cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bacillus anthracis Edema Toxin Inhibits Efferocytosis in Human Macrophages and Alters Efferocytic Receptor Signaling

The Bacillus anthracis Edema Toxin (ET), composed of a Protective Antigen (PA) and the Edema Factor (EF), is a cellular adenylate cyclase that alters host responses by elevating cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to supraphysiologic levels. However, the role of ET in systemic anthrax is unclear. Efferocytosis is a cAMP-sensitive, anti-inflammatory process of apoptotic cell engulfment, the inhibition of which may promote sepsis in systemic anthrax. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ET inhibits efferocytosis by primary human macrophages and evaluated the mechanisms of altered efferocytic signaling. ET, but not PA or EF alone, inhibited the efferocytosis of early apoptotic neutrophils (PMN) by primary human M2 macrophages (polarized with IL-4, IL-10, and/or dexamethasone) at concentrations relevant to those encountered in systemic infection. ET inhibited Protein S- and MFGE8-dependent efferocytosis initiated by signaling through MerTK and αVβ5 receptors, respectively. ET inhibited Rac1 activation as well as the phosphorylation of Rac1 and key activating sites of calcium calmodulin-dependent kinases CamK1α, CamK4, and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, that were induced by the exposure of M2(Dex) macrophages to Protein S-opsonized apoptotic PMN. These results show that ET impairs macrophage efferocytosis and alters efferocytic receptor signaling.
A perspective on Quality-by-Control (QbC) in pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing

Abstract The Quality-by-Design (QbD) guidance issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has catalyzed the modernization of pharmaceutical manufacturing practices including the adoption of continuous manufacturing. Active process control was highlighted recently as a means to improve the QbD implementation. This advance has since been evolving into the concept of Quality-by-Control (QbC). In this study, the concept of QbC is discussed, including a definition of QbC, a review of the recent developments towards the QbC, and a perspective on the challenges of QbC implementation in continuous manufacturing. The QbC concept is demonstrated using a rotary tablet press, integrated into a pilot scale continuous direct compaction process. The results conclusively showed that active process control, based on product and process knowledge and advanced model-based techniques, including data reconciliation, model predictive control (MPC), and risk analysis, is indispensable to comprehensive QbC implementation, and ensures robustness and efficiency.
A Preliminary Investigation of the Reliability and Validity of the BESS-3 Teacher and Student Forms:

Universal screening for behavioral and emotional risk is an important part of implementing multi-tiered behavioral supports in schools. The current study adds to our understanding of universal scre...
Automatic Assessment of 3D Coronary Artery Distensibility from Time-Resolved Coronary CT Angiography *

Measuring coronary artery distensibility can determine the arterial remodeling type, arterial wall inflammation, and atherosclerotic plaques in early stage even before any observed narrowing in the lumen. This is crucial to promote an appropriate, preventive, and effective treatment. This study introduces a framework for calculating the 3D distensibility of the left coronary artery (LCA) from time-resolved coronary computerized tomography angiography (CCTA) images. Vesselness, region growing, and level sets are utilized for segmenting the LCA lumen in the systole and diastole CCTA time frames. The segmented arteries are then analyzed and registered using computational geometry to calculate the changes in the lumen cross-section areas between both time frames. In-vivo validation of the framework performance was accomplished against that of two radiologists and their consensus. Results demonstrate that the framework was accurate and reliable tool for measuring the coronary arteries distensibility.
Hierarchical controls on extinction selectivity across the diplobathrid crinoid phylogeny

Identifying correlates of extinction risk is important for understanding the underlying mechanisms driving differential rates of extinction and variability in the temporal durations of taxa. Increasingly, it is recognized that the effects of multiple, potentially interacting variables and phylogenetic relationships should be incorporated when studying extinction selectivity to account for covariation of traits and shared evolutionary history. Here, I explore a variety of biological and ecological controls on genus longevity in the global fossil record of diplobathrid crinoids by analyzing the combined effects of species richness, habitat preference, body size, filtration fan density, and food size selectivity. I employ a suite of taxic and phylogenetic approaches to (1) quantitatively compare and rank the relative effects of multiple factors on taxonomic longevity and (2) determine how phylogenetic comparative approaches alter interpretations of extinction selectivity. I find controls on diplobathrid genus duration are hierarchically structured, where species richness is the primary predictor of duration, habitat is the secondary predictor, and combinations of ecological and biological traits are tertiary controls. Ecology plays an important but complex role in the generation of crinoid macroevolutionary patterns. Notably, tolerance of environmental heterogeneity promotes increased genus duration across diplobathrid crinoids, and the effects of traits related to feeding ecology vary depending on habitat lithology. Finally, I find accounting for phylogeny does not consistently decrease the significance of correlations between traits and genus duration, as is commonly expected. Instead, the strength of relationships between traits and duration may increase, decrease, or remain statistically similar, and both the magnitude and direction of these shifts are generally unpredictable. However, traits with strong correlations and/or moderately large effect sizes (Cohen's f2 > 0.15) under taxic approaches tend to remain qualitatively unchanged under phylogenetic approaches.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

