cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proterotheriids and macraucheniids (Litopterna: Mammalia) from the Pampa Castillo Fauna, Chile (early Miocene, Santacrucian SALMA) and a new phylogeny of Proterotheriidae

Here we describe the litopterns, a diverse and temporally long-ranging clade of South American native ‘ungulates’, of the early Miocene Pampa Castillo fauna from the Galera Formation in the Andean ...
Unusual marine cyanobacteria/haptophyte symbiosis relies on N2 fixation even in N-rich environments

The microbial fixation of N2 is the largest source of biologically available nitrogen (N) to the oceans. However, it is the most energetically expensive N-acquisition process and is believed inhibited when less energetically expensive forms, like dissolved inorganic N (DIN), are available. Curiously, the cosmopolitan N2-fixing UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis grows in DIN-replete waters, but the sensitivity of their N2 fixation to DIN is unknown. We used stable isotope incubations, catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in-situ hybridization (CARD-FISH), and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS), to investigate the N source used by the haptophyte host and sensitivity of UCYN-A N2 fixation in DIN-replete waters. We demonstrate that under our experimental conditions, the haptophyte hosts of two UCYN-A sublineages do not assimilate nitrate (NO3-) and meet little of their N demands via ammonium (NH4+) uptake. Instead the UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis relies on UCYN-A N2 fixation to supply large portions of the haptophyte's N requirements, even under DIN-replete conditions. Furthermore, UCYN-A N2 fixation rates, and haptophyte host carbon fixation rates, were at times stimulated by NO3- additions in N-limited waters suggesting a link between the activities of the bulk phytoplankton assemblage and the UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis. The results suggest N2 fixation may be an evolutionarily viable strategy for diazotroph-eukaryote symbioses, even in N-rich coastal or high latitude waters.
Cloud: A Platform to Launch Stealth Attacks

Cloud computing offers users scalable platforms and low resource cost. At the same time, the off-site location of the resources of this service model makes it more vulnerable to certain types of adversarial actions. Cloud computing has not only gained major user base, but also, it has the features that attackers can leverage to remain anonymous and stealth. With convenient access to data and technology, cloud has turned into an attack platform among other utilization. This paper reports our study to show that cyber attackers heavily abuse the public cloud platforms to setup their attack environments and launch stealth attacks. The paper first reviews types of attacks launched through cloud environment. It then reports case studies through which the processes of launching cyber attacks using clouds are demonstrated. We simulated various attacks using a virtualized environment, similar to cloud platforms, to identify the possible countermeasures from a defender's perspective, and thus to provide implications for the cloud service providers.
Analysis of Global Trends in the Development of Retail Payment Services in the Global Economy

Research background: The relevance of the study is confirmed by the fact that large banks of developed countries in the globalized economy receive commission income from settlement transactions at a level comparable to interest income from credit and deposit operations. This significantly increases the profitability of the banking business, reduces risks, makes banks more stable. Thus, payment services to the population in the context of globalization and competition between banks is one of the important business areas.Purpose of the article: Analysis and assessment of development trends of retail payment services in different countries in the context of globalization. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were solved: segments of national payment systems were studied; revealed the main world innovations in the development of retail payment services; The analysis of the main retail payment services in various countries, which characterize the degree of development of the banking business in the context of globalization.Methods: The methodological basis of the study was a systematic approach. In the process, such methods as analysis and synthesis, grouping and analogy methods, a comparative historical approach, economic and mathematical modeling were used.Findings & Value added: As a result of this study, various types of major world innovations in the development of retail payment services were reasonably identified, and based on an analysis of global trends in the development of retail payment services, promising directions for their development were proposed.
Key Functional and Symbolic Values of Activewear Designed for Active Aging Women

Many activewear manufacturers do not prioritize the functional or socio-cultural needs of active aging women even though they are a sizeable market segment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the functional and symbolic value placed in activewear products for women aged 50 and older. The research team interviewed 14 physically active women aged 50 and older. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis and organized into key functional and symbolic values. The functional values of activewear identified by women in this study were protection, safety, fit, range of motion, thermal comfort, donning/doffing, pressure, support, fabric performance, layering, storage, friction, tactility, quality, and multi-use. The symbolic values were self-esteem, group membership, aesthetics, decoration, modesty, and motivation. Researchers and designers should consider these findings as key functional and symbolic values of activewear when developing activewear aimed at supporting active aging lifestyles.
Reframing Single- and Dual-Process Theories as Cognitive Models: Commentary on De Neys (2021).

