cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Plasma Proteomic Profiling Identifies the Vitamin E Binding Protein Afamin as a Potential Pathogenic Factor in SIV Induced CNS Disease

Investigating, predicting, diagnosing and treating HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) has been hindered by the lack of disease-related molecular markers. In this study, plasma from rhesus monkeys (n=6), before and after infection with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), was profiled to obtain differential fingerprints in protein expression during SIV-induced central nervous system (CNS) disease. A quantitative proteomic analysis was performed by means of isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) labeling, using multidimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) run on a linear ion trap mass spectrometer in an integrated mode comprising of pulsed-Q-dissociation (PQD) and CID. Amongst a panel of proteins showing differential expression following SIV infection, we identified afamin, a member of the albumin superfamily, to be significantly down regulated after infection. Validation by western blot confirmed this observation, and given its potential implication in neuroprotection by transport of alpha-tocopherol (αTocH), provides new avenues into further understanding HIV induced CNS disease. iTRAQ based LC-MS/MS provides a valuable platform for plasma protein profiling and has important implications in identifying molecular markers relevant for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Using such an approach, we show its successful application in identifying differential fingerprints in SIV/HIV induced CNS disease.
An Edge Effect Caused by Adult Corn-Rootworm Beetles on Sunflowers in Tallgrass Prairie Remnants

The once-extensive tallgrass prairie community of North America has been reduced to small rem- nants, many of which are surrounded by intensive corn (Zea mays) agriculture. We investigated adult corn- rootworm beetles (Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica spp.), important pests of corn, on sunflowers (Asteraceae: He- lianthus spp.) in prairie remnants in southeast Minnesota. Large numbers of beetles invaded the prairie from surrounding corn fields in late summer. D. barberi and D. virgifera were captured on sticky traps in all loca- tions in the prairie, but abundance was much greater near the edge adjacent to corn. We observed D, barberi (but not D. virgifera) feeding extensively on sunflower pollen and occasionally on other flower parts, such as petak. Sunflowers located nearer corn fields sustained morefloral damage than those farther from om. To de- termine the effect of beetle &mage on seed set, we enclosed sunflower heads in bags with either zero, two, or four D. barberi adults. Seed set was reduced in heads enclosed with D. barberi Thus, this agriculturalpest may interfere with the successful reproduction of sunflowers and possibly otherprairie composites thatflower in late summer. Given the small size of mostprairie remnants and the abundance of thisflowerrfeeding beetle in land- scapes dominated by corn agriculture, D. barberi may affect the sustainability ofprairie plantpopulations.
Test verification and validation for molecular diagnostic assays

With our ever-increasing understanding of the molecular basis of disease, clinical laboratories are implementing a variety of molecular diagnostic tests to aid in the diagnosis of hereditary disord...
New Labour: A Study in Ideology

A common view of ideologies reifies them to postulate an unchanging core of moral principles or debates that frame changing attitudes to particular policies. Thus, scholars have sought to map New Labour onto ideological traditions by comparing it with the core features of the traditions. In contrast, this article argues that ideologies are in a constant process of change, with every one of their elements being open to such change, and with change in one element having spillover effects on others. New Labour should not be compared with reified ideologies but rather traced historically as a refashioning of socialism to meet problems such as inflation, the underclass and the changing nature of the working class, where the consequent changes in policy have entailed further changes in ethical principles.
Experimental study of particle losses close to the entry of thin-walled sampling probes at varying angles to the wind

This article summarizes the results of an extensive experimental study of sampling losses in thin-walled probes at various values of velocity ratio R and the probe orientation with respect to the freestream. The purpose of this study was to gain insights into the complex interaction of various parameters that influence sampling losses and the consequent effect on the overall sampling efficiency. A 0.635 cm diameter sharp-edged tube was mounted in a small wind tunnel where the freestream velocity could be varied over a wide range of values. Polydispersed spherical glass beads were used as the test aerosol. The number concentration and the particle size distribution were measured using the aerodynamic particle sizer (APS 3310). The sampling efficiency was determined as a function of orientation for a range of particle sizes (or Stokes number). By using an existing model to predict the aspiration efficiency for thin-walled probes, the sampling losses could be isolated from the sampling efficiency. In this ma...
Osteoporosis in Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Osteoporosis is currently receiving increasing attention as an important late effect in survivors of childhood cancer and its treatment because of their quality of life and its negative effect on the survivors’ ability to perform developmentally appropriate activities. Survivors of childhood cancer are especially vulnerable because they are affected during childhood and adolescence, a time when peak bone mass should be achieved. This paper reviews decreased bone density in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which is the most common childhood cancer and has a cure rate approaching 80%. Osteopenia/osteoporosis has been observed in all phases of the disease: at diagnosis, during treatment, and throughout the post-treatment period for as long as 20 years. Among the findings that have been described are musculoskeletal pain, disturbed gait, fractures, kyphosis, lordosis, and growth failure. Risk factors not specifically related to ALL include smoking, ingestion of carbonated beverages, and family history of “brittle bone” or fractures. Patients should be counseled in regard to diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and avoidance of carbonated beverages. There are a number of options for specific drug therapy; however, the administration of bisphosponates to children and adolescents must be approached with caution. Research is needed to determine how extensive the problem is and how to best prevent and treat the osteopenia/osteoporosis associated with ALL. The Oncologist 2001;6:278-285
Core Values Versus Common Sense Consequentialist Views Appear Less Rooted in Morality

