cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytochrome P450s in the sugarcane Saccharum spontaneum

The Cytochrome P450 gene family is one of the largest in plants. Cytochrome P450 sequences have been annotated in the Saccharum spontaneum genome and they make up 1.3% of the known alleles. 394 genes have been identified in this family after mining two releases of the S. spontaneum AP85–441 genome. The P450 sequences are most similar to those of sorghum. The 45 CYP families in sugarcane have been compared to sorghum P450s. CYP51 was the most similar sequence at 98.6%. Average percent identity to the best plant blast match was 86%. Three of the 45 CYP families show modest gene expansion. CYP71 has 15 more genes CYP76 has 12 more genes and CYP81 has 6 more genes than sorghum. The other families are identical or within 4 genes, showing a strong similarity between P450s in the two species. Alleles have been assigned for this tetraploid genome. Only 32% of the genes still have four alleles.
The conditional effect of audiences on credibility

How do leaders signal their intentions during a crisis? Scholars point to audience costs, potential political punishment for bluffing during bargaining, to explain how accountable leaders communica...
Deployment and Scheduling of Wireless Sensor Networks for Air Pollution Monitoring

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are widely used in environmental applications where the aim is to sense a physical phenomenon such as temperature, humidity, air pollution, etc. In this context of application, the use of WSN allows to understand the variations of the phenomenon over the monitoring region and therefore be able to take adequate decisions regarding the impact of the phenomenon. Due to the limitations of its traditional costly monitoring methods in addition to its high spatial and temporal variability, air pollution is considered as one of the main physical phenomena that still need to be studied and characterized. In this thesis, we consider three main applications regarding the use of WSN for air pollution monitoring: 1) the construction of real time air quality maps using sensor measurements; 2) the detection of pollution threshold crossings; and 3) the correction of physical models that simulate the pollution dispersion phenomenon. All these applications need careful deployment and scheduling of sensors in order to get a better knowledge of air pollution while ensuring a minimal deployment cost and a maximal lifetime of the deployed sensor network. Our aim is to tackle the problems of WSN deployment and scheduling while considering the specific characteristics of the air pollution phenomenon. We propose for each application case a new efficient approach for the deployment of sensor and sink nodes. We also propose a WSN scheduling approach that is adapted to the case of physical models’ correction. Our optimization approaches take into account the physical nature of air pollution dispersion and incorporate real data provided by the existing pollution sensing platforms. As part of each approach, we use integer linear programming to derive optimization models that are well adapted to solving small and medium instances. To deal with large instances, we propose heuristic algorithms while using linear relaxation techniques. Besides our theoretical works on air pollution monitoring, we design from scratch and deploy in the Lyon city a cost-effective energy-efficient air pollution sensor network. Based on the characteristics of our monitoring system in addition to real world air pollution datasets, we evaluate the effectiveness of our deployment and scheduling approaches and provide engineering insights for the design of WSN-based air pollution monitoring systems. Among our conclusions, we highlight the fact that the size of the optimal sensor network depends on the degree of the variations of pollution concentrations within the monitoring region.
Risk of snake entanglement is affected by installation method of erosion control blankets

At the conclusion of road construction projects, an erosion control product (e.g., blankets, spray mulch) is installed to reduce soil loss and promote plant growth. Wildlife, such as snakes, are pr...
Stolen lives: What the dead teach us.

This paper questions the utility the social category of “refugee” as defined by international human rights discourse. The notion of “racializing assemblages” supplies an analytic tool for situating...
A two-factor structure of the hypersensitive narcissism scale describes gender-dependent manifestations of covert narcissism

Researchers have largely treated the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS) as a unidimensional measure of covert narcissism. In the current study, we use confirmatory factor analysies (CFA) to argue that a model containing two factors fits the data better than a single-factor model. The two-factor model contains a self-centeredness and a rejection sensitivity factor. The CFAs suggests that the two-factor model fits the data better than the single-factor model for the overall sample and that the model fits the data similarly between men and women. The proposed factors have good reliability, convergent, and divergent validity with the Dark Triad traits. Last, a 2 (gender: men vs. women) × 2 (factor: self-centeredness vs. rejection sensitivity) mixed Analysis of Variance ANOVA revealed that men tend to report more self-centeredness, whereas women tend to report more rejection sensitivity. The results suggest that a two-factor model of the HSNS best describes the data for both men and women, and these two factors of the HSNS describe varying manifestations of covert narcissism between men and women.
What Religious Studies Can Teach the Humanities: A Philosophical Perspective