De Neys (this issue) argues that the debate between single- and dual-process theorists of thought has become both empirically intractable and scientifically inconsequential. I argue that this is tr...
Practical Frontline 3D Printing of Biomedical Equipment: From Design to Distribution—A North American Experience

With its versatility, wide availability, and a worldwide active community of enthusiasts, scientists, engineers, and physicians, 3D printing has demonstrated practical value and potential in providing stopgap solutions to shortages of key equipment. Despite enthusiastic support for 3D printing to meet some equipment shortages, the effectiveness of practical implementation of such prototypes has been variable. In this work, we draw on the practical experiences of our groups in Canada and in the United States that used 3D printing for pandemic-related equipment shortages. We describe challenges and solutions for implementing and coordinating programs for 3D printing response in addressing shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), specialized equipment for intubation and respiratory support, and development of simpler hardware to extend the lifecycle and applications of existing equipment.
Decreased ER visits and readmission after implementation of a standardized perioperative toolkit for children with IBD.

Abstract Background Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) carries significant morbidity and requires extensive medical and often surgical intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a dedicated Multidisciplinary clinic on the outcomes of children with IBD. Methods A retrospective review of a prospective database, established to track quality and outcomes of children undergoing an abdominal operation for IBD, was performed. Children who were managed before (09/2017–03/2019) and after (04/2019–06/2020) establishment of the multidisciplinary clinic were examined. The clinic instituted several care process protocols including early recovery (ERAS) and garnered additional resources for patients (wound ostomy, nutrition, social work, etc.) Primary outcomes were unanticipated return to the operating room, length of stay, ER visits within 30 days of surgery and hospital readmissions within 30 days of surgery. Results We identified 41 children who underwent a total of 80 major abdominal operations; 46.3% of procedures occurred before and 53.7% occurred after instituting our clinic. There were no notable changes in disease distribution (e.g., ulcerative colitis vs. Crohn's), disease severity, medication exposure, or case urgency (elective vs. emergent). ER visits within 30 days of surgery decreased (4 (9.3%) vs. 10 (27%), p = 0.04) as did readmissions within 30 days of surgery (1 (2.3%) vs. 9 (24.3%), p = 0.005). Conclusions Implementation of a dedicated multidisciplinary clinic for IBD and its attendant focus on protocols and appropriate use of adjunctive resources was associated with decreased emergency department visits and hospital readmissions in the post-operative setting. Level of evidence : III
Retrospective Analysis of Causes and Risk Factors of 30-Day Readmission After Spine Surgery for Thoracolumbar Trauma.

Study DesignRetrospective Case Series.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate readmission rates, risk factors, and reason for unplanned 30-day readmissions after thoracolumbar spine trauma surgery.Met...
Overcome Isomer Interference in 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Quantitation by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

BACKGROUND The circulating concentration of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1α,25(OH)2D] is very low, and the presence of multiple isomers may lead to inaccurate quantitation if not separated prior to analysis. Antibody-based immunoextraction procedures are sometimes used to remove structurally related isomers of 1α,25(OH)2D prior to an LC-MS/MS analysis. However, immunoextraction increases sample preparation time and cost. In addition, some dihydroxyvitamin D metabolites are not completely removed by immunoextraction. METHOD We developed an HPLC method using a phenyl-hexyl column to investigate interfering isomers of 1α,25(OH)2D. RESULT Using this method, 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) derivatization product of 1α,25(OH)2D was found to be present as 2 epimers, which were separated chromatographically with an area ratio of 2:1. PTAD derivatized metabolite of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [i.e., 4β,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (4β,25(OH)2D3)] eluted out between 6R and 6S epimers of derivatized 1α,25(OH)2D3. If not chromatographically resolved, 4β,25(OH)2D can affect 1α,25(OH)2D quantitation. In a method comparison study, it was found that the presence of 4β,25(OH)2D produced positive bias up to 127% on 1α,25(OH)2D3 quantitation. CONCLUSION The LC-MS/MS method we developed without an immunoextraction procedure was able to resolve the major interference peak from 1α,25(OH)2D and achieved reliable quantitation of 1α,25(OH)2D.
β-Glucosidase biosynthesis inThermomonospora curvata

β-Glucosidase biosynthesis was induced inThermomonospora curvata during early exponential growth on cellobiose, cellulose and protein-extracted lucerne fibre in mineral salts minimal medium at 53°C. Only about 3% of the total culture β-glucosidase was found in cell-free fluid when the actinomycete was grown on cellobiose or purified cellulose. A variety of non-lytic agents including detergents, salts, proteinase and electroporation failed to release the cellbound enzyme. However, cells grown on the fibre released more than 50% of their β-glucosidase. The maximal amount of extracellular accumulation was dependent on the initial concentration of fibre in the medium. Thermal instability at 53°C was the major cause for low exracellular β-glucosidase activity in cellobiose- and cellulose-grown cultures. In cultures grown on the fibre, the extracellular enzyme was stabilized against thermal denaturation by the composition of the cell-free fluid, but was degraded by transient proteinase activity. Proteolysis decreased the average beta-glucosidase specific activity from about 460mU/mg extracellular protein to about 80mU/mg within 1 day after the appearance of the proteinase.
Candida albicans ulcer within hiatus hernia sac presenting as an ulcerated mass.

