cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Network-constrained packing of brokered workloads in virtualized environments

Providing resource allocation with performance predictability guarantees is increasingly important in cloud platforms, especially for data-intensive applications, for which performance depends greatly on the available rates of data transfer between the various computing/storage hosts underlying the virtualized resources assigned to the application. Existing resource allocation solutions either assume that applications manage their data transfer between their virtualized resources, or that cloud providers manage their internal networking resources. With the increased prevalence of brokerage services in cloud platforms, there is a need for resource allocation solutions that provide predictability guarantees in such settings, in which neither application scheduling nor cloud provider resources can be managed/controlled by the broker. This paper addresses this problem, as we define the Network-Constrained Packing (NCP) problem of finding the optimal mapping of brokered resources to applications with guaranteed performance predictability. We prove that NCP is NP-hard, and we define two special instances of the problem, for which exact solutions can be found efficiently. We develop a greedy heuristic to solve the general instance of the NCP problem, and we evaluate its efficiency using simulations on various application workloads, and network models.
Cytostasis induced in L1210 murine leukaemia cells by the S -adenosyl-l-methionine decarboxylase inhibitor 5-([( Z )-4-amino-2-butenyl]methylamino)-5-deoxyadenosine may be due to hypusine depletion

The effects of inhibition of the capacity to form spermidine and spermine on cell growth were investigated using murine leukaemia L1210 cells and 5'-([(Z)-4-amino-2-butenyl]methylamino)-5'-deoxyadenosine (MDL 73811, AbeAdo), an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase. Putrescine levels were increased 80-fold, and spermidine and spermine levels were greatly reduced after a 3-day exposure to a maximally inhibitory dose of 10 microM-AbeAdo. Addition of AbeAdo to the culture medium inhibited the growth of L1210 cells measured 3 days later in a dose-dependent manner, but, even at a dose of 10 microM, which was maximally effective, exposure to AbeAdo was not immediately cytostatic. However, the growth rate of L1210 cells chronically exposed to 10 microM-AbeAdo declined steadily until day 12, when the cells stopped growing. L1210 cells exposed to AbeAdo for 12 days could not be rescued from cytostasis by removal of the drug from the culture, but could be rescued by exposure to exogenous spermidine or spermine, indicating that the growth-inhibitory effects of AbeAdo were a result of spermidine and/or spermine depletion. It is suggested that elevated intracellular putrescine in AbeAdo-treated cells sustained limited growth in the absence of physiological levels of spermidine and spermine until certain critical and specific physiological role(s) fulfilled by spermidine (and/or spermine) became deficient resulting in cytostasis. N-(3-Aminopropyl)-1,4-diamino-cis-but-2-ene, a spermidine analogue that is a substrate for deoxyhypusine synthase, was able to mimic the effects of spermidine in reversing AbeAdo-induced cytostasis. Spermidine analogues such as 5,5-dimethylspermidine, which are not substrates for deoxyhypusine synthase, were not active in this way. These results provide evidence that the formation of hypusine in the protein-synthesis initiation factor eIF-5A may be a critical role of spermidine essential for cell growth.
To the Latest Posterity: Pennsylvania-German Family Registers in the Fraktur Tradition

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Corinne Earnest and Russell Earnest Year: 2004 Pages: xxi + 153 Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press ISBN: 0271023686 (hard cover). Prices: $45.00 US(hard cover).
Nashton Partners and Its Search Fund Process

Nashton Partners was a search fund founded by two HBS MBA's that raised $500,000 to finance a search for a company that they could purchase and then run for the next five to ten years. The case examines the search fund structure, the two-year search, and two potential acquisitions.Learning Objective: This case gives students the opportunity to explore search funds, including their structure, operation and target acquisition process.
The obese body as interface: fat studies, medical data, and infographics

In a recent issue of CDQ, Aparicio and Costa (2014) present a discussion of the long history of data visualization, articulating that data visualization is, again, gaining in popularity and attention. Included in this discussion of data visualization is a subset of data visualization--infographics. Such inclusion is apt, considering that Blythe, Lauer, and Curran (2014) found that infographics are one of the top 10 genres in which alumni of technical communication programs reported that they generate on the job site and within their own lives.With regard to the importance of and renewed interest in data visualization (and by extension infographics), in this article I call attention to a specific use of the infographic---as a form of data visualization from health-related organizations of medical and statistical data regarding obesity. Through analysis of obesity infographics, I argue that infographics about medical data can (and do) feminize the "obese" body and claims the female body as an efficient instrument of normalization and cultural management.To do so, I rhetorically analyze obesity infographics to illustrate that the infographic genre's goals---to simplify, clarify, and deliver complex information in a visually compelling manner---can exercise problematic commitments to expediency and illustrate problematic notions of exigence [Katz, 1992; Ward, 2010; Dragga & Voss 2001]. Such commitments, encourage misreadings of medical data and, by extension, the infographics that convey data regarding body categorizations and notions of health.By obfuscating how infographics potentially drive simplification of terms that reify the narrow frames with which we understand "obesity" and "obese" bodies, I argue that such visual representations of data can also serve a metonymic function for ever-narrowing cultural conceptualizations of obesity-as-detriment and obesity-as-bodily-fault. Further, I argue that such problematic use infographics can reduce the complexities of the body and definitions of the body, especially of the "obese" body and definitions of "obesity," with the effect of potentially pathologizing, managing and normalizing information and bodies under the guise of promoting "health" and "healthy living." Interfacing with medical data in this way, in other words, can be both understandable and yet highly problematic; this article illustrates how and why.
DETERMINATION OF LETHALITY DURING ASEPTIC PROCESSING OF PARTICULATE FOODS