Developing Tyler Roberts’s recognition that humanistic inquiry ineliminably involves irreducibly “first-personal” questions, this essay situates that idea with respect to debates in philosophy of mind – debates, in particular, about the irreducibly normative character of intentionality. It is further argued, in Kantian terms, that freedom consists in our being attuned to such normative considerations, and that our being so cannot coherently be explained away. In this way, one of Roberts’s central ideas – that as scholars of religion, we should “commit ourselves to asking what practical difference it makes to study people as if they were free” – is bolstered. The essay then asks whether this line of argument recommends any conclusions particularly regarding religion, or whether instead it amounts only to a case for the distinctiveness of generally humanistic inquiry. After considering Franklin Gamwell’s argument that “religion” does indeed represent an essential dimension of human being, the essay concludes by exploring more limited ways of conceiving the distinctiveness of religious studies among the fields of humanistic inquiry. It is suggested that whether or not an argument like Gamwell’s works, scholars in the fields of religious studies are uniquely positioned to identify the normative considerations that inexorably distinguish human activity as such. This suggestion is developed by considering recent scholarship on religion and constitutional law, with regard to which it is argued that such scholarship is cogent only insofar as it is informed by perspectives from religious studies – perspectives, in particular, that acknowledge the norm-laden character of all discourse.
Lateral electric field inhibits gel-to-fluid transition in lipid bilayers

We report evidence of lateral electric field-induced changes in the phase transition temperatures of lipid bilayers. Our atomic scale molecular dynamics simulations show that lateral electric field increases the melting temperature of DPPC, POPC and POPE bilayers. Remarkably, this shift in melting temperature is only induced by lateral electric field, and not normal electric field. This mechanism could provide new mechanistic insights into lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions in the presence of endogenous and exogenous electric fields.
Abstract 16151: Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Transradial versus Transfemoral Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for St Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Introduction: Studies have shown decreased rates of vascular complications and mortality with Transradial (TR) percutaneous coronary intervention approach for treating patients with acute ST elevat...
Variability in expiratory trajectory angles during consonant production by one human subject and from a physical mouth model: Application to respiratory droplet emission.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to improve understanding of droplet transport during expiratory emissions. While historical emphasis has been placed on violent events such as coughing and sneezing, the recognition of asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread has identified the need to consider other modalities, such as speaking. Accurate prediction of infection risk produced by speaking requires knowledge of both the droplet size distributions that are produced, as well as the expiratory flow fields that transport the droplets into the surroundings. This work demonstrates that the expiratory flow field produced by consonant productions is highly unsteady, exhibiting extremely broad inter- and intra-consonant variability, with mean ejection angles varying from ≈+30° to -30°. Furthermore, implementation of a physical mouth model to quantify the expiratory flow fields for fricative pronunciation of [f] and [I¸] demonstrates that flow velocities at the lips are higher than previously predicted, reaching 20-30 m/s, and that the resultant trajectories are unstable. Because both large and small droplet transport are directly influenced by the magnitude and trajectory of the expirated air stream, these findings indicate that prior investigations of the flow dynamics during speech have largely underestimated the fluid penetration distances that can be achieved for particular consonant utterances.
Bayesian Meta-Learning Through Variational Gaussian Processes

Recent advances in the field of meta-learning have tackled domains consisting of large numbers of small ("few-shot") supervised learning tasks. Meta-learning algorithms must be able to rapidly adapt to any individual few-shot task, fitting to a small support set within a task and using it to predict the labels of the task's query set. This problem setting can be extended to the Bayesian context, wherein rather than predicting a single label for each query data point, a model predicts a distribution of labels capturing its uncertainty. Successful methods in this domain include Bayesian ensembling of MAML-based models, Bayesian neural networks, and Gaussian processes with learned deep kernel and mean functions. While Gaussian processes have a robust Bayesian interpretation in the meta-learning context, they do not naturally model non-Gaussian predictive posteriors for expressing uncertainty. In this paper, we design a theoretically principled method, VMGP, extending Gaussian-process-based meta-learning to allow for high-quality, arbitrary non-Gaussian uncertainty predictions. On benchmark environments with complex non-smooth or discontinuous structure, we find our VMGP method performs significantly better than existing Bayesian meta-learning baselines.
Constitutional Illusions and Anchoring Truths: The Touchstone of the Natural Law