A case of Candida albicans ulcer within a hiatal hernia sac is presented. The lesion was initially mistaken both radiographically and endoscopically for a malignant tumor. It is recommended that biopsy material and stool be examined specifically for Candida when no definite malignancy is found on microscopic section.
The Dynamics of Previously Conducted Full-Scale Heavy Vehicle Rollover Crashes

The impact dynamics of full-scale heavy-vehicle rollover events were quantitatively evaluated. Videotapes of a variety of rollover events were collected. One tractor-semitrailer combination was rolled by a sudden steer, two combinations rolled after a barrier impact, and one straight truck was pulled down an embankment. The videotapes were analyzed to estimate the vehicles' roll rates and their vertical velocities upon striking the ground. These experimental values corroborate the results of vehicle dynamic simulations that had been previously conducted to replicate actual rollover crashes. Those crashes were the subject of an NTSB Special Investigation Report that examined the crashworthiness of cargo tank trucks carrying hazardous materials.
Experimental Results from the TFTR Tokamak

Recent experiments on TFTR have extended the operating regime of TFTR in both ohmic- and neutral-beam -heated discharges. The TFTR tokamak has reached its original machine-design specifications ( I p = 2.5 MA and B T = 5.2 T). Initial neutral-beam -heating experiments used up to 6.3 MW of deuterium beams. With the recent installation of two additional beamlines, the power has been increased up to 11 MW. A deuterium pellet injector was used to increase the central density to 2.5 x 10 20 m -3 in high-current discharges. At the opposite extreme, by operating at low plasm a current ( I p ~ 0.8 MA) and low density ( n e~ 1 x 10 19 m -3 ), high ion temperatures (9 + 2 keV) and rotation speeds (7 x 10 5 m s -1 ) have been achieved during injection. In addition, plasma-compression experiments have demonstrated acceleration of beam ions from 82 to 150 keV, in accord with expectations. The wide operating range of TFTR, together with an extensive set of diagnostics and a flexible control system, has facilitated transport and scaling studies of both ohmic- and neutral-beam -heated discharges. The result of these confinement studies are presented.
Racial/Ethnic Minority Access to End-of-Life Care: A Conceptual Framework

Minority underutilization of hospice care has been well-documented; however, explanations addressing disparities have failed to examine the scope of factors in operation. Drawing from previous health care access models, a framework is proposed in which access to end-of-life care results from an interaction between patient-level, system-level, and societal-level barriers with provider-level mediators. The proposed framework introduces an innovative mediating factor missing in previous models, provider personal characteristics, to better explain care access disparities. This article offers a synthesis of previous research and proposes a framework that is useful to researchers and clinicians working with minorities at end of life.
Handbook of politics : state and society in global perspective

Institutional Theory.- Reviving State Theory.- Public Opinion, Elections, and Democratic Politics.- Neo-Functionalism and Civil Society.- Politics and the Civil Sphere.- Globalization and Transnationalism.- Elite Theory and Elites.- Conflict Theory.- Social Movements and Contentious Politics.- Guerilla Warfare and Terrorism.- Elites, PACS, and Political Influence.- The State and Economic Development.- Gender and Politics.- Globalization and Protest.- Culture and Political Protest.- Religion and Politics.- War and Democracy.- Space and Politics.- Politics and the Environment.- Ethnic Conflict and Nationalism.- NGOs and Transnational Organizations.- Democracy and Democratization.- Revolutions and Authoritarian Regimes.- Mass Media and Politics.- Elections and Voting.- The Politics of Inequality.- The Political Sociology of Criminal Justice.- Events Data and Conflict Analysis.- Ethnography and Politics.- Comparative Historical Methodology in Political Sociology.- Hierarchical Linear Modeling.- New Methods of Text Analysis and Politics.- Event-History Methods and Politics.- Social Networks and Politics.- Time-Series Analysis and the Study of Politics.- Varieties of Political Analysis.
A novel optically controlled phased array antenna system using a programmable-dispersion fiber and a mode-locked laser

In conclusion, we have proposed and demonstrate a novel scheme for optically controlled phased array antenna (OCPAA) using a single monolithic colliding pulse mode locked (CPM) laser and a programmable-dispersion fiber delay line. This system is extremely compact and no critical matching of fiber lengths are needed since all RF signals travel through the same fiber. Moreover, the proposed system is robust and highly scaleable in either number of antenna elements or resolution.
The Church as a Conspiracy of Unity

