cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Workers' Participation in the United States: Catholic Social Teaching and Democratic Theory

Workers' participation has stirred renewed interest because of recent economic and political transformation. The article presents workplace participation as key in maintaining democratic values. The tenth anniversary of Economic Justice for Allprovides the occasion to reexamine its social ethical arguments for workplace participation. The weight of those arguments is assessed in light of: their wide, antecedent background in theory and practice manifested in both the U.S. and Germany, the modern effectiveness of works' councils, and the extension of the ethical arguments in more recent Catholic social teaching. The article examines the theological and philosophical principles of Economic Justice for Allas they bear on economic participation. Central to these arguments is the fostering of free personal activity within a diverse, institutionally plural society. Toward society's common good, economic participation directs productive and service activites. The traditional category of subsidiarity offers a cha...
Sexual behaviours, sex toy and sexual safety methods reported by women who have sex with women and men.

Background Relative to women who engage in sex with exclusively men or women, women who have sex with women and men (WSWM) are more likely to report a history of sexually transmissible infections. Knowledge of the diversity and specificity of the sexual behaviours in which they engage may provide insight into the behavioural modes of infection. The present study sought to document a range of behaviours including concurrent multi-person sexual activity (e.g. orgy, threesome), anal sexual activity and sex toy use. Barrier use methods during specific behaviours were also assessed. Methods: Eighty women who reported recent genital contact with at least one man and one woman were recruited via targeted Internet, venue-based and snowball sampling methods. Consenting participants were directed to an online survey. During an in-person timeline follow-back interview (the SEQUENCE© calendar method), a subset of participants (n = 53) provided detailed sexual behaviour data for each sexual partner over the previous 12 months. Results: Almost three-quarters of the sample reported at least one concurrent multi-person sexual activity. Nearly two-thirds of participants reported engaging in sexual behaviour that involved their own (66.7%) or their partner’s (49.4%) anus in the past year. Barrier use for sexual behaviours other than penile-vaginal intercourse was uncommon. Behaviours and safety strategies were similar with men and women regardless of partner gender. Conclusions: The sexual repertoires reported by participants in this study were diverse. Understanding the range of diverse sexual behaviours of the participants may enable the construction of tailored recommendations for sexual health maintenance among WSWM.
Mechanisms Underlying the Regulation of Innate and Adaptive Immunity by Vitamin D

Non-classical actions of vitamin D were first suggested over 30 years ago when receptors for the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), were detected in various tissues and cells that are not associated with the regulation of calcium homeostasis, including activated human inflammatory cells. The question that remained was the biological significance of the presence of vitamin D receptors in the different tissues and cells and, with regard to the immune system, whether or not vitamin D plays a role in the normal immune response and in modifying immune mediated diseases. In this article findings indicating that vitamin D is a key factor regulating both innate and adaptive immunity are reviewed with a focus on the molecular mechanisms involved. In addition, the physiological significance of vitamin D action, as suggested by in vivo studies in mouse models is discussed. Together, the findings indicate the importance of 1,25(OH)2D3 as a regulator of key components of the immune system. An understanding of the mechanisms involved will lead to potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of immune mediated diseases.
Encryption And Portable Data Storage

The protection of data is key issue in todays world. The wide of availability and use of portable technologies such as USB flash has increased concern about securing the data resides on these devices. Because USB flash drives are small, relatively inexpensive, and easy to use, the security of the information stored on these thumb drives is on-going concern. A number of approaches to safeguarding the information stored on these drives are available. This paper examines one approach to this goal through the use of encryption. This method encrypts all the data on the drive. In addition the fact the data on the drive is encrypted is not visually obvious when viewing the contents of the disk. The proposed approach uses publically available and free encryption algorithms. A user password is needed to view and access the data that has been encrypted. The proposed methodology is quick and easy to use. Individuals who routinely carry around their USB drives need to be able to decrypt and encrypt the device quickly and conveniently. Furthermore, if the device is lost, it is still possible with the method advocated in this paper to include information about how to return the device to the owner without compromising the secured data on the drive. Without encrypting the data on portable drives, the user risks the disclosure of information. This paper argues that portable storage should be secured and suggests a way to secure the data through password and encryption that further enhances the usability and flexibility of the USB flash drive. The paper includes the results and analysis of an undergraduate student survey that determined what habits and practices they followed with respect to securing their personal data and files. Some of the questions included in the analysis are the following: Do you encrypt your USB flash drive? Do you use any type of security for your USB flash drive? How important do you think security is for a flash drive? (A Likert scale) Do you use passwords to protect your USB flash drive? Do you backup your work? Do you think it is important to use security when using a USB flash drive? The findings of the survey help to understand the perspective of todays students and how to address the critical need to secure their information and data files with them.
Quantitative study of radiation effects in phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated leukocyte cultures.

