cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic Incident Detection in Intelligent Transportation Systems Using Aggregation of Traffic Parameters Collected Through V2I Communications

Recent research in Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) focuses on Automatic Incident Detection (AID) techniques. Using advances in wireless networking and sensor technologies, modern vehicles have the ability to communicate with each other as well as with roadside infrastructure units (RSUs) in order to increase road safety. These new innovations in transportation technology provide traffic management system the ability to use data collected from the vehicles on the road to detect congestion and traffic incidents. Lately, many techniques were developed to alert drivers in advance about traffic incidents and to enable them to avoid congestion. In this paper, we discuss probabilistic collection of traffic data through vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications and present two novel techniques for automatic detection of traffic incidents in a highway scenario that are based on the use of distance and time for changing lanes, respectively vehicle speed changes over time. The proposed methods, which are illustrated with numerical results obtained from simulations, outperform alternative AID techniques through higher incident detection rates, about 25% shorter peak queue values and 20% faster dissipation of roadway congestion.
Alternative Treatments for Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity: Therapeutic Hypothermia After Bupivacaine-Induced Cardiac Arrest

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks have revolutionized regional anesthesia. Considered safe, regional anesthetic procedures still can be complicated after accidental intravascular injection of local anesthetic. The devastating effects have been described as local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST). The preferred antidote is intravascular lipid emulsion. Therapeutic hypothermia which protects neurological and cardiac function also may offer benefit in LAST, especially in situation where the lipid emulsion is not readily available such as in remote locations and frontline combat hospitals.
Cytogenomic identification and long-read single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing of a Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 9 (BBS9) deletion.

Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a recessive disorder characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations, including truncal obesity, rod-cone dystrophy, renal anomalies, postaxial polydactyly, and variable developmental delays. At least 20 genes have been implicated in BBS, and all are involved in primary cilia function. We report a 1-year-old male child from Guyana with obesity, postaxial polydactyly on his right foot, hypotonia, ophthalmologic abnormalities, and developmental delay, which together indicated a clinical diagnosis of BBS. Clinical chromosomal microarray (CMA) testing and high-throughput BBS gene panel sequencing detected a homozygous 7p14.3 deletion of exons 1–4 of BBS9 that was encompassed by a 17.5 Mb region of homozygosity at chromosome 7p14.2–p21.1. The precise breakpoints of the deletion were delineated to a 72.8 kb region in the proband and carrier parents by third-generation long-read single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing (Pacific Biosciences), which suggested non-homologous end joining as a likely mechanism of formation. Long-read SMRT sequencing of the deletion breakpoints also determined that the aberration included the neighboring RP9 gene implicated in retinitis pigmentosa; however, the clinical significance of this was considered uncertain given the paucity of reported cases with unambiguous RP9 mutations. Taken together, our study characterized a BBS9 deletion, and the identification of this shared haplotype in the parents suggests that this pathogenic aberration may be a BBS founder mutation in the Guyanese population. Importantly, this informative case also highlights the utility of long-read SMRT sequencing to map nucleotide breakpoints of clinically relevant structural variants.
The price of pretty: characteristics of black Tahitian pearls and their implicit values

French Polynesia’s economy is largely dependent on the black pearl industry and associated export revenues. Accordingly, there is a need to understand fully the factors that influence quality and p...
A Mechanosensitive GPCR that Detects the Bloody Force

Mechanoreceptors mediate a wide variety of physiological processes, such as hearing, touch, proprioception, and blood flow regulation. It is generally believed that mechanoreceptors are force-gated ion channels. Now, Xu et al. uncover a GPCR that is activated by shear force in endothelial cells of blood vessels.
Measurement Tools for Research on Nonviolence and Related Concepts

Before high-quality empirical research may advance our understanding of nonviolence, sound measures of nonviolence and related concepts must be available and utilized. This chapter first reviews the assessments of nonviolence reported in the social science research literature to date. Nonviolent measures discussed include the Teenage Nonviolence Test (TNT) (Mayton et al., 1998), the Pacifism Scales (Elliott, 1980), the Gandhian Personality Scale (GPS) (Hasan & Khan, 1983), Nonviolence Test (NVT) (Kool & Sen, 1984), Multidimensional Scales of Nonviolence (MSN) (Johnson et al., 1998) and a couple other scales that assess nonviolence. These measures are reviewed to draw attention to their strengths and weaknesses.
The accuracy of digital-video retinal imaging to screen for diabetic retinopathy: an analysis of two digital-video retinal imaging systems using standard stereoscopic seven-field photography and dilated clinical examination as reference standards.

