB)

Macaca mulatta retinas were superfused, in vitro, to measure the efflux of dopamine. Steady light, in the low photopic range, stimulated dopamine release slightly. Flashing light (3 Hz) superimposed over the steady background increased dopamine efflux significantly. This increase was completely blocked by the addition of d,1-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (d,l-APB, 10-100 microM) to the superfusion medium, but not by the addition of the inactive enantiomer d-APB (10 microM). The results suggest that ON bipolar cells provide the excitatory drive to dopaminergic amacrine cells in primates, as in other species.
Interpretation of web page layouts by blind users

Digital libraries must support assistive technologies that allow people with disabilities such as blindness to use, navigate and understand their documents. Increasingly, many documents are Web-based and present their contents using complex layouts. However, approaches that translate two-dimensional layouts to one-dimensional speech produce a very different user experience and loss of information. To address this issue, we conducted a study of how blind people navigate and interpret layouts of news and shopping Web pages using current assistive technology. The study revealed that blind people do not parse Web pages fully during their first visit, and that they can miss important parts. The study also provided insights for improving assistive technologies.
A cross-cultural exploration of materialism in adolescents

To date, few studies have empirically examined specific values with respect to the global teenager hypothesis. In testing the global teenager hypothesis, this study investigates similarities and differences in materialism among 14- to 17-year olds in China, Japan and the USA. Significant differences were found between respondents from the three nations for materialism and discretionary spending power. Discretionary spending power had a significant effect on materialism across nations. In addition, evidence supports cross-national differences in the psychological structure of the materialism construct. While personal gain and social gain explain two materialism dimensions for the Japanese and American samples, factor analysis results suggest materialism may have alternative conceptual underpinnings in China. The findings of this study generally fail to support the global teenager hypothesis as it relates to the value of materialism.
Enzymic Preparation of L-β-Lysine

Abstract L-β-Lysine is prepared from L-lysine by the action of an enzyme, L-lysine-2, 3-aminomutase, present in extracts of lysine-fermenting Clostridia. 1The basic amino acids in the reaction mixture are adsorbed on a cation exchange resin, and β-lysine is separated from residual lysine by differential elution at pH 3.0. The β-lysine is desalted by adsorbing it on a cation exchange resin, washing the resin with water and eluting the 8-lysine with ammonia. Ammonia is removed and the β-lysine is converted to the sulfate and crystallized from aqueous methanol. The yield is 123 milli-moles or 61% based on the initial amount of lysine.
The Invention of the Plow

practices in economically highly underdeveloped societies. The purpose of this essay is to present a conjecture about the origins of the plow which differs from the conventional ideas on the subject and to test this hypothesis against several leading rival theories by means of a cross-cultural survey of agriculture in a number of tribal and peasant societies. The results of this exercise provide important clues about the circumstances underlying the introduction of the plow. When economists analyse the introduction of a new invention, they generally argue their cases in terms of changes in relative prices of goods or factors of production. For the origin or adoption of the plow, such an approach does not appear feasible. However, two other approaches have been proposed which provide insight into this problem of origins and which deserve attention. The prevailing opinion on the subject appears to follow the "universalistic" approach and focuses primarily on the preconditions underlying the adoption of the plow. An alternative viewpoint is provided by the "popula
13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of saturated, unsaturated, and oxygenated fatty acid methyl esters

Chemical shifts have been assigned to all the separate signals in the13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of methyl stearate, oleate, and petroselinate by means of the second and third atom isotope effects in spectra of specifically deuterated esters. Spectra of almost all the isomeric hydroxy, acetoxy, and oxo stearates were also measured. From the assignments, the effects of the introduction of a double bond or an oxo, hydroxy, or acetoxy group at different positions on the fatty acid chain on the13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were determined. All the isomeric oxo stearates and most of the hydroxy and acetoxy stearates can be distinguished and identified by their13C spectra.
Operant treatment of asthmatic responding with the parent as therapist

Pronounced reduction of chronic asthmatic responding in a 7-year-old boy was achieved through parental management of “therapeutic” contingencies. Treatment was begun with professional guidance by the mother after she had attended several instructional sessions in operant conditioning. Reinstatement of original consequences and return to treatment contingencies produced corresponding changes in the duration of asthmatic behavior. An 11-month follow-up confirmed the stability of the therapeutic changes, general improvement in the child's health, and the absence of any demonstrable deleterious side-effects. The results suggest closer and extended scrutiny of operant techniques in the treatment of asthma and other allergic responses.
Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation Regulates Insulator Function and Intrachromosomal Interactions in Drosophila