SummaryEffects of x-irradiation (up to 1500 R) have been quantitatively studied in human peripheral blood leukocyte cultures, with and without PHA stimulation, by electronic enumeration and sizing of cell nuclei. Without PHA a dose-dependent reduction of lymphocytes was seen, which was less marked than that resulting from in vivo irradiation. In studying the differential effect of irradiation on blast forms and cell division in PHA-stimulated cultures, vinblastine sulphate was used to arrest cell division. A dose-dependent effect was noted on both blast formation and cell division, but the effect on cell division was much greater. Cultures irradiated after blastogenesis had occurred also showed that the blast forms were not nearly so much affected as was further cell division. Labelling with tritiated cytidine in both irradiated and unirradiated cultures resulted in blast forms that were more heavily labelled than the non-transformed cells. This suggested that the metabolically more active cells were the ...
Identity-relevant events and psychological symptoms: a cautionary tale

I examine the psychological impact of negative and positive events in roles that individuals view as salient or important for self-conception. Events in highly salient role-identity domains (identity-threatening and identity-enhancing events) should have greater effects on symptoms than those in less salient domains. Data come from interviews with a stratified two-wave panel sample of 532 married and divorced urban adults. Contrary to expectations, the influences of events on changes in psychological distress and alcohol/drug use were not dependent on the importance of the role-identity to the individual. Exploratory qualitative analyses suggested several reasons why. I reformulate the identity-relevant stress hypothesis in light of these observations, and argue that contextual details about events are required to test the revised hypothesis adequately. The complex influences of stressors on perceptions of identity salience need further examination as well.
Threshold collision-induced dissociation and theoretical studies of hydrated Fe(II): binding energies and Coulombic barrier heights.

The first experimentally determined bond dissociation energies for losing water from Fe2+(H2O)n complexes, n = 4–11, are measured using threshold collision-induced dissociation (TCID) in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer coupled to an electrospray ionization source that forms thermalized complexes. In this technique, absolute cross-sections for dissociation induced by collisions with Xe at systematically varied kinetic energies are obtained. After accounting for multiple collisions, kinetic shifts, and energy distributions, these cross-sections are analyzed to yield the energy thresholds for losing one, two, or three water ligands at 0 K. The 0 K threshold measurements are converted to 298 K values to give the hydration enthalpies and free energies for sequentially losing water ligands from each complex. Comparisons to previous results for hydration of Zn2+ indicate that the bond energies are dominated by electrostatic interactions, with no obvious variations associated with the open shell of Fe2...
Correlations of Chemistry and Mineralogy of Western U.S. Fly Ash

Fly ashes derived from low-rank coals mined principally in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota are being studied by the Western Fly Ash Research, Development and Data Center [1]. Previous studies of the mineralogy of western U.S. fly ash by McCarthy et al. [1–3] using x-ray diffraction (XRD) form the framework of the present study. A database of chemical, mineralogical and physical properties, along with precursor coal characteristics, is being assembled. Based on studies to date of several hundred fly ash samples derived from lignite and subbituminous coals, as well as from several bituminous ashes, correlations of chemistry and mineralogy have been hypothesized and are being tested. These correlations are discussed below.
Influence of intravascular pressure on vascular response to epinephrine.

SummaryThe vasoconstrictor effect of epinephrine on the isolated perfused rabbit ear was found to vary with the perfusion pressure. The drop in flow caused by a given dose of epinephrine was a constant fraction of the original value. This result suggests that the tension developed by the vascular smooth muscle depends on the initial stretch. It is concluded that the apparently greater effect produced by epinephrine infusions in hypertensives, as determined by plethysmographic methods, may be due in part to the higher initial blood pressure in these individuals.
Absorption of penicillin through the human vagina. II. 500,000 units of penicillin at one administration.

Abstract In a previous study by us 1 16 patients were tested for absorption of penicillin through the vaginal mucosa. All of these patients were ambulatory. A single 100,000 unit cocoa-base vaginal suppository was self-administered on a scheduled program. The blood levels varied, were inadequate therapeutically, and the rate of absorption was unpredictable. At about the same time Goldberger, Walter, and Lapid, using 500,000 units of penicillin in similar suppository form per vaginam, obtained therapeutic or adequately high levels of penicillin in the venous blood. Even so, these levels were maintained only a few hours. This report is a further investigation of the vaginal insertions as a possible route of administration for therapeutic blood levels by the method and dosage of Goldberger, Walter, and Lapid.
Non-Binary LDPC Codes for Magnetic Recording Channels: Error Floor Analysis and Optimized Code Design