When a speaker presents an opinion, an important factor in audiences’ reactions is whether the speaker seems to be basing his or her decision on ethical (as opposed to more pragmatic) concerns. We argue that, despite a consequentialist philosophical tradition that views utilitarian consequences as the basis for moral reasoning, lay perceivers think that speakers using arguments based on consequences do not construe the issue as a moral one. Five experiments show that, for both political views (including real State of the Union quotations) and organizational policies, consequentialist views are seen to express less moralization than deontological views, and even sometimes than views presented with no explicit justification. We also demonstrate that perceived moralization in turn affects speakers’ perceived commitment to the issue and authenticity. These findings shed light on lay conceptions of morality and have practical implications for people considering how to express moral opinions publicly.
Communication between Switch II and Switch III of the Transducin α Subunit Is Essential for Target Activation

Comparisons of the tertiary structures of the GDP-bound and guanosine 5′-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS)-bound forms of the α subunit of transducin (αT) indicate that there are three regions that undergo changes in conformation upon αT activation. Two of these regions, Switch I and Switch II, were originally identified in Ras, while Switch III appears to be unique to trimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins). We find that replacement of the Switch III region (aspartic acid 227 through asparagine 237) with a single alanine residue yields an αT subunit that fully binds and hydrolyzes GTP but no longer stimulates the activity of the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE), the physiological target for transducin. We also show that changing glutamic acid 232 of αT to a leucine (E232L) had no effect on rhodopsin-stimulated GTP-GDP exchange nor on the GTP hydrolytic activity of αT. However, the GTPγS-bound form of the αTE232L mutant was unable to stimulate the activity of the cyclic GMP PDE. The lack of stimulation was not due to an inability of the αTE232L mutant to bind to the target. Taken together, these results indicate that glutamic acid 232 mediates a conformational coupling between Switch II and Switch III, which is essential for converting GTP-dependent G protein-target interactions into a stimulation of target/effector activity.
Surviving the Downturn: Challenges Faced by Appalachian Regional Collections During a Time of Reduced Resources

How have college and university-based archives and special collections fared over the past few years in the midst of an historically grim economic downturn? The authors conducted in-depth interviews with directors of 13 archival repositories at state universities and private colleges in the Appalachian region of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky to reveal the operating health of these institutions. With inquiries into the impact of these times on matters of funding, processing, staffing, collaboration, and more, this study shows examples of creative coping, widespread optimism, and an uneven distribution of economic pain.
Modular cell biology: retroactivity and insulation.

Modularity plays a fundamental role in the prediction of the behavior of a system from the behavior of its components, guaranteeing that the properties of individual components do not change upon interconnection. Just as electrical, hydraulic, and other physical systems often do not display modularity, nor do many biochemical systems, and specifically, genetic networks. Here, we study the effect of interconnections on the input–output dynamic characteristics of transcriptional components, focusing on a property, which we call ‘retroactivity', that plays a role analogous to non-zero output impedance in electrical systems. In transcriptional networks, retroactivity is large when the amount of transcription factor is comparable to, or smaller than, the amount of promoter-binding sites, or when the affinity of such binding sites is high. To attenuate the effect of retroactivity, we propose a feedback mechanism inspired by the design of amplifiers in electronics. We introduce, in particular, a mechanism based on a phosphorylation–dephosphorylation cycle. This mechanism enjoys a remarkable insulation property, due to the fast timescales of the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions.
Quadrature generation and phase adjustment architecture for Cartesian loop transmitter

Linearization is used in cellular radio portable transmitters to improve transmitted signal Adjacent Channel Coupled Power Ratio ( ACCPR) while keeping high RF power amplifier (RFPA) efficiency. Cartesian feedback loop based linearizer are commonly used in linear digital cellular portable transmitters ( TETRA, iDENtrade, etc. ). Cartesian feedback linearizers enable improved adjacent and alternative channels ACP while still allowing the RFPA to operate close to its saturation point, which maintains good RFPA efficiency. Phase training is used in a Cartesian feedback loop to correctly adjust loop phase to facilitate negative feedback (stability). This paper discuss architectures for quadrature generation and phase adjustments in Cartesian loop transmitters.
Benefit of an exercise program before myocardial infarction.