Insulators mediate inter- and intrachromosomal contacts to regulate enhancer-promoter interactions and establish chromosome domains. The mechanisms by which insulator activity can be regulated to orchestrate changes in the function and three-dimensional arrangement of the genome remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that Drosophila insulator proteins are poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated and that mutation of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (Parp) gene impairs their function. This modification is not essential for DNA occupancy of insulator DNA-binding proteins dCTCF and Su(Hw). However, poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of K566 in CP190 promotes protein-protein interactions with other insulator proteins, association with the nuclear lamina, and insulator activity in vivo. Consistent with these findings, the nuclear clustering of CP190 complexes is disrupted in Parp mutant cells. Importantly, poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation facilitates intrachromosomal interactions between insulator sites measured by 4C. These data suggest that the role of insulators in organizing the three-dimensional architecture of the genome may be modulated by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation.
Gender Identity and Homophobia: The Impact on Adolescent Males Studying French THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED

Foreign and second language (L2) educators in English-speaking countries are concerned that male students are losing interest in studying French. A large-scale study was conducted to investigate gender differences in L2 motivation and participation among Grade 9 core French students in Canada. A mixed methodology was employed to investigate gender differences in a variety of motivational factors among Grade 9 French as a second language (FSL) students. Approximately 500 students in Grade 9 FSL completed a questionnaire. The significant findings were then explored in interviews with students and teachers. The root of several differences in motivation and participation lied in societal perceptions of what is considered gender-appropriate male behavior. Although the study involves students studying FSL in Canada, its implications extend to learners of French in other English-speaking countries.
Cd, Hg, and Pb compounds of benzene-1,3-diamidoethanethiol (BDETH2)

Benzene-1,3-diamidoethanethiol (BDETH2) is an exceptional precipitant for removing soft heavy metals from water. The present work will detail the bonding arrangement of BDETH2 to the metals Cd, Hg, and Pb, along with the full characterization data of the BDET−M compounds. It was found that the Hg compound has a linear S−M−S geometry. The characterization data consisted of Mp, EA, IR, Raman, MS, XANES, EXAFS, and solid-state multinuclear NMR.
Food Deprivation Attenuates Seizures through CaMKII and EAG K+ Channels

Accumulated research has demonstrated the beneficial effects of dietary restriction on extending lifespan and increasing cellular stress resistance. However, reducing nutrient intake has also been shown to direct animal behaviors toward food acquisition. Under food-limiting conditions, behavioral changes suggest that neuronal and muscle activities in circuits that are not involved in nutrient acquisition are down-regulated. These dietary-regulated mechanisms, if understood better, might provide an approach to compensate for defects in molecules that regulate cell excitability. We previously reported that a neuromuscular circuit used in Caenorhabditis elegans male mating behavior is attenuated under food-limiting conditions. During periods between matings, sex-specific muscles that control movements of the male's copulatory spicules are kept inactive by UNC-103 ether-a-go-go-related gene (ERG)-like K(+) channels. Deletion of unc-103 causes approximately 30%-40% of virgin males to display sex-muscle seizures; however, when food is deprived from males, the incidence of spontaneous muscle contractions drops to 9%-11%. In this work, we used genetics and pharmacology to address the mechanisms that act parallel with UNC-103 to suppress muscle seizures in males that lack ERG-like K(+) channel function. We identify calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II as a regulator that uses different mechanisms in food and nonfood conditions to compensate for reduced ERG-like K(+) channel activity. We found that in food-deprived conditions, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II acts cell-autonomously with ether-a-go-go K(+) channels to inhibit spontaneous muscle contractions. Our work suggests that upregulating mechanisms used by food deprivation can suppress muscle seizures.
A note on helicity conservation in Leray models of incompressible flow

