cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Closing Paper Mill Whitewater Circuits by Inserting an Anaerobic Stage with Subsequent Treatment

In the past few years, the paper industry has been able significantly to reduce the specific amount of effluent it produces. It is considered that the standard now achieved is not susceptible of improvements without a loss of product quality. The problem substances imported with the raw materials will tend rather to increase the specific amount of effluent produced by paper mills that process waste paper, and it will only be possible to operate completely closed circuits in exceptional cases. Integrating a biological purification plant into the Whitewater circuit can help to solve this problem, which is specific to waste paper. Operating a purification plant in the half-stuff production sector makes it possible to achieve substantially lower quantities of specific effluent even in integrated paper mills if the water circuits for half-stuff production and for the papermachine are kept largely separate, and if the freshwater intake is effected via the papermachine9s circuit. Possibilities of reducing the specific quantity of effluent produced in wood-free production processes are not discussed, since the use of biological plants in this sector appears problematic for a variety of reasons. The use of anaerobic technology - with appropriate subsequent treatment if necessary - appears suitable because of its favourable energy balance. The possibilities and limits of using anaerobic technology for treating highly concentrated effluents from paper mills are largely known. The use of this technology in the Whitewater circuits of paper mills is still in the planning stage. Simple model calculations can be used to estimate the effects of operating a purification plant on the equilibrium concentrations in the white-water circuit and to detect possible problems.
Tissue-specific gene regulation corresponds with seasonal plasticity in female testosterone

Abstract Testosterone (T) is a sex steroid hormone that often varies seasonally and mediates trade-offs between territorial aggression and parental care. Prior work has provided key insights into the ‘top-down’ hypothalamic control of this seasonal plasticity in T, yet mechanisms acting outside of the brain may also influence circulating T levels. We hypothesized that peripheral mechanisms may be especially critical for females, because peripheral regulation may mitigate the costs of systemically elevated T. Here, we begin to test this hypothesis using a seasonal comparative approach, measuring gene expression in peripheral tissues in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), a songbird with intense female-female competition and T-mediated aggression. We focused on the gonad and liver for their role in T production and metabolism, respectively, and we contrasted females captured during territory establishment versus incubation. During territory establishment, when T levels are highest, we found elevated gene expression of the hepatic steroid metabolizing enzyme CYP2C19 along with several ovarian steroidogenic enzymes, including the androgenic 5α-reductase. Despite these seasonal changes in gene expression along the steroidogenic pathway, we did not observe seasonal changes in sensitivity to upstream signals, measured as ovarian mRNA abundance of luteinizing hormone receptor. Together, these data suggest that differential regulation of steroidogenic gene expression in the ovary is a potentially major contributor to seasonal changes in T levels in females. Furthermore, these data provide a unique and organismal glimpse into tissue-specific gene regulation and its potential role in hormonal plasticity in females.
The modified Boston mechanism

Abstract Many school districts in the U.S. assign students to schools via the Boston mechanism. The Boston mechanism is not strategy-proof, and it is easy to manipulate. We slightly modify the Boston mechanism and show that the modified version outperforms the Boston mechanism in terms of strategy-proofness. In particular, the Boston mechanism is manipulable whenever the modified version is, but the modified version is not necessarily manipulable whenever the Boston mechanism is. We define a weaker form of consistency and characterize the modified Boston mechanism by this weaker form and a new axiom called respect of priority of the top-ranking students.
Graphphi: efficient parallel graph processing on emerging throughput-oriented architectures

Modern parallel architecture design has increasingly turned to throughput-oriented devices to address concerns about energy efficiency and power consumption. However, graph applications cannot tap into the full potential of such architectures because of highly unstructured computations and irregular memory accesses. In this paper, we present GraphPhi, a new approach to graph processing on emerging Intel Xeon Phi-like architectures, by addressing the restrictions of migrating existing graph processing frameworks on shared-memory multi-core CPUs to this new architecture. Specifically, GraphPhi consists of 1) an optimized hierarchically blocked graph representation to enhance the data locality for both edges and vertices within and among threads, 2) a hybrid vertex-centric and edge-centric execution to efficiently find and process active edges, and 3) a uniform MIMD-SIMD scheduler integrated with a lock-free update support to achieve both good thread-level load balance and SIMD-level utilization. Besides, our efficient MIMD-SIMD execution is capable of hiding memory latency by increasing the number of concurrent memory access requests, thus benefiting more from the latest High-Bandwidth Memory technique. We evaluate our GraphPhi on six graph processing applications. Compared to two state-of-the-art shared-memory graph processing frameworks, it results in speedups up to 4X and 35X, respectively.
Complications of reverse shoulder arthroplasty