A fundamental part of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) mission is the commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI; Box 9.1). This is not a new concept, but rather stems from the vision of Bush (1945). These core values have been codified in various NSF documents since that time (e.g., NSF, 2007), as well as strategic initiatives such as INCLUDES (NSF, 2017n). Any scientist wanting to submit competitive proposals to NSF is well advised to include an aspect of DEI within the framework of the projects. This component is best scaled for the size of the project; smaller projects can have these elements embedded within the proposal (e.g., recruitment of graduate students), whereas larger projects might benefit from major components and Broader Impacts initiatives involving DEI.
New Preoperative Spinal Cord Ischemia Risk Stratification Model for Patients Undergoing Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Purpose:Our objective was to determine significant predictors of spinal cord ischemia (SCI) following Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) and to further develop a simple and clinically orie...
Cognitive Screening of Adults With Postlingual Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review.

ObjectiveTo systematically review the evidence for the use of cognitive screening tools for adults with postlingual hearing loss.Data SourcesPubMed, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO)...
Positive and Negative Feedback: Insulin and the Use of Fatty Acids and Glucose for Energy

Every student of physiology learns the concept of negative feedback, whether it be in terms of baroreceptors and blood pressure, the control of glucose metabolism by insulin, calcium regulation by parathyroid hormone, or sodium regulation of renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone. Due to the growing prevalence of diabetes and the pioneering identification of insulin as the major regulator of blood glucose by Banting and Best, many kineticists have developed dynamic models of insulin secretion and glucose dynamics (Bergman, 1989; Biermann, 1994; Gatewood et al., 1970; Segre et al., 1973). Part of the reason for the interest is the idea that the serious conditions that affect patients with diabetes (such as heart and kidney disease, retinal degeneration and blindness, loss of peripheral nerve function, and bouts of gangrene) may be ameliorated with better glycemic control (Bellomo et al., 1982). A highly pragmatic reason for this interest is not only to understand the distinctions among the different types of diabetes, but also to attain better blood glucose control by use of the artificial pancreas for detection of blood glucose and infusion of insulin (Abisser et al., 1974; Hauser et al., 1994).
Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Echo-Estimated Right and Left Heart Filling Pressures in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Objectives The prevalence of elevated right and left heart filling pressures in coronavirus disease 2019 is not well characterized. We aimed to characterize the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and concurrent elevated left heart filling pressure in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019. We hypothesized that a significant proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 patients has evidence of pulmonary hypertension associated with elevated left heart filling pressure on transthoracic echocardiography. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic tertiary-care center. Patients Hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients who underwent clinical transthoracic echocardiography. Interventions None. Measurements and main results The exposure variable of interest was right ventricular systolic pressure, calculated using the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as right ventricular systolic pressure greater than 40 mm Hg. Left heart filling pressure was estimated with Nagueh's method for pulmonary artery occlusion pressure using E/e' ratio, and normal was considered pulmonary artery occlusion pressure less than 16 mm Hg. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between the patients with and without pulmonary hypertension. A total of 73 patients (median age 66 yr [57-75 yr]; 46% women) were included. Median right ventricular systolic pressure was 39 mm Hg (interquartile range, 32-50 mm Hg), and 36 patients (49.3%) had evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Patients with pulmonary hypertension were more likely to require ICU admission (86% vs 65%; p = 0.035) and have acute respiratory distress syndrome (72% vs 49%; p = 0.0053) than those without. In-hospital mortality was 26% for those with pulmonary hypertension compared with 14% for those without (p = 0.19). Patients with pulmonary hypertension had higher median-estimated pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (17.4 mm Hg [12.7-21.3 mm Hg] vs 12.1 mm Hg [10.0-14.1 mm Hg]; p = 0.0008), and elevated left heart filling pressure was present in 59% of those with pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions Pulmonary hypertension is common in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Left ventricular filling pressure is elevated in over half of those with pulmonary hypertension and may represent a target to reduce right ventricular afterload and potentially improve outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019.
Spatial and temporal variability of trace metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb), iron and copper speciation, and electroactive Fe-binding humic substances in surface waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract The concentrations of bioactive trace metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Co, Ni, Cd, and Pb), Fe-and Cu-binding organic ligands, and electroactive Fe-binding humic substances were measured in surface waters across the West Florida Shelf in the eastern Gulf of Mexico in June 2015 and in February-March 2018. Seasonal differences in dust deposition were associated with increased concentrations of Fe, Mn and Pb in offshore surface waters in June 2015 compared to Feb-Mar 2018. Total concentrations of Fe-binding ligands offshore were similar between seasons, and this ambient ligand pool acted to stabilize a portion of Fe delivered via dust deposition within the dissolved fraction. Apparent photoreduction of Cu-binding organic ligands in offshore summer surface waters led to bioavailable Cu2+ concentrations that could potentially inhibit the growth of some cyanobacteria species. The concentrations of Fe-binding humic-like ligands were better correlated with Cu-binding ligands than Fe-binding ligands, suggesting that terrestrially derived photoactive ligands may have a significant influence on the cycling of Cu-binding ligands across the West Florida Shelf. Intrusion of the Loop Current into the study region was observed in June 2015 and appeared to entrain bands of low salinity water from the northern Gulf of Mexico. This process brought elevated trace metals and Fe-binding humic-like ligands to the outer West Florida Shelf, which may then be delivered to the North Atlantic via the Loop Current-Florida Current-Gulf Stream system.
Efficient demands in a multi-product monopoly