Abstract We prove conservation of a regularized helicity H L : = ∫ Ω u ⋅ w d x for the Leray model (and its variants) of turbulent flow, where w is the solution of a Leray-regularized vorticity equation. The usual definition of helicity is H = ∫ Ω u ⋅ ( ∇ × u ) d x , which is considered by Navier–Stokes flows, but is not a conserved quantity of the Leray model. However, if u is a Leray solution, then the difference between H and H L is that H L uses a regularized vorticity and H uses the curl of a regularized velocity. The results are extended to show that the standard Crank–Nicolson finite element method for Leray models conserves both discrete energy and discrete regularized helicity.
A filter-based feature selection approach for identifying potential biomarkers for lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in the world and its treatment is dependant on the type and stage of cancer detected in the patient. Molecular biomarkers that can characterize the cancer phenotype are thus a key tool in planning a therapeutic response. A common protocol for identifying such biomarkers is to employ genomic microarray analysis to find genes that show differential expression according to disease state or type. Data-mining techniques such as feature selection are often used to isolate, from among a large manifold of genes with differential expression, those specific genes whose differential expression patterns are of optimal value in phenotypic differentiation. One such technique, Biomarker Identifier (BMI), has been developed to identify features with the ability to distinguish between two data groups of interest, which is thus highly applicable for such studies. Microarray data with validated genes was used to evaluate the utility of BMI in identifying markers for lung cancer. This data set contains a set of 129 gene expression profiles from large-airway epithelial cells (60 samples from smokers with lung cancer and 69 from smokers without lung cancer) and 7 genes from this data have been confirmed to be differentially expressed by quantitative PCR. Using this data set, BMI was compared with various well-known feature selection methods and was found to be more successful than other methods in finding useful genes to classify cancerous samples. Also it is evident that genes selected by BMI (given the same number of genes and classification algorithms) showed better discriminative power than those from the original study. After pathway analysis on the selected genes by BMI, we have been able to correlate the selected genes with well-known cancer-related pathways. Our results show that BMI can be used to analyze microarray data and to find useful genes for classifying samples. Pathway analysis suggests that BMI is successful in identifying biomarker-quality cancer-related genes from the data.
Platelets for multiscale analysis in photon-limited imaging

The paper proposes a new multiscale image decomposition based on platelets. Platelets are localized functions at various scales, locations, and orientations that produce piecewise linear image approximations. For smoothness measured in certain Holder classes, the error of m-term platelet approximations can decay significantly faster than that of m-term approximations in terms of sinusoids, wavelets, or wedgelets. Platelet representations are especially well-suited for the analysis of Poisson data, unlike most other multiscale image representations, and they can be rapidly computed. We propose a platelet-based maximum penalized likelihood criterion that encompasses denoising, deblurring, and tomographic reconstruction.
The effect of the polyethylene IUD on rat embryogenesis.

Abstract The investigation was designed to determine whether the decidual reactions and development of the embryos in the polyethylene IUD horns were comparable to those seen in the control horns. The morphology, glycogen distribution and DNA replication of the 7–9 day old embryos and decidual reactions from the IUD horns were indistinguishable from those of the control horns. However, the per cent of resorption in the IUD horns was significantly greater than that of the controls at days 16–18. All pups were born alive from the three rats allowed to deliver and the polyethylene IUD was still in place in the uterine horn. The results show that the contraceptive action of the polyethylene device extends throughout gestation which is different from the silk thread and copper.
Estimating the Implied Risk Neutral Density for the U.S. Market Portfolio

The market's risk neutral probability distribution for the value of an asset on a future date can be extracted from the prices of a set of options that mature on that date, but two key technical problems arise. In order to obtain a full well-behaved density, the option market prices must be smoothed and interpolated, and some way must be found to complete the tails beyond the range spanned by the available options. This paper develops an approach that solves both problems, with a combination of smoothing techniques from the literature modified to take account of the market's bid-ask spread, and a new method of completing the density with tails drawn from a Generalized Extreme Value distribution. We extract twelve years of daily risk neutral densities from S&P 500 index options and find that they are quite different from the lognormal densities assumed in the Black-Scholes framework, and that their shapes change in a regular way as the underlying index moves. Our approach is quite general and has the potential to reveal valuable insights about how information and risk preferences are incorporated into prices in many financial markets.
Performance of the BABAR-DIRC

Abstract A new type of ring-imaging Cherenkov detector is being used for hadronic particle identification in the B a B ar experiment at the SLAC B Factory (PEP-II). This detector is called DIRC, an acronym for Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov (light). This paper describes the performance of the DIRC during the first 5 years of operation.
The Biogenesis and Function of PIWI Proteins and piRNAs: Progress and Prospect