Experimental and modelling studies were conducted to ascertain the effect of viscosity, flow rate, particle size, particle concentration on the residence time distribution of particles during non-Newtonian flow in a holding tube. Another program was written to determine the temperature distribution within particles during flow in the heat exchanger, holding tube, and cooling section of an aseptic processing system. Based on this, the lethality of different processes was determined depending on the target microorganism. The extent of nutrient retention and enzyme destruction was also computed. Experimental studies indicated that an increase in viscosity, flow rate or particle concentration decreased the mean and minimum residence time while an increase in particle concentration resulted in the opposite effect. In addition, it was found that an increase in viscosity widened the residence time distribution (RTD), while an increase in flow rate, particle size or particle concentration narrowed the RTD. Process lethality decreased from 8.0 to 2.3 mins when particle size increased from 1.0 to 1.5 cm; decreased from 5.9 to 4.0mins when particle concentration increased from 30 to 50%; and decreased from 6.5 to 3.0 mins when the heat transfer coefficient decreased from 300 to 200W/m2-K.
The mini-exon genes of three Phytomonas isolates that differ in plant tissue tropism

The tandem mini-exon gene repeat is an ideal diagnostic target for trypanosomatids because it includes sequences that are conserved absolutely coupled with regions of extreme variability. We have exploited these features and the polymerase chain reaction to differentiate Phytomonas strains isolated from phloem, fruit or latex of various host plants. While the transcribed regions are nearly identical, the intergenic sequences are variable in size and content (130–332 base pairs). The mini-exon genes of these phytomonads can therefore be distinguished from each other and from the corresponding genes in insect trypanosomes, with which they are oft confused.
Visual Field Loss While Wearing Full-Face Respiratory Protection

The loss of visual field was quantified for 21 test subjects while they wore three full-face respirators. Changes in visual field were quantified for each type of respirator using a modified Goldmann projection perimeter. The loss of visual field was determined by calculating the area under the curve while wearing a respirator to that while wearing no respirator. Distinct patterns of visual field loss were apparent for the different style respirators. Analysis of the patterns could lead to the design of full-face respirators with improved visual qualities, which could improve worker safety for certain occupations. This technique also could be of help when selecting models of respiratory protection when certain visual fields must be maintained.
Virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis: a normal mumps virus response adds support for a distinct impairment in the measles virus response

Abstract An impairment of the measles virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in multiple sclerosis was previously reported. This response is predominantly mediated by HLA class II-restricted CD4 + cells. In the present report, virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in multiple sclerosis were further studied by examining the response to mump virus. No significant difference was detected in the generation of mumps virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses between normal individuals and multiple sclerosis patients with impaired measles virus-specific cytotoxicity. A portion of the mumps virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response could be mediated by HLA class II-restricted CD4 + cells generated from both normal controls and MS patients. This CD4 + cell-mediated portion of the response was similar in both groups. These findings support the view that there is a distinct measles virus-specific impairment in cell-mediated cytotoxicity in multiple sclerosis.
Ventricular tachycardia secondary to Port-a-Cath fracture and embolization.

Distal embolization of a fractured indwelling venous access catheter is a known, but rare, complication of these common devices. We report a case of possibly life-threatening tachydysrhythmia caused by an embolized portion of catheter from a totally implanted venous access catheter. Our discussion focuses on review of the literature on the typical presentation and management of this entity, as well as a brief discussion on prevention and risk factors for developing this complication.
Congenital Microstomia in a Neonate with Impending Respiratory Compromise

Microstomia is the term used to describe a reduction in the size of the oral aperture that is severe enough to compromise quality of life, nutrition, and cosmesis. Few cases of congenital microstomia have been reported as most microstomia cases are due to burn injuries. We are presenting a case of a neonate who was found to be in respiratory distress with severe congenital microstomia from no known cause. This case illustrates the rarity of this type of pathologic anatomy as well as the teamwork and tools necessary to treat these patients.
Failure of ovariectomy to influence drum tolerance or phagocytic stimulation by zymosan in the rat.