Abstract This paper characterizes the efficient market demands among those with a fixed surplus level in a multi-product monopoly, where the monopolist is able to produce a continuum of quality-differentiated products with a cost function that is convex in quality. We show that any efficient market demand must be affine-unit-elastic. This further reduces the problem of characterizing the efficient frontier to a finite dimensional constraint optimization problem. From this characterization, it follows that deadweight losses are positive even under efficient demands; that both consumer surplus and total welfare are nonmonotonic in cost; and that the monopolist sells at most two distinct quality levels under any efficient market demand.
Validation of Wind Resource and Energy Production Simulations for Small Wind Turbines in the United States

Abstract. Due to financial and temporal limitations, the small wind community relies upon simplified wind speed models and energy production simulation tools to assess site suitability and produce energy generation expectations. While efficient and user-friendly, these models and tools are subject to errors that have been insufficiently quantified at small wind turbine heights. This study leverages observations from meteorological towers and sodars across the United States to validate wind speed estimates from the Wind Integration National Dataset (WIND) Toolkit, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis v5 (ERA5), and the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), revealing average biases within ±0.5 m s−1 at small wind hub heights. Observations from small wind turbines across the United States provide references for validating energy production estimates from the System Advisor Model (SAM), Wind Report, and MyWindTurbine.com, which are seen to overestimate actual annual capacity factors by 2.5, 4.2, and 11.5 percentage points, respectively. In addition to quantifying the error metrics, this paper identifies sources of model and tool discrepancies, noting that interannual fluctuation in the wind resource, wind speed class, and loss assumptions produce more variability in estimates than different horizontal and vertical interpolation techniques. The results of this study provide small wind installers and owners with information about these challenges to consider when making performance estimates and thus possible adjustments accordingly. Looking to the future, recognizing these error metrics and sources of discrepancies provides model and tool researchers and developers with opportunities for product improvement that could positively impact small wind customer confidence and the ability to finance small wind projects.
Hardware, Especially Gradient Magnetic Fields

I am often asked why I bother to teach about the “nuts and bolts” of the MRI scanner system. After all, with the exception of physicists and engineers who are specifically interested in dealing with and perhaps modifying the hardware components of the scanner, virtually every MR user will leave the upkeep of the system to professional service personnel. Because these system components are generally not user modifiable, the user will rarely interface with the hardware. Even MRI technologists who sit at the console day in and day out have little practical use for technical knowledge about the magnet that creates the B0 magnetic field, for example.
Least squares FIR filter design using frequency domain piecewise polynomial approximations

A general framework for specifying and designing one-dimensional FIR digital filters is presented. The system uses piecewise polynomials to guarantee that the ideal impulse response maintains continuity up to a given number of derivatives (given as parameter p). In this system, it is possible to efficiently design optimal (in the least-squares sense) digital filters that converge pointwise to any (continuous) desired frequency response, while the filters' coefficients decay in the order of 1/np+1. It is shown experimentally that the maximum absolute error also decays as 1/np+1. Results on (i) bandpass filter design and (ii) bandpass differentiating filter design are shown.
Lenguas viajeras: Hacia una imaginación geolingüística

En la extensa literatura de hoy sobre globalizacion, el lenguaje no ha sido una categoria de analisis. Por lo general su fuerza ha sido sencillamente omitida en las teorizaciones de globalidad, movilidad, mercados y geopolitica. Sin embargo, los procesos globales estan a cada paso determinados por el lenguaje. El siguiente ensayo tiene como objetivo estudiar las dimensiones linguisticas de este manojo de realineaciones planetarias sociales, ecologicas, economicas, politicas e imaginarias al que denominamos globalizacion.
Highly clonal regulatory T-cell population in follicular lymphoma - inverse correlation with the diversity of CD8(+) T cells.