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the error floor along with code optimization guidelines for structured and regular non-binary low-density parity-check (NB-LDPC) codes in magnetic recording (MR) applications. While the topic of the error floor performance of binary LDPC codes over additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels has recently received considerable attention, very little is known about the error floor performance of NB-LDPC codes over other types of channels, despite the early results demonstrating superior characteristics of NB-LDPC codes relative to their binary counterparts. We first show that, due to the outer looping between the detector and the decoder in the receiver, the error profile of NB-LDPC codes over partial-response (PR) channels is qualitatively different from the error profile over AWGN channels—this observation motivates us to introduce new combinatorial objects aimed at capturing decoding errors that dominate the PR channel error floor region. We call these objects balanced absorbing sets (BASs), which are viewed as a special subclass of previously introduced absorbing sets (ASs). Aided by these new objects (BASs), we develop a method that combines analytical equations and biased simulations to predict the error floor performance of NB-LDPC codes over PR channels without the need to execute extensive Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. We show that explicitly incorporating the inter-symbol interference of MR channels into our prediction method makes the accuracy of the error floor estimate within 0.2 of an order of magnitude from the traditional MC simulation. In addition, we prove that, due to the more restrictive definition of BASs (relative to the more general class of ASs), an additional degree of freedom can be exploited in the code design for PR channels. We then demonstrate that the proposed code optimization aimed at removing dominant BASs offers performance improvements in the frame error rate in the error floor region by up to 2.5 orders of magnitude over the unoptimized designs. Our code optimization technique carefully, yet provably, removes BASs from the code while preserving its overall structure (node degree, quasi-cyclic property, regularity, and so forth). The resulting codes outperform the existing binary and NB-LDPC solutions for PR channels by about 2.5 and 1.25 orders of magnitude, respectively.
Fragmentation of Islamic Financial Products – An Exploratory Study of Islamic Schools of Thought

The international emergence and expansion of Islamic finance is an undeniable fact. Significant efforts from all stakeholders including regulatory bodies are currently under way to formulate universal framework, standards and codes of conduct for Islamic finance. This is necessary because of the heterogeneity of the Muslim community in the presence of different “Schools of thought” (hanafi, hanbali, maliki and shafi). “Schools of thought” has a great impact on development of Islamic jurisprudence and analytical thinking. Sources of Shari’ah law are clearly defined through Quran, Sunnah, Ijtihad, Ijma and Qiyas. However, multiple interpretations by various “Schools of thought” regarding Islamic jurisprudence including Islamic Finance result in minor and major disparities. Keeping in view this fact, it is logical that without a universal Shari’ah code, the acceptability of products introduced in Islamic finance shall remain fragmented. Moreover, the permissibility of certain Islamic financial products varies by region, depending on the “Schools of thought” prevalent in that geographical area. This paper explores the necessity of convergence of various “Schools of thought” to formulate a single Shari’ah code that will be universally applicable. We also intend to look at similarities between “Schools of thought” with special reference to Islamic finance. This effort may lead to development of instruments that have broader markets, multiple customer segments, enhanced liquidity and reduced liquidity premium.
Neurochemical Aspects of Neurological Disorders

Abstract Neurological disorders are a group of pathological conditions that damage neurons and neuronal net leading to the loss of neuronal functions. Neurological disorders include neurotraumatic diseases (stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury), neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases), and neuropsychiatric diseases (depression, autism, and hyperactivity disorders). Multiple factors are associated with the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that dysregulation of the inflammatory network and oxidative imbalance along with mitochondrial dysfunction and accumulation of abnormal, aggregated proteins play a major role in neurodegeneration in the above-mentioned neurological disorders. Neurodegeneration in neurological disorders is regulated by many different factors, including, but not limited to, inherited genetic abnormalities, problems in the immune system, and environmental factors. At present, nothing is known about the contribution of trace amines and their receptors in the pathogenesis of neurotraumatic and neurodegenerative diseases. However, trace amines and their receptors have been reported in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric diseases.
An Intervention to Decrease the Occurrence of Invalid Data on Neuropsychological Evaluation