In general, we think of exercise as good for the heart. Exercise programs improve exercise tolerance, reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, improve coronary risk factors, and enhance endothelial function ([1,2][1]). Exercise promotes weight loss, with the secondary benefits of reduction of
The Power of King George

A short essay on the flaws in the current constitutional view of the power of the executive.
Cardiovascular response to hemorrhage after alcohol in dogs.

The results of experiments in dogs indicate the degree of myocardial depression by ethanol which contributes to the impaired cardiovascular response to hemorrhage observed in alcohol intoxication. ...
Defining Priorities for Reducing Disparities in Cancer Mortality.

Improvements in screening, diagnosis, and treatment for many cancers have led to decreases in cancer death in recent years ([1][1]). However, this decrease has not been the same in all racial/ethnic groups or for all cancer sites, and major disparities continue to exist between racial/ethnic groups
Social experience affects female mate preferences for a visual trait in a wolf spider

Females often prefer males with bright, showy, or large secondary sexual characters. However, social experience can result in variation in female preferences, with evidence of sexual imprinting in some taxa. In the brush-legged wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata, asynchrony of maturation provides a time period in which imprinting may occur. We tested whether adult females demonstrated plasticity in their visual preferences for male leg tuft size after experience with digitally courting males during their penultimate stage. Penultimate instar females were presented visual courtship signals from males with small, average, or large tufts; a mixture of tuft sizes; or no males at all. During Week 2 of adulthood, each female was presented playback of digital courting small- and/or large-tufted males in both no-choice and two-choice presentations. Adult female preferences varied significantly with prior experience. Females exposed to only large-tufted males or males with a mixture of tuft sizes demonstrated more receptivity displays to large-tufted males than small-tufted males. Females exposed to only small-tufted males demonstrated more receptivity displays toward small-tufted males than large-tufted males. Because results suggested the possibility of sexual imprinting, we tested for reversibility. A subset of females was retested for selectivity in two-choice trials, revealing a positive correlation between Week 2 and Week 5 female selectivity. Females previously exposed to small-tufted males, however, no longer maintained their preference for small-tufted males in Week 5. This study demonstrates the effects of an individual’s social environment on mating preferences, and the importance of age and timing when studying sexual imprinting.
The Application of Novel Chemical Precursors for the Preparation of Si-Ge-C Heterostructures and Superlattices

We have investigated new synthetic methods to Si-Ge-C materials by UHV-CVD and novel chemical precursors. The reactions of (SiH3)4C and (GeH3)4C with GeH4 and SiH4 produce diamond structured materials with the general formula (CSi4)xGey and (CGe4)xSiy respectively. These reactions demonstrate the application of novel C-H free precursors that incorporate Si4C and Ge4C building blocks to prepare single phase materials containing a significant amount of carbon (5-6 at.%). They also indicate the remarkable degree of compositional control provided by the precursor to incorporate the Si4C and Ge4C molecular framework into the solid state. A range of Si1-x-yGexCy compositions were also prepared pseudomorphically on [1 0 0] Si at 450-500 δC via reactions of (SiH3)4C with mixtures of GeH4 and Si4. The (Si2Ge)31C6 composition appears to display ordering of the Ge and Si atoms in the structure. The incorporation of C in the Si planes seems to provide local strain centers which facilitate the formation of this ordered phase.
Effects of wearing athletic shoes, five-toed shoes, and standing barefoot on balance performance in young adults.

Background/purpose Almost all research using participants wearing barefoot-style shoes study elite runners or have participants with a history of barefoot style shoe training run on a treadmill when shod or barefoot. Wearing barefoot-style shoes is suggested as a method of transition between shod and barefoot running. Static and dynamic balance exercises also are recommended. However, little information is available on the effects five-toed barefoot style shoes have on static balance. The purpose of this study was to examine balance of subjects barefoot, wearing Vibram FiveFingers™ barefoot-style shoes, and regular athletic shoes with eyes closed when using the Biodex Balance System-SD™. Study design This was a repeated measures study. Methods Forty nine participants aged 18-30 years without lower extremity injury or experience wearing barefoot-style shoes were tested for static balance on the Biodex Stability System™ with their eyes closed while wearing Vibram FiveFingers™, athletic shoes, or barefoot. Three trials of 10 seconds for each footwear type were completed. Repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni's correction was used to analyze the degrees of sway in the anterior-posterior and medial lateral directions. An overall stability index was also calculated by the Biodex. Results For anterior-posterior and overall indices, differences were found between all conditions. Participants wearing athletic shoes demonstrated the smallest anterior-posterior stability index (least sway) and spent the most time in the innermost concentric circular zone. Medial-lateral indices were not different for any condition. Conclusions Wearing Vibram FiveFingers™ provided better overall and anterior-posterior static balance than going barefoot. While differences between Vibram FiveFingers™ and barefoot are significant, results may reflect statistical significance rather than any clinical difference in young, uninjured individuals. Clinical relevance It would appear that Vibram FiveFingers™ mimic going barefoot and may be a bridge for exercising in preparation for barefoot exercise. Level of evidence 3B.
Adenomatous polyposis coli regulates radial axonal sorting and myelination in the PNS