A Church of unprecedented diversity will face an old problem: how to avoid breaking down into ethnically based theologies and local churches. It will face the challenge of how to sustain unity theologically, without resorting to a unity forced through a culturally dominant or hegemonic communication of the faith practiced by a local majority of Catholics. John Courtney Murray's idea of "conspiracy" critically retrieved and applied to an ecclesial context, specifically a theology of vocation which embraces formal (as in institutionalized) and informal commitments of practicing the faith could provide a solution where different groups of Catholics can live out their particular cultural instantiations of faith while conspiring toward authentic unity amongst themselves.
Locating parallel numerical tasks in the solution of viscous fluid flow

We present a method to solve the heat equation that couples mesh refinement with explicit time steps greater than the Courant condition limit. The method is implemented in parallel and executes efficiently.
A Possible Relationship Between Toxicity and Carcinogenicity

Carcinogenic response is compared to noncarcinogenic toxicity in that group of chemicals tested by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Toxicology Program (NTP) between 1976 and 1982 an...
ANGULAR MOMENTUM IN GENERAL RELATIVITY AND THE KERR METRIC.

The field angular-momentum conservation law following from the Komar identity is formulated and, as an example, applied in detail to the computation of the total angular momentum of the Kerr metric. It is shown that the formulation and method used in this computation are simpler and much more straightforward than the approach of Cohen based on Trautman’s formulation of the conservation laws. Also, a general discussion of the problem of the proper formulation of the angular-momentum conservation laws (when admitted) in general relativity, including considerations of the relevant symmetry properties, is given. The Komar and Trautman formulations of the conservation laws, in conjunction with appropriate symmetry considerations, are briefly contrasted.
Characterization of polarizing splitter optics in extreme environments

Development of laser systems capable of surviving extreme conditions experienced in military applications requires mounts and components that are able to survive these conditions. The characterization of mounted and/or bonded optical assemblies in harsh environments is critical for the development of laser and optical systems for functionality in these extreme conditions. Customized mounts, bonding assemblies and packaging strategies are utilized to develop and field reliable and robust optical subassemblies. Thin film polarizers operating at 45° and polarizing beam splitter cubes were chosen for initial testing based on past experiences, advancements in optical coating and construction technologies and material properties. Shock, vibration, shear strength, tensile strength and temperature testing are performed on mounted polarizing beam splitter cubes and thin film polarizers from two manufacturers. Previous testing showed that polarizing beam splitter cubes constructed using epoxy would become damaged in the laser resonator. The cubes being tested in this report are constructed using epoxy- free direct optical contact bonding. Thin film polarizers operating at 45° are chosen opposed to Brewster’s angle thin film polarizers to reduce the size and simplify design and construction since an optical wedge is not required. The components and mounts are each environmentally tested beyond the manufacturers’ specifications for shock, vibration, and temperature. Component functionality is monitored during and after the environmental testing. Experimental results from the testing will be discussed as will the impact on future laser resonator designs.
Geographic Influences on the Climate Protection Movement

The climate protection movement in American academia is formalized in the American University and College Presidents’ Climate Commitment. As of January 2011, 676 college presidents signed on to the commitment, but there are thousands of U.S. college presidents who have not, and there is some evidence that public opinion on the need for climate protection is fickle. Extending the climate protection movement in the future will depend on understanding a multitude of factors affecting the decisions of college leaders. In this study, we hypothesize that three geographic factors could influence campus leadership: the cost of electricity in the state, the state's level of commitment to renewable energy, and the percentage of jobs in coal mines and power plants in the state. We tested the hypotheses using a Mann-Whitney U test and found significant relationships. We discuss the results and their implications for the future of the climate protection movement.
Transductive Domain Adaptation with Affinity Learning

We study the problem of domain adaptation, which aims to adapt the classifiers trained on a labeled source domain to an unlabeled target domain. We propose a novel method to solve domain adaptation task in a transductive setting. The proposed method bridges the distribution gap between source domain and target domain through affinity learning. It exploits the existence of a subset of data points in target domain which distribute similarly to the data points in the source domain. These data points act as the bridge that facilitates the data similarities propagation across domains. We also propose to control the relative importance of intra- and inter-domain similarities to boost the similarity propagation. In our approach, we first construct the similarity matrix which encodes both the intra- and inter-domain similarities. We then learn the true similarities among data points in joint manifold using graph diffusion. We demonstrate that with improved similarities between source and target data, spectral embedding provides a better data representation, which boosts the prediction accuracy. The effectiveness of our method is validated on standard benchmark datasets for visual object recognition (multi-category).
CFD simulation of flow and turbulence in a slurry bubble column