Introduction: the anchoring common sense and the puzzles of the law 1. On the novelties of an old constitution: settled principles and unsettling surprises 2. The natural law - again, ever 3. Lochner and the cast of our law 4. The strange case of prior restraint: the Pentagon Papers 5. Near revisited 6. The saga of Frank Snepp and the new regime of previous restraints 7. And yet ... a good word on behalf of the legal positivists 8. Conclusion and afterword.
Neural Networks for Function Approximation in Nonlinear Control

Two neural-network architectures are compared with a classical spline interpolation technique for the approximation of functions useful in a nonlinear control system. A standard back-propagation feedforward neural network and a Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller (CMAC) neural network are presented, and their results are compared with a B-spline interpolation procedure that is updated using recursive least-squares parameter identification. Each method is able to accurately represent a one-dimensional test function. Trade-offs between size requirements, speed of operation, and speed of learing indicate that neural networks may be practical for identification and adaptation in a nonlinear control environment.
Discrete structures, logic, and computability

This book introduces the beginning computer science student to some of the fundamental ideas and techniques used by computer scientists today, focusing on discrete structures, logic, and computability.
Modeling genome evolution with a DSEL for probabilistic programming

Many scientific applications benefit from simulation. However, programming languages used in simulation, such as C++ or Matlab, approach problems from a deterministic procedural view, which seems to differ, in general, from many scientists’ mental representation. We apply a domain-specific language for probabilistic programming to the biological field of gene modeling, showing how the mental-model gap may be bridged. Our system assisted biologists in developing a model for genome evolution by separating the concerns of model and simulation and providing implicit probabilistic non-determinism.
Heterogeneous reactions : VII. Further studies on the heterogeneous gas/solid reactions of solid alkoxide bases with vaporized chloromethyldimethylhalosilanes

Abstract The results of the heterogeneous gas/solid reactions of chloromethyldimethylchloro (and fluoro)silane with solid lithium, sodium and potassium methoxide in the temperature range from 80–160°C are presented and discussed. Reaction with lithium methoxide serves as a clean, efficient high yield synthesis of chloromethyldimethylmethoxysilane without the complicating factors of side products or solvent to separate. The reactions of both the sodium and potassium methoxides lead to the displacement of halogen from silicon and to the displacement of the chloromethyl group. New evidence for the mechanism of the latter reaction is presented. With the potassium compound methylethyldimethoxysilane also is formed and carbene, sila-olefin addition mechanism is suggested. Surprisingly, lithium t-buthoxide did not react with the chlorosilane but did react with the fluorosilane to produce chloromethyldimethyl-t-butoxysilane in high purity and excellent yield. The reaction with potassium t-butoxide was more complicated, giving substitution for halogen and the chloromethyl group at silicon as well as t-butyl ether.
HOW MUCH VIROLOGY SHOULD THE PEDIATRICIAN KNOW

EDITORIAL boards are confronted from time to time with philosophical questions concerning the type and content of articles worthy and desirable of presentation in their medical journals. Yet there can be little argument with the guiding principle that each respective journal should publish experimental data resulting from any sound clinical or basic investigations applicable to the special interests and experience of its readers. It is, however, more difficult for the individual reader to be sure which of so many articles he must read in order to remain abreast of developments eventually significant for the care of infants and children. The pediatrician will need to exercise prudence in selection of such articles—prudence which will be influenced by his own special interests.
Substance P spinal signaling induces glial activation and nociceptive sensitization after fracture