The immune microenvironment in follicular lymphoma (FL) plays an important role in controlling disease characteristics. To characterize the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in follicular lymphoma (FL) tissues, we applied a next-generation sequencing platform and deeply sequenced TCR cDNAs of T-cell subset populations present in pretreatment FL biopsy specimens. T regulatory cell (Treg) TCRs in FL tissues revealed a highly oligoclonal expansion compared to those in control lymph nodes. Furthermore, an inverse correlation was observed between the diversity of Treg and CD8+ TCRs in FL specimens. Interestingly, a tumor from an FL patient, who had not received anticancer treatment for more than 10 years, was found to have missense mutations in the peptide-binding domain of both human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II molecules, which might have presented tumor-specific antigens and enhanced host immune responses. Although further verification is required, our data suggest that the T-cell repertoire is ske...
The De of Levinas: Cultivating the Heart-Mind of Radical Passivity

This essay explores the early Chinese text Guanzi to address the question of ethical responsibility in the work of Emmanuel Levinas. We begin with the premise that being responsive to the other, feeling the impossibility of renouncing ethical obligation, and experiencing the basic moral asymmetry at the heart of Levinas’s project all rely on the welcome openness of the subject that Levinas describes as the subject’s “radical passivity.” However, his emphasis on infinite responsibility, coupled with the theme of radical passivity, gives the problematic impression that ethics amounts to a never-ending to-do list for the other, and certainly this is not what Levinas means. We turn to the Guanzi, which recommends that the ethically efficacious sage-prince must cultivate a state of passive stillness and inner vacuity. Only because the sage-prince maintains this deferential heart-mind is he freely open and responsive to others. Here the sage-prince looks strikingly like a good Levinasian: He is deferential, sensitive to context, and hyper-aware of the limits of his own knowledge. The Guanzi goes on to describe specific practices the sage-prince can employ to cultivate his ethical prowess, including practices of meditation and gentle physical exercises. Taking this insight into Levinas’s context, we suggest that such practices of self-regulation are necessary to enable effective responsiveness to the other. From this perspective, responsibility is “infinite” not because I am perpetually beholden to the other’s whims, but because I am perpetually accountable for calming and clearing my own mind of the unstable emotions, selfish desires, and intellectual machinations that prevent the welcome openness of radical passivity.
Specific interaction of the cyclophilin-cyclosporin complex with the B subunit of calcineurin.

Calcineurin (CaN), a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase, has been shown to be inhibited by the complex of the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A (CsA) and its receptor, cyclophilin (CyP), but not by either alone. In the current study, the topological relationship between cyclophilin and the subunits of CaN has been explored using chemical cross-linking agents. In the presence of cyclosporin, 125I-CyP, shown to bind to CsA, is extensively cross-linked to the B subunit of CaN but not the catalytic A subunit. However, the A subunit is required for binding of the CyP.CsA complex, since cross-linking to recombinant B subunit alone does not occur. The kinetics of association indicate a saturable reaction with a Kd of less than 70 nM. Cross-linking to the B subunit occurs with cross-linkers that span from 0 to 16 A and employ different cross-linking chemistry, indicating direct contact between the B subunit and CyP. Similar cross-linking to the B subunit has been observed with the complex of 125I-labeled FK506 binding protein (FKBP) and FK506 but not with the FKBP-rapamycin complex. CyP.CsA cross-linking to CaN is Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent with intact CaN, but Ca2+/calmodulin-independent after digestion to remove the calmodulin binding and autoinhibitory domain.
Species delimitation of common reef corals in the genus Pocillopora using nucleotide sequence phylogenies, population genetics and symbiosis ecology

Stony corals in the genus Pocillopora are among the most common and widely distributed of Indo-Pacific corals and, as such, are often the subject of physiological and ecological research. In the far Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), they are major constituents of shallow coral communities, exhibiting considerable variability in colony shape and branch morphology and marked differences in response to thermal stress. Numerous intermediates occur between morphospecies that may relate to extensive hybridization. The diversity of the Pocillopora genus in the TEP was analysed genetically using nuclear ribosomal (ITS2) and mitochondrial (ORF) sequences, and population genetic markers (seven microsatellite loci). The resident dinoflagellate endosymbiont (Symbiodinium sp.) in each sample was also characterized using sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA and the noncoding region of the chloroplast psbA minicircle. From these analyses, three symbiotically distinct, reproductively isolated, nonhybridizing, evolutionarily divergent animal lineages were identified. Designated types 1, 2 and 3, these groupings were incongruent with traditional morphospecies classification. Type 1 was abundant and widespread throughout the TEP; type 2 was restricted to the Clipperton Atoll; and type 3 was found only in Panama and the Galapagos Islands. Each type harboured a different Symbiodinium'species lineage' in Clade C, and only type 1 associated with the 'stress-tolerant'Symbiodinium glynni (D1). The accurate delineation of species and implementation of a proper taxonomy may profoundly improve our assessment of Pocillopora's reproductive biology, biogeographic distributions, and resilience to climate warming, information that must be considered when planning for the conservation of reef corals.
Aspen persistence near the National Elk Refuge and Gros Ventre Valley elk feedgrounds of Wyoming, USA