The tumor suppressor protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is multifunctional - it participates in the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway as well as modulating cytoskeleton function. Although APC is expressed by Schwann cells, the role that it plays in these cells and in the myelination of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is unknown. Therefore, we used the Cre-lox approach to generate a mouse model in which APC expression is specifically eliminated from Schwann cells. These mice display hindlimb weakness and impaired axonal conduction in sciatic nerves. Detailed morphological analyses revealed that APC loss delays radial axonal sorting and PNS myelination. Furthermore, APC loss delays Schwann cell differentiation in vivo, which correlates with persistent activation of the Wnt signaling pathway and results in perturbed extension of Schwann cell processes and disrupted lamellipodia formation. In addition, APC-deficient Schwann cells display a transient diminution of proliferative capacity. Our data indicate that APC is required by Schwann cells for their timely differentiation to mature, myelinating cells and plays a crucial role in radial axonal sorting and PNS myelination.
Applied animal welfare of slaughter houses

Applied Animal Welfare at Slaughter Houses. The activities of the training- and consultancy institute for careful handling of breeding- and slaughter-animals (bsi) which exists for 3 years now are described. Some major critical points and solutions are discussed.
Lophotrochozoa, Diversification of

Lophotrochozoa is a monophyletic group of animals that comprise annelids, molluscs, brachiopods, moss animals (bryozoans), flatworms (platyhelminthes), and their relatives. The group is one of the major bilaterian animal supergroups and includes a broad diversity of body plans. The group was first hypothesized based on 18S nuclear ribosomal gene data and has been subsequently supported by several molecular markers. The group’s origins date to before the Cambrian period over 542 million years ago.
Naproxen Alone May Be Best for Acute Low Back Pain.

Naproxen alone is as effective as naproxen plus oxycodone/acetaminophen or naproxen plus cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) in reducing pain and improving function in adults with acute musculoskeletal LBP without radicular symptoms. Adverse events were significantly more common in patients additionally treated with either muscle relaxants or opioids. Be sure to note the exclusion criteria in the synopsis.
Prognostic Value of Scar Imaging for Substrate Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia: Fact or Fiction?∗

Catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia (VT) in ischemic heart disease is considered standard therapy in patients with recurrent, sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, usually after failed antiarrhythmic therapy. Many centers worldwide use pre-procedural imaging with cardiac magnetic
IS A PULSATILE GLENN AN ADEQUATE ALTERNATIVE FOR LONG-TERM PALLIATION IN PATIENTS WITH SINGLE VENTRICLE PHYSIOLOGY?

Background: There are limited studies analyzing pulsatile Glenns (PG) as a palliation strategy for complex single ventricle (SV) patients. This study sought to determine their outcomes at a single institution. Methods: All SV pts who underwent PG from 1995-2016 were included. Failure was defined as
Myeloid p53 regulates macrophage polarization and venous thrombus resolution by inflammatory vascular remodeling in mice

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) remains a common and serious cardiovascular problem with both fatal and long-term consequences. The consequences of DVT include the development of postthrombotic syndrome in 25% to 60% of DVT patients. Despite the clinical importance of venous thrombus resolution, the cellular and molecular mediators involved are poorly understood, and currently there is no molecular therapy to accelerate this process. Several lines of evidence suggest that a complex and interrelated array of molecular signaling processes are involved in the inflammatory vascular remodeling associated with the resolution of DVT. Here, we have identified a role for the tumor suppressor gene p53 in regulating venous thrombus resolution. Using the stasis model of venous thrombosis and resolution in mice, we found that genetic deficiency of p53 or pharmacologic inhibition by pifithrin impairs thrombus resolution and is associated with increased fibrosis and altered expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2. The effect of p53 loss was mediated by cells of the myeloid lineage, resulting in enhanced polarization of the cytokine milieu toward an M1-like phenotype. Furthermore, augmentation of p53 activity using the pharmacological agonist of p53, quinacrine, accelerates venous thrombus resolution in a p53-dependent manner, even after establishment of thrombosis. Together, these studies define mechanisms by which p53 regulates thrombus resolution by increasing inflammatory vascular remodeling of venous thrombi in vivo, and the potential therapeutic application of a p53 agonist as a treatment to accelerate this process in patients with DVT.
Women know, and men wish they knew, prognostic information in advanced cancer.

9037 Background: Little is known about gender differences in advanced cancer patient communication with oncologists. The few studies conducted have explored differences in preferences for prognosti...
Necrotizing Lip Infection Causing Septic Thrombophlebitis of the Neck: A Rare Variant of Lemierre Syndrome.