To develop a predictive, experimentally verified computational fluid dynamic model for gas–liquid–solid flow, a 3-D transient computer code for the coupled Navier–Stokes equations for each phase was developed. The principal input into the model is the viscosity of the particulate phase, which was determined from a measurement of the random kinetic energy of the 800-micron glass beads and a Brookfield viscometer. The computed time-averaged particle velocities and concentrations agree with PIV measurements of velocities and concentrations, obtained using a combination of gamma-ray and X-ray densitometry, in a slurry bubble column, operated in the bubbly-coalesced fluidization regime with a continuous flow of water. Both the experiment and simulation show a downflow of particles in the center of the column, and an upflow near the walls, and a nearly uniform particle concentration. Normal and shear Reynolds stresses were constructed from the computed instantaneous particle velocities. The PIV measurement and the simulation produced similar nearly flat horizontal profiles of turbulent kinetic energy of particles.
Object lessons learned from a distributed system for remote building monitoring and operation

In this paper we describe our experiences with the design, the deployment, and the initial operation of a distributed system for the remote monitoring and operation of multiple heterogeneous commercial buildings across the Internet from a single control center. Such systems can significantly reduce building energy usage.Our system is distinguished by its ability to interface to multiple heterogeneous legacy building Energy Management Control Systems (EMCSs), its use of the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) standard communication protocols for the former task, development of a standardized naming system for monitoring points in buildings, the use of a relational DBMS to store and process time series data, automatic time and unit conversion, and a scripted time series visualization system.We describe our design choices and our experiences in development and operation. We note requirements for future distributed systems software for interoperability of heterogeneous real-time data acquisition and control systems.
Cross-resistance of drug-resistant murine P388 leukemias to toxol in vivo

The antimicrotubule agent taxol (NSC 125973) has shown clinical antitumor activity against several classically refractory tumors. We developed a drug-resistance profile for taxol using ten drug-resistant P388 leukemias to identify potentially useful guides for patient selection for further clinical trials of taxol and possible non-cross-resistant drug combinations with taxol. Multidrug-resistant P388 leukemias exhibited either clear (leukemia resistant to amsacrine) or marginal cross-resistance (leukemias resistant to doxorubicin, actinomycin D, and mitoxantrone) to taxol. Leukemias resistant to vincristine (non-multidrug-resistant leukemia), camptothecin, melphalan, cisplatin, 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine, and methotrexate were not cross-resistant to taxol. The data suggest that (1) it may be important to exclude or to monitor with extra care patients who have previously been treated with amsacrine, doxorubicin, actinomycin D, or mitoxantrone and (2) a combination of one of the non-cross-resistant drugs and taxol might exhibit therapeutic synergism.
Urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2α in potassium-deficient rats

Potassium-deficiency was induced in rats by dietary deprivation of potassium. The animals became polyuric and urine osmolality decreased more then three-fold compared to controls. Urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) did not increase during 2 weeks of potassium depletion. Partial inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis by meclofenamate did not increase the urine osmolality after water deprivation. These results make unlikely the hypothesis that the polyuria of potassium-deficiency, is the result of enhanced renal synthesis of prostaglandins with subsequent antagonism of the hydro-osmotic effect of vasopressin. Male animals consistently excreted less PGE2 than female animals.
High pressure melting and crystallization of Nylon-11

Differential thermal analysis (DTA), high pressure differential thermal analysis (HP-DTA), and high temperature X-ray studies are combined to elucidate the origin of the two melting peaks in Nylon-11. The results of the studies suggest that two species of crystals are involved in the melting of Nylon-11 for samples crystallized at atmospheric pressure or when the environmental pressure is below 4 kbar. At atmospheric pressure, the high melting species is predominant. However, under hydrostatic pressures, the high melting species undergoes phase transition to the low melting species before melting. The amount of the material involved in the transition depends on the pressure. At pressures of 4 kbar or greater, the entire high melting species transforms to the low melting species. The melting behaviour, at atmospheric pressure, of samples crystallized at high pressures also shows two melting peaks if the crystallization pressure is below 4 kbar. The amount of the low melting species increases with increasing pressure and, at 4 kbar or higher, only melting of the low melting species is observed. The X-ray photographs taken at room temperature suggest that samples crystallized between atmospheric pressure and 3 kbar contain both theα-form and theδ′-form crystals but the samples crystallized at 4 kbar and higher contain only theα-form crystal. However, it appears from X-ray scans taken at high temperatures near melting that the low melting species is of theδ-form and the high melting species of the δ′-form crystals for samples crystallized below 4 kbar. Theδ-form crystals result from theα-δ transition that occurs at 95° C. Moreover, the melting at high pressures (<4 kbar) of samples crystallized at atmospheric pressure also appears to involve aδ′-δ transition. These results suggest that both the crystal forms,δ andδ′, are stable at high temperatures, if the environmental pressure is below 4 kbar, and that only theδ-form crystals are stable up to melting at pressures greater than 4 kbar.
Computational analysis of the tether-pulling experiment to probe plasma membrane-cytoskeleton interaction in cells