We investigated aspen (Populus tremuloides)regeneration in the Gros Ventre River Valley, the National Elk Refuge and a small part of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA to see if elk (Cervus elaphus) browsing was as damaging as previously thought. We conducted a landscape-scale survey to assess aspen regeneration across gradients of wintering elk concentrations using 68 randomly selected aspen stands in the 1090 km2 study area. Forty-four percent of the stands sampled supported some newer regeneration that had reached the canopy. There were no significant differences of regeneration across elk winter range classification (p=0.25) or distance from feedgrounds (p=0.96). However, a multiple linear regression found that the concentration of elk was one of several important predictors of successful aspen regeneration (p=0.005, R2=0.36). Our results suggest that stand-replacing regeneration occurs across the landscape at a variety of elk densities despite some trends of reduced regeneration under greater elk concentrations. We propose that high spatial and temporal variation and scattered patches of successful aspen regeneration characterize aspen persistence between periods of episodic regeneration and recruitment.
A comparison of reconstructed phase spaces and cepstral coefficients for multi-band phoneme classification

This paper examines the use of multi-band reconstructed phase spaces as models for phoneme classification. Sub-banding reconstructed phase spaces combines linear, frequency-based techniques with a nonlinear modeling approach to speech recognition. Experiments comparing the effects of filtering speech signals for both reconstructed phase space and traditional speech recognition approaches are presented. These experiments study the use of two non-overlapping subbands for isolated phoneme classification on the TIMIT corpus. It is shown that while classification accuracy using MeI frequency cepstral coefficients as features does not improve with sub-banding, the accuracy increases from 36.1% to 42.0% using sub-banded reconstructed phase spaces to model the phonemes.
Conversion of lysine 91 to methionine or glutamic acid in human choriogonadotropin alpha results in the loss of cAMP inducibility.

Human choriogonadotropin (hCG) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone. The alpha subunit comprises 92 amino acids, of which 6 are Lys residues (Morgan, F.G., Birken, S., and Canfield, R.E. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 5247-5258). Our photoaffinity-labeling studies indicate that several of these Lys residues make contact with the lutropin receptor and are covalently cross-linked to the receptor. Lys-91 of the alpha subunit is of interest because deletion of the two alpha C-terminal residues, Lys-91 and Ser-92, results in a significant reduction in the bioactivity of lutropin and thyrotropin (Cheng, K.-W., Glazer, A.N., and Pierce, J.G. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 7930-7937). To determine the importance of Lys-alpha 91, we substituted it with Arg, Met, or Glu. The resulting mutant alpha cDNA constructs were co-transfected into CHO cells with the wild type hCG beta cDNA construct. Secreted hCG dimers were assayed for binding to receptors on porcine granulosa cells and stimulation of cAMP synthesis in a murine Leydig tumor cell line. The natural hCG, wild type hCG, and all mutant hCGs recognized the receptor, although with somewhat divergent affinities. However, there was a striking difference in the ability of cAMP induction. The natural hCG, wild type hCG, and Lys-91—-Arg mutant hCG induced cAMP synthesis, whereas the Lys-91—-Met and Lys-91—-Glu mutants did not. These results demonstrate that Lys-91 is important for receptor modulation in the stimulation of cAMP synthesis.
Credit Default Swaps: Risk Hedge or Financial Weapon of Mass Destruction?

Credit default swaps (CDSs) are contracts between buyers and sellers of protection against default. They are a form of debt insurance, or more precisely derivatives contracts that investors buy to either insure against or profit from a default. In this way CDS contracts act as a form of debt insurance in that they provide a means of protection against credit risk. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the CDS earned the reputation of a ‘financial weapon of mass destruction’. Why? Is this charge justified? This paper shows that the reality is more complex: CDSs carry benefit as well as costs, and the risks associated with them can be mitigated through prudent supervision.
Populations of Anaerobic Phototrophic Bacteria in a Spartina alterniflora Salt Marsh