Lemierre syndrome is an uncommon condition in which internal jugular vein thrombosis presents after recent oropharyngeal infection. Frequently, this is accompanied by septic emboli. This report outlines a variant of this disease process, with septic thrombophlebitis of the neck associated with a necrotizing skin infection of the lower lip and chin. A 25-year-old man with lower lip and chin swelling, initially managed with intravenous antibiotics, progressed to the development of a left facial vein thrombus, septic emboli to the lungs, and a necrotizing lower lip and chin infection that was managed with debridement, thrombectomy, and prolonged hemodynamic and pulmonary support. A necrotizing skin infection with thrombus of the jugular system and septic emboli is a very rare variant of Lemierre syndrome. Early recognition of an infection with septic emboli and/or necrotizing pathobiological findings allows for prompt antibiotic and surgical therapy, minimizing the mortality of these potentially lethal infections.
Where do the Most Active Customers Originate and How Can Firms Keep Them Engaged

We study how digital service firms can develop an active customer base, focusing on two questions. First, how does the way customers use the service post-adoption to meet their own needs (personal usage) and to interact with one another (social usage) vary across customer acquisition methods? Second, how do firm-to-customer and customer-to-customer communications promote usage? We study these questions using two data sets and by developing a multivariate hierarchical Poisson hidden-Markov model. The model fits the data significantly better than univariate and latent class models. We find that indeed post-adoption behavior varies depending on customer acquisition method and dynamic states. At the total usage level, in one context, an annotation and note-taking service, customers who heard about the service through Search and Mass-Invite exhibited significantly higher usage behavior than those who joined through Word-of-Mouth (WOM), whereas in a cloud-based file storage service, customers who joined through WOM referrals tended to exhibit higher usage behavior. Yet examining specific types of behavior reveals a more nuanced picture. For example, in the file storage service case, WOM-acquired customers tended to exhibit higher personal usage but lower social usage. Similarly, in both contexts, communications post adoption influenced engagement, but in different ways. Firm-to-customer communications, such as through company posts to Twitter and blog entries, had varying effects on customer behavior, and in some cases led to lower personal and/or social usage, while customer-to-customer communications tended to increase customer engagement across latent states and in both data sets. The findings suggest firms should pay attention to how the mode of customer acquisition is related to subsequent usage intensity for their offering, and encourage customers to share information with each other post-adoption.
Selective harmonic compensation by smart inverters using multiple-complex-coefficient-filter (MCCF) during unbalanced fault condition

An improved methodology for selective harmonic detection and compensation (SHC) is proposed for smart inverters used as a Shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF). It is equally applicable in abnormal operating conditions such as in the event of an asymmetrical grid fault. A Multiple-Complex-Coefficient-Filter (MCCF) based Phase Locked Loop (PLL) is designed and tested for 5th and 7th harmonic compensation. Associated harmonic as well as fundamental current controllers in Synchronous Reference Frame (SRF) are designed and verified through simulation. Multiple linear rotating Proportional-Integral (PI) controllers are deployed for regulating the line current. MATLAB-SimPowerSystems package is used as a software platform for the demonstration of controllers' transient and steady-state performance. The proposed approach can selectively detect and effectively reduce harmonics to meet IEEE standards. This approach can also be extended to n number of harmonic compensation in a fast and accurate manner.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Outbreak of a new disease caused by a new virus.

Preview An alarming new disease was first reported in mid-1993, and by late 1994, almost 100 cases had been identified nationwide. Mild prodromal flulike symptoms were followed within days by rapidly progressive respiratory illness and early death. Cooperative efforts of many agencies soon established the cause- a previously unidentified hantavirus. Thus, the disease was named hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Dr Levy describes the outbreak and summarizes features of the syndrome and recommendations on prevention.
Compiled Plans for In-Memory Path-Counting Queries

Dissatisfaction with relational databases for large-scale graph processing has motivated a new class of graph databases that offer fast graph processing but sacrifice the ability to express basic relational idioms. However, we hypothesize that the performance benefits amount to implementation details, not a fundamental limitation of the relational model. To evaluate this hypothesis, we are exploring code-generation to produce fast in-memory algorithms and data structures for graph patterns that are inaccessible to conventional relational optimizers.
Inefficiencies of Portable Alpha Models

This paper dissects the portable alpha strategy, which has recently gained popularity with institutional investors. Using arbitrage-free pricing theory, I show that the use of derivatives to create synthetic exposure in portable alpha models is irrelevant and merely creates unnecessary levels of complexity and inefficiencies. I demonstrate how the portable alpha technique is nothing more than borrowing money and investing in hedge funds or funds of funds. Furthermore, I extend a recent Fama and French model to demonstrate that the practice of separating alpha, and making it portable, creates further inefficiencies when the investor holds a diversified portfolio.
Programed learning and the teacher education curriculum

recent years have been more than eager to point out implications for modifying curriculum sequence and organization at the elementary and secondary level. While several self-instructional programs have been developed at the college level, a few of which are relevant for teacher education, these programs merely seek to teach some aspect of an already existing text or course. When it comes to curriculum modification, persons involved in self-instruction and teacher education are as reluctant to
Object-Based Analysis