Objective This study tested whether patients who were given a handout based on deterrence theory, immediately prior to evaluation, would provide invalid data less frequently than patients who were simply given an informational handout. Method All outpatients seen for clinical evaluation in a VA Neuropsychology Clinic were randomly given one of the two handouts immediately prior to evaluation. The "Intervention" handout emphasized the importance of trying one's hardest, explicitly listed consequences of valid and invalid responding and asked patients to sign and initial it. The "Control" handout provided general information about neuropsychological evaluation. Examiners were blinded to condition. Patients were excluded from analyses if they were diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder or could not read the handout. Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT) was used to determine performance validity. Results Groups did not differ on age, education, or litigation status. For the entire sample (N = 251), there was no effect of handout on passing versus failing MSVT. However, among patients who were seeking disability benefits at the time of evaluation (n = 70), the Intervention handout was associated with lower frequency of failing MSVT than the Control handout. Conclusions This brief, theory-based, cost-free intervention was associated with lower frequency of invalid data among patients seeking disability benefits at the time of clinical evaluation. We suggest methodological modifications that might produce a more potent intervention that could be effective with additional subsets of patients.
Evaluating Resilience of Gas Pipeline Systems Under Cyber-Physical Attacks: A Function-Based Methodology

In this research paper, we present a function-based methodology to evaluate the resilience of gas pipeline systems under two different cyber-physical attack scenarios. The first attack scenario is the pressure integrity attack on the natural gas high-pressure transmission pipeline. Through simulations, we have analyzed the cyber attacks that propagate from cyber to the gas pipeline physical domain, the time before which the SCADA system should respond to such attacks, and finally, an attack which prevents the response of the system. We have used the combined results of simulations of a wireless mesh network for remote terminal units and of a gas pipeline simulation to measure the shortest Time to Criticality (TTC) parameter; the time for an event to reach the failure state. The second attack scenario describes how a failure of a cyber node controlling power grid functionality propagates from cyber to power to gas pipeline systems. We formulate this problem using a graph-theoretic approach and quantify the resilience of the networks by percentage of connected nodes and the length of the shortest path between them. The results show that parameters such as TTC, power distribution capacity of the power grid nodes and percentage of the type of cyber nodes compromised, regulate the efficiency and resilience of the power and gas networks. The analysis of such attack scenarios helps the gas pipeline system administrators design attack remediation algorithms and improve the response of the system to an attack.
Assessment of terrestrial vegetation dynamics from MODIS fAPAR chl product and land surface model

The new fAPAR chl /LAI chl product from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite sensor is used to quantify and understand vegetation dynamics under changing climate, in selected flux tower sites and nearby local regions. Based on the comparisons of flux tower measurements with land surface model CLM simulated GPP, preliminary results show MODIS fAPAR chl /LAI chl product depicts seasonal variation patterns and phenology over different kinds of biomes quite well. Through integrating the new MODIS f APAR chl /LAI chl product into land surface model, there is a potential to simulate carbon fluxes in a better way.
Overexpression of BHLHB1 (OLIG 2) Causes Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma/Leukemia (pre-T LBL) in the Presence of LMO1 Overexpression.

The human BHLHB1 (basic domain, helix-loop-helix protein, class B, 1; also known as OLIG 2 ) was initially cloned by virtue of its activation in pre-T lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (pre-T LBL) with a t(14; 21)(q11.2; q22). BHLHB1 , whose expression is normally restricted to neural tissues, is activated in this translocation by its juxtaposition with the TCRA locus. A survey of patients with pre-T LBL (Ferrando et al., Lancet 363:535) indicated that rare patients without a known t(14;21) overexpressed BHLHB1 . We generated transgenic mice that expressed a full-length BHLHB1 cDNA driven by the lck promoter. As anticipated, Northern blot analysis showed ectopic BHLHB1 expression in the thymus and bone marrow. We followed a total of 69 transgenic offspring from 3 independent founder lines, all of which showed expression of BHLHB1 in the thymus by Northern blot, for one year. None of these mice developed evidence of T-cell malignancy. Since SCL, like BHLHB1 a class B bHLH protein cooperates with LMO1 to induce pre-T LBL in mice, we considered the possibility that BHLHB1 might also cooperate with LMO1 to induce T-cell tumors. Therefore, we crossed the lck-BHLHB1 mice with lck-LMO1 mice. Approximately 47% (8/47) of BHLHB1-LMO1 double positive mice have developed pre-T LBL by 14 months, while 19% (3/16) of BHLHB1 single positive mice and 7% (1/15) of LMO1 single positive have developed pre-T LBL or died unexpectedly within this time period. The leukemia is highly aggressive, and displays massive thymic enlargement, diffuse lymphadenopathy, and organ infiltration (spleen, liver, kidney, and lung). The immunophenotype of the leukemic cells is CD3-positive and CD4/8-double positive, and Southern blot analysis of these tumors demonstrated clonal TCRB gene rearrangements. We have been able to culture cells from these tumors for over 6 months in the absence of supplemental cytokines, suggesting that these cells are immortal. We compared the gene expression pattern of the T-cell tumors from BHLHB1-LMO1 double transgenic mice with that of normal thymus tissue using a long oligonucleotide set containing >20, 000 features. Several genes were consistently upregulated at least 4-fold in the tumor tissue, including several translation initiation/elongation factors, transferrin receptor, CCL8 (a chemokine ligand), BST1 (an antigen that lymphocyte growth), granzyme A (a product of cytolytic T-cells), and SAA3 (an acute phase reactant). Several studies have shown that the LMO1 and LMO2 each collaborate with SCL to induce pre-T LBL in almost 100% of mice within 6 months. Similar to the situation seen with SCL, we have now demonstrated that LMO1 and BHLHB1 collaborate to induce an aggressive pre-T LBL in mice. Since BHLHB1 overexpression can inhibit E2A function, it seems reasonable to suggest that BHLHB1 is exerting its leukemogenic effect through an inhibition of E-proteins important for T-cell differentiation such as HEB or E2A.
The Unquiet Frontier: Rising Rivals, Vulnerable Allies, and the Crisis of American Power