Tibia fracture in rodents induces substance P (SP)-dependent keratinocyte activation and inflammatory changes in the hindlimb, similar to those seen in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). In animal pain models spinal glial cell activation results in nociceptive sensitization. This study tested the hypothesis that limb fracture triggers afferent C-fiber SP release in the dorsal horn, resulting in chronic glial activation and central sensitization. At 4 weeks after tibia fracture and casting in rats, the cast was removed and hind paw allodynia, unweighting, warmth, and edema were measured, then the antinociceptive effects of microglia (minocycline) or astrocyte (L-2-aminoadipic acid (LAA)) inhibitors or an SP receptor antagonist (LY303870) were tested. Immunohistochemistry and PCR were used to evaluate microglial and astrocyte activation in the dorsal horn. Similar experiments were performed in intact rats after brief sciatic nerve electric stimulation at C-fiber intensity. Microglia and astrocytes were chronically activated at 4 weeks after fracture and contributed to the maintenance of hind paw allodynia and unweighting. Furthermore, LY303870 treatment initiated at 4 weeks after fracture partially reversed both spinal glial activation and nociceptive sensitization. Similarly, persistent spinal microglial activation and hind paw nociceptive sensitization were observed at 48 h after sciatic nerve C-fiber stimulation and this effect was inhibited by treatment with minocycline, LAA, or LY303870. These data support the hypothesis that C-fiber afferent SP signaling chronically supports spinal neuroglial activation after limb fracture and that glial activation contributes to the maintenance of central nociceptive sensitization in CRPS. Treatments inhibiting glial activation and spinal inflammation may be therapeutic for CRPS.
Cylindrical solitary waves

Equations of motion of the Boussinesq or Korteweg-deVries type are derived for three-dimensional (axisymmetrical), weakly nonlinear, long waves in water of variable depth. Typical numerical solutions are presented for the propagation and focusing of a cylindrical solitary wave over an ocean of constant depth, or over a submerged conical island of constant slope.
Sulfur adsorption on Ni(100) and its effect on CO chemisorption: II. UPS and XPS results

Abstract The adsorption of CO on sulfur-predosed Ni(100) at 95 K was studied using ultraviolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. For sulfur coverages below 0.22 ML, CO (β2 and α) adsorbed predominantly on regions of bare Ni, with α induced by repulsive COCO interactions. For Θ ≥ 0.22, α and β1 CO adsorbed predominantly within the sulfur domains, and exhibited a reduction in NiCO backbonding. By ΘS = 0.40 a weakly-bound CO state formed (denoted here as σ). The close association of σ CO with sulfur resulted in greatly reduced (or non-existent) backbonding and poor final state relaxation from the metal.
E2EACK: an end-to-end acknowledgment-based scheme against collusion black hole and slander attacks in MANETs

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) rely on the benevolence of nodes within the network to forward packets from a source node to a destination node. This network construction allows for the forwarding nodes, whether they are selfish or malicious, to drop packets hindering end-to-end communication. In this paper, a new scheme is proposed against collusion black hole and slander attacks in MANETs, named E2EACK. A novel method is used to detect collusion attacks due to collusive malicious nodes which cooperate in the route discovery, but refuse to forward data packets and do not disclose the misbehavior of each other. Contrary to existing methods that detect only collusion black hole attacks, the E2EACK also detects slander attacks and framing attacks. Moreover, the E2EACK uses ACKnowledgment packet to detect malicious nodes on the path and Message Authentication Code (MAC) to authenticate the sender of each data packet. Analytical and simulation results show that the proposed scheme considerably decreases the routing overhead and increases the packet delivery ratio compared to the existing methods.
Crop tree release improves competitiveness of northern red oak growing in association with black cherry

In 1993, a crop tree study was established in a pole-sized stand consisting of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.). Black cherry was the predominant species in the stand and appeared to be on the verge of virtually eliminating northern red oak based on its greater height growth potential. To assess crop tree management for maintaining the competitiveness of oak in this situation, the stand was compartmentalized into treated and untreated areas and crop trees were selected. In the treated areas, crop trees received a three- or four-sided crown-touching release. Individual tree characteristics were measured following the growing seasons of 1993 and 10 years later. Crop tree release resulted in slowing the height growth of codominant black cherry, but not northern red oak. Ten-year mean height growth of northern red oak exceeded that of released black cherry, but not that of unreleased black cherry crop trees. Crown expansion and diameter at breast height (dbh) growth also increased as a result of crop tree release for both species, but black cherry clear stem development was suppressed. Based on increment core analysis, dbh growth of released northern red oak crop trees in 2003 was about twice that of unreleased northern red oak, although black cherry treatment related differences in radial growth were no longer present. Ten years after crop tree release, northern red oak crown class distribution improved and black cherry crown class distribution was unchanged. These results suggest crop tree management will improve northern red oak competitiveness in pole-sized stands when growing in association with black cherry and, perhaps, other fast growing species.
Learning user model by neural networks