In the preceding chapter, the techniques available to exploit the spectral content of our remotely sensed imagery were discussed. The methods and issues reviewed in Chap. 10 did much to demonstrate the unique and useful sources of information that can be gained from the expanded spectral domain offered by hyperspectral sensors. Although essential, spectral data alone does not provide a complete picture of the environmental system to fully understand process or guide environmental decision making. One under-utilized quality of an image that can add an additional dimension to the study of the environment is the explicit spatial arrangements, juxtapositions and patterns exhibited by our spectral measurements. These unique arrangements place spectral data in a geographic context where spatial descriptors such as shape, perimeter, and texture together with other geographic variables define objects in the image that add an element of knowledge into the classification problem. These image objects are derived exclusively from the spatial relationships found in the image and with this additional knowledge they present criteria beyond the spectral signature which enriches the image classification process. Object-based analysis offers new possibilities that may extend the role of remotely sensed data in complex mapping and assessment applications. In this chapter, we will examine the object-based paradigm and review the fundamental aspects of image classification based on the analysis of image objects.
Direct Polymerization of B- and Si-containing Monomers

This chapter focuses on the polymerization behaviors of both boron and silane functional groups of polyolefins using early transition metal catalysts. The direct polymerization of a functional monomer by early transition metal catalysts is limited to a few monomers containing hetero-atoms having Lewis acid or neutral states and forming covalent carbon hetero-atom bonds. Borane and silane groups exhibit stability to catalyst and solubility in hydrocarbon media. The chapter discusses the applications of these reactive polyolefins, especially the borane-containing polymers. Borane monomers behave like high α-olefins, both in terms of their reactivity and the molecular structure of the resulting polymers. The silane groups in polyolefins can serve as the crosslinking agent. However, they are not polar enough to greatly affect the polymer properties. Borane groups can be transformed to a remarkable variety of functionalities, and also serve as initiators in the preparation of graft and block copolymers.
The Spastic Paraplegia-Associated Phospholipase DDHD1 Is a Primary Brain Phosphatidylinositol Lipase.

Deleterious mutations in the serine hydrolase DDHD domain containing 1 (DDHD1) cause the SPG28 subtype of the neurological disease hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), which is characterized by axonal neuropathy and gait impairments. DDHD1 has been shown to display PLA1-type phospholipase activity with a preference for phosphatidic acid. However, the endogenous lipid pathways regulated by DDHD1 in vivo remain poorly understood. Here we use a combination of untargeted and targeted metabolomics to compare the lipid content of brain tissue from DDHD1+/+ and DDHD1–/– mice, revealing that DDHD1 inactivation causes a substantial decrease in the level of polyunsaturated lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) lipids and a corresponding increase in the level of phosphatidylinositol (PI) lipids. Levels of other phospholipids were mostly unchanged, with the exception of decreases in the levels of select polyunsaturated lysophosphatidylserine (LPS) and lysophosphatidylcholine lipids and a striking remodeling of PI phosphates...
Architecture-Aware Mapping and Scheduling of IMA partitions on Multicore platforms

Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) architecture has emerged as the de-facto standard for hosting multiple avionic functions with different criticality levels on the same hardware platform. To further reduce size, weight, power and cost, the second generation IMA architecture aims to migrate multiple singlecore IMA partitions onto a multi-core hardware platform. In this paper, we propose a framework to safely allocate and schedule communicating, mixed-criticality IMA partitions on a cache-based multi-core platform with the added constraint that certain partition pairs should not be allocated on the same core for safety and security reasons. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in allocating and scheduling partitions while respecting all constraints.
Pharmacotherapy of Insomnia

For the purposes of this chapter, “hypnotic medication” is synonymous with “benzodiazepine sedative—hypnotics.” In our opinion, there is almost never an indication to use an older, nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic (e.g., barbiturates, chloral hydrate, glutethimide, meprobamate) for the treatment of insomnia. In situations where depression or nonrestorative sleep syndrome (alpha—delta sleep) is present, the use of a sedating tricyclic antidepressant may be indicated. This will be discussed later.
Experimental Demonstration of Flex-LIONS for Reconfigurable All-to-All Optical Interconnects

We experimentally demonstrate a 2.56Tb/s 16-port Flex-LIONS reconfigurable all-to-all interconnect architecture by wavelength and spatial switching. Experimental results show 16× bandwidth increase between selected node pairs after reconfiguration, and scalability to 32 ports (10.24 Tb/s) under worst-case intra-band crosstalk.
Abstract 66: Reduction of the Number of Endothelial Cells Harboring Mutations of AVM Causative Genes Lessens Brain AVM Severity