SummaryBilaterally ovariectomized and sham-operated rats were compared with respect to their conditioning responses in the Noble-Collip drum, and their responses to Zymosan, a RES-stimulating agent. Estrogen-deprivation in castrated animals was confirmed by the presence of atrophic uteri and hypertrophic thymus glands. Gonadectomized animals gained weight during the conditioning process and survived final challenge as well as did controls. There was no difference in the effect of conditioning upon weights of spleen, pituitary or adrenals in the 2 groups. Zymosan treatment resulted in equivalent hypertrophy of liver and spleen, and an equivalent increase in phagocytic activity per unit of tissue in the 2 groups. It was concluded that ovariectomy does not inhibit the response of the RES of the rat to stress or to stimulation with Zymosan. It is suggested that physiologic titers of ovarian hormone are not required during the development of hyperfunctional states of the RES in female rats.
FRACTIONATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF EDIBLE TALLOW

Tallow or fractionated tallow could be utilized as suitable replacements for expensive imported fats. Detergent (aqueous) fractionation is applicable to beef tallow and involves the addition of water containing an inorganic salt (Na2SO4) and a surface active agent, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), to a partly crystallized oil. Centrifugation yields olein and stearin layers. Investigation of four principal process variables revealed that olein production was maximized with (1) 5 hr of crystallization, (2) minimum stirring during crystallization, (3) subsequent addition of SDS to fractions, and (4) a 4:1 electrolyte to detergent ratio. A comparison with olein yields for current fractionation methods for tallow revealed that the modified procedure was rrore efficient.
Design and Development of a New Automated and High Speed Cap Sealing System

Plastic welding is a technical process of welding plastic component together and it is one of the primary processes of joining plastics. There are several types of techniques in the plastic welding including hot gas welding, extrusion welding, contact welding, hot plate welding, injection welding, and friction welding, To increase the plastic welding speed and sealing capacity, this research introduces a new automated and high speed cap sealing system applied to cartridge filled with gas product. The computer-aided modeling analysis and prototype testing show that this automated and high speed welding system has high production rate, good sealing quality, reliable function, and cost-effective manufacturing process.
Development and Validation of a Preliminary Measure of African American Women’s Gender Role Beliefs

Gender role beliefs of African American women differ from those of women in other ethnic/racial groups and a culturally valid measure of their gender role beliefs is needed. Three studies were cond...
GRASSLAND ESTABLISHMENT UNDER VARYING RESOURCE AVAILABILITY: A TEST OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FEEDBACK

The traditional logic of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) interactions in ecosystems predicts further increases or decreases in productivity (positive feedback) in response to high and low fertility in the soil, respectively; but the potential for development of feedback in ecosystems recovering from disturbance is less well understood. Furthermore, this logic has been challenged in grassland ecosystems where frequent fires or grazing may reduce the contribution of aboveground litter inputs to soil organic matter pools and nutrient supply for plant growth, relative to forest ecosystems. Further, if increases in plant productivity increase soil C content more than soil N content, negative feedback may result from increased microbial demand for N making less available for plant growth. We used a field experiment to test for feedback in an establishing grassland by comparing aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and belowground pools and fluxes of C and N in soil with enriched, ambient, and reduced N availability. For eight years annual N enrichment increased ANPP, root N, and root tissue quality, but root C:N ratios remained well above the threshold for net mineralization of N. There was no evidence that N enrichment increased root biomass, soil C or N accrual rates, or storage of C in total, microbial, or mineralizable pools within this time frame. However, the net nitrogen mineralization potential (NMP) rate was greater following eight years of N enrichment, and we attributed this to N saturation of the microbial biomass. Grassland developing under experimentally imposed N limitation through C addition to the soil exhibited ANPP, root biomass and quality, and net NMP rate similar to the ambient soil. Similarity in productivity and roots in the reduced and ambient N treatments was attributed to the potentially high nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of the dominant C4 grasses, and increasing cover of legumes over time in the C-amended soil. Thus, in a developing ecosystem, positive feedback between soil N supply and plant productivity may promote enhanced long-term N availability and override progressive N limitation as C accrues in plant and soil pools. However, experimentally imposed reduction in N availability did not feed back to reduce ANPP, possibly due to shifts in NUE and functional group composition.
PRUF—a meaning representation language for natural languages