Abstract Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is a common treatment for shoulder disorders. Complication rates after reverse shoulder arthroplasty are significantly higher than that of conventional total shoulder arthroplasty especially in high risk patient populations. Complications include instability, intra-operative glenoid fractures, intra-operative humeral fractures, acromial fractures, neurologic injury, infection, baseplate failure, humeral stem loosening, component dissociation, dislocation, and scapular notching. Recognition of risk factors, thorough understanding of the mechanics of the reverse arthroplasty and techniques for implantation, and pre-operative planning are essential in optimizing patient outcome and intra-operative success. Failure of reverse shoulder arthroplasty is a significant challenge requiring appropriate diagnosis of the failure mode.
Cassini Spacecraft Attitude Control System Performance and Lessons Learned, 1997–2017

A sophisticated interplanetary spacecraft, Cassini–Huygens was launched on 15 October 1997. After achieving orbit at Saturn in 2004, Cassini collected science data throughout its four-year prime mi...
Nanoscale molecular analysis of photoresist films with massive cluster secondary-ion mass spectrometry

We describe a methodology for nanoscale molecular analysis and present its capabilities. The analysis method is based on secondary-ion mass spectrometry with gold nanoparticles (e.g., Au4004+). The methodology presented has unique features that enable nanoscale molecular analysis, namely the method of acquiring the mass spectrum and the nature of the impacting projectile. In the method, a sequence of individual gold nanoparticles (Au4004+) is used to bombard the sample; each impact results in ion emission from an area ∼10–20 nm in diameter. For each of impact of Au4004+, the emitted ions are mass analyzed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry, detected and stored together in one mass spectrum prior to the arrival of the subsequent projectile. Each mass spectrum contains elements and molecules, which are colocalized within ∼10 to 20 nm of one another. Examination of the coemitted ions allows us to test the molecular homogeneity and chemical composition at the nanoscale. We applied this method to a chemically amplified resist before and after exposure and development. After development the method was used to chemically characterize defect sites that were not removed by the developing solution.
On the internal correlations of protein sequences probed by non-alignment methods: Novel signatures for drug and antibody targets via the Burrows-Wheeler Transform

Abstract It is of long-standing interest to probe protein primary structures by their codes alone with minimal assumptions and model parameters. Approaches over decades have looked to the mathematics of digital information, most prominently alignment and database search algorithms. We follow an alternative line of inquiry by directing the Burrows-Wheeler transform (BWT) to archetypal sequences and sets. The motivation overlaps with bioinformatics and pharmaceutical chemistry: to better comprehend protein structure information with applications to drug and antibody targets. The approach, however, does not concentrate on sequences per se, but rather their information-conserved transforms. We demonstrate how such transforms enable obscure primary structure correlations to rise to the surface. The methodology further leverages the assembly information in sequences to provide class databases for comparisons. The databases illuminate additional correlations that are nuanced and characteristic. We illustrate the workings of BWT followed by data for archetypal drug and antibody targets. Our purpose is to establish new metrics and signatures for screening targets that complement ones from bioinformatics and protein structure modeling. The programming and analysis are straightforward and well-accessible to data researchers. Further, the software is freely available from the authors on request.
Twitteratura em Espanhol: a representação do feminino em "La mujer de M" de Mauricio Montiel Figueiras

O projeto de Mauricio Figueiras Montiel, La mujer de M , inclui um livro impresso, um e-book e uma novela no Twitter. O projeto que originalmente comecou como parte de El hombre de Tweed , o primeiro trabalho twitterial de Montiel, evoluiu para representar a influencia das plataformas de midia social no nivel de criacao e distribuicao de uma obra literaria, bem como o papel que ela tem na disseminacao da intencao do autor pelo seu trabalho. Este ensaio explora como o autor mexicano Mauricio Montiel Figueiras utiliza diferentes modalidades de publicacao para apresentar o conceito de feminino representado pela protagonista de seu projeto La mujer de M.
Trends in Firearm Injuries Among Children and Teenagers in the United States.

Abstract Background Gun violence among children and teenagers in the United States occurs at a magnitude many times that of other industrialized countries. The trends of injury in this age group relative to the adult population are not well studied. This study seeks to measure trends in pediatric firearm injuries in the United States. Methods Data from the National Trauma Data Bank (2010-2016) were used in selecting patients evaluated for firearm injury. Patients were classified as children and teenagers ( Results There were 240,510 firearm injuries with children and teenagers accounting for 45,075 of these injuries (pediatric component of 18.7%). Pediatric firearm injury was mostly among males (87.4%), Blacks (60.7%), and victims of assault (76.0%). The pediatric component of firearm injuries decreased from 21.7% in 2010 to 18.2% in 2016 (P-trend Conclusions Despite reductions in the pediatric component of firearm injuries, there remains a significant burden of injury in this group. Continued public health efforts are necessary to ensure safety and reduce firearm injuries among children and teenagers in the United States.
Floating on the Fringe: College of Education Students' Discourse about Diversity.