Tethers are thin membrane tubes that can be formed when relatively small and localized forces are applied to cellular membranes and lipid bilayers. Tether pulling experiments have been used to better understand the fine membrane properties. These include the interaction between the plasma membrane and the underlying cytoskeleton, which is an important factor affecting membrane mechanics. We use a computational method aimed at the interpretation and design of tether pulling experiments in cells with a strong membrane-cytoskeleton attachment. In our model, we take into account the detailed information in the topology of bonds connecting the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton. We compute the force-dependent piecewise membrane deflection and bending as well as modes of stored energy in three major regions of the system: body of the tether, membrane-cytoskeleton attachment zone, and the transition zone between the two. We apply our method to three cells: cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs), human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. OHCs have a special system of pillars connecting the membrane and the cytoskeleton, and HEK and CHO cells have the membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion arrangement via bonds (e.g., PIP2), which is common to many other cells. We also present a validation of our model by using experimental data on CHO and HEK cells. The proposed method can be an effective tool in the analyses of experiments to probe the properties of cellular membranes.
CD4+ memory T cell survival.

Memory CD4+ T cells specific for a given antigen are generated during the primary response from the effector lymphoblast progeny of naive precursors. How memory CD4+ T cells differentiate from the effector population is not understood but new tools to assess transcription factor and cytokine expression are allowing for a more careful assessment of this process. Here we review the factors that allow some effector CD4+ T cells to survive the contraction phase of the primary response and become memory cells, and consider whether parallels can be drawn between T and B cells.
Universal optical code division multiple access (O-CDMA) encoders/decoders.

The ideal fiber-optic O-CDMA encoder/decoder technology should be able to simultaneously (a) select the desiredoptical bandwidth, i.e., the wavelength range of the coded signaling channel, e.g., 1500 nm to 1600 nm, to optimizeefficient use of spectrum and power to match network load needs, (b) select the spectral location and number of
On the solution of algebraic equations over finite fields

This article gives new fast methods for decoding certain error-correcting codes by solving certain algebraic equations. As described by Peterson (1961) , the locations of a Bose-Chaudhuri Hocquenghem code over a field of characteristic p are associated with the elements of an extension field, GF(pk). The code is designed in such a way that the weighted power-sum symmetric functions of the error locations can be obtained directly by computing appropriately chosen parity checks on the received word. Good methods for computing the elementary symmetric functions from the weighted power-sum symmetric functions have been presented by Berlekamp (1967) . The elementary symmetric functions, σ1, σ2, …, σt are the coefficients of an algebraic equation whose roots are the error locations x t + σ 1 x t − 1 + σ 2 x t − 1 + ⋯ + σ t = 0 Previous methods for finding the roots of this equation have searched all of the elements in GF(pk) ( Chien, 1964 ) or looked up the answer in a large table ( Polkinghorn, 1966 ). We present here improved procedures for extracting the roots of algebraic equations of small degrees.
Advances and Remaining Challenges in Adult Literacy Research

Low literacy levels in adult learners pose an educational and public health challenge to practitioners and the scientific community. Increasing demands placed on literacy can limit opportunities in the workplace and access to health-related resources, negatively affecting public health. Current estimates from the National Center for Education Statistics suggest that more than 40 million adults in the United States possess only the most basic and concrete literacy skills. Despite the estimated number of learners possessing minimal literacy skills in English in the United States, there remains a paucity of research focused on adult learners to inform remediation efforts. This special issue of the Journal of Learning Disabilities represents an important step in highlighting the current scientific knowledge base and the implications for future directions and lines of inquiry with adult learners.
Ship track-keeping: experiments with a physical tanker model

Abstract Two autopilots for ship track-keeping along a given trajectory are presented, namely a linear quadratic output feedback controller and a robust cascade controller. In both of them, the rudder is used as the only control actuator. The paper presents the mathematical foundation of the problem, the filtering techniques applied in its solution, and selected results of the simulations carried out on a physical ship model on the Silm Lake.
Patient and tumor characteristics predictive of primary parotid gland malignancy: A 20-year experience at the University of Wisconsin.