Habitat-simulating media were used with the Hungate anaerobic roll tube technique to enumerate culturable anaerobic photosynthetic bacteria in sediment, tidal waters, and Spartina alterniflora plant samples collected from the salt marsh at Sapelo Island, Ga. No phototrophs were detected in samples of creekside (low marsh) sediment or in tidal waters in creekside regions. In the high marsh region, 90% of anaerobic phototrophic bacteria occurred in the top 5 mm of sediment and none were detected below 6 mm. There was a seasonal variation, with maximal populations occurring in summer and fall (mean, 4.4 × 105 phototrophs g of dry sediment−1) and minimal numbers occurring in winter (mean, 3.9 × 103 phototrophs g of dry sediment−1). During winter and late spring, phototrophs had a patchy distribution over the high marsh sediment surface. In contrast, during late summer they had a random uniform distribution. Tidal water collected over high marsh sediment contained an average of 8.7 × 102 phototrophs ml−1, with no significant seasonal variation. Anaerobic phototrophic bacteria were also cultured from the lower stem tissue of S. alterniflora growing in both the high (4.3 × 104 phototrophs g of dry tissue−1) and creekside (4.9 × 104 phototrophs g of dry tissue−1) marsh regions. Chromatium buderi, Chromatium vinosum, Thiospirillum sanguineum, Rhodospirillum molischianum, and Chlorobium phaeobacteroides were the predominant anaerobic phototrophic species cultured from high marsh sediment. The two Chromatium species were dominant.
Contribution of the all-union institute of refractories to the development of testing methods

At the present time our industry possesses a combination of new and perfected methods of technical testing and research into refractories within a wide range of temperature, thermomeehanical and thermochemical action. We have scientifically developed improved systems (methods-properties-norms) of assessing the resistance of refractories, meeting modern technical levels of production, reflecting the mechanism of erosion of refractories in service, and ensuring increases in their life. Accumulated experience of technical testing based on original apparatus will subsequently be used in the development of rational processes for producing highly resistant refractories whose properties can be predetermined.
Why is sexual abuse declining? A survey of state child protection administrators.

Abstract Objectives: Cases of substantiated sexual abuse have declined approximately 39% nationwide from 1992 to 1999, according to estimates from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). Despite the dramatic nature of the decline, little discussion of the trend has occurred at either the national or the state level. Aims of the research were to: (1) gather state-level information about possible sources of the sexual abuse decline, (2) identify child protection trends that might be contributing to the decline, and (3) assess the level of awareness of the decline in state child protection offices. Methods: Telephone interviews were conducted with child protection administrators in 43 states. Results: More than half of the officials in states with large declines were unaware of any discussion of the declines within their agency or in the public at large within their state. State officials cited a diverse array of possible causes for the decline, including: (1) increased evidentiary requirements to substantiate cases, (2) increased caseworker caution due to new legal rights for caregivers, and (3) increasing limitations on the types of cases that agencies accept for investigation. More than half also mentioned the effectiveness of prevention programs, increased prosecution, and public awareness campaigns, implying that a portion of the decline may result from a real decline in occurrence. Conclusions: Responses from child protection officials have inherent biases, but they are useful in generating hypotheses for further study in trying to account for the decline. The results suggest that further discussion and increased analysis of child maltreatment system data are important next steps.
Xenon ion propulsion for orbit transfer

For more than 30 years, NASA has conducted an ion propulsion program which has resulted in several experimental space flight demonstrations and the development of many supporting technologies. Technologies appropriate for geosynchronous stationkeeping, earth-orbit transfer missions, and interplanetary missions are defined and evaluated. The status of critical ion propulsion system elements is reviewed. Electron bombardment ion thrusters for primary propulsion have evolved to operate on xenon in the 5 to 10 kW power range. Thruster efficiencies of 0.7 and specific impulse values of 4000 s were documented. The baseline thruster currently under development by NASA LeRC includes ring-cusp magnetic field plasma containment and dished two-grid ion optics. Based on past experience and demonstrated simplifications, power processors for these thrusters should have approximately 500 parts, a mass of 40 kg, and an efficiency near 0.94. Thrust vector control, via individual thruster gimbals, is a mature technology. High pressure, gaseous xenon propellant storage and control schemes, using flight qualified hardware, result in propellant tankage fractions between 0.1 and 0.2. In-space and ground integration testing has demonstrated that ion propulsion systems can be successfully integrated with their host spacecraft. Ion propulsion system technologies are mature and can significantly enhance and/or enable a variety of missions in the nation's space propulsion program.
Exposing the noncollectivity in elliptic flow.

We show that backward-forward elliptic asymmetry correlations provide an experimentally accessible observable which distinguishes between collective and non-collective contributions to the observed elliptic asymmetry v2 in relativistic heavy ion collisions. The measurement of this observable will reveal the momentum scale at which collective expansion seizes and where the elliptic asymmetry is dominated by (semi)-hard processes. In addition, the knowledge of the actual magnitude of the collective component of the elliptic asymmetry will be essential for the extraction of the viscosity of the matter created in these collisions.
Group action induced distances for averaging and clustering Linear Dynamical Systems with applications to the analysis of dynamic scenes