This new addition to the literature will provide interesting and useful discussion material in any international relations graduate seminar, especially one taught from the perspective of what const...
Predictors of the Perception of Smoking Health Risks in Smokers With or Without Schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE This study sought to examine the predictors of health risk perception in smokers with or without schizophrenia. METHODS The health risk subscale from the Smoking Consequences Questionnaire was dichotomized and used to measure health risk perception in smokers with (n = 67) and without schizophrenia (n = 100). A backward stepwise logistic regression was conducted using variables associated at the bivariate level to determine multivariate predictors. RESULTS Overall, 62.5% of smokers without schizophrenia and 40.3% of smokers with schizophrenia completely recognize the health risks of smoking (p ≤ .01). Multivariate predictors for smokers without schizophrenia included: sex (Exp (B) = .3; p < .05), Smoking Consequences Questionnaire state enhancement (Exp (B) = .69; p < .01), and craving relief (Exp (B) = 1.8; p < .01). Among smokers with schizophrenia, predictors were education (Exp (B) = .7; p < .05), nicotine dependence (Exp (B) = .5; p < .01), motivation to quit (Exp (B) = 1.8; p < .01), and Smoking Consequences Questionnaire craving relief (Exp (B) = 1.8; p < .01). CONCLUSIONS There was overlap and differences between predictors in smokers with and without schizophrenia. Commonly used techniques for education on the health consequences of cigarettes may work in smokers with schizophrenia, but intervention efforts specifically tailored to smokers with schizophrenia might be more efficacious.
Identification of An Atypical Paraprotein with Inconsistent M-Spike Quantitation in Four Patients with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia

The densitometric quantitation of the M-spike in patients with a monoclonal gammopathy is a standard method used to monitor diseases such as multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. Typically, M-spike quantitation shows synchronous parallel trends with other measures of disease status, such as nephelometric immunoglobulin heavy chain measurements, and with clinical condition. However, we report a series of four patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and IgM paraproteins with atypical appearing M-spikes that were significantly discordant with the total IgM measurements and clinical condition (Figure 1). Each of these patients had paraprotein bands that were extremely narrow and intense with slight migration from the sample application site (Figure 2). Although similar band morphology may be seen with cryoglobulins, all of these patients had repeatedly negative cryoglobulin tests. Pre-treatment of these samples with beta-mercaptoethanol (BME) to reduce disulfide bonds led to normal-appearing and migrating M-spikes that, when quantitated, gave precise results that were consistent with the total IgM measurements. This technique has permitted continued use of the M-spike to monitor disease progression in these patients, and demonstrates the importance of careful visual inspection of the SPEP gels prior to performing M-spike quantitation in the clinical laboratory.
Book reviewThe myth of representation and the Florida legislature: a house of competing loyalties, 1927–2000, Prier Eric, University Press of Florida, Gainesville (2003), 357 pages

Eric Prier presents a thoughtful and thorough look at the character and effectiveness of representation in the Florida legislature. While it initially appears that Prier's work is an examination of...
Keynote: Social and participatory computing lessons for E-Democracy and E-Government

Research in social computing has provided a number of ways to engage people in collective endeavors, from collective mapping and encyclopedia-writing to localized support and personalized appeals. This talk reviews a variety of social computing research with an eye towards application in E-Democracy and E-Government. How can governments use the techniques and lessons of this research to better engage citizens? How can citizens organize themselves to better influence and support regional and national governments?
A computational approach to identify cellular heterogeneity and tissue-specific gene regulatory networks