PRUF—an acronym for Possibilistic Relational Universal Fuzzy—is a meaning representation language for natural languages which departs from the conventional approaches to the theory of meaning in several important respects. First, a basic assumption underlying PRUF is that the imprecision that is intrinsic in natural languages is, for the most part, possibilistic rather than probabilistic in nature. Thus, a proposition such as “Richard is tall” translates in PRUF into a possibility distribution of the variable Height (Richard), which associates with each value of the variable a number in the interval [0,11 representing the possibility that Height (Richard) could assume the value in question. More generally, a proposition, p , translates into a procedure, P, which returns a possibility distribution, Π p , with P and Π p representing, respectively, the meaning of p and the information conveyed by p . In this sense, the concept of a possibility distribution replaces that of truth as a foundation for the representation of meaning in natural languages. Second, the logic underlying PRUF is not a two-valued or multivalued logic, but a fuzzy logic, FL, in which the truth-values are linguistic, that is, are of the form true, not true, very true, more or less true, not very true , etc., with each such truth-value representing a fuzzy subset of the unit interval. The truth-value of a proposition is defined as its compatibility with a reference proposition, so that given two propositions p and r, one can compute the truth of p relative to r . Third, the quantifiers in PRUF—like the truth-values—are allowed to be linguistic, i.e. may be expressed as most, many, few, some, not very many, almost all, etc. Based on the concept of the cardinality of a fuzzy set, such quantifiers are given a concrete interpretation which makes it possible to translate into PRUF propositions exemplified by “Many tall men are much taller than most men,” “All tall women are blonde is not very true,” etc. The translation rules in PRUF are of four basic types: Type I—pertaining to modification; Type II—pertaining to composition; Type III—pertaining to quantification; and Type IV—pertaining to qualification and, in particular, to truth qualification, probability qualification and possibility qualification. The concepts of semantic equivalence and semantic entailment in PRUF provide a basis for question-answering and inference from fuzzy premises. In addition to serving as a foundation for approximate reasoning, PRUF may be employed as a language for the representation of imprecise knowledge and as a means of precisiation of fuzzy propositions expressed in a natural language.
Aging mice have increased chromosome instability that is exacerbated by elevated Mdm2 expression

Aging is thought to negatively affect multiple cellular processes including the ability to maintain chromosome stability. Chromosome instability (CIN) is a common property of cancer cells and may be a contributing factor to cellular transformation. The types of DNA aberrations that arise during aging before tumor development and that contribute to tumorigenesis are currently unclear. Mdm2, a key regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor and modulator of DNA break repair, is frequently overexpressed in malignancies and contributes to CIN. To determine the relationship between aging and CIN and the role of Mdm2, precancerous wild-type C57Bl/6 and littermate-matched Mdm2 transgenic mice at various ages were evaluated. Metaphase analyses of wild-type cells showed a direct correlation between age and increased chromosome and chromatid breaks, chromosome fusions and aneuploidy, but the frequency of polyploidy remained stable over time. Elevated levels of Mdm2 in precancerous mice increased both the numerical and the structural chromosomal abnormalities observed. Chromosome and chromatid breaks, chromosome fusions, aneuploidy and polyploidy were increased in older Mdm2 transgenic mice compared with wild-type littermates. Unexpectedly, chromosome fusions, aneuploidy and polyploidy rates in Mdm2 transgenic mice, but not chromosome and chromatid breaks, showed cooperation between Mdm2 overexpression and age. Notably, Mdm2 overexpression promoted gains in one or more chromosomes with age, while it did not affect the rate of chromosome loss. Therefore, aging increased specific forms of genomic instability, and elevated Mdm2 expression cooperated with aging to increase the likelihood of gaining certain chromosomal abnormalities of the kind thought to lead to cancer development.
The Node-Deletion Problem for Hereditary Properties Is NP-Complete

Abstract We consider the family of graph problems called node-deletion problems, defined as follows; For a fixed graph property Π, what is the minimum number of nodes which must be deleted from a given graph so that the resulting subgraph satisfies Π? We show that if Π is nontrivial and hereditary on induced subgraphs, then the node-deletion problem for Π is NP-complete for both undirected and directed graphs.
Metabolomics‐driven quantitative analysis of ammonia assimilation in E. coli

Despite extensive study of individual enzymes and their organization into pathways, the means by which enzyme networks control metabolite concentrations and fluxes in cells remains incompletely understood. Here, we examine the integrated regulation of central nitrogen metabolism in Escherichia coli through metabolomics and ordinary-differential-equation-based modeling. Metabolome changes triggered by modulating extracellular ammonium centered around two key intermediates in nitrogen assimilation, α-ketoglutarate and glutamine. Many other compounds retained concentration homeostasis, indicating isolation of concentration changes within a subset of the metabolome closely linked to the nutrient perturbation. In contrast to the view that saturated enzymes are insensitive to substrate concentration, competition for the active sites of saturated enzymes was found to be a key determinant of enzyme fluxes. Combined with covalent modification reactions controlling glutamine synthetase activity, such active-site competition was sufficient to explain and predict the complex dynamic response patterns of central nitrogen metabolites.
Coupled Lorenz oscillators