Purpose To evaluate the accuracy of two digital-video retinal imaging (DVRI) systems to detect diabetic retinopathy. Methods A prospective, masked, technology assessment was conducted for two DVRI systems at a tertiary care Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Group A (n = 151 patients) was imaged with a 640x480 resolution system and group B (n = 103 patients) with an 800x600 resolution system. Four retinal evaluations were performed on each patient: DVRI with undilated pupils using one imaging field (U-DVRI), DVRI with dilated pupils using three imaging fields (D-DVRI), dilated clinical examination, and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study stereoscopic seven-field photography (ETDRS-P). Two analyses of accuracy were conducted, one using ETDRS-P as a "gold standard" (ETDRS-GS) and one using dilated clinical examination as a "gold standard" (C-GS). Results For group A, using the ETDRS-GS, sensitivities of U-DVRI and D-DVRI were 0.66 and 0.66; specificities of U-DVRI and D-DVRI were 0.66 and 0.86. Using the C-GS, sensitivities of U-DVRI and D-DVRI were 0.79 and 0.80; specificities of U-DVRI and D-DVRI were 0.68 and 0.85. For group B, using the ETDRS-GS, sensitivities of U-DVRI and D-DVRI were 0.76 and 0.85; specificities of U-DVRI and D-DVRI were 0.45 and 0.80. Using the C-GS, sensitivities of U-DVRI and D-DVRI were 0.81 and 0.87; specificities of U-DVRI and D-DVRI were 0.45 and 0.69. For both groups, dilation significantly improved specificities. Conclusions The 800x600 resolution DVRI system offers an accurate method of detecting diabetic retinopathy, provided there is adequate pupillary dilation and three retinal images are taken. DVRI technology may help facilitate retinal screenings of growing diabetic populations.
Dye Probes of Cell, Organelle, and Vesicle Membrane Potentials

The membrane potential is an important property of almost all cells and organelles. Three methods are commonly used to determine membrane potentials. Microelectrodes are used if the cells are large enough. The distribution of radioactive permeant ions between the medium and the cells can yield an estimate of membrane potential. Measurements of the fluorescence or light absorption of certain dye molecules associated with cells, organelles, or vesicles will often provide this information. This brief review covers what is known about the mechanisms of potential-sensitive dyes, their advantages and disadvantages, and examples of how they have been used in the past three years. Reviews of the earlier literature are available (Cohen and Hoffman, 1982; Freedman and Laris, 1981; Waggoner, 1979).
Immunological Approaches to the Study of Viral Antigens Associated with Neoplasms

Advances in tumor virology and tumor immunology during the past 6 years or so have been characterized by 2 major achievements. One was the demonstration that in some SV40-induced tumors the entire viral genome may persist in the transformed cells in a non-infectious and non-antigenic state (1). The other landmark was the discovery in most virus-induced tumors of 2 types of antigens—the transplantation antigens located on the cell surface and the intracellular T- or neoantigens. Both of these antigens are considered to be products specified by the viral genome, suggesting that most virus-induced tumors are characterized by the persistence of a portion of the viral genome as a heritable factor in the transformed cells (2).
Early Exposure to Cumulative Social Risk and Trajectories of Body Mass Index in Childhood.

Abstract Background: Childhood social risk has been associated with increased risk of childhood obesity. However, little is known about early exposure of cumulative social risk on BMI percentile (B...
Use of Sign Alone and Sign Plus Speech in Language Training of Nonverbal Autistic Children.

While more and more literature supports the use of signing as a valid communication alternative for nonverbal autistic children, few clear statements exist that speak to the efficacy of training in one mode over another. This article presents a summary of the language characteristics of autistic children and relates them to existing research supporting both sign alone and sign plus speech as viable training modes. Although no definitive conclusions can be drawn from the literature regarding the choice of teaching language in one mode over another for all autistic children, clinical implications are given regarding existing data and its application to autistic children. Procedures for determining the optimal sign teaching mode for a given child are also discussed, and a call for additional research is made.
Financial Literacy and Behavioral Biases among Traditional Age College Students

Financial literacy and planning are crucial for everyone. This is especially true for college students who as the decisions they make in this stage of their lives can haunt them throughout their income earning years and beyond. In this paper, we examine several financial literacy issues facing college students. We identify college students’ perceptions about their own financial situation, assess student financial literacy knowledge, as well as evaluate their awareness about the status of their savings and retirement positions. We find that basic financial literacy is not the only factor in making sound financial decisions. Our results show the majority of the college students surveyed are financially literate and have the ability to make informed decisions about their personal finances in the short-run. While our respondents appear confident in making short-run financial decisions, their behavior tends to suggest that their confidence is somewhat misguided. In addition, a large number of the students surveyed feel they do not have the requisite knowledge to make wise retirement planning choices. Furthermore, several respondents report a distrust of retirement plans offer by private companies, which may lead to suboptimal retirement savings.
The Ubiquity of Prevention