This phenomenological research study focused on how education students perceived diversity in their academic lives, as well as the language they used when they talked about diversity. Focus groups ...
Towards Neuroscience in the Everyday World: Progress in wearable fNIRS instrumentation and applications

Wearables and machine learning have opened up a new field of research, the Neuroscience of the Everyday World. We present our recent contributions to fNIRS instrumentation (ninjaNirs and ninjaCap) and multimodal analysis (BLISSA2RD and GLM with tCCA)
Predicting the Success of Crowd-Funding Campaigns: A Thin Slice Approach

This study investigates the accuracy of thin slice predictions in the context of entrepreneurial finance. First, I demonstrate that even very short exposures (30 seconds or less) to a video clip portraying an entrepreneur pitching her venture on a crowd funding portal may lead to relatively accurate estimates of her actual fundraising success. Second, I explore the role of stereotypes in the formation of accurate thin slice judgments, a research topic largely unexplored and called for by the prior literature.
Visualizing Opportunity Index Data Using a Dashboard Application: A Tool to Communicate Infant Mortality-Based Area Deprivation Index Information.

Background An area deprivation index (ADI) is a geographical measure that accounts for socioeconomic factors (e.g., crime, health, and education). The state of Ohio developed an ADI associated with infant mortality: Ohio Opportunity Index (OOI). However, a powerful tool to present this information effectively to stakeholders was needed. Objectives We present a real use-case by documenting the design, development, deployment, and training processes associated with a dashboard solution visualizing ADI data. Methods The Opportunity Index Dashboard (OID) allows for interactive exploration of the OOI and its seven domains—transportation, education, employment, housing, health, access to services, and crime. We used a user-centered design approach involving feedback sessions with stakeholders, who included representatives from project sponsors and subject matter experts. We assessed the usability of the OID based on the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction dimensions. The process of designing, developing, deploying, and training users in regard to the OID is described. Results We report feedback provided by stakeholders for the OID categorized by function, content, and aesthetics. The OID has multiple, interactive components: choropleth map displaying OOI scores for a specific census tract, graphs presenting OOI or domain scores between tracts to compare relative positions for tracts, and a sortable table to visualize scores for specific county and census tracts. Changes based on parameter and filter selections are described using a general use-case. In the usability evaluation, the median task completion success rate was 83% and the median system usability score was 68. Conclusion The OID could assist health care leaders in making decisions that enhance care delivery and policy decision making regarding infant mortality. The dashboard helps communicate deprivation data across domains in a clear and concise manner. Our experience building this dashboard presents a template for developing dashboards that can address other health priorities.
Clinical trials of pig heart transplantation.

Abstract Pig organ xenotransplantation offers a solution to the shortage of deceased human organs for transplantation. The pathobiological response to a pig xenograft is complex, involving antibody, complement, coagulation, inflammatory, and cellular responses. To overcome these barriers, genetic manipulation of the organ-source pigs has largely been directed to two major aims – (i) deletion of expression of the known carbohydrate xenoantigens against which humans have natural (preformed) antibodies, and (ii) transgenic expression of human protective proteins, e.g., complement- and coagulation-regulatory proteins. Conventional (FDA-approved) immunosuppressive therapy is unsuccessful in preventing an adaptive immune response to pig cells, but blockade of the CD40:CD154 costimulation pathway is successful. Survival of genetically-engineered pig kidneys in immunosuppressed nonhuman primates can now be measured in months. Non-immunological aspects, e.g., pig renal function, a hypovolemia syndrome, and rapid growth of the pig kidney after transplantation, are briefly discussed. We suggest that patients on the wait-list for a deceased human kidney graft who are unlikely to receive one due to long waiting times are those for whom kidney xenotransplantation might first be considered. The potential risk of infection, public attitudes to xenotransplantation, and ethical, regulatory, and financial aspects are briefly addressed.
Deficit Attention Disorder: Partisan-Motivated Reasoning About Government Overspending

Government overspending remains a prominent concern in American politics. Yet, despite the burgeoning literature on partisan-motivated reasoning (PMR), we know little about the extent to which such concern arises from partisan considerations. We advance extant literature by uncovering a novel means by which citizens reason about deficits in a partisan-motivated fashion—i.e., by shifting the importance of the issue. Leveraging pre-registered experimental and observational studies, we find that partisans systematically adjust the importance of government overspending based upon which party occupies the presidency. Further, this proclivity to engage in PMR does not require explicit cues from elites, is symmetrical across parties, and appears to function both to protect one’s own party and rebuke the opposing party. Lastly, in a large-scale text analysis of transcripts from televised partisan media, we again find strong evidence of PMR on the issue of government overspending, though primarily in conservative media.
Design Considerations for Discrete Frequency Infrared Microscopy Systems

Discrete frequency infrared chemical imaging is transforming the practice of microspectroscopy by enabling a diversity of instrumentation and new measurement capabilities. While a variety of hardware implementations have been realized, design considerations that are unique to infrared (IR) microscopes have not yet been compiled in literature. Here, we describe the evolution of IR microscopes, provide rationales for design choices, and catalog some major considerations for each of the optical components in an imaging system. We analyze design choices that use these components to optimize performance, under their particular constraints, while providing illustrative examples. We then summarize a framework to assess the factors that determine an instrument's performance mathematically. Finally, we provide a validation approach by enumerating performance metrics that can be used to evaluate the capabilities of imaging systems or suitability for specific intended applications. Together, the presented concepts and examples should aid in understanding available instrument configurations, while guiding innovations in design of the next generation of IR chemical imaging spectrometers.
Rates of decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality in AMA-negative primary biliary cholangitis cirrhosis.