The evolutionarily conserved Argonaute/PIWI (AGO/PIWI, also known as PAZ-PIWI domain or PPD) family of proteins is crucial for the biogenesis and function of small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). This family can be divided into AGO and PIWI subfamilies. The AGO proteins are ubiquitously present in diverse tissues. They bind to small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). In contrast, the PIWI proteins are predominantly present in the germline and associate with a novel class of small RNAs known as PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). Tens of thousands of piRNA species, typically 24-32 nucleotide (nt) long, have been found in mammals, zebrafish, and Drosophila. Most piRNAs appear to be generated from a small number of long single-stranded RNA precursors that are often encoded by repetitive intergenic sequences in the genome. PIWI proteins play crucial roles during germline development and gametogenesis of many metazoan species, from germline determination and germline stem cell (GSC) maintenance to meiosis, spermiogenesis, and transposon silencing. These diverse functions may involve piRNAs and may be achieved via novel mechanisms of epigenetic and posttranscriptional regulation.
Antagonism of Neuromuscular Actions of Hexamethonium by Choline Precursors

Sir: Hexamethonium has been classified as a ganglionic blocking agent (1) and is used as a hypotensive drug clinically. However, because of its numerous side effects, its use has been quite limited. Recently, it has been shown that hexamethonium possesses not only antinicotinic action but also hemicholinium-like action which inhibits acetylcholine synthesis to paralyze cholinergic neurons (2–5). The side effects of hexamethonium could be due primarily to this hemicholinium-like action, which can be antagonized by pretreatment of the animals with choline (6). In this study, we tried to determine whether or not the choline precursors, e.g., dimethylaminoethanol plus methionine, will also prevent the hemicholinium-like action of hexamethonium.
Peripheral pigmentary iris cyst: evaluation and differential diagnosis

Peripheral iris pigment epithelial cysts are benign lesions of the anterior segment. They are located at the iridociliary junction and can produce a localised distortion and/or displacement of the iris. Patients who have these lesions are usually asymptomatic and in the absence of a careful slitlamp examination will often remain undetected. The aetiology of these cysts is unknown and they tend to be unilateral and solitary in nature. The cyst walls are composed of iris pigment epithelium and the lumen contains clear fluid. Women are three times more likely to develop these cysts, which must be differentiated from malignancies of the iris or ciliary body. We report a case involving a peripheral pigmentary iris cyst and discuss methods of differentiating this benign lesion from serious ocular tumours.
Phylogenetic Relationships and the Diversification of Floral Form in Achimenes (Gesneriaceae)

Abstract Achimenes is a genus in the Gesneriaceae, subfamily Gesnerioideae, tribe Gloxinieae that shows remarkable variation in floral form and possibly floral pollination syndrome. This includes flowers that are salverform, tubular, or infundibuliform, white, yellow, pink, purple, and red, and with or without corolla spurs. Previous classifications of Achimenes have relied heavily on floral form as a measure of relationship. This study explores phylogenetic relationships in Achimenes and addresses questions of proper supraspecific classification, evolution of floral forms and pollination syndromes, the origins of floral spurs, chromosome evolution, and biogeographic patterns using nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnL-F spacer sequences analyzed using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methodologies. Phylogenetic hypotheses support the non-monophyly of most of the supraspecific classification units currently recognized in Achimenes, multiple origins of each of the pollination syndromes and the major morphologic...
Modelling a dream: the molecular prevention of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a frequent and devastating cause of morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world with a 5 year survival of only 5%.1 Unfortunately, these dismal statistics have not improved appreciably over the last 30 years despite an explosive growth in our understanding of the disease's pathogenesis. Indeed, a recent model of human pancreatic cancer provides important histological and molecular insights,2 but for the most part, these insights await translation into improved markers for risk assessment, new agents for prevention and therapy, as well as intermediate endpoints that could prove useful in guiding intervention trials. Despite these translational limitations, our growing knowledge of human cancer development has stimulated the development of many new, genetically driven rodent models that promise to provide novel mechanistic insights into cancer development and progression, and/or serve as improved preclinical systems in which to evaluate promising preventive or therapeutic agents. Of course, the relevance of these models to human applications depends on several factors.3 4 Fundamentally, the most promising new animal models should: (1) employ genetic manipulations that mimic key molecular determinants of human disease—optimally, in nature, magnitude, timing, and frequency; (2) reflect histopathological and phenotypic features of human disease that evolve over time; and (3) offer reproducible results across time and various laboratories. Additional desirable features of somewhat lesser importance include: (1) ready public access, (2) efficiency of use (eg, regarding the frequency and timing of meaningful endpoints), (3) modest cost, (4) breeding efficiencies (eg, for generation and maintenance of the colony), and (5) an intact immune system. When an animal model is used to …
Improving web spam classification using rank-time features