Abstract A model system is derived consisting of two Lorenz oscillators, linearly coupled. When the temperature differences for both are equal, coexisting stable, steady convective states exist for a range of Rayleigh numbers. These correspond to co-current and counter-current flows. When the system jumps from the former to the latter, there is flow reversal in one oscillator and a reduction in the heat transport in the system. When the temperature differences are unequal, there is an imperfect secondary bifurcation showing similar jump behavior.
On-line cleanup of blanks by electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography for inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Abstract Electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography (EMLC) is used on-line to remove metal ions from the blank solution and improve detection limits in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The EMLC column contains glassy carbon particles held at an appropriate negative applied potential ( E app ). The supporting electrolyte and reference electrode are outside the porous stainless steel column to minimize contamination of the blank flow stream. Various metal ions, such as Tl + and Pb 2+ , are retained at cathodic values of E app with an efficiency of 99% or better at liquid flow rates of 50–80 μl min −1 . Other metals are retained at an E app that is moderately positive with respect to their standard reduction potentials. This latter observation suggests that surface functional groups on the carbon stationary phase are also important. The column can be cleaned easily by stripping the deposited metal at high anodic values of E app .
Lead smelting slags near Nal, Balochistan Province, Pakistan

Samples of slag from three sites of a traditional lead industry located between Khuzdar and Nal were studied to determine their petrology, chemical composition, smelting conditions, source material, and age. Polished thin sections viewed in reflected light revealed a white glassy matrix with occasional rare mineral grains. Using an automated microprobe, typical glass composition was found to be 40% SiO2, 17% FeO, 11% CaO, 12% PbO, and 10% BaO. Repeated applications of Principal Component Analysis to the data revealed that the compositions of our slags fell within a tetrahedron. The ratios of most components to other components were found to be nearly constant, suggesting that the same indigenous source materials were mixed in almost the same proportion at all the sites. A comparative study of the composition of our slag in relation with various binary and ternary phase diagrams after necessary normalization of the data showed that addition of CaO and BaO by the traditional smelters and the formation of PbO during the process of smelting helped to lower the temperature required for smelting below 1200°C. Lead isotopic compositions suggested that our lead is isotopically distinct from sites in Greece. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TBC1D3, a hominoid oncoprotein, is encoded by a cluster of paralogues located on chromosome 17q12

TBC1D3 is a member of the TBC1 domain family of proteins that stimulates the intrinsic GTPase activity of RAB5A, an essential actor in early endosome trafficking. Oncogenic properties of TBC1D3 have been demonstrated previously both in vitro and in mouse models. Although the oncogenic mechanism of TBC1D3 has yet to be elucidated, the TBC1D3 locus (chromosome 17q12) is amplified in 15% of primary prostate tumors. Here, we describe eight highly related TBC1D3 paralogues located within that genomic region, potentially encoding six variant TBC1D3 proteins. We found that human tissues display specific transcription patterns of these paralogues. Furthermore, that pattern was altered in several primary prostate tumors in comparison to healthy prostate tissues. Potential TBC1D3 oncogenic mechanisms are discussed in light of these results.
Why are web browsers slow on smartphones

We report the first work that examines the internals of web browsers on smartphones, using the WebKit codebase, two generations of Android smartphones, and webpages visited by 25 smart-phone users over three months. We make many surprising findings. First, over half of the webpages visited by smartphone users are not optimized for mobile devices. This highlights the importance of client-based optimization and the limitation of prior work that only studies mobile webpages. Second, while prior work suggests that several compute-intensive operations should be the focus of optimization, our measurement and analysis show that their improvement will only lead to marginal performance gain with existing webpages. Furthermore, we find that resource loading, ignored by all except one prior work, contributes most to the browser delay. While our results agree with a recent network study showing that network round-trip time is a major problem, we further demonstrate how the internals of the browser and operating system contribute to the browser delay and therefore reveal new opportunities for optimization.
Role of hMLH1 promoter hypermethylation in drug resistance to 5‐fluorouracil in colorectal cancer cell lines

Loss of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) occurs in 10-15% of sporadic colorectal cancer, is usually caused by hMLH1 hypermethylation, and has been shown to confer resistance to various chemotherapeutic reagents, including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). We tested the hypothesis that demethylation of the hMLH1 promoter in hypermethylated colorectal cancer cells would restore MMR proficiency and drug sensitivity to 5-FU. We used the MMR-deficient cell lines SW48, HCT116, HCT116+chr2 and the -proficient cell line HCT116+chr3. After treatment with the demethylating agent 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5 aza-dC), hMLH1 mRNA and protein expression were determined by RT-PCR and immunoblots. The methylation status for hMLH1 was investigated by methylation-specific PCR. Cells were subsequently treated with 5-FU and the growth characteristics ascertained by clonogenic assays. hMLH1 hypermethylation was reverted in SW48 cells 24 hr after treatment with 5 aza-dC and was accompanied by hMLH1 mRNA and protein reexpression. While 5 aza-dC alone did not affect the growth of SW48 cells, all other cell lines responded with a pronounced growth inhibition. 5-FU treatment strongly reduced the colony formation of HCT116+chr3 cells. These effects were significantly less in the MMR-deficient cells. Combined treatment of SW48 cells resulted in a similar growth pattern as seen in 5-FU only treated HCT116+chr3 cells. We demonstrate that in vitro resistance to 5-FU can be overcome by reexpression of hMLH1 protein through 5 aza-dC-induced demethylation in hypermethylated cell lines. Induction of the expression of methylated tumor suppressor or MMR genes could have a significant impact on the development of future chemotherapy strategies.
SPECTRAL EVIDENCE, NON-SPECTRAL ACTS OF WITCHCRAFT, AND CONFESSION AT SALEM IN 1692