Background The natural history of patients with anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA)-negative Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) cirrhosis has not been well defined, with prior studies showing discordant results. Furthermore, most studies of AMA-negative PBC have limited numbers of patients with cirrhosis and liver-related outcomes. Methods We investigated the association of AMA-negative PBC and the development of death, liver-related death, decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in a large cohort of predominantly male patients with PBC cirrhosis assembled from the Veterans Health Administration. Results In a cohort of 521 patients with PBC cirrhosis (65 AMA-negative) with a total follow-up of 2504.3 person-years (PY) from cirrhosis diagnosis, patients with AMA-negative PBC were younger and more likely to be black but had similar rates of UDCA response. AMA-negative PBC cirrhosis was associated with similar unadjusted rates of liver-related death (4.6 vs 5.9 per 100 PY, P = .44), overall death (7.7 vs 9.6 per 100 PY, P = .31), decompensation (7.3 vs 5.1 per 100 PY, P = .12) and HCC (0.6 vs 1.0 per 100 PY, P = .63) to AMA-positive PBC. After adjusting for confounders, AMA-negative PBC cirrhosis was associated with similar rates of liver-related death (sub-Hazard Ratio [sHR] 1.27, 95% CI 0.71-2.28, P = .42, death [sHR] 1.24, 95% CI 0.81-1.90, P = .32), decompensation (sHR 1.05, 95% CI 0.56-1.98, P = .87) and HCC (sHR 0.48, 95% CI 0.11-2.10, P = .33) to AMA-positive patients. Conclusion In a cohort of predominantly male patients, AMA-negative PBC cirrhosis was associated with similar rates of overall or liver-related death, HCC or decompensation compared with AMA-positive disease.
NP-Completeness: A Retrospective

For a quarter of a century now, NP-completeness has been computer science's favorite paradigm, fad, punching bag, buzzword, alibi, and intellectual export. This paper is a fragmentary commentary on its origins, its nature, its impact, and on the attributes that have made it so pervasive and contagious.
Vertex cover might be hard to approximate to within 2-/spl epsiv/

Based on a conjecture regarding the power of unique 2-prover-1-round games presented in [S. Khot, (2002)], we show that vertex cover is hard to approximate within any constant factor better than 2. We actually show a stronger result, namely, based on the same conjecture, vertex cover on k-uniform hypergraphs is hard to approximate within any constant factor better than k.
Predictors of Recovery of Allocentric and Egocentric Neglect: The Role of Education (P7.288)

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of recovery of egocentric and allocentric hemispatial neglect after acute right hemisphere stroke BACKGROUND: Some previous studies have revealed at least occasional double dissociations between egocentric and allocentric neglect, and some studies have found distinct neural correlates underlying these variants of neglect. We tested the hypothesis that recovery of egocentric and allocentric neglect are influenced by different lesion and demographic variables. DESIGN/METHODS: We tested 35 patients with acute right hemisphere ischemic stroke at day 1 and mean 32 weeks post stroke on a test that distinguishes egocentric and allocentric neglect (detecting gaps in left or right sides of circles scattered across a page). They had MRI with perfusion weighted imaging the at Day 1. Infarct and volume of hypoperfusion were measured by a technician, masked to neglect scores. We determined variables associated with recovery of egocentric neglect (error rate in marking stimuli on left side of view), and allocentric neglect (error rate in detecting left gaps in circles, irrespective of side of viewer) using multivariable regression, with age, education, volume of infarct, volume of hypoperfusion, initial error rate in marking stimuli on left, initial error rate in detecting left gaps, and interval between onset and follow-up as independent variables. RESULTS: Mean age was 58.4; mean education was 12.6 years. 14 patients had egocentric neglect; 12 had allocentric neglect; 9 had both at onset. Degree of improvement in allocentric neglect was associated with education and initial severity of allocentric neglect (error rate in detecting left gaps at onset; r 2 =0.59; p=0.045; egocentric neglect was associated with education and severity of egocentric neglect; r 2 =0.66; p<.0001, independently of other factors. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of both variants of neglect was positively influenced by higher education and lower initial severity of specific type of neglect, independently of volume of infarct, volume of hypoperfusion, age, and time post-onset of stroke. Study Supported by: R01NS047691 Disclosure: Dr. Posner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Trupe has nothing to disclose. Dr. Davis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gomez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tippett has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hillis has received research support from Allon Pharmaceutical.
Entropy concepts in classical electrodynamics