The heterogeneity of cells across tissue types represents a major challenge for studying biological mechanisms as well as for therapeutic targeting of distinct tissues. Computational prediction of tissue-specific gene regulatory networks may provide important insights into the mechanisms underlying the cellular heterogeneity of cells in distinct organs and tissues. Using three pathway analysis techniques, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), parametric analysis of gene set enrichment (PGSEA), alongside our novel model (HeteroPath), which assesses heterogeneously upregulated and downregulated genes within the context of pathways, we generated distinct tissue-specific gene regulatory networks. We analyzed gene expression data derived from freshly isolated heart, brain, and lung endothelial cells and populations of neurons in the hippocampus, cingulate cortex, and amygdala. In both datasets, we found that HeteroPath segregated the distinct cellular populations by identifying regulatory pathways that were not identified by GSEA or PGSEA. Using simulated datasets, HeteroPath demonstrated robustness that was comparable to what was seen using existing gene set enrichment methods. Furthermore, we generated tissue-specific gene regulatory networks involved in vascular heterogeneity and neuronal heterogeneity by performing motif enrichment of the heterogeneous genes identified by HeteroPath and linking the enriched motifs to regulatory transcription factors in the ENCODE database. HeteroPath assesses contextual bidirectional gene expression within pathways and thus allows for transcriptomic assessment of cellular heterogeneity. Unraveling tissue-specific heterogeneity of gene expression can lead to a better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of tissue-specific phenotypes.
Coordinate regulation of the proximal and distal steps of the pathway of purine synthesis de nono in WI-L2 human lymphoblasts.

In classic terms, there are potentially three sites at which de novo purine synthesis might be regulated: at the first step committed to IMP synthesis, and at the distal branch point where IMP is converted to adenine and guanine nucleotides. Since the late 1950’s, numerous demonstrations in intact cells of inhibition of the overall rate of de novo synthesis by exogenous purines have been complemented by elegant mechanistic studies with partially purified phosphoribosyl amidotransferase (PAT)1 from several sources, including humans (1,2). Regulation of the branch point has received less attention. IMP dehydrogenase and adenylosuccinate synthetase, the first enzymes committed to GMP and AMP synthesis, respectively, from IMP, have been partially purified and shown to be subject to inhibition by a variety of purine nucleotides (2). However, in the absence of studies in intact cells, schemes for regulation derived from these investigations can only be considered as potential mechanisms and their integration into regulation of the overall pathway cannot be established.
Atoms in Molecular Environments

Atoms are the most fundamental units in chemistry. Via the use of Bader’s theory of atoms in molecules, it is now possible to define uniquely the volume element associated with an atom based on the molecular wave function. This allows properties of the atoms, such as their electron populations and energies, to be calculated via numerical integration of the proper function of the charge density. An analysis of these properties reveals a close connection to common concepts such as hybridization and electronegativity. In addition, the theory makes it possible to locate bent bonds and to relate them to changes in hybridization, structural deformations and steric interactions. The theory serves to recover many of the older concepts in chemistry and places them on a more quantitative basis.
Active algorithm selection

Most previous studies on active learning focused on the problem of model selection, i.e., how to identify the optimal classification model from a family of predefined models using a small, carefully selected training set. In this paper, we address the problem of active algorithm selection. The goal of this problem is to efficiently identify the optimal learning algorithm for a given dataset from a set of algorithms using a small training set. In this study, we present a general framework for active algorithm selection by extending the idea of the Hedge algorithm. It employs the worst case analysis to identify the example that can effectively increase the weighted loss function defined in the Hedge algorithm. We further extend the framework by incorporating the correlation information among unlabeled examples to accurately estimate the change in the weighted loss function, and Maximum Entropy Discrimination to automatically determine the combination weights used by the Hedge algorithm. Our empirical study with the datasets of WCCI 2006 performance prediction challenge shows promising performance of the proposed framework for active algorithm selection.
Prediction and substantiation: two processes that comprise understanding

This paper describes a new approach to natural language processing which results in a very robust and efficient system. The approach taken is to integrate the parser with the rest of the system. This enables the parser to benefit from predictions that the rest of the system makes in the course of its processing. A program, called FRUMP for Fast Reading Understanding and Memory Program, employs this approach to parsing. FRUMP skims articles rather than reading them for detail. The program works on the relatively unconstrained domain of news articles. It routinely understands stories it has never before seen.
Case 39: Delayed Presentation Zone I Open Globe Injury at Site of Previous Trauma

A 31-year-old man presented with a Zone I open globe injury 2 days after blunt head trauma. Initial exam was significant for a 6.5 mm full thickness corneal wound, Seidel positive without provocation, and ingrowth of blood vessels from the limbus into the wound and surrounding corneal whitening. There were also posterior synechiae and sectoral iris atrophy inferior and posteriorly to the corneal wound suggesting a previous corneal injury at the site of new acute rupture. Intraoperatively the wound bled while suturing and the corneal tissue in this area was friable, consistent with delayed presentation and possible chronic intermittent low-grade inflammation or infection from a previous trauma. Post-operatively, the patient underwent staged suture removal at 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. His final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20.
Extraordinary Dancing Requires Extraordinary (Motor) Learning.