It is commonly asserted that people were hanged at Salem on charges of spectral appearance; and the way to avoid hanging was to confess. Non-spectral acts of witchcraft are regarded as inconsequential to the outcome of the trials. Yet it was the non-spectral acts which provided the one magnet that attracted attention from the court. No one charged only with spectral appearance was even tried. The reprieves granted to confessors were the last decisions the court was allowed to make. This profile provides evidence that the standard claims about the court of oyer and terminer's use of evidence are the reverse of what actually happened, and highlights a number of patterns that have gone unremarked, requiring fresh interpretations.
Broadband coherent multiple-order Raman sidebands controlled via a pulse shaper

We use diamond to produce femtosecond broadband coherent Raman generation akin to molecular modulation. We achieve shape control of few-cycle pulses by combining coarse manual phase adjustment with fine tuning via a programmable pulse shaper.
Chlorovirus Skp1-Binding Ankyrin Repeat Protein Interplay and Mimicry of Cellular Ubiquitin Ligase Machinery

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is targeted by many viruses that have evolved strategies to redirect host ubiquitination machinery. Members of the genus Chlorovirus are proposed to share an ancestral lineage with a broader group of related viruses, nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV). Chloroviruses encode an Skp1 homolog and ankyrin repeat (ANK) proteins. Several chlorovirus-encoded ANK repeats contain C-terminal domains characteristic of cellular F-boxes or related NCLDV chordopox PRANC (pox protein repeats of ankyrin at C-terminal) domains. These observations suggested that this unique combination of Skp1 and ANK repeat proteins might form complexes analogous to the cellular Skp1-Cul1-F-box (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complex. We identified two ANK proteins from the prototypic chlorovirus Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus-1 (PBCV-1) that functioned as binding partners for the virus-encoded Skp1, proteins A682L and A607R. These ANK proteins had a C-terminal Skp1 interactional motif that functioned similarly to cellular F-box domains. A C-terminal motif of ANK protein A682L binds Skp1 proteins from widely divergent species. Yeast two-hybrid analyses using serial domain deletion constructs confirmed the C-terminal localization of the Skp1 interactional motif in PBCV-1 A682L. ANK protein A607R represents an ANK family with one member present in all 41 sequenced chloroviruses. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of these related ANK and viral Skp1 proteins suggested partnered function tailored to the host alga or common ancestral heritage. Here, we show protein-protein interaction between corresponding family clusters of virus-encoded ANK and Skp1 proteins from three chlorovirus types. Collectively, our results indicate that chloroviruses have evolved complementing Skp1 and ANK proteins that mimic cellular SCF-associated proteins. IMPORTANCE Viruses have evolved ways to direct ubiquitination events in order to create environments conducive to their replication. As reported in the manuscript, the large chloroviruses encode several components involved in the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex including a viral Skp1 homolog. Studies on how chloroviruses manipulate their host algal ubiquitination system will provide insights toward viral protein mimicry, substrate recognition, and key interactive domains controlling selective protein degradation. These findings may also further understanding of the evolution of other large DNA viruses, like poxviruses, that are reported to share the same monophyly lineage as chloroviruses.
Web 2.0-based social informatics data grid

The Social Informatics Data Grid (SIDGrid) is a new cyberinfrastructure designed to transform how social and behavioral scientists collect and annotate data, collaborate and share data, and analyze and mine large data repositories. The major design goals for the SIDGrid are to integrate those commonly used social and behavior science tools and provide researchers an easy-to-use web interface to run these data intensive applications efficiently on TeraGrid resources. SIDGrid is also a collaborative environment where scientists can share experimental data and analysis results with their team members.OpenSocial, a social networking framework initiated by Google, provides a Web 2.0 approach to integration of web applications and building collaborative cyber environments. Using OpenSocial, we present a new application framework for SIDGrid that enables scientists to define their analysis tools in XML and generate application gadgets as a Web 2.0 interface for running analytical workflows on TeraGrid. Based on this framework, we have developed a new SIDGrid science gateway to improve the user's experience and simplify SIDGrid application management and development of collaborative web applications.
Pathways through Networks of Branched DNA

Differentiation may be controlled by forks in DNA each having a replicatable protein "switch," stable in either a "left" or a "right" configuration, which determines the path through the DNA network taken by RNA polymerases during transcription. The possibility for dedifferentiation exists, but differentiation could be made irreversible by the exertion of a similar control over parts of the paths through the network taken by DNA polymerases. The concept of bistable switches at DNA branch points can be used to account for antibody variability.
Risk assessment in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis): do multiple cues have additive effects?