Despite all the challenges, so much conflict has been prevented that something must be different in the many situations of potential or passive conflict that have not turned active and violent. It is important to learn the lessons and mechanisms of its success in order to apply them to the instances of conflict that continue to appear. Most discussions of prevention have been generalized, as if there is one approach and one type of conflict to be prevented. Yet prevention of climate disasters can scarcely be studied in the same way as prevention of boundary disputes, and prevention of ethnic conflicts is different from prevention of global arms races. To become applicable, investigation of prevention must cut up the subject substantively and address different issue areas where prevention has been achieved. The issues considered here are security, territorial, and ethnic conflicts.
Reasoning and Decision Making under Uncertainty and Risk for Situation Management

This paper addresses the problem of situation management in an uncertain and ambiguous environment. It presents an approach to reasoning and decision making for identifying asymmetric threats and preventing or mitigating possible catastrophic consequences under resource constraints. Decision making for action selection incorporates decision makers’ attitude toward risk and uncertainty in the situations involving regular as well as high consequence rare events. The presented approach is based on the OODA loop and implemented within the framework of the Transferable Belief Model, Choquet Expected Utility, Multiple Quantile Model, abductive reasoning utilizing the Belief-based argumentation, and the Anytime decision making. A quality control component is added to the OODA loop to deal with possible insufficient quality of input information and results of processes involved. An example illustrating the approach is presented in this paper.
Texting and the Language of Everyday Deception.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the production and detection of common, everyday deception. Experiment 1 was a naturalistic study in which participants provided their most recent truthful...
Cervical cancer survivors' attitudes and understanding of menopause and hormone therapy.

Objective We designed a survey study to assess the presence and severity of climacteric symptoms, in addition to better understand patients' knowledge and understanding of hormone therapy (HT). Methods We administered a 23-question survey during a patient's clinic visit or over the phone. Study enrollment spanned from March, 2019 to May, 2019. The primary outcomes were severity of menopausal symptoms and willingness to try HT, calculated as a summarized overall score. Chi-square and logistic regression were used for analysis. Results Our response rate was 38% (n = 34). Our participants were diverse-67% women were black and 21% women were Hispanic. Stage 1 and 2 disease was reported in 32% and 41% of women. Also, 82% and 94% of women reported ever receiving any chemotherapy or radiation therapy. There was no association between willingness to try HT for relief of menopausal symptoms and income (χ [1, 29] = 0.56, P = 0.81) or education level (χ [1, 29] = 2.78, P = 0.10). The most common climacteric symptoms experienced were hot flushes (85%) and decreased libido (77%). Neither symptom severity (odds ratio [OR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-1.94) nor concern for side effects (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.82-1.36) of HT significantly predicted willingness to try HT. Conclusions Menopausal symptoms were prevalent in this population. Our data indicate that women are experiencing climacteric symptoms, but are overall unmotivated to address symptoms using HT. Factors such as symptom severity, fear of side effects, income level, or education level were not associated with acceptability of HT for premature menopause.
Chapter 1 – Historical Perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces cloning, or asexual reproduction, which is a time-honored method of reproducing various extinct and existing species of organisms. The term “cloning” is used to reflect the propagation of replicated biological material in various forms. A cell that can give rise to a complete individual is termed totipotent. Many early embryonic cells have the potential to produce cloned individuals. Other cells, such as embryonic stem (ES) cells, have the ability to produce the three germ layers, but, as currently manipulated in vitro, they may not result in the formation of a normal trophoblast, placenta, and fetus. ES cells are pluripotent, unless the nuclei are placed in the cytoplasm of oocytes, wherein they may be totipotent. There are several ways that homozygous offsprings may be produced, some with nearly identical genetics. Highly inbred mice are routinely used to provide uniformity among test animals, although they are not completely homozygous. A variety of methods have been used to diploidize haploid embryos, but developmental failures are high and they do not lead to multiple clones. Chimeras have been useful in understanding normal and abnormal embryogenesis by including appropriate genetic markers. Chimerism has also been used to produce interspecific pregnancies by the production of the trophoblast, and eventually the placenta of the species serving as a surrogate mother and a fetus of another closely related species.
Campo nuevo, prácticas viejas: promesas y desafíos de la historia pública = New Field, Old Practices: Promises and Challenges of Public History