Aspects of entropy and related thermodynamic analyses are discussed here that have been deduced in recent years in the area of classical electrodynamics. A motivating factor for most of this work has been an attempted theory of nature often called, “stochastic electrodynamics” (SED). This theory involves classical electrodynamics (Maxwell’s equations plus the relativistic version of Newton’s second law of motion for particles), but with the consideration that motion and fluctuations should not necessarily be assumed to reduce to zero at temperature T = 0. Both fairly subtle and rather blatant assumptions were often imposed in early thermodynamic analyses of electrodynamic systems that prevented the analyses from being sufficiently general to account for these “zero‐point” properties, which hindered classical physics from being able to better account for quantum mechanical phenomena observed in nature. In turn, such thermodynamic considerations have helped motivate many of the key ideas of SED.
Antioxidant Responsive Element Activation by Quinones: Antioxidant Responsive Element Target Genes, Role of PI3 Kinase in Activation

Publisher Summary The transcriptional activation of the phase II detoxification enzymes and/or antioxidant genes by redox-cycling chemicals has been traced to a cis-acting element called the antioxidant responsive element (ARE) or the electrophile response element (EpRE) that regulates either or both constitutive and inducible gene expression. ARE sequences are detected in the promoter region of genes, including rat and mouse glutathione S-transferases (GSTs)-Ya, rat GST-P, rat and human NQO1, murine heme oxygenase-1 (HO1), murine ferritin heavy chain, as well as the α-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic (GCLC) and regulatory (GCLR) subunits. Antioxidant responsive element activation elicits a potential chemoprotective response, and the identification of the ARE-targeting genes is an initial step in the explanation of the molecular mechanism of this chemoprotective response. Microarray analysis reveals a cluster of phase 2 detoxification enzymes and some antioxidant genes that are coordinately upregulated through Nrf2-dependent ARE activation and are responsible for tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) protective effect against oxidative damage in the multiple culture systems. Detailed information is expected in the future to explain how quinone compounds like tBHQ encourage Nrf2 nuclear translocation and subsequent ARE activation through a PI3-kinase pathway.
Specificity of Ustilago maydis killer proteins.

Abstract Bacteria and fungi were tested for sensitivity to Ustilago maydis killer strains carrying virus-like particles. Various species taxonomically related to U. maydis were sensitive.
Autonomy, Identity, and the Role of Narrative: Another Look at Commodity Fetishism

Rather than being the sites of exploration and possibility that we imagine them to be, schools are for many students future-limiting places where possibilities are circumscribed. I argue that schools limit the fundamental goal that many teachers hold: inspiring our students to be self-directed, to think for themselves or, put another way, to be autonomous. Such limitation is especially true for students of the working class. To link more clearly schooling, social class, and their influences on self-direction and autonomy, I draw upon one currently popular way of conceiving the self — as a narrator. I use the metaphor of narrator to discuss how the “commodification of the ideal of the educated person” helps students develop relatively coherent self-conceptions associated with their social class positions. Such commodification influences the narrative material available for self-conception as well as the experiential conditions that call students to express themselves performatively as working-class agents.
Ground-state wave functions of Tb3+ ions in paramagnetic TbPO4: A neutron scattering study.

The paramagnetic-excitation spectrum of ${\mathrm{TbPO}}_{4}$ has been investigated by means of inelastic neutron-scattering techniques, and the observed crystal-field transitions were analyzed using a Hamiltonian that included the atomic free-ion and crystal-field interactions for an ${\mathit{f}}^{8}$ configuration. Five parameters for the crystal-field potential were obtained that provided a satisfactory description of the neutron data collected at temperatures between 4.2 and 150 K. The calculated crystal-field contribution to the specific heat in the 4--10 K temperature range and the paramagnetic susceptibility agree well with the experimental results. The large anisotropy of the magnetic ground-state doublet of the Tb ions with respect to the crystallographic c axis has important consequences for the spin structure in the antiferromagnetic phases at low temperatures. The effective internal magnetic field in antiferromagnetic ${\mathrm{TbPO}}_{4}$ was estimated based on the crystal-field-level scheme and a molecular-field approximation and was found to be in good agreement with the values reported from other measurements.
How Einstein's quantum hypothesis requires a departure from classical mechanics

The aim of this work is to show how Einstein's quantum hypothesis leads immediately and necessarily to a departure from classical mechanics. First we note that the classical description and predictions are in terms of idealized measurements that are exact, instantaneous, non-perturbative, independent of each other and process agnostic. If we assume we cannot arbitrarily reduce the strength of a signal, measurements are ultimately perturbative to some degree. We show how a physical description in which the best measurement conceivable, i.e. the ideal measurement, perturbs the system leads to all the concepts present in quantum mechanics including conjugate variables, probabilistic predictions and measurements connected to symmetries.
Identification of iron and heme utilization genes in Aeromonas and their role in the colonization of the leech digestive tract