The threat-sensitivity hypothesis predicts that prey individuals will increase antipredator behaviors as apparent predator risk increases. An implicit assumption of the threat-sensitivity hypothesis is that predator risk is additive. In other words, all characteristics of a predator that indicate risk should contribute in an additive way to determine the degree of risk-sensitive behavior. We tested this assumption in the laboratory by presenting live predators (green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus) to groups of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). We examined effects of predator diet, hunger level, and size on predator avoidance and inspection behavior of mosquitofish. Both predator diet and predator hunger level were significant and additive determinants of distance maintained from a predator, resulting in a graded response to combinations of these predator cues. In contrast, whereas predator diet was the most important determinant of general avoidance distances, predator hunger level was more important in determining mosquitofish vertical distribution and inspection behavior. Thus, the relationship between predator cue and the antipredator behavior that it elicits is dependent on which cues and behaviors are examined. Our data suggest that during risky behaviors, such as predator inspection, mosquitofish rely mainly on visual cues (behavior differences between hungry and satiated predators), whereas general avoidance behavior is determined by additive responses from visual and chemical cues.
String transformation-based Bayesian classification or proteins

We describe a Markov chain Bayesian classification tool, SCS, that can perform data-driven classification of proteins and protein segments. Training data for interesting classification problems is often limited; thus, SCS uses string transformation functions to change the encoding of proteins to reduce problem perplexity and improve classification. A wrapper-based genetic algorithm is used to search the space of possible string transformation functions to find functions that improve classification.
The development of an alternative thermoplastic powder prepregging technique

An alternative powder prepregging technique is discussed that is based on the deposition of powder onto carbon fibers that have been moistened using an ultrasonic humidifier. The dry fiber tow is initially spread to allow a greater amount of the fiber surface to be exposed to the powder, thus ensuring a significant amount of intimate contact between the fiber and the matrix. Moisture in the form of ultrafine water droplets is then deposited onto the spread fiber tow. The moisture promotes adhesion to the fiber until the powder can be tacked to the fibers by melting. Powdered resin is then sieved onto the fibers and then tacked onto the fibers by quick heating in a convective oven. This study focuses on the production of prepregs and laminates made with LaRC-TPI (thermoplastic polyimide) using this process. Although the process appears to be successful, early evaluation was hampered by poor interfacial adhesion. The adhesion problem, however, seems to be the result of a material system incompatibility, rather than being influenced by the process.
Activities & artifacts: the dual nature of image-making in communicative practice

Selected findings are presented from a preliminary qualitative investigation of image-making as information-driven communicative practice. Ad hoc visualizations are images spontaneously created during the natural flow of a conversation (e.g., napkin drawings). The activity of drawing in these situations is an informal information sharing practice occurring within an interactive, dynamic context. A discourse-oriented methodology is described for the direct observation and analysis of drawing during face-to-face conversations. Analysis of fifteen video-recorded conversations used an iterative, grounded theory approach to multimodal social interactional analysis. The dual nature of drawing as both information artifact and communicative activity is discussed in terms of contrasting affordances exploited during specific drawing episodes in the data. These findings have implications for image representation and the development of visually enabled information and communication technologies.
Variations in culture pH affect the cloning efficiency and differentiation of progenitor cells in ex vivo haemopoiesis

Haemopoietic cultures may experience pH variations of as much as 0.5 units depending on culture duration and cell density. Since pH is a potent modulator of cellular proliferation and differentiation, we examined its effects on the performance of both semisolid and liquid haemopoietic cultures. Culture pH was found to have substantial effects both on progenitor cloning efficiency (as measured in liquid cultures) and on progenitor cell differentiation (as measured in methylcellulose cultures). Liquid cultures were conducted with both peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells (MNCs) and cord blood (CB) MNCs using growth factor combinations that promote either erythroid expansion (IL-3/IL-6/SCF/Epo) or granulocyte/macrophage expansion (IL-3/IL-6/SCF/G-CSF/GM-CSF). Reduced pH was found to have either a positive or neutral effect on the expansion and cloning efficiency of progenitors in ex vivo liquid cultures. Cloning efficiencies of PB BFU-E in the erythroid combination were 9-fold higher at low pH (7.1) when compared to high pH (7.6). A small pH increase of 0.2 units over physiological values consistently produced significant reductions (42-85%) in cloning efficiencies for all cell types and cytokine combinations tested. Methylcellulose cultures conducted using CB MNC and PB MNC indicated that differentiation of CFU-GM into progeny was optimal between pH 7.2 and 7.4. The differentiation of erythroid progenitors (BFU-E) progressively increased as pH was increased from 6.95 (no colonies detected) to 7.4 (maximum colonies detected), to 7.6 (maximum haemoglobin content). Methylcellulose cultures using PB CD34+ cells exhibited similar patterns to the MNC cultures. We conclude that even small variations in pH substantially affected the performance of human haemopoietic cultures. The erythroid lineage was particularly sensitive, with its extent of differentiation increasing with increasing pH. PB progenitors are more sensitive to pH variations than CB progenitors.
Electrical safety program impact on process safety performance