Background and purpose: Mutation of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) causal genes in the endothelial cells (ECs) is essential for AVM formation. However, the relationship of the mutant EC-dose and ...
W∞ AND ANOMALIES OF SELF-DUAL EINSTEIN THEORIES

Recently it has been demonstrated that self-dual Einstein Euclidean instantons possess an infinite-dimensional group of symmetries which contain the standard w∞. Since w∞ has a central extension only in its w2 subalgebra one may claim that there is an anomaly in the symmetry group of these instantons which is described by a 3-dimensional w2 effective action. Thus one has a bosonization of the 3/2 spin anomaly of the Eguchi–Hanson instantons. In analogy to w∞ we construct the 3-dimensional effective action for the Lone Star W∞ algebra. This suggests that there is a quantum deformation of the instantons that contributes to the effective action of 4-dimensional self-dual gravity. We comment on this possibility.
Toward extractive archipelagos

Foreign analysts often consider the Republic of Georgia’s territorial borders through geopolitical imaginations of great powers, foreign occupations and democratic reforms. However, the Georgian go...
Synthetic Deliberation: Can Emulated Imagination Enhance Machine Ethics?

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly entwined with our daily lives: AIs work as assistants through our phones, control our vehicles, and navigate our vacuums. As these objects become more complex and work within our societies in ways that affect our well-being, there is a growing demand for machine ethics—we want a guarantee that the various automata in our lives will behave in a way that minimizes the amount of harm they create. Though many technologies exist as moral artifacts (and perhaps moral agents), the development of a truly ethical AI system is highly contentious; theorists have proposed and critiqued countless possibilities for programming these agents to become ethical. Many of these arguments, however, presuppose the possibility that an artificially intelligent system can actually be ethical. In this essay, I will explore a potential path to AI ethics by considering the role of imagination in the deliberative process via the work of John Dewey and his interpreters, showcasing one form of reinforcement learning that mimics imaginative deliberation. With these components in place, I contend that such an artificial agent is capable of something very near ethical behavior—close enough that we may consider it so.
Rethinking Covid-19 Test Sensitivity - A Strategy for Containment.

Rethinking Covid-19 Test Sensitivity As Covid-19 cases accelerate or plateau around the world, we urgently need a point-of-care test that is inexpensive enough to use frequently, even if it lacks h...
Covariance NMR: Theoretical concerns, practical considerations, contemporary applications and related techniques

Abstract The family of resolution enhancement and spectral reconstruction techniques collectively known as covariance NMR continues to expand, along with the list of applications for these techniques. Recent advances in covariance NMR include the utilization of covariance to reconstruct pure shift NMR spectra, and the growing use of covariance NMR in processing non-uniformly sampled data, especially in solid state NMR and metabolomics. This review describes theoretical and practical considerations for direct and indirect covariance NMR techniques, and summarizes recent additions to the covariance NMR family. The review also outlines some of the applications of covariance NMR, and places covariance NMR in the larger context of methods that use statistical and algebraic approaches to enhance and combine various kinds of spectroscopic data, including tensor-based approaches for multidimensional NMR and heterocovariance spectroscopy.
The Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test Predicts Braak Stage.

Background The ultimate validation of a clinical marker for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is its association with AD neuropathology. Objective To identify clinical measures that predict pathology, we evaluated the relationships of the picture version of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (pFCSRT + IR), the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), and the Clinical Dementia Rating scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) to Braak stage. Methods 315 cases from the clinicopathologic series at the Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center were classified according to Braak stage. Boxplots of each predictor were compared to identify the earliest stage at which decline was observed and ordinal logistic regression was used to predict Braak stage. Results Looking at the assessment closest to death, free recall scores were lower in individuals at Braak stage III versus Braak stages 0 and I (combined) while MMSE and CDR scores for individuals did not differ from Braak stages 0/I until Braak stage IV. The sum of free recall and total recall scores independently predicted Braak stage and had higher predictive validity than MMSE and CDR-SB in models including all three. Conclusion pFCSRT + IR + IR scores may be more sensitive to early pathological changes than either the CDR-SB or the MMSE.
Good Questions 14: Is feeding with infant formula much worse than breastfeeding?