It is known that many pathogens produce high-affinity iron uptake systems like siderophores and/or proteins for utilizing iron bound to heme-containing molecules, which facilitate iron-acquisition inside a host. In mutualistic digestive-tract associations, iron uptake systems have not been as well studied. We investigated the importance of two iron utilization systems within the beneficial digestive-tract association Aeromonas veronii and the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana. Siderophores were detected in A. veronii using chrome azurol S. Using a mini Tn5, a transposon insertion in viuB generated a mutant unable to utilize iron using siderophores. The A. veronii genome was then searched for genes potentially involved in iron utilization bound to heme-containing molecules. A putative outer membrane heme receptor (hgpB) was identified with a transcriptional activator, termed hgpR, downstream. The hgpB gene was interrupted with an antibiotic resistance cassette in both the parent strain and the viuB mutant, yielding an hgpB mutant and a mutant with both iron uptake systems inactivated. In vitro assays indicated that hgpB is involved in utilizing iron bound to heme and that both iron utilization systems are important for A. veronii to grow in blood. In vivo colonization assays revealed that the ability to acquire iron from heme-containing molecules is critical for A. veronii to colonize the leech gut. Since iron and specifically heme utilization is important in this mutualistic relationship and has a potential role in virulence factor of other organisms, genomes from different Aeromonas strains (both clinical and environmental) were queried with iron utilization genes of A. veronii. This analysis revealed that in contrast to the siderophore utilization genes heme utilization genes are widely distributed among aeromonads. The importance of heme utilization in the colonization of the leech further confirms that symbiotic and pathogenic relationships possess similar mechanisms for interacting with animal hosts.
EDGE data receiver design

Data receiver design is one of the most challenging tasks in EDGE terminal implementation. We outline critical design considerations for data receiver and describe their impact on the receiver performance. Sensitivity of the design to specific receiver parameters is illustrated, showing that overall solution requires complex balance between channel estimation, synchronization, equalization and soft bit information for channel decoding.
Role of nitric oxide in gastrointestinal and hepatic function and disease

A lthough the early Roman physician Galen had a predominant influence on medical thought and practice for over 14 centuries, his conception of the vascular system has been described as a physiological mistake that prevented the advancement of medical science for centuries.‘,’ Galen based his description of the vascular system on the concept of “pneuma” or spirits, a vital principle consisting of matter in a finely divided or ethereal state that flowed through the vascular and nervous systems and animated the entire organism.lv’ Many diseases were thought to owe their origin to some disturbance of these ethereal spirits. Although these ideas were fanciful, recent evidence indicates that an ethereal substance is indeed formed in many organs and that it has important roles in physiology and pathophysiology. This ethereal substance is the gas nitric oxide. In 1987, it was shown that vascular endothelial cells could synthesize NO and that this gas acted as a labile humoral-like messenger that relaxed vascular smooth muscle.3 Studies during the last 5 years have shown that NO functions as a mediator, a messenger, or a regulator of cell function in a number of physiological systems and pathophysiological states.4 This article begins with an abbreviated background on the discovery and characteristics of NO, reviews recent evidence that indicates that NO may play a role in gastrointestinal and hepatic physiology and disease, and speculates on potential clinical implications.
A note on proper scoring rules and risk aversion

Abstract When risk averse forecasters are presented with risk neutral proper scoring rules, they report probabilities whose ratios are shaded towards 1. If elicited probabilities are used as inputs to decision-making, naive elicitors may violate first-order stochastic dominance.
Analysis of the progesterone receptor in the beagle uterus and oviduct

Abstract Uterine and oviductal cytosols from immature and cycling adult beagles contain macromolecules which bind progestins specifically and with high affinity as determined by an exchange assay utilizing the synthetic progestin, R5020. The [ 3 H]-R5020 bound to the progesterone receptor 2 to 3 times more tightly than progesterone and apparently did not bind to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). Cytosols were incubated with 30 nM [ 3 H]-R5020, in the presence or absence of a 250-fold excess of unlabeled R5020, for 4 to 6 h at 4°C, conditions appropriate for exchange of labeled R5020 for endogenously bound steroid. Dextran-coated charcoal was used to separate bound from free ligand. The progesterone receptor in the female beagle, characterized using this standard assay, was tissue and steroid specific. Uterine cytosols contained two [ 3 H]-R5020 binding peaks (4S and 7–8S) on sucrose density gradients. The progesterone receptor bound [ 3 H]-R5020 with an apparent dissociation constant ( K D ) of approximately 2.5 nM according to Scatchard plot analysis. The concentration of uterine and oviductal progesterone receptors was under the inductive influence of estradiol. Measurable specific [ 3 H]-R5020 binding increased dramatically following administration of estradiol-17 β , but was absent in uteri and oviducts of untreated pups. These data have demonstrated the presence of a specific progesterone receptor in the beagle oviduct and uterus which displayed characteristics similar to those reported for progesterone receptors in other mammalian species.
Dimensions of life stress in psychiatric patients