Resumen: Aunque la historia publica se esta haciendo cada vez mas internacional, el campo sigue siendo dificil de definir y permanece sujeto a un cierto grado de critica. Sobre la base de practicas publicas -en algunas ocasiones establecidas desde hace mucho tiempo- la historia publica refleja nuevos enfoques acerca de las audiencias, la colaboracion y la autoridad en la produccion de la historia. Este articulo ofrece una vision general de la historia publica, sus diversas definiciones, su historiografia, y aborda algunas de las criticas principales que ha recibido. La historia publica se compara con un arbol del conocimiento cuyas partes (raices, tronco, ramas y hojas) representan las muchas etapas colaborativas e interconectadas que configuran este campo. La definicion de la historia como un proceso sistemico (el arbol) plantea la necesidad de que colaboren los distintos actores -sean historiadores cualificados (formados en la universidad) o no- y se centra en la funcion desempenada dentro del proceso en su totalidad. El futuro de la historia publica internacional requerira un equilibrio entre unos enfoques basados en la practica y unos debates mas teoricos sobre el papel de los historiadores formados en la universidad, los publicos y los variados usos del pasado.Palabras clave: Historia publica, Historiografia, Colaboracion, Memoria, Etica, Formacion.Abstract: To define and subject to some criticism. Based on – sometimes long-established – public practices, public history reflects new approaches on audiences, collaboration, and authority in history production. This article provides an overview of public history, its various definitions, its historiography, and discusses some of the main criticisms of the field. Public history is compared to a tree of knowledge whose parts (roots, trunk, branches, and leaves) represent the many collaborative and interconnected steps of the field. Defining public history as a systemic process (tree) argues for the need of collaboration between the different actors –trained historians or not– and focuses on the function played within the whole process. The future of international public history will require balancing practice-based approaches with more theoretical discussions on the role of trained historians, the publics, and the various uses of the past. Keywords: Public History, Historiography, Collaboration, Memory, Ethics, Training.
Discovering Parametric Activation Functions

Recent studies have shown that the choice of activation function can significantly affect the performance of deep learning networks. However, the benefits of novel activation functions have been inconsistent and task-dependent, and therefore the rectified linear unit (ReLU) is still the most commonly used. This paper proposes a technique for customizing activation functions automatically, resulting in reliable improvements in performance. Evolutionary search is used to discover the general form of the function, and gradient descent to optimize its parameters for different parts of the network and over the learning process. Experiments with three different neural network architectures on the CIFAR-100 image classification dataset show that this approach is effective. It discovers different activation functions for different architectures, and consistently improves accuracy over ReLU and other recently proposed activation functions by significant margins. The approach can therefore be used as an automated optimization step in applying deep learning to new tasks.
Hybrid Climate Policy Instruments Can Substantially Reduce National Carbon Pollution

Countries around the world require ambitious and effective policy instruments to mitigate climate change. Yet, many governments have struggled to pass efficient, economy-wide carbon prices. Instead, climate reforms often comprise hybrid policy instruments that bundle pricing, regulatory, and subsidy-based measures in a complex distributive bargain between producers, consumers, and government actors. Here, we estimate the causal effect of one major hybrid climate reform - the United Kingdom's 2001 Climate Change Programme (CCP) - on the country's carbon pollution trajectory. Using synthetic control methods, we show that, in 2005, the UK's CO2 emissions were 9.8% lower relative to what they would have been if the CCP had not been passed. Our results offer empirical confirmation that hybrid policy instruments can unilaterally reduce domestic carbon pollution, even after making concessions to producers, and in the absence of a legally binding global climate treaty.
Forging Foreign Policy: Organizational Identity and Knowledge Production

The ideas and knowledge central to foreign policy are often produced within the context of organizations. How do organizations vet people and ideas for knowledge production? I use original data drawn from archives of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), an organization that brought together elites with an interest in foreign policy, to examine the production of post–World War II US foreign policy knowledge. Drawing on literature about how organizations evaluate people and ideas, I assess how the CFR staff selected different foreign policy topics for their Program on Studies from 1955 to 1972. Case studies and multinomial logistic regression provide two forms of evidence: The justifications used by the CFR Program on Studies staff to select ideas and the relationship between recommendations of proposers and idea selection. I compare the effect of positive recommendations from different sources to distinguish between prioritizing quality and prestige and organizational identity on the other. Staff used the identity of the organization as a group of elites with particular expertise as a basis for making everyday decisions regarding which foreign policy knowledge would be codified in the program. In this way, the organization occupied a central position in the production of knowledge. This suggests that scholars of evaluation should attend to organization-level features in addition to individual-level characteristics. I discuss the implications for organizations and intellectual production.
The Etymology of Bargain and Its Background in Early Medieval Northwest European Trade

Today, bargain is generally used of a financially advantageous transaction, but in earlier English, the word denoted simply a transaction. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines the term as fo...
Two-stage sort planning for express parcel delivery

The design and control of effective sortation systems has become more complex as both the volume of parcels and also the number of time-definite service options offered by parcel carriers have grow...
Stress and Anxiety Levels in Couples who Undergo Fertility Treatment: a Review of Systematic Reviews.