Is infant feeding with formula much worse than breastfeeding? It’s complicated, so this essay explores the evidence and ways to think about it. There is a clear global consensus that in any population, feeding with infant formula is not as good as breastfeeding for infants’ health and also for their mothers’ health. Infant formula manufacturers agree. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing debate about when feeding with infant formula might be acceptable. Undoubtedly, compliance with the global recommendations for optimum breastfeeding is low partly because many new parents and policymakers believe there is little difference between the health impacts of breastfeeding and feeding with formula. It is important to consider not only the ranking of alternative methods of infant feeding but also the degree of difference between them. Is the difference small and unimportant or substantial and important to consider when choosing among the options? There should be an orderly way to take account of not only the relevant scientific knowledge, but also parents’ views and circumstances related to infant feeding.
Improved Performance of Bottom-Contact Organic Thin-Film Transistor Using Al Doped HfO 2 Gate Dielectric

Aluminum doped HfO2 (HfAlO) prepared by atomic layer deposition is investigated as gate dielectric for low-voltage organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). The HfAlO film exhibits a low leakage current density of \(4.92 \times 10^{-8}\) A/cm \(^{2}\) at −3 MV/cm, which is \(\sim 70\) % smaller than its HfO2 counterpart. In addition, copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) OTFT with HfAlO dielectric has an average mobility \(\mu ~(2.58\pm 0.32\times 10^{-3}\) cm \(^{2}\) /Vs) increased by 58%, sub-threshold slope SS (0.9 ± 0.11 V/decade) decreased by 11%, and ON/OFF ratio \(I_{\mathrm{{\scriptstyle ON}}}/I_{\mathrm{{\scriptstyle OFF}}}\) (3.1 ± 1.3 \(\times \) \( 10^{3}\) ) increased by 86% as compared with those with HfO2 as gate dielectric ( \(\mu =1.63\pm 0.27\times 10^{-3}\) cm \(^{2}\) /Vs; \({\rm SS}=1.01\) ±0.1 V/decade; \(I_{\mathrm{{\scriptstyle ON}}}/I_{\mathrm{{\scriptstyle OFF}}}=1.7\pm 0.77\times 10^{3}\) ). All these could be ascribed to the inclusion of Al in the HfO2 film, which increases the conduction band offset and the bandgap and improves the dielectric and interface quality. The temperature effect on the performance of OTFTs is also investigated.
Ground-Water Pollution Near a Landfill

Evaluation of existing landfills, particularly those with the potential to affect public water supplies is a necessary but often time-consuming task. A study is described in which sampling wells, test borings, electrical resistivity, and computer models were used. The importance of integrating all geohydrologic data, the usefulness of trend surface analysis, surface resistivity measurements and computer modeling, and the value of specific conductance as a pollution indicator are emphasized.
Deoxyribonucleic acid replication in synchronized cultured mammalian cells: I. Time of synthesis of molecules of different average guanine + cytosine content☆

Abstract HeLa and mouse strain L-cells synchronized by release from excess thymidine block were pulse-labeled with [14C]thymidine or 32P at intervals throughout the DNA synthetic period. The nuclear DNA was then isolated and fractionated into molecules of different buoyant densities by preparative CsCl density-gradient centrifugation. Early in the DNA synthetic period, DNA species having high buoyant densities had the highest specific activity. These results indicated that, compared to total nuclear DNA, the DNA replicated early in this period has a higher average buoyant density and hence, higher average G + C content. Late in the period, DNA species having low buoyant densities had the highest specific activities. This pattern was maintained when HeLa cells were synchronized by the selective detachment of mitotic cells. It was also observed when HeLa DNA replicated early in the DNA synthetic period was fractionated in alkaline CsCl and when DNA of the lysed nuclei was analyzed without further purification, thus eliminating the possibility of selective losses of DNA during isolation. By labeling with bromodeoxyuridine, the DNA replicated during a selected interval of the DNA synthetic period could be isolated from the total DNA for base composition analysis. HeLa DNA synthesized in this early period had an average G + C content of 43.6% and that synthesized late in the period had an average G + C content of 38.7%. The average G + C content of pulse-labeled randomly growing cells was 40.1%, similar to the base composition of the total DNA. In thymidine-synchronized mouse L-cells, there was a gradual change in the average G + C content of DNA replicated throughout the synthetic period. The replication of DNA of high G + C content in the early part of the period and the replication of DNA of low G + C content in the late part of the period was similar to the pattern observed in HeLa cells. The specific radioactivities of satellite and main band DNA's were measured after 1-hour pulses with 32P at different times during the DNA synthetic period. The ratio of the specific activity of satellite to main band DNA increased continuously throughout the period. The specific activities of satellite DNA indicated that about 20% of mouse satellite DNA synthesis occurred during the first 2 hours of the period, and about 80% after main band DNA had already reached its maximum rates of synthesis.
Multiagent compromise via negotiation

Abstract Much of the work in DAI has dealt with agents that cooperate to achieve common high level goals. Our research deals with situations where cooperative behavior cannot be assumed and resolution of ensuing conflicts is necessary. Conflict resolution is achieved through direct negotiation among the interacting agents or through a third party, the mediator. We present a general negotiation model that handles multiagent, multiple-issue, single or repeated encounters based on integration of case-based reasoning and multiattribute utility theory. The negotiation model is implemented in a computer program, the PERSUADER, that resolves labor management disputes.