We introduce a framework for defining a distance on the (non-Euclidean) space of Linear Dynamical Systems (LDSs). The proposed distance is induced by the action of the group of orthogonal matrices on the space of statespace realizations of LDSs. This distance can be efficiently computed for large-scale problems, hence it is suitable for applications in the analysis of dynamic visual scenes and other high dimensional time series. Based on this distance we devise a simple LDS averaging algorithm, which can be used for classification and clustering of time-series data. We test the validity as well as the performance of our group-action based distance on synthetic as well as real data and provide comparison with state-of-the-art methods.
Imaging of Lipid Bilayer Mixtures and Actual Cell Membrane Fragments by Nanosims

Lipids, proteins, and cholesterol are the major components of biological membranes; however, little is known about their lateral organization and how it changes during cell-cell interactions, signaling, development and division on the nanometer length scale that is relevant for function. These studies develop a new method for determining the spatial composition and organization of model membranes using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging in an effort to explain the rich phase behavior of complex biological membranes. Furthermore, these experiments set the stage for measuring the native distribution of cholesterol and proteins within membrane fragments taken from cells. Advanced fluorescence and atomic force microscopies (FM and AFM, respectively) used thus far to interrogate model cell membranes have limited molecular specificity (can only detect fluorescently labeled molecules in FM), spatial resolution (governed by optics in FM or tips in AFM) and both lack compositional information. SIMS imaging, in particular using the NanoSIMS by Cameca, offers imaging capability with high sensitivity (sub-ppm), specificity (based on isotopic labeling), and spatial resolution (∼50nm). Using this unique technique, the composition and organization of cholesterol, lipids and proteins within the plane of the lipid bilayer of model and actual cell membranes with nanometer resolution is investigated. Cholesterol in plasma membranes is responsible for modulating acyl chain order, membrane elasticity and lateral organization and its level is tightly regulated. In order to investigate the spatial distribution of cholesterol in actual cell membranes, supported cell membrane fragments are imaged using the NanoSIMS. These measurements are the first example of the direct analysis of the organization of a cell membrane at the nanometer length scale that is relevant for function setting the stage for quantitative analysis of systems of increasing complexity and direct biological relevance.
Management of technical and performance risk... system engineering

The critical step in the introduction of new technology to a railway system is the integration of signalling, vehicles, wayside equipment, civil works, operating plans and maintenance procedures to meet the performance and safety requirements. Booz-Allen and Hamilton Ltd., vis a leading transit system integrator, providing system design, operations, maintenance and safety expertise to deliver transit systems which are competitive in today's economic environment. In order to deliver a transit system which meets the defined system performance and safety requirements, Booz-Allen follows a systematic system engineering process, which is based on the USA MIL STD 499a. This process addresses the need to manage the many risks of ever expanding railway system complexity. The central aspects of our approach are to: transform operational needs into a description of system performance parameters and a system configuration through an iterative process; integrate technical parameters and ensure compatibility of all interfaces, including physical, functional and program, to optimize total system definition and design; and integrate other factors into the total engineering effort to meet cost, schedule and technical performance objectives, including reliability, maintainability, safety, survivability and human factors. This paper discusses in detail our approach to system engineering, utilising our work as Prime Contractor for the Docklands Light Railway (London, UK) as a case study. This paper also summarises the application of our system engineering approach to several new railway projects in the Far East and North America.
Project MUSE's New Pricing Model: A Case Study in Collaboration

Abstract Project MUSE®, an online collection of scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and the arts, undertook an extensive revision of its pricing and subscription model in 2003, the first since the project's inception in 1995. A collaborative effort of MUSE staff, industry consultants, participating libraries, and publishers produced a new pricing scheme for 2005 based on two factors: peer institutions grouped by Carnegie Class and then divided into quadrants based on their usage. This article discusses the background and implementation of the new business model and next steps.
Model Ziegler-type hydrogenation catalyst precursors, [(1,5-COD)M(mu-O2C8H15)]2 (M = Ir and Rh): synthesis, characterization, and demonstration of catalytic activity en route to identifying the true industrial hydrogenation catalysts.

The compounds [(1,5-COD)M(μ-O2C8H15)]2 (COD = cyclooctadiene, M = Ir (1) or Rh (2), O2C8H15 = 2-ethylhexanoate) were synthesized by addition of Bu3NH(2-ethylhexanoate) or Na(2-ethylhexanoate) to acetone suspensions of [(1,5-COD)Ir(μ-Cl)]2 or [(1,5-COD)Rh(μ-Cl)]2, respectively. The synthesis of such well-defined second and third row model precursors is key to determining the true nature of commercial Ziegler-type hydrogenation catalysts (i.e., catalysts made from the combination of a non-zerovalent, group 8−10 transition metal precatalyst and a trialkylaluminum cocatalyst), an unsolved, ∼40 year old problem. The characterizations of 1 and 2 were accomplished by elemental analysis, melting point, FAB-MS, FT-IR, UV−vis, NMR spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes, C32H54Ir2O4 and C32H54O4Rh2, are isostructural: monoclinic, P21/n, Z = 4. The lattice constants for 1 are a = 15.7748(5) A, b = 9.8962(3) A, c = 20.8847(7) A, β = 108.408(2)°. The lattice constants for 2 are a = 15.7608(4)...
Note on differential payoff and time-cost functions in choice reaction time.