Background Infertility is an issue that affects many parameters peoples' lives, as individuals and as couples. Besides the physical and economic impact of infertility on the couples, there is a significant reflection of infertility on their mental health and well-being, which follows them from the moment of the diagnosis up until the end of their treatment. Objective The aim of this review was to investigate whether psychological factors such as stress, anxiety or depression have an impact on the assisted reproduction treatment outcome and whether the use of supporting methods may help couples to minimize their fertility related stress, anxiety and depression and improve the treatment outcome. Methods After a systematic search of the electronic databases, fourteen studies were included in this umbrella review. The included studies were systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between January 2015 and February 2020. The population of interest was women, men or couples facing infertility and undergoing fertility treatment. The included studies assessed the relationship between stress and anxiety in couples undergoing fertility treatment and the outcome of the treatment, the psychological state and psychological adjustment of the couples after a negative result and the impact of interventional methods for reducing stress, anxiety or depression on the psychological state of the couples undergoing treatment and their pregnancy outcomes. Results This review fails to provide a certain answer to our research hypothesis due to conflicting results in the included studies. However, it has been observed that couples who reported better psychological state or have been treated with an interventional method for psychological support, were more likely to adjust better to the treatment procedure and the outcome as well. Conclusion Psychological support and consultation during assisted reproduction treatment is highly recommended by researchers and clinicians.
A Simplified Comorbidity Evaluation Predicting Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Background: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have shown a range of clinical outcomes. Previous studies have reported that patient comorbidities are predictive of worse clinical outcomes, especially when patients have multiple chronic diseases. We aim to: 1) derive a simplified comorbidity evaluation and determine its accuracy of predicting clinical outcomes (i.e., hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ventilation, and in-hospital mortality); and 2) determine its performance accuracy in comparison to well-established comorbidity indexes. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective observational study. We enrolled all emergency department (ED) patients with COVID-19 from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. A simplified comorbidity evaluation (COVID-related high-risk chronic condition (CCC)) was derived to predict different clinical outcomes using multivariate logistic regressions. In addition, chronic diseases included in the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) were scored, and its accuracy of predicting COVID-19 clinical outcomes was also compared with the CCC. Results: Data were retrieved from 90,549 ED patient visits during the study period, among which 3,864 patients were COVID-19 positive. Forty-seven point nine percent (1,851/3,864) were admitted to the hospital, 9.4% (364) patients were admitted to the ICU, 6.2% (238) received invasive mechanical ventilation, and 4.6% (177) patients died in the hospital. The CCC evaluation correlated well with the four studied clinical outcomes. The adjusted odds ratios of predicting in-hospital death from CCC was 2.84 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.81 - 4.45, P < 0.001). C-statistics of CCC predicting in-hospital all-cause mortality was 0.73 (0.69 - 0.76), similar to those of the CCI’s (0.72) and ECI’s (0.71, P = 0.0513). Conclusions: CCC can accurately predict clinical outcomes among patients with COVID-19. Its performance accuracies for such predictions are not inferior to those of the CCI or ECI’s. J Clin Med Res. 2021;13(4):237-244 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr4476
Conductive Nanomaterials used in Bioinks for 3D Bioprinting

Biofabrication for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is a rapidly evolving field that incorporates bioprinting or bioassembly for the development of biologically functional products with...
Natural Inflation After Planck 2018

We calculate high-precision constraints on Natural Inflation relative to current observational constraints from Planck 2018 + BICEP/Keck(BK15) Polarization + BAO on $r$ and $n_S$, including post-inflationary history of the universe. We find that, for conventional post-inflationary dynamics, Natural Inflation with a cosine potential is disfavored at greater than 95% confidence out by current data. If we assume protracted reheating characterized by $\overline{w}>1/3,$ Natural Inflation can be brought into agreement with current observational constraints. However, bringing unmodified Natural Inflation into the 68% confidence region requires values of $T_{\mathrm{re}}$ below the scale of electroweak symmetry breaking. The addition of a SHOES prior on the Hubble Constant $H_0$ only worsens the fit.
Outcomes of repeat kidney transplantation following prior graft failure secondary to BK nephropathy: A single-center retrospective study

Background BK virus is associated with development of nephropathy (BKVN) that can lead to graft failure after renal transplantation. There are limited data on rates of recurrence and outcomes of repeat renal transplantation after prior graft loss caused by BKVN. Methods After IRB approval, data on all patients who underwent a repeat renal transplantation after prior graft failure as a result of BKVN were identified. Data on management of patients prior to retransplantation, induction and maintenance immunosuppression, and key clinical and virologic outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results Thirteen patients were identified over a 13-year period, and follow-up of these patients occurred for a median of 4.7 years. Most patients have previous renal transplants removed prior to (7/13, 53.8%) or at the time of retransplantation (3/13, 23.1%). Close virologic monitoring of serum and urine, coupled with early immunosuppression minimization, was associated with few patients developing BK viruria above 1 × 107 c/mL (4/13, 30.8%), BK viremia above 10,000 c/mL (2/13, 15.4%), and biopsy-proven BKVN (1/12, 8.3%); most (8/13, 61.5%) developed BK viruria at any level. Renal function at 1 year post-retransplantation was generally excellent and only 1 patient developed graft failure caused by recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. In our review of the literature, 2 large observational studies of the UNOS database as well as our analysis of case reports showed excellent graft survival and very low rates of recurrent BKVN leading to graft loss. Conclusions Retransplantation after prior graft failure caused by BKVN generally has low rates of recurrence when coupled with close monitoring and early immunosuppression minimization. Removal of failed renal transplant may allow easier monitoring for recurrence.
Some tridiagonal determinants