In this paper, we study the classification of web spam. Web spam refers to pages that use techniques to mislead search engines into assigning them higher rank, thus increasing their site traffic. Our contributions are two fold. First, we find that the method of datset construction is crucial for accurate spam classification and we note that this problem occurs generally in learning problems and can be hard to detect. In particular, we find that ensuring no overlapping domains between test and training sets is necessary to accurately test a web spam classifier. In our case, classification performance can differ by as much as 40% in precision when using non-domain-separated data. Second, we show rank-time features can improve the performance of a web spam classifier. Our paper is the first to investigate the use of rank-time features, and in particular query-dependent rank-time features, for web spam detection. We show that the use of rank-time and query-dependent features can lead to an increase in accuracy over a classifier trained using page-based content only.
Dielectrophoretic capture of E. coli cells at micropatterned nanoelectrode arrays

This paper reports capture and detection of pathogenic bacteria based on AC dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) employing an embedded vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (VACNF) nanoelectrode array (NEA) versus a macroscopic indium-tin-oxide (ITO) transparent electrode in "points-and-lid" configuration. The nano-DEP device was fabricated using photolithography processes to define an exposed active region on a randomly distributed NEA and a microfluidic channel on ITO to guide the flow of labeled Escherichia coli cells, respectively, and then bond them into a fluidic chip. A high-frequency (100 kHz) AC field was applied to generate positive DEP at the tips of exposed CNFs. Enhanced electric field gradient was achieved due to reduction in electrode size down to nanometer scale which helped to overcome the large hydrodynamic drag force experienced by E. coli cells at high flow velocities (up to 1.6 mm/s). This DEP device was able to effectively capture a significant number of E. coli cells. Significant decrease in the absolute impedance at the NEA was observed in EIS experiments. The results obtained in this study suggest the possibility of integration of a fully functional electronic device for rapid, reversible and label-free capture and detection of pathogenic bacteria.
Hydrogel-Based Glucose Sensors: Effects of Phenylboronic Acid Chemical Structure on Response

Phenylboronic acids (PBAs) are being considered for glucose sensing and controlled insulin release, because of their affinity for diol-containing molecules. The interaction of immobilized PBAs in a hydrogel matrix with glucose can lead to volumetric changes that have been used to monitor glucose concentration and release insulin. Although the interaction of PBAs with diol-containing molecules has been intensively studied, the response of PBA-modified hydrogels as a function of the specific PBA chemistry is not well understood. To understand the interaction of immobilized PBAs with glucose in hydrogel systems under physiological conditions, the glucose-dependent volumetric changes of a series of hydrogel sensors functionalized with different classes of PBAs were investigated. The volume change induced by PBA-glucose interactions is converted to the diffracted wavelength shift by a crystalline colloidal array embedded in the hydrogel matrix. The PBAs studied contain varying structural parameters such as the...
Effects of cinacalcet on bone mineral density in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Background. Cinacalcet, a calcimimetic agent, is effective in treating both primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Because hyperparathyroidism induces mineralized bone loss, we investigated the effects of cinacalcet treatment on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism due to chronic kidney disease. Methods. Ten patients who were receiving haemodialysis and four patients, who had stage 4 chronic kidney disease participated and completed the multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of cinacalcet for treating secondary hyperparathyroidism. The efficacy of cinacalcet was assessed by plasma intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels. A dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed to measure the BMD of total proximal femurs and lumbar spine (L2-L4) before and after 26 weeks of treatment. Results. Cinacalcet reduced iPTH from 912±296 to 515 ± 359 pg/ml in haemodialysis patients and from 210 ± 46 to 56 ± 51 pg/ml in pre-dialysis patients (means ± SD; both P < 0.05). When data from haemodialysis and pre-dialysis patients were pooled for analysis, cinacalcet treatment increased proximal femur BMD from 0.945 ± 0.169 to 0.961 ± 0.174 g/cm 2 (P<0.05), but did not affect lumbar spine BMD. There was a correlation between the change in femur BMD and the change in iPTH during the study period (R 2 = 0.39, P < 0.05). Conclusions. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is associated with progressive bone loss. Suppression of plasma iPTH with cinacalcet appears to reverse bone loss in the proximal femur, but does not affect BMD of the lumbar spine. A larger study is warranted to confirm that cinacalcet has a beneficial effect on the skeletal system in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Realizing One's Rights under the 1951 Convention 60 Years On: A Review of Practical Constraints on Accessing Protection in Europe