Abstract Purpose To identify patient and tumor characteristics predictive of primary parotid malignancy. Materials and methods Records were reviewed for patients who underwent parotidectomy at the University of Wisconsin from 1994 to 2013. Patients with primary parotid neoplasms were separated into benign or malignant subgroups. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to compare categorical (gender, lesion side, nature of presentation, recurrence) and numerical variables (age, tumor size) between the benign and malignant groups. Mean BMI was compared between the groups by univariate analysis. Results 771 patients underwent parotidectomy from 1994 to 2013, and 474 had a primary parotid neoplasm. No relationship existed between malignancy and gender (p = 0.610), lesion side (p = 0.110), or BMI (p = 0.196). Mean age (p = 0.015) and tumor size (p = 0.011) were significantly different between the benign and malignant groups. Patient presentation was classified into three categories: symptomatic (n = 109), palpable and asymptomatic (n = 303), and incidentally noted on imaging (n = 57). From all patients with symptomatic, asymptomatic or incidentally noted masses, 41.3%, 10.6% and 5.3%, respectively, were diagnosed with malignant disease. There was a significant relationship between the patient’s initial presentation and malignancy (p Conclusions In this study, age, tumor size, and nature of presentation were all associated with primary parotid malignancy. Understanding the impact of these features on the probability of malignancy is valuable in decision making and counseling of patients presenting with a newly diagnosed parotid neoplasm.
Adjustments to redundancy in reaction time: A comparison of three learning methods

Abstract The present study compared three methods of learning the sequential dependencies inherent in a serial RT task. One group was given physical practice on a fixed sequence of events emphasizing the sequential dependencies in the task. A second group engaged in mental rehearsal of a fixed sequence of events. The third group was given physical practice on the actual task containing 62 percent redundancy. A final group acted as a control and practiced on randomly occuring events. Physical practice emphasizing the redundancies in the task produced equivalent post-test performance as practice on the actual task. Mental practice was found to produce a rapid improvement in performance once some experience on the actual task was given. A detailed analysis was made of the components of overall performance affected by the various training methods. The results were discussed in terms of the stimulus sampling and sequential decision model (Fitts et al. 1963).
Landscape Habitat Suitability Index Software

Habitat suitability index (HSI) models are traditionally used to evaluate habitat quality for wildlife at a local scale. Rarely have such models incorporated spatial relationships of habitat components. We introduce Landscape HSImodels, a new Microsoft Windowst (Microsoft, Redmond, WA)-based program that incorporates local habitat as well as landscape-scale attributes to evaluate habitats for 21 species of wildlife.Models for additional species can be constructed using the generic model option. At a landscape scale, attributes include edge effects, patch area, distance to resources, and habitat composition. A moving window approach is used to evaluate habitat composition and interspersion within areas typical of home ranges and territories or larger. The software and sample data are available free of charge from the United States Forest Service, Northern Research Station at http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/hsi/.
Forging a Cultural Identity: Leadership and Development in Mass Education in a Developing Caribbean Country

Political independence for Trinidad-Tobago was won in 1962, against a backdrop of colonial domination and foreign interference in the affairs of the Caribbean extending over several hundred years. Presenting itself as a tapestry of numerous subcultures of European and North American civilization that is superimposed on ancient Indian and African folkways, the new nation, TrinidadTobago, presented anxieties for Prime Minister Eric Williams, who was always concerned that, during the transition to modernity, the rich, traditional folk customs might fall victim to a static uniformity. He was also concerned about the persistence of the European-oriented school system, which had never adequately incorporated the AfroIndian and other subcultural perspectives into the curriculum. All of these these concerns were part of a larger plethora of issues which Williams had identified earlier and made a part of his Political Manifesto of 1956 promising, that if elected to the TrinidadTobago legislature, he would promulgate:
Electrophysiological neurodifferentiation of subventricular zone-derived precursor cells following stroke

Stroke in rodents is associated with increased neurogenesis and the migration of newborn neurons to sites of brain ischemia, where they may participate in repair and recovery. To determine if neurogenesis following stroke yields functional new neurons, we labeled neuronal precursors in the mouse subventricular zone (SVZ) with a lentivirus-green fluorescent protein vector, produced stroke by occluding the middle cerebral artery, and detected newborn neurons 8 weeks later by fluorescence microscopy. Patch-clamp studies on fluorescent neurons in the cortical region surrounding infarction showed tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na(+) action potentials and spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents, suggesting that ischemia led to functional neurogenesis with synaptic integration. These findings support the hypothesis that enhancing endogenous neurogenesis after stroke might have therapeutic benefit.
Inflammatory Biomarkers and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy in African Americans With Type 1 Diabetes

PURPOSE We examined whether baseline plasma levels of markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are associated with the incidence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in African Americans with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (T1DM). METHODS At baseline and follow-up examinations, detailed ocular examination, structured clinical interview, venous blood specimens, and masked grading of seven standard field retinal photographs were obtained. Baseline plasma levels of 28 inflammatory biomarkers, measured using multiplex bead analysis system, were measured in the participants. RESULTS After adjusting for age, glycemic control, and other potential confounders, baseline plasma levels of E-selectin were associated significantly with progression of DR, E-selectin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels with incidence of proliferative DR (PDR), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and TNF-α levels with incidence of macular edema (ME). CONCLUSIONS In African Americans with T1DM, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction precede the development of DR, thus supporting the notion that inflammation may influence progression/incidence of disease.
Does Victim Responsibility Influence Nonprofit Volunteerism