A determinant of Sylvester resurfaced first in a paper by Kac in 1947, and again in a paper by Askey in 2005. Since then several authors have discussed related determinants. We evaluate two further extensions of Sylvester’s determinant.
Delta operator based 2-D filters: symmetry, stability, and design

Properties of delta operator based 2-D transfer functions and their application for the design of 2-D filters are considered. Conditions on complex coefficient transfer functions that arise due to stability and various symmetries in frequency responses are listed. Efficient procedures for the design of 2-D filters that utilize these symmetry and stability conditions are presented. An example is presented to illustrate this design procedure. The example also shows that the delta operator based design requires only 2 significant digits of precision to maintain accurate frequency response while the z-domain design needs 5 significant digits.
Comparison of rapid methods for analysis of bacterial fatty acids.

When rapid gas-liquid chromatography methods for determination of bacterial fatty acids were compared, results showed that saponification was required for total fatty acid analysis. Transesterification with boron-trihalide reagents (BF3-CH3OH, BCl3-CH3OH) caused extensive degradation of cyclopropane acids and was less effective than saponification in releasing cellular hydroxy fatty acids. Digestion of cells with tetramethylammonium hydroxide was unsatisfactory because of extraneous gas-liquid chromatography peaks and because of lower recovery of branched-chain and hydroxy fatty acids. A simple, rapid saponification procedure which can be used for total cellular fatty acid analysis of freshly grown cells is described.
Interaction of Mitochondrial F1ATPase with Trinitrophenyl Derivatives of ATP

It was shown recently that ATP present at near saturating concentrations did not prevent binding and hydrolysis of submicromolar concentration of trinitrophenyl adenosine triphosphate (Tnp-ATP) by F1-ATPase [Murataliev, M. B. & Boyer, P. O. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 15431–15439]. To explore F1-ATPase binding sites that bind Tnp-ATP a new photoreactive analog of ATP, 2-azido-trinitrophenyl adenosine triphosphate (2-N3-Tnp-ATP) has been synthesized and used for photoaffinity labeling of mitochondrial F1- ATPase. The analog shares many properties of the parent non-azido Tnp-ATP as shown from spectral characteristics, binding with F1-ATPase, and kinetic and inhibition studies. 500 μM ATP does not prevent binding and hydrolysis of low concentrations of 2-N3,-Tnp-ATP by F1-ATPase. Photoirradiation of the enzyme-analog complex formed under such conditions results in the labeling of the catalytic-site peptide. This shows that in the presence of near saturating ATP, Tnp-ATP can enter the catalytic cycle and inhibit ATP hydrolysis by initial binding at a third catalytic site. The results give strong evidence that only two catalytic sites need to have bound substrate for near maximal turnover rate, and that three catalytic sites of F1-ATPase participate equally in catalysis. When F1-ATPase binds substoichiometric 2-N3-Tnp-ATP in the presence of Mg2+, illumination of the inactive complex formed results in the covalent labeling of a catalytic site. This shows that F1-ATPase forms similar inactive complexes when ADP or Tnp-ADP is bound at a catalytic site in the presence of Mg2+. Exposure of the nucleotide-depleted F1-ATPase to 20 μM 2-N3-Tnp-ATP followed by a short incubation with excess of Tnp-ATP results in binding, and, upon illumination, in a covalent labeling of a non-catalytic-site peptide.
HYDRAULIC DESIGN OF VERTICAL STILLING WELLS

Vertical stilling wells are economical and ideally suited to dissipate high energy flow. Model studies established general design criteria for vertical stilling wells using a standard sleeve valve. Dimensionless parameters based on design discharge Q and valve diameter D were established to aid the designer in determining optimum well size for a specific need. Over 100 tests were conducted with two laboratory models to determine stilling well geometry. A graphical method of presentation aids the designer in sizing the vertical stilling well. A design example is included.
New high-spin band structures in 184Hg.

The high-spin states in $^{184}\mathrm{Hg}$ have been investigated via the $^{154}\mathrm{Gd}$ ${(}^{32}$S,4n) reaction at a beam energy of 160 MeV, with an array of Compton suppressed Ge detectors in the Spin Spectrometer at HHIRF. The ground state oblate band and excited prolate band were extended to ${10}^{+}$ and ${26}^{+}$, respectively, and seven new bands are observed. A new band with odd spins, 13 to 25, has a much larger moment of inertia than the other bands in $^{184}\mathrm{Hg}$. Two of the new bands feed the prolate excited band and are interpreted as quadrupole vibrational bands. Also, two new signature partner bands are observed for which the configuration of \ensuremath{\nu}${\mathit{i}}_{13/2}$${\mathit{f}}_{7/2}$ is proposed. The similarity of the band with odd spins to the band with intermediate deformation (${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\beta}}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\sim}0.34) in $^{186}\mathrm{Hg}$, and signature partner bands to the bands observed in 104 isotones $^{180}\mathrm{Os}$ and $^{182}\mathrm{Pt}$, is discussed.
Opportunities for Increased Intelligence and Autonomy in Robotic Systems for Manufacturing