A combined checklist and interview methodology was developed to assess the occurrence of life events among psychiatric patients. In addition to identifying events, patients were asked to rate them on 11 dimensions assumed to be important in mediating the impact of life stress. A factor analysis of ratings of 479 events from 64 patients, yielded three factors, reflecting the desirability of events, perceived control over their occurrence, and the readjustment required by events. However, ratings of social support available for help in coping with events and prior experience with similar events did not load on any of these factors. These dimensions should be treated as separate and potentially important influences. Three judges, blind to the patients' ratings, also made "normative" judgements of a subset of 154 events on the dimensions of desirability, control, and readjustment. Agreement among judges and between judges and patients was high with regard to desirability and control but low when rating readjustment. Judges tended to overestimate the amount of readjustment as described by patients.
A Ruskin Letter

Of letters by John Ruskin to his intimate friend Arthur Severn only four have ever been printed in collections. This fact gives added interest to the one which is here publishedfor the first time. The evelope is postmarked at Abingdon November 5, 1875, and is addressed to Arthur Severn Esq., Heme Hill, SE, London. A study of the letter reveals this fact clearly, at the same time casting light upon Ruskin's relationship with his close friend Arthur Severn.
The role of valency in the selection of anti-carbohydrate single-chain Fvs from phage display libraries

Several strategies were investigated for phage display of anti-carbohydrate single-chain Fvs (scFvs) using the anti-Salmonella Se155-4 scFv as a model system. All were based on the knowledge that panning V(H) CDR libraries displayed in a standard pIII phagemid/helper phage format against immobilized multivalent carbohydrate antigens selects almost solely for mutants with higher yields of soluble product or scFvs that form dimers or higher oligomers even when the linker length is chosen to give monomeric molecules. Construction of scFv libraries, in a phagemid vector, with mutations that already provide higher yields and/or short linkers to promote dimeric display greatly reduced these undesired selection pressures. However. the panning of an error-prone library of the entire scFv in a short linker format yielded two mutants that existed partially in higher oligomeric forms, indicating that dimeric display did not entirely eliminate the selection pressure problem. In one mutant a Ser75Gly mutation led to the formation of greater amounts of dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric scFv and surface plasmon resonance analysis of these different forms gave quantitative data for the functional affinity of these different scFv forms. Finally, a phage vector was constructed and the original V(H) CDR library was transferred to this vector. This display format, in which scFv is displayed on all three to five copies of pIII, seemed to be superior in terms of selection on the basis of binding site affinity and as a display mode for scFvs with low intrinsic affinity. While the use of the phage vector did not lead to the isolation of higher affinity binders from the library employed here, it did almost entirely remove the undesired selection pressures in that there was selection for the wild-type sequence. It is suggested that the multivalency of display provided by phage vectors is preferable to any phagemid vector strategy for the de novo isolation of anti-carbohydrate antibodies from phage libraries.
ITEM DIFFICULTY ANALYSIS OF THE TACTUAL PERFORMANCE TEST TRIALS

A study of item difficulty was performed on data from the Tactual Performance Test trials (preferred, nonpreferred, and both hands) on three groups (normal, alcoholic, and heterogeneous). The total sample size was 314. The three-way split-plot analysis of variance yielded three significant two-way interactions, i.e., group by trial, group by block, and trial by block, thereby making the interpretation complex. One finding is that the blocks at the top of the board are more difficult than the blocks at the bottom of the board.
Strongly correlated quantum walks in optical lattices

Full control over the dynamics of interacting, indistinguishable quantum particles is an important prerequisite for the experimental study of strongly correlated quantum matter and the implementation of high-fidelity quantum information processing. We demonstrate such control over the quantum walk-the quantum mechanical analog of the classical random walk-in the regime where dynamics are dominated by interparticle interactions. Using interacting bosonic atoms in an optical lattice, we directly observed fundamental effects such as the emergence of correlations in two-particle quantum walks, as well as strongly correlated Bloch oscillations in tilted optical lattices. Our approach can be scaled to larger systems, greatly extending the class of problems accessible via quantum walks.
Eating Habit and Fasting Metabolism of Rats