As more information becomes available electronically, tools for finding information of interest to users become increasingly important. Building tools for assisting users in finding relevant information is often complicated by the difficulty in articulating user interest in a form that can be used for searching. The goal of the research described is to build a system for generating comprehensible user profiles that accurately capture user interest with minimum user interaction.
A thin film multichip module for workstation applications

A thin film multichip module which utilizes very high density wiring on a silicon substrate has been developed. The technology has been demonstrated using the IBM RISC (reduced instruction set computer) System/6000 processor as a vehicle. The prototype module contains a RISC processor consisting of nine CMOS VLSI chips. The package also contains decoupling capacitors and has 684 I/O. The substrate consists of a thin film structure fabricated on a silicon wafer using a polyimide dielectric and aluminum metal. All fabrication was done in an existing CMOS manufacturing line. IBM's C4 (controlled collapse chip connection) flip chip bonding technique was used to connect the CMOS VLSI chips to the package. The silicon substrate was packaged nonhermetically and connected to the next level of packaging using very high density surface mount flex cables. A clip-on heatsink was attached to the finished module, which allows for up to 30 W of power dissipation in the air flow found in a typical workstation environment. >
TGF β-like regulation of matrix metalloproteinases by anti-transforming growth factor-β, and anti-transforming growth factor-β1 antibodies in dermal fibroblasts: Implications for wound healing

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) stimulates collagen and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression and inhibits MMP-1 expression in dermal fibroblasts. Anti-TGF-beta antibodies have been proposed in the prevention of wound scars. The goal of this research was to investigate the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases-1 and -2 expression at the protein, mRNA, and transcriptional levels using an anti-TGF-beta antibody to TGF-beta 1, 2, 3, and 5 (all isoforms), and specifically by an anti-TGF-beta 1 antibody. Both antibodies, though at doses lower than the recommended neutralization dose, stimulated the expression of TGF-beta, and exhibited TGF-beta-like regulation of the matrix metalloproteinases. The antibodies inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 protein, mRNA, and promoter activity. The protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 were up-regulated to a greater extent than the matrix metalloproteinase-2 mRNA level by both antibodies. These effects of anti-TGF-beta and anti-TGF-beta 1 antibodies on matrix metalloproteinase regulation were mimicked by exogenous TGF-beta 1 but not rabbit or chicken IgG. We infer that the anti-TGF-beta1 isoform that forms part of the composition of the anti-TGF-beta antibody to all isoforms may be responsible for the feedback stimulation of TGF-beta and the resultant alterations in the expression of the matrix metalloproteinases by the anti-TGF-beta antibodies.
Relation between Higgs and Weinberg angles in minimal SUSY from diophantine analysis

Diophantine quantization is applied to neutral Higgs and gauge bosons in minimal SUSY, with the additional requirement that β, like θw, be a rational angle. One finds for the Higgs mixing angles that α=−π/4 and that β=θw or π/2−θw. TheCP-odd HiggsA turns out to be degenerate in mass with the Z, and the two neutralCP-even Higgs bosons have masses of about 123 and 37.5 GeV, respectively. The charged Higgs has a mass of about 121.5 GeV. Further, if β>π/4, the infrared quasi-fixed-point solution yields at-quark mass in the neighborhood of 170 GeV, in agreement with recent data.
Bullous Pemphigoid, and Ultrastructural Study of the Inflammatory Response: Eosinophil, Basophil and Mast Cell Granule Changes in Multiple Biopsies from One Patient

We have studied by electron and light microscopy the inflammatory reaction in lesions at various stages of clinical development from a patient with bullous pemphigoid. The evolution of clinical lesions was associated with a sequence of histopathologic events which began with alterations of mast cells and proceeded to infiltration, first with lymphocytes and later with eosinophils and basophils. Mast cells in the papillary and reticular dermis demonstrated a unique, focal, irregular loss of granule contents. Intact eosinophils demonstrated intracytoplasmic losses of granule contents and karyorrhectic and karyolytic eosinophils had released membrane- bound granules. Partially and completely degranulated basophils were present within a fibrin gel which formed in the dermis. Thus, the sequence of histopathologic events in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid includes mast cell granule alterations and release of granule contents from eosinophils which are undergoing nuclear and cytoplasmic damage.
Unearthing Excited Hadron Resonances in Lattice QCD Using NSF XSEDE Resources