Since the introduction of programmable industrial robots at the beginning of the 1970s, an industry based on these machines grew steadily to a point in the mid-1980s where it was poised for an explosion of huge proportions. This explosion failed to happen as a “robotics backlash” took hold, with the strong perception held by many that these machines did not, and would not, live up to the high expectations held by their users.
Biosynthesis of Glutamic Acid in Saccharomyces: Accumulation of Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Intermediates in a Glutamate Auxotroph

Aconitaseless glutamic acid auxotroph MO-1-9B of Saccharomyces grew in glutamic acid-supplemented minimal medium, but failed to grow when glutamic acid was substituted by proline, arginine, ornithine, or glutamine. This mutant was also unable to utilize lactate or glycerol as a carbon source. Under a glutamic acid-limiting condition, by using acetate-1-14C as tracer, the mutant accumulated rather large amounts of 14C-citric acid and 14C-succinic acid when compared with the wild-type strain. Under excess glutamic acid supplementation, accumulation of citric acid and succinic acid was considerably reduced. When 14C-glutamic acid-(U) was used as tracer, 14C-α-ketoglutaric acid, 14C-citric acid, and 14C-succinic acid were accumulated in the mutant. The citric acid peak was the largest, followed by α-ketoglutaric acid and succinic acid. In the wild-type strain under similar conditions, only small amounts of 14C-citric acid and 14C-succinic acid and no 14C-α-ketoglutaric acid were accumulated.
The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Nonlocality

Quantum nonlocality is discussed as an aspect of the quantum formalism that is seriously in need of interpretation. The Transactional Interpretation of quantum mechanics, which describes quantum processes as transactional "handshakes" between retarded $\psi$ waves and advanced $\psi*$ waves, is discussed. Examples of the use of the Transactional Interpretation in resolving quantum paradoxes and in understanding the counter-intuitive aspects of the formalism, particularly quantum nonlocality, are provided.
Diagnostic biochemical methods in pancreatic disease.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an outline of the various biochemical techniques that can be helpful in the diagnosis of pancreatic disease. The pancreas is a large and important organ responsible for the production of many hormones and digestive enzymes. Malfunction of the pancreas can result in a variety of disease states primarily concerned with digestion or cellular metabolism. The chapter discusses the biochemistry of pancreas. The biochemistry of the pancreas is concerned with the synthesis of enzymes and hormones and the active secretion of these substances. Radioactive studies have indicated that the synthesis of pancreatic enzymes occurs in the ribosomal particles attached to the rough-surfaced membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, and then the enzymes are immediately transported into the cisternae. In the cisternae, the proteins are segregated and concentrated, and in the guinea pig pancreas the proteins are formed into granules. The granules then migrate to the Golgi region of the cell, where they are surrounded with a membrane and become the large dense particles known as zymogen granules.
Protecting the Integrity of the Election Process

Abstract As the country once again prepares to elect a president, it is critically important that states implement measures that help improve the security and integrity of our elections. Ensuring fair elections requires that individuals authenticate their citizenship when they register and their identity when they vote. Such measures also increase public confidence in our election process. It is important that every individual who is eligible have the opportunity to vote, but it is equally important that the votes of such eligible voters are not stolen or diluted by fraudulent or bogus votes cast by ineligible or imaginary voters. These measures prevent impersonation fraud, voting under fictitious voter registrations, double voting by individuals registered in more that one state or locality, and voting by illegal aliens or even legal aliens. Contrary to the claims of critics, such minimal requirements do not depress the turnout or have a disparate impact on minority, poor, or elderly voters—the overwhelm...
Carbon dioxide permeability of aquaporin-1 measured in erythrocytes and lung of aquaporin-1 null mice and in reconstituted proteoliposomes.