Undoubtedly, every young dancer aspires to be an expert technician and artistically dazzling. Working toward that end, a dancer is aware that he or she needs to spend many hours of practice in tech...
Mercury leads to abnormal red blood cell adhesion to laminin mediated by membrane sulfatides.

Abstract Exposure to mercury is associated with numerous health problems, affecting different parts of the human body, including the nervous and cardiovascular systems in adults and children; however, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. We investigated the role of membrane sulfatide on mercuric ion (Hg2+) mediated red blood cell (RBC) adhesion to a sub-endothelial matrix protein, laminin, using a microfluidic system that mimics microphysiological flow conditions. We exposed whole blood to mercury (HgCl2), at a range of concentrations to mimic acute (high dose) and chronic (low dose) exposure, and examined RBC adhesion to immobilized laminin in microchannels at physiological flow conditions. Exposure of RBCs to both acute and chronic levels of Hg2+ resulted in elevated adhesive interactions between RBCs and laminin depending on the concentration of HgCl2 and exposure duration. BCAM-Lu chimer significantly inhibited the adhesion of RBCs that had been treated with 50 μM of HgCl2 solution for 1 h at 37 °C, while it did not prevent the adhesion of 3 h and 24 h Hg2+-treated RBCs. Sulfatide significantly inhibited the adhesion of RBC that had been treated with 50 μM of HgCl2 solution for 1 h at 37 °C and 0.5 μM of HgCl2 solution for 24 h at room temperature (RT). We demonstrated that RBC BCAM-Lu and RBC sulfatides bind to immobilized laminin, following exposure of RBCs to mercuric ions. The results of this study are significant considering the potential associations between sulfatides, red blood cells, mercury exposure, and cardiovascular diseases.
Antecedents and Consequences of Experiencing Guilt and Shame in Response to Observed Incivility

This research explores the emotions of guilt and shame felt by employees who observe acts of workplace incivility. Drawing from the literatures on self-conscious emotions and group-based guilt and ...
Nonverbal synchrony in virtual reality

How might nonverbal synchrony naturally evolve in a social virtual reality environment? And how can avatar embodiment affect how participants coordinate nonverbally with each other? In the following pre-registered between-subjects experiment, we tracked the movements of pairs of users during a collaborative or competitive task in immersive virtual reality. Each conversational partner controlled either a customized avatar body or an abstract cube that responded to their movements. We compared the movements of the actual user pairs between the two conditions, and to an artificial "pseudosynchrony" dataset composed of the movements of randomly combined participant pairs who did not actually interact. We found stronger positive and negative correlations between real pairs compared to pseudosynchronous pairs, providing evidence for naturally occurring nonverbal synchrony between pairs in virtual reality. We discuss this in the context of the relationships between avatar appearance, task success, social closeness and social presence.
Firearm Safety: A Survey on Practice Patterns, Knowledge and Opinions of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Providers

Background and Objectives: Firearm injuries continue to be one of the top three leading causes of death in American youth, and access to firearms remains an important focus for primary injury prevention efforts in children. Emergency departments (EDs) often serve as a center for screening and education on injury prevention as injuries are the most common reason for pediatric ED visits. Our study sought to examine the knowledge, opinions, and practice patterns of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) providers in regard to firearm safety counseling and assessment in the ED. Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional …
A New Atlantic World

By the time of the Great War, the Atlantic world was a different place from over a century ago. Explorers, settlers, travelers, revolutionaries, and ideologues created new interconnected Atlantic worlds and brought myths about various regions to a wide variety of people. Among the greatest mythologies of the late nineteenth century was the US West and nobody perpetuated this myth better and more permanently than William Frederick Cody. Cody brought something never seen before, but much anticipated and desired, to Europe when he penned the words above. His Wild West Show had a major impact on the United States. Cody sought out any opportunity to present his innovative form of entertainment. Thus, in 1893, when Chicago illustrated its desire to become equivalent to Paris with its massive urban renewal by hosting the World’s Columbian Exposition, or better known as the White City, showing its embrace of ancient architectural styles, Cody’s show came to perform.
Special Issue: Advances in the Economic Analysis of Food System Drivers and Effects

National interest in the effects of the U.S. food system has risen to such a level that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies was compelled recently to publish A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System (IOM/NRC 2015), focusing on health, environmental, and economic and social variables. While providing a useful framework, the volume stopped short of actually carrying out studies to validate or test the assumptions of the framework. In addition to having measurable societal effects, food systems are also being affected by powerful secular forces that range from rising income inequality, consolidation and rationalization in retailing, consumer preferences for local and regional foods, to changes in climate and competition for land associated with urbanization. In parallel, an expanding “food movement” has emerged that, with little formal or rigorous analysis, has become highly critical of the food system and its consequent health, environmental, and economic and social effects.
Accountability Through Participatory Budgeting in India: Only in Kerala?