Volunteers provide billions of dollars of nonpaid labor to nonprofit organizations every year. The purpose of this study is to better understand why volunteers join nonprofit organizations. The central research question examines victim responsibility. That is, does the circumstance of the victim influence a volunteer's willingness to donate time? A survey was designed to investigate the research question. The survey contained nine questions related to age and circumstance of the victim and the likelihood of volunteering. One hundred and seventy-five surveys were completed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. The results indicate that volunteers are more likely to volunteer to help when the victims are not responsible for their circumstance.
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test in Chronic Heart Failure: Beyond Peak Oxygen Consumption

Patients with cardiovascular diseases commonly present with exercise intolerance, clinically manifest as shortness of breath and fatigue, and these symptoms have important prognostic implications. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is a well-established method for evaluation of cardiopulmonary diseases. It provides an objective assessment of maximal aerobic capacity (peak VO2), estimates prognosis, and allows the physician to discriminate among many subtle and often overlapping etiologies. This review focuses on the evaluation of important exercise parameters, in addition to the peak VO2, during cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Production of actinomycin D with immobilized Streptomyces parvullus under nitrogen and carbon starvation conditions

The productivity of actinomycin D withStreptomyces parvullus could be enhanced with calcium alginate immobilized cells and a synthetic starvation medium in a continuous air-lift bioreactor with moderately low dilution rate. In addition, the cell mass must be cycled periodically between the growth and starvation media to maintain long-term antibiotic production.
Fearing the Masses: Gustave Le Bon and Some Undemocratic Roots of Modern Rhetorical Studies

As the popular narrative has it, the modern speech discipline in the United States was born out of a concern for democracy and reason. However, this story occludes other, decidedly undemocratic, foundational ideas that were at the heart of rhetoric and oratory during the first half of the twentieth century. Given contemporary concerns with both deliberative democracy and affect theory, rhetoricians and speech teachers would benefit today from a fuller understanding of some of the undemocratic ideas that influenced the modern rhetorical renaissance. This article helps accomplish this by focusing on the work of Gustave Le Bon, whose concern with persuasion and the masses was influential on early scholars of rhetorical oratory, including James Winans, William Brigance, and James O’Neill. Indeed, it was Gustave Le Bon who popularized the notion that the masses were like a psychological crowd devoid of reason and the ability to deliberate.
The Influence of Socioeconomic Bonds and Satisfaction on Interstate Migration

This study applies to interstate migration the notion that dissatisfaction with residence or community presages movement. The other side of the coin, the view that disposition to move is inhibited by satisfaction with job and place of residence, and by social bonds, is tested using data from a panel study in Rhode Island for the period 1969-79. Results of a multivariate analysis show that noneconomic factors influence decisions to move. Strong social bonds inhibit migration, but employment (except for two-job families) did not. Measures of satisfaction with community and job failed to reveal the expected strong relationship. The effects of three background variables, age, sexmarital status, and place of birth were mediated by level of satisfaction and social bonds. But duration of residence and education of household head had significant direct effects on migration. Possible reasons for these findings are explored.
A Case Study in Intra-abdominal Sepsis

Intra-abdominal infections are a common problem for the general surgeon and major sources of morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit. Some of these patients present with peritonitis that can rapidly progress to septic shock. The basic principles of care include prompt resuscitation, antibiotics, and source control. This article will use a detailed case study to outline the management of a patient with severe intra-abdominal infection from diverticulitis from initial resuscitation to reconstruction. Components of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign as they pertain to surgical patients are discussed and updated, and the concept of damage control general surgery is applied.
Regulation of neuronal function by calcium

In the classical picture of brain function, electrical impulses are initiated in sensory organs and spread rapidly down axons, jumping synaptic clefts by neurochemical transmission. Patterns of electrical activity generated in this way integrate information throughout the brain and result in coordinated motor output. Even as this picture of the central role of electrical transmission was emerging in the mid-20th century, the more speculative neuroscientists reasoned that there must be more to it. In order to store information and adapt to a changing environment, neurons must be able to alter their own properties or those of their neighbors, in highly controlled ways, sometimes permanently.
Relationships among Common Univariate Distributions

Abstract Common univariate distributions are usually discussed separately in introductory probability textbooks, which makes it difficult for students to understand the relationships among these distributions. The purpose of this article is to present a figure that illustrates some of these relationships.