The rate of fasting metabolism depends on the level of previous food intake. In order to measure the influence on the metabolic rate of any condition which lowers the appetite one must therefore reduce the food intake of controls to that of the experimental animals in order to eliminate the influence of food level. The rats whose food intake is thus reduced but whose appetite is not affected may eat their daily ration at once while their pair mates with their decreased appetite on unlimited food supply extend their food intake over the whole day.Table I shows the feeding habit of 18 rats during 12 days. The amounts eaten during the various daily periods are expressed in percent of the daily intake. The behavior of 9 rats that had previously been on a restricted ration was essentially the same as that of their controls whose food intake had never been restricted. The previously restricted rats ate, however, during the first 4 hours of unlimited food supply 17 g of food which is more than their later averag...
Unemployment as Conduit of Black Self-Hate: Pathogenic Rates of Black Male Homicide via Legacy of the Antebellum

>> Commensurate with unemployment as conduit of Black self-hate is Black male aggression directed at racial peers. Consumed by poverty and most importantly unemployment, Black males have internalized norms via legacy of the antebellum that embrace violence. Their ability to obtain gainful employment can serve as a powerful alternative to the pathologizing influence of self-hate and to approaches emphasizing homicide to the exclusion of others. To reverse the trends, successful Blacks must be willing to mentor those less fortunate by being personally or actively involved. Their existence as role models can help decrease self-hate until such time as mentees can become permanently and gainfully employed.
Modeling of aspheric, diverging hydrodynamic instability experiments on the National Ignition Facility

Abstract One branch of work in the laboratory astrophysics community has been focused on developing the understanding of hydrodynamic mixing in core-collapse supernovae (ccSNe) by the Rayleigh–Taylor instability. Experiments studying these processes in the past have been limited to planar systems in large part due to limitations of drive energy. The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is now capable of providing experiments with far more energy than has been previously available on laser facilities, enabling supernova-relevant hydrodynamics in a diverging system. This paper focuses on a proposed design in which hydrodynamic instabilities develop from an aspheric blast-wave driven through multiple, coupled interfaces in a hemispheric target in which the relative masses of the layers are scaled to those within the ccSNe progenitor star. The simulations investigate the diagnosability and experimental value of different designs using a variety of drive conditions.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin Pyocyanin Causes Cystic Fibrosis Airway Pathogenesis

The cystic fibrosis (CF) airway bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes multiple virulence factors. Among these, the redox active exotoxin pyocyanin (PCN) is produced in concentrations up to 100 μmol/L during infection of CF and other bronchiectatic airways. However, the contributions of PCN during infection of bronchiectatic airways are not appreciated. In this study, we demonstrate that PCN is critical for chronic infection in mouse airways and orchestrates adaptive immune responses that mediate lung damage. Wild-type FVBN mice chronically exposed to PCN developed goblet cell hyperplasia and metaplasia, airway fibrosis, and alveolar airspace destruction. Furthermore, after 12 weeks of exposure to PCN, mouse lungs down-regulated the expression of T helper (Th) type 1 cytokines and polarized toward a Th2 response. Cellular analyses indicated that chronic exposure to PCN profoundly increased the lung population of recruited macrophages, CD4+ T cells, and neutrophils responsible for the secretion of these cytokines. PCN-mediated goblet cell hyperplasia and metaplasia required Th2 cytokine signaling through the Stat6 pathway. In summary, this study establishes that PCN is an important P. aeruginosa virulence factor capable of directly inducing pulmonary pathophysiology in mice, consistent with changes observed in CF and other bronchiectasis lungs.
Apparent precision of GPS radio occultation temperatures.

[1] The abundant atmospheric data provided by radio occultation (RO) via the Global Positioning System satellite network have improved short and long-term forecasts and have demonstrated the potential to provide a long-term, consistent, and independent climate dataset. Previous studies have already verified the consistency and reliability of the RO method, listing a range of precision estimates. Uncertainties arising during temperature retrievals, and confounding effects of atmospheric variability, have made the precision of RO temperature data difficult to determine. In this paper, we introduce the concept of apparent precision, and describe a simple, robust method for estimating the apparent temperature precision using data from the COSMIC project. We examine apparent RO temperature precision by latitude, and find it to be somewhat lower than previous estimates. We attribute this to apparent precision being a function of the true precision plus representativeness errors.
Copernicus, Kant, and the anthropic cosmological principles

In the last three decades several cosmological principles and styles of reasoning termed ‘anthropic’ have been introduced into physics research and popular accounts of the universe and human beings’ place in it. I discuss the circumstances of ‘fine tuning’ that have motivated this development, and what is common among the principles. I examine the two primary principles, and find a sharp difference between these ‘Weak’ and ‘Strong’ varieties: contrary to the view of the progenitors that all anthropic principles represent a departure from Copernicanism in cosmology, the Weak Anthropic Principle is an instance of Copernicanism. It has close affinities with the step of Copernicus that Immanuel Kant took himself to be imitating in the ‘critical’ turn that gave rise to the Critique of Pure Reason. I conclude that the fact that a way of going about natural science mentions human beings is not sufficient reason to think that it is a subjective approach; in fact, it may need to mention human beings in order to be objective.