Subatomic particles known as hadrons, such as protons and neutrons, are composite objects comprised of elementary particles called quarks that interact via the exchange of massless gluons. The dynamics of quarks and gluons inside hadrons are described by a theory known as quantum chromodynamics. To date, the best approach to calculating hadron properties is to formulate this theory on a space-time lattice and apply Monte Carlo integration methods. Improving Monte Carlo algorithms and the use of high-performance computing resources of increasing power have led to significant progress in understanding the lightest hadrons from this theory. This work describes a recent algorithmic advance that has opened up new studies of large numbers of heavier excited hadrons. The availability of petascale heterogeneous computing systems, such as those provided by NSF XSEDE, is crucial to the success of such studies.
The T Tauri stars

Abstract The observational aspects of T Tau stars are described, treating data in the optical, infrared, radio, X-ray and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. Erratic flare-like behaviour is very characteristic of these objects which are pre-main-sequence stars, mostly on their convective tracks, and represent early phases in the evolution of roughly solar-mass stars. Herbig-Haro objects are discussed-shocked nebulae found in association with either visible T Tau stars or infrared sources deeply embedded in the parental dust clouds. It is argued that highly anisotropic mass loss, probably in unpredictable short-lived episodes, is found in the stars that excite Herbig-Haro objects. These exciting stars could well be the precursor to T Tau stars and display a fascinating array of astonishingly well-collimated phenomena.
Assessing the Skill of Operational Atlantic Seasonal Tropical Cyclone Forecasts

Since 1984, W. Gray of Colorado State University and a team of researchers have been issuing seasonal tropical cyclone forecasts for the North Atlantic Ocean. Prior to this, little work had been done in the area of long-term tropical cyclone forecasting because researchers saw minimal potential skill in any prediction models and no obvious benefits to be gained. However, seasonal forecasts have been attracting more attention as economic and insured losses from hurricane-related catastrophes rose sharply during recent decades. Initially, the forecasts issued by Gray consisted of output from simple statistical prediction models. Over time, the models became increasingly more complex and sophisticated, with new versions being introduced in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. In addition, based on a combination of experience with the statistical models and other qualitative considerations such as examinations of analog years, the statistical forecasts were modified to create adjusted seasonal forecasts. This analysis assessed the skill demonstrated, if any, of both the statistical and adjusted forecasts over the benchmarks of climatology and persistence and examined whether the adjusted forecasts were more accurate than the statistical forecasts. The analysis indicates that, over the past 18 yr, both the statistical and adjusted forecasts demonstrated some skill over climatology and persistence. There is also evidence to suggest that the adjusted forecast was more skillful than the statistical model forecast.
Frequency coding of waterborne vibrations by abdominal mechanosensory interneurons in the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii.

1. Nine identified interneurons that originate in the 6th abdominal ganglion were studied with intracellular techniques while activating the receptors presynaptic to them with coherent water vibrations of precisely controlled amplitude and frequency. Each of the interneurons showed a characteristic response to different stimulus frequencies that was consistent from animal to animal. As a first approximation, the cells were categorized as low pass, broad band, and high pass interneurons. 2. Two interneurons classified as low pass interneurons (LPIs) have low thresholds to waterborne vibrations below 100 Hz, are inhibited by stimuli above 100 Hz, and respond maximally to 30 Hz stimuli. 3. Three interneurons classified as broad band interneurons (BBIs) respond maximally to stimuli from 30–60 Hz, but also respond well to oscillations as low as 1 Hz and as high as 80 Hz. This class is heterogeneous, spanning the range between low pass and high pass interneurons. 4. Two interneurons classified as high pass interneurons (HPIs) have very high thresholds to water oscillations below 6 Hz. They respond best to 60 Hz oscillations, above which their responsiveness sharply declines, although they continue to respond weakly up to 400 Hz. 5. Two other neurons, also classified as HPIs, responded with relatively few spikes to the stimuli we used. As a result, they do not show a clear peak responsiveness to a particular stimulus frequency. 6. All of the LPIs are strongly inhibited by high frequency oscillations and at least one of the phasic HPIs is inhibited at low frequencies. High frequency inhibition of LPIs can block excitatory responses to root shock, current injection and waterborne stimuli, and is due in part to postsynaptic inhibition. 7. Although we grouped the interneurons for analytical convenience, the frequency responses of interneurons within the groups were usually sufficiently different to allow their identification as individuals. We conclude that each interneuron's properties are precise, idiosyncratic and reproducible. These cells may be used by crayfish to analyze waterborne stimuli on the basis of frequency components.
Communications: The Cybernetic Manifesto (Part II)

A discussion document on the development of the philosophy of cybernetics, particularly in relation to human values and moral philosophy.
Accountability through Assessment of Administrative Organizations in Higher Education.