In a choice reaction-time (RT) situation with rewards for correct responses, the effect of the payoff scheme upon RTs appears to depend upon the way in which S is charged for the time he takes to respond.
Use of dusty plasmas for surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy studies

Dusty plasmas are low-temperature, weakly ionized gases containing micron- to submicron-sized solid particles that are charged by plasma collection currents. In this theoretical note, we propose the possible use of dusty plasmas as substrates for surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy studies, because of several possible advantages over some traditional substrates. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering, or surface-enhanced infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy, has used metal colloids as substrates on which the analyte molecules are adsorbed. As compared with colloids, dust in plasmas have much faster charging times, are immersed in background plasma that is generally transparent to IR, can be composed of a wide variety of materials, are free of solvents, and allow a range of temperatures. Plasma properties also may lead to reduced aggregation as compared with colloids and may allow the use of different dust materials that have electromagnetic resonances in the IR as well as in the visible. Possible complications associated with the use of plasmas are also discussed.
Geochemical evolution of Kohala Volcano, Hawaii

Kohala Volcano, the oldest of five shield volcanoes comprising the island of Hawaii, consists of a basalt shield dominated by tholeiitic basalt, Pololu Volcanics, overlain by alkalic lavas, Hawi Volcanics. In the upper Pololu Volcanics the lavas become more enriched in incompatible elements, and there is a transition from tholeiitic to alkalic basalt. In contrast, the Hawi volcanics consist of hawaiites, mugearites, and trachytes. 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 14 Pololu basalts and 5 Hawi lavas range from 0.70366 to 0.70392 and 0.70350 to 0.70355, respectively. This small but distinct difference in Sr isotopic composition of different lava types, especially the lower 87Sr/86Sr in the younger lavas with higher Rb/Sr, has been found at other Hawaiian volcanoes. Our data do not confirm previous data indicating Sr isotopic homogeneity among lavas from Kohala Volcano. Also some abundance trends, such as MgO-P2O5, are not consistent with a simple genetic relationship between Pololu and Hawi lavas. We conclude that all Kohala lavas were not produced by equilibrium partial melting of a compositionally homogeneous source.
Degenerate parabolic initial-boundary value problems

in Hilbert space and their realizations in function spaces as initial-boundary value problems for partial differential equations which may contain degenerate or singular coefficients. The Cauchy problem consists of solving (1.1) subject to the initial condition Jdu(0) = h. We are concerned with the case where the solution is given by an analytic semigroup; it is this sense in which the Canchy problem is parabolic. Sufficient conditions for this to be the case are given in Theorem 1; this is a refinement of previously known results [15] to the linear problem and it extends the related work [13] to the (possibly) degenerate situation under consideration. Specifically, we do not assume ~ is invertible, but only that it is symmetric and non-negative. Our primary motivation for considering the Cauchy problem for (1.1) is to show that certain classes of mixed initial-boundary value problems for partial differential equations are well-posed. Theorem 2 shows that if the operators ~ / and 5fl have additional structure which is typical of those operators arising from (possibly degenerate) parabolic problems then the evolution equation (1.1) is equivalent to a partial differential equation
Markov processes and nonsymmetric Dirichlet forms without regularity

We study right Markov processes in weak duality satisfying the sector condition of Silverstein. Dirichlet space techniques are employed, but without the customary C0 regularity hypothesis. Nonetheless the potential theory of such processes is quite amenable. In particular, it is proved that semipolar sets are quasi-polar; this extends results of Silverstein and LeJan.
General channel-routing algorithm

A new approach to the 2-layer channel-routing problem is introduced. The method allows horizontal and vertical connections on both layers. An order graph similar to the traditional vertical constraint graph is used in the algorithm. The main advantage is that the method is general and is immune to cyclic constraints. Furthermore, the channel width does not have a lower bound equal to the maximum density.
Transcultural use of narcotic water lilies in ancient Egyptian and Maya drug ritual

Comparisons are made between ancient ritual uses of the flowers of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) in Maya and Egyptian civilizations. Recurrent motifs encountered in the art of both of these ancient civilizations suggests that the role fo the water lily was that of a narcotic (psychodysleptic) used to mediate ecstasis among a priestly caste. Relevant literature is reviewed as are chemical data. Elements in the complex belief systems of these two civilizations need to be reinterpreted in view of the use of two water lilies as ritual narcotics. The species implicated are Nymphaea caerulea Sav., in Egypt, and N. ampla DC., among the Maya.