Sixty years after the signing of the Geneva Convention, not all refugees are able to access the protection promised, even in signatory States. In this article, the authors outline the different constraints preventing refugees from accessing asylum in one European Union Member State. These constraints are the difficulty asylum seekers have in entering Greek territory, their difficulties entering the Greek asylum system and finally, problems with the asylum system itself. They further argue that such constraints are not unique to Greece.
Right heart overload contributes to cardiac natriuretic hormone elevation in patients with heart failure.

Abstract Background Atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) plasma concentration increases and holds a prognostic significance in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. We assessed the hypothesis that right ventricular (RV) overload might significantly contribute to plasma elevation of cardiac natriuretic hormones in patients with heart failure. Methods Forty-one patients with cardiomyopathy and depressed left ventricular (LV) function (ejection fraction, EF, Results In the group of patients, LVEF was 22.6±1.2% (controls: 61.2±1.3%, P P 2 (controls 70±3/27±2 ml/m 2 , both P 2 (controls: 63±4/21±2 ml/m 2 , P Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between BNP and either LVEF or RVEF. Conversely, ANP showed a significant correlation only with end-systolic RV volume and with both RVEF and LVEF. When multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis was applied LVEF resulted the only independent predictor for ANP plasma values ( R =0.591, P R =0.881, P R =0.881, P =0.035, respectively). Conclusions Right heart overload contributes independently to plasma elevation of natriuretic peptides. RV involvement, which is known to independently worsen prognosis in patients with cardiomyopathy, might contribute to their established prognostic power, inducing compensatory secretion of plasma cardiac natriuretic hormones.
Glucocorticoid-Induced Plasma Membrane Depolarization during Thymocyte Apoptosis: Association with Cell Shrinkage and Degradation of the Na+/K+-Adenosine Triphosphatase

Multiple signaling pathways are known to induce apoptosis in thymocytes through mechanisms that include the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cell shrinkage, caspase activation, and DNA degradation but little is known about the consequences of apoptosis on the properties of the plasma membrane. We have previously shown that apoptotic signals, including survival factor withdrawal and glucocorticoids, induce plasma membrane depolarization during rat thymocyte apoptosis, but the mechanisms involved in this process are unknown. We report here that inhibition of the Na+/K+-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+/K+-ATPase) with ouabain similarly depolarized control thymocytes and enhanced glucocorticoid-induced membrane depolarization, suggesting a link between Na+/K+-ATPase and plasma membrane depolarization of thymocytes. To determine whether repression of Na+/K+-ATPase levels within cells can account for the loss of plasma membrane potential, we assessed protein levels of the Na+/K+-ATPase in apoptotic thymoc...
Declarative business artifact centric modeling of decision and knowledge intensive business processes

In this paper we address the problem of modeling collaborative decision and knowledge intensive business processes (sometimes referred to as Decision Intensive Processes, or DIP processes). DIP processes assist users in performing decision intensive tasks, and provide users with a guidance relevant to process execution context. DIP processes are by nature collaborative, data-driven, need to support various kinds of flexibility at design and run time, and need to integrate with external services and information sources. Such a combination presents significant challenges for contemporary business processes technologies. We present a solution based on a business artifacts paradigm (a.k.a. business entities with lifecycles) using a Guard-Stage-Milestone (GSM) model for declarative lifecycles specification. We introduce a CoreControl -- MicroProcess process design pattern, which allows a natural blending of a business functional process structure (usual for most business processes), with a decision & knowledge driven structure providing domain specific decision guidance to users. The proposed design pattern along with the declarative GSM BA approach provide suitable design primitives for DIP process, as demonstrated on a real problem from the supply chain solutions enablement domain.
Management Of Academic Quality: A Comparison Of Online Versus Lecture Course Outcomes