This paper describes a global science and technology company's experience in optimizing the synergy between a state of the art electrical safety program and process safety management. Process safety management tends to focus on equipment and systems that are directly associated with hazardous manufacturing processes. Electric power, control and data systems may not be directly associated with the process, however the integrity and availability of these electrical systems may be critical and essential for process operations and process safety management. The end user has manufacturing operations throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. This case history provides a global perspective on integrating electrical and process safety.
Internet retailing: enablers, limiters and market consequences

Abstract Despite a tremendous and enthusiastic reception for Internet retailing in the last few years, this new channel has not performed as anticipated, nor has its acceptance been as pervasive as originally expected. This paper details the many inherent structural and functional weaknesses of Internet retailing. Various strategies designed to improve the performance of e-tailers are explored.
Coating flow theory by finite element and asymptotic analysis of the navier-stokes system

Coating flows are laminar free surface flows, preferably steady and two-dimensional, by which a liquid film is deposited on a substrate. Their theory rests on mass and momentum accounting for which Galerkin's weighted residual method, finite element basis functions, isoparametric mappings, and a new free surface parametrization prove particularly well-suited, especially in coping with the highly deformed free boundaries, irregular flow domains, and the singular nature of static and dynamic contact lines where fluid interfaces intersect solid surfaces. Typically, short forming zones of rapidly rearranging two-dimensional flow merge with simpler asymptotic regimes of developing or developed flow upstream and downstream. The two-dimensional computational domain can be shrunk in size by imposing boundary conditions from asymptotic analysis of those regimes or by matching to one-dimensional finite element solutions of asymptotic equations. The theory is laid out with special attention to conditions at free surfaces, contact lines, and open inflow and outflow boundaries. Efficient computation of predictions is described with emphasis on a grand Newton iteration that converges rapidly and brings other benefits. Sample results for curtain coating and roll coating flows of Newtonian liquids illustrate the power and effectiveness of the theory.
Contrsating anti-predator defenses of sympatric marine gastropods (family Trochidae)

Abstract Three of four sympatric gastropods found in southern California waters, Tegula aureotincta Forbes, Norrisia norrisi (Sowerby), and Astraea undosa (Wood), display behavioral flight responses to predatory asteroids and a gastropod. The fourth species, Tegula eiseni Jordan, lacks this behavior but does have morphological features that deter predators. The shell of T. eiseni is thicker and the tissue more difficult to acid hydrolyze than that of its sympatric congener, T. aureotincta . Juvenile seastars fed T. aureotincta grew three times faster than those reared on T. eiseni . The dissimilarity in growth rates is not attributed to differences in nutritive value of the two Tegula species, but is due to differences in the rate at which the seastars can consume the snails. Laboratory choice tests demonstrate that the anti-predator defense of T. eiseni reduces its acceptability as food. In contrast, the behavioral flight defense of the three remaining gastropods decreases the probability of their capture by certain predators.
Cirsoid aneurysms of the jejunum. An unrecognized cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding.

• Cirsoid aneurysms (exulceratio simplex Dieulafoy) as a cause of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage have been known to occur in the stomach. Endoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis of and therapy for these lesions. We report two cases of a cirsoid aneurysm in the proximal jejunum; two cases have been previously reported in the literature. These lesions have the same pathologic features as gastric cirsoid lesions and cause massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Because these lesions are beyond the reach of current endoscopy, surgery was necessary to diagnose and treat the lesions in three of four patients. The fourth patient died after unsuccessful surgical exploration, and the lesion was found post mortem. Jejunal cirsoid aneurysms may be an unrecognized rather than a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. They should be considered in the patient with massive proximal gastrointestinal bleeding in whom the source is not known, especially if angiography suggests a small-bowel site. With the advent of newer forms of endoscopy that can examine the small bowel, the management of these lesions may change; at present, surgery is lifesaving. (Arch Surg.1989;124:1460-1462)
Multimodal Industrial Inspection and Analysis

Diagnosis of complex engineering systems requires the use of multiple sensor sources to acquire information. In this paper we present a survey of multimodal data acquisition systems for nondestructive testing (NDT) and engineering analysis. We begin with a summary of the relative strengths and weaknesses of individual NDT modalities. Thereafter we present existing multimodal inspection hardware systems that use complementary NDT sensors. The advantages of such multimodal data acquisition over conventional single modality sensors in inspection and analysis are highlighted. Possible approaches to fuse complementary multimodal sensor data are discussed. We conclude with possible directions for the future development of multimodal inspection systems.