Measurements of CO(2) permeability in oocytes and liposomes containing water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1) have suggested that AQP1 is able to transport both water and CO(2). We studied the physiological consequences of CO(2) transport by AQP1 by comparing CO(2) permeabilities in erythrocytes and intact lung of wild-type and AQP1 null mice. Erythrocytes from wild-type mice strongly expressed AQP1 protein and had 7-fold greater osmotic water permeability than did erythrocytes from null mice. CO(2) permeability was measured from the rate of intracellular acidification in response to addition of CO(2)/HCO(3)(-) in a stopped-flow fluorometer using 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and -6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) as a cytoplasmic pH indicator. In erythrocytes from wild-type mice, acidification was rapid (t((1)/(2)), 7.3 +/- 0.4 ms, S.E., n = 11 mice) and blocked by acetazolamide and increasing external pH (to decrease CO(2)/HCO(3)(-) ratio). Apparent CO(2) permeability (P(CO(2))) was not different in erythrocytes from wild-type (0.012 +/- 0.0008 cm/s) versus null (0.011 +/- 0.001 cm/s) mice. Lung CO(2) transport was measured in anesthetized, ventilated mice subjected to a decrease in inspired CO(2) content from 5% to 0%, producing an average decrease in arterial blood pCO(2) from 77 +/- 4 to 39 +/- 3 mm Hg (14 mice) with a t((1)/(2)) of 1.4 min. The pCO(2) values and kinetics of decreasing pCO(2) were not different in wild-type versus null mice. Because AQP1 deletion did not affect CO(2) transport in erythrocytes and lung, we re-examined CO(2) permeability in AQP1-reconstituted liposomes containing carbonic anhydrase (CA) and a fluorescent pH indicator. Whereas osmotic water permeability in AQP1-reconstituted liposomes was >100-fold greater than that in control liposomes, apparent P(CO(2)) (approximately 10(-3) cm/s) did not differ. Measurements using different CA concentrations and HgCl(2) indicated that liposome P(CO(2)) is unstirred layer-limited and that HgCl(2) slows acidification because of inhibition of CA rather than AQP1. These results provide direct evidence against physiologically significant AQP1-mediated CO(2) transport and establish an upper limit to the CO(2) permeability through single AQP1 water channels.
Effect of β-adrenergic blockade on dynamic electrical restitution in vivo

The slope of the action potential duration (APD) restitution curve may be a significant determinant of the propensity to develop ventricular fibrillation, with steeper slopes associated with a more...
Recusal of Federal Judges: A Discussion of Recent Cases

(1991). Recusal of Federal Judges: A Discussion of Recent Cases. Justice System Journal: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 525-549.
The Moderating Effect of Gender on Leadership Intervention Impact An Exploratory Review

A total of 57 intervention-based leadership studies that included sufficient data on leader and follower gender were included in this meta-analysis. By intervention, the authors mean any study where the researcher overtly manipulated leadership as the independent variable through training, assignment, scenarios, or other means. Results showed a significant difference in the effect sizes for leadership interventions conducted with all-male and majority-male participants versus all-female and majority-female participant studies; however, these differences varied based on the setting of the intervention, the theoretical basis of the intervention, and the type of outcome. Implications for further research on gender differences with respect to examining cause—effect impact of leadership interventions are discussed.
CRL2LRR-1 Targets a CDK Inhibitor for Cell Cycle Control in C. elegans and Actin-Based Motility Regulation in Human Cells

Summary The Cip/Kip CDK inhibitor (CKI) p21 Cip1/WAF1 has a critical role in the nucleus to limit cell proliferation by inhibiting CDK-cyclin complexes. In contrast, cytoplasmic p21 regulates cell survival and the actin cytoskeleton. These divergent functions for p21 in different cellular compartments suggest the necessity for complex regulation. In this study, we identify the CRL2 LRR-1 ubiquitin ligase as a conserved regulator of Cip/Kip CKIs that promotes the degradation of C. elegans CKI-1 and human p21. The nematode CRL2 LRR-1 complex negatively regulates nuclear CKI-1 levels to ensure G1-phase cell cycle progression in germ cells. In contrast, human CRL2 LRR1 targets cytoplasmic p21, acting as a critical regulator of cell motility that promotes a nonmotile stationary cell state by preventing p21 from inhibiting the Rho/ROCK/LIMK pathway. Inactivation of human CRL2 LRR1 leads to the activation of the actin-depolymerizing protein cofilin, dramatic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, and increased cell motility.
1031. Improved Intranuclear Delivery of PNA- Peptide Conjugates Designed for Chromosomal Gene Targeting

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are DNA binding molecules, which offer the potential to selectively modulate gene expression. These DNA analogues in which the purine and pyrimidine bases are attached to a polyamine backbone, maintain a spacing similar to DNA, but result in an achiral, neutrally charged molecule. PNAs can bind to DNA via Watson-Crick complementarity, with binding affinities significantly higher than those of the corresponding DNA oligomers. However, the biological activity of these potential antigene compounds has been limited by inefficient cellular uptake. Currently, the techniques used to introduce these molecules into cells, microinjection, co-mixture with cationic lipids, and electroporation, are limited by their cytotoxic effects. Here, we investigate the effect of cell-penetrating peptides on the biological activity of PNAs as measured in an assay for gene-targeted mutagenesis. Using the transport peptide derived from the third helix of the homeodomain of antennapedia (Antp), we tested PNA-peptide conjugates compared to unmodified PNAs. Confocal microscopy studies indicated increased cellular uptake of PNA when linked to Antp, consistent with the gene targeting data. Furthermore, i.p. injection of labeled PNA-Antp conjugate indicate in vivo nuclear uptake in mouse tissue. These results suggest that peptide conjugation may enhance intranuclear delivery of reagents designed to bind to chromosomal DNA, thus improving antigene potential.