Since its beginning in Brazil in 1989, participatory budgeting (PB) has spread worldwide to several thousand local governmental units (LGUs) in all continents, celebrated for its success in combining citizen involvement and state accountability in delivering public services. While PB has been adopted in most places by individual LGUs on their own initiative, in India the state of Kerala implemented PB throughout all its governmental units from rural villages and urban wards up through district in one “big bang” move in 1996. Over the succeeding two decades and more, PB has become securely institutionalized, surviving numerous changes of ruling party at state level. Outside of Kerala, however, few LGUs of any sort have implemented PB and it has not flourished in any of the adopters. Using the World Bank’s principal-agent model of state accountability for public service delivery, this paper will explore Kerala’s experience at PB and more briefly look at its lack of success elsewhere in India.
Common and differential associations between levels of alcohol drinking, gender-specific neurobehaviors and mental distress in college students.

Abstract Background Binge drinking is associated with poor academic behaviors and performance. Excessive alcohol drinking induces molecular changes and neurobehaviors that support use of other substances and alter cognitive functions. The purpose of this study was to compare neurobehaviors and academic effort among college students with low alcohol use with those of high alcohol consumption and build conceptual models that represent the integration of the different variables. Method College students from several U.S colleges were assessed through an anonymous online survey for alcohol use, academic performance, lifestyle factors and mental distress. Results Our results depicted common neurobehaviors and differential responses to high alcohol use. Conclusion The common responses in young men and women with high alcohol use are reflective of a hyperactive limbic system. The different responses involve cognitive aptitudes, typically controlled by cortical regions and affected by levels of brain connectivity known to be dissimilar between men and women.
Calibration transfer across multiple hyperspectral imaging-based plant phenotyping systems: I – Spectral space adjustment

Abstract Hyperspectral Imaging is one of the most popular technologies in plant phenotyping. Various kinds of hyperspectral imaging systems have been developed in the past years. However, there are always significant differences in sensors and imaging environmental conditions between different facilities, which makes it difficult to share image processing algorithms and plant features prediction models. Calibration transfer between the imaging systems is critically important. The white referencing calibration has been proved effective in removing the major lighting intensity differences, but significant spectral differences between systems still exist. In this study, we considered the calibration transfer as a spectral adjustment process and compared four different methods (DS, PDS, DPDS and SST) for adjusting the spectra. To perform the calibration transfer, maize plants were imaged using push-broom style, top-view VNIR hyperspectral camera in two greenhouse phenotyping facilities (inter-facility) and within the same facility (intra-facility) under different imaging conditions. The suggested spectral adjustment methods were tested using master partial least squares regression (PLSR) based calibration models developed for predicting the relative water content (RWC) and nitrogen content (N) of maize plants. Results showed that spectral space transformation (SST) decreased the RMSEv from 9.450% and 10.636% to 3.280% and 2.424% for the predicted RWC of intra and inter-facility transfer, respectively, while the corresponding measures achieved by direct standardization (DS) were 3.412% and 3.105%, respectively. In case of N predictions, similar results were observed for DS and SST. The other two methods (PDS and DPDS) reduced the prediction error for RWC and N, but their performance was not on par with DS and SST. The results indicated that the proposed methods, especially DS and SST were able to alleviate the perturbations inherited in the spectra and thus can help to avoid the need for time-consuming, labor-intensive and costly full recalibration process that arose due to the intra or inter-facility variations.
Simulations of ion–dust streaming instability in a highly collisional plasma

The excitation of low frequency dust acoustic (or dust density) waves in a dusty plasma can be driven by the flow of ions relative to dust. We consider the nonlinear development of the ion–dust streaming instability in a highly collisional plasma, where the ion and dust collision frequencies are a significant fraction of their corresponding plasma frequencies. This collisional parameter regime may be relevant to dusty plasma experiments under microgravity or ground-based conditions with high gas pressure. One-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are presented, which take into account collisions of ions and dust with neutrals, and a background electric field that drives the ion flow. Ion flow speeds of the order of a few times thermal are considered. Waveforms of the dust density are found to have broad troughs and sharp crests in the nonlinear phase. The results are compared with the nonlinear development of the ion–dust streaming instability in a plasma with low collisionality.