This study compared the final grades of courses taught both through distance learning (online) and the traditional classroom (lecture) delivery mode. This research sought to determine if a significant difference existed between the grades of the two identified delivery modes. Four courses taught by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University were selected for the study. Grades for the 2005 and 2006 calendar years were compared to determine if significance exists between the two modes. The study found that in the case of all four classes a significant difference was found in the final grades. In each case, the mean grade for the online courses was significantly less than those of the traditional lecture classes.
Repeat rape and multiple offending among undetected rapists.

Pooling data from four samples in which 1,882 men were assessed for acts of interper­ sonal violence, we report on 120 men whose self-reported acts met legal definitions of rape or attempted rape, but who were never prosecuted by criminal justice authorities. A majority of these undetected rapists were repeat rapists, and a majority also committed other acts of interpersonal violence. The repeat rapists averaged 5.8 rapes each. The 120 rapists were responsible for 1,225 separate acts of interpersonal violence, including rape, battery, and child physical and sexual abuse. These findings mirror those from studies of incarcerated sex offenders (Abel, Becker, Mittelman, Cunningham-Rathner, Rouleau, & Murphy, 1987; Weinrott and Saylor, 1991), indicating high rates of both repeat rape and multiple types of offending. Implications for the investigation and prosecution of this so­ called "hidden" rape are discussed.
Optimal LQG Control Across Packet-Dropping Links

We examine two special cases of the problem of optimal linear quadratic Gaussian control of a system whose state is being measured by sensors that communicate with the controller over packet-dropping links. We pose the problem as an information transmission problem. Using a separation principle, we decompose the problem into a standard LQR state-feedback controller design, along with an optimal encoder–decoder design for propagating and using the information across the unreliable links. Our design is optimal among all causal algorithms for any arbitrary packet-drop pattern. Further, the solution is appealing from a practical point of view because it can be implemented as a small modification of an existing LQG control design.
Modeling initial breakdown pulses of CG lightning flashes

Electric field change waveforms of initial breakdown pulses (IBPs) in cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes were recorded at ten sites at Kennedy Space center, Florida, in 2011. Six “classic” IBPs were modeled using three modified transmission line (MTL) models called MTLL, MTLE, and MTLK. The locations of the six IBPs were obtained using a time-of-arrival method and used as inputs for the models; the recorded IBP waveforms from six to eight sites were used as model constraints. All three models were able to reasonably fit the measured IBP waveforms; the best fit was most often given by the MTLE model. For each individual IBP, there was good agreement between the three models on several physical parameters of the IBPs: current risetime, current falltime, current shape factor, current propagation speed, and the total charge moment change. For the six IBPs modeled, the ranges, mean values, and standard deviations of these quantities are as follows: current risetime [4.8–25, (12 ±6)] μs, current falltime [15–37, (25 ±6)] μs, current speed [0.78–1.8, (1.3 ±0.3)]×108 m/s, and charge moment change [0.015–0.30, (0.12 ±0.10)] C km. Currents in the MTLL and MTLE models moved a negative charge −Q downward and deposited an equivalent positive charge +Q along their paths; the mean Q values were 0.35 C for MTLL and 0.71 C for MTLE. MTLK model deposited negative charge along its lower path and positive charge along its upper path with mean values of 0.27 C.
NEW ON PATERNALISM AND PUBLIC POLICY

Bill New's (1999) thoughtful paper has performed the valuable service of clarifying the meaning and the policy implications of paternalism. His careful formulation delimits the domain of justified state paternalism. Having argued successfully, in our view, for a narrow ambit, New proceeds to identify situations that justify paternalism. This comment is written in the spirit of a friendly reformulation that refines and improves the specification of when paternalism is justified. Our argument is two-fold. First, we argue that New's formulation, properly understood, will not readily permit the paternalistic interventions he argues are justified. Second, we identify a class of potentially justified interventions that have paternalistic aspects, but which are neither strictly paternalistic nor market-failure remedies.