Abstract Accountability is among the least understood policy issues in higher education (Burke 2005). The rapid rise in tuition costs in both public and private institutions (Heller 2006) in all corners of the globe (Altbach, Reisberg, and Rumbley 2009) has challenged the idea of higher education as a public good. Student learning outcomes is one significant response and has garnered tremendous attention. Universities have implemented robust assessment processes in academic areas. Similar changes are underway in university research where principle investigators are now required to submit assessment and evaluation plans to funding agencies. However the accountability movement has seemingly overlooked large segments of the enterprise. Administrative areas such as information technology, facilities, athletics, and finance have been less transparent. Attempts to assess these non-academic units have previously relied on corporate practices and have taken a consumerist approach. This article looks at the idea o...
An importance–performance analysis of media activities associated with WNBA game consumption

Abstract Since its inception, the WNBA league and its teams have made tremendous efforts to improve their community image through high-quality mass media performance in an effort to promote consumer awareness, interest, and consumption of their game products. However, the relevance and effectiveness of these efforts remains unknown. Due to lack of financial stability, ticket sales, and spectator retention, today WNBA faces great challenges in its sustainability. The purpose of this study was to examine the importance and relevance of mass media performances associated with WNBA game consumption. Through qualitative research procedures, a questionnaire was developed that contained eight media performance, six game consumption, and 10 demographic variables. Following the conceptual framework of the ‘expectancy disconfirmation theory’, the media performance variables were phrased into two versions: importance and performance. Spectators (N = 1431) from five regular season home games of a WNBA team responded to the questionnaire, which was randomly split into two halves: one for EFA and the other for CFA. Two identical factors emerged in the EFA and CFA for the two media performance versions: Visual Media and Audio Media. An EFA was also conducted for the game consumption variables, resulting in one game consumption factor. One-sample t-tests with adjusted alpha level revealed that the mean Visual Media and Audio Media scores in both versions were significantly (p
Stockholder-bondholder conflict and dividend constraints

Abstract This paper examines a large, randomly chosen, sample of bond indentures focusing on the constraints they set on dividend payments that have the potential to transfer wealth from the bondholders (i.e., payments which are financed by a new debt issue or reduced investment). The nature of these restrictions support the hypothesis that bond convenants are structured to control the conflict of interest between stockholders and bondholders. Further, the empirical evidence suggests that these constraints are not binding — i.e., stockholders do not pay themselves as much dividends as they are allowed to. Explanations of this puzzling empirical regularity are suggested.
Synthesis of isosteric and isopolar phosphonate substrate analogues designed as inhibitors for phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from bacillus cereus

Abstract The synthesis of the isosteric phosphonate substrate analogue inhibitor 2 and the isopolar difluoromethylenephosphonate inhibitor 3 for phosphatidyinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) from Bacillus cereus is described. The key step involved a trichloroacetonitrile mediated condensation between the inositol derivative 8 and the corresponding phosphonic acids 16 and 18 to establish the central P-O bond in these inhibitors.
Mechanism for Oxidative Dissolution of a Cr Atom from a Pt Surface: Molecular Orbital Theory

A molecular orbital study has been made of the oxidative abstraction of a substitutional surface Cr atom from the Pt(111) surface. The overall process studied is Cr(subst) + 4H2O(g) → H2O·CrO3(g) + 6H(ads) (i). When solvated, the H2O·CrO3 molecule is expected to rearrange to H2CrO4(aq), and the adsorbed H atoms will be discharged to form H+(aq) plus electrons that enter the anode. The latter steps, which are not expected to be kinetically limiting, were not studied. The mechanism explored for forming H2O·CrO3 is one of sequential bonding of H2O to Cr and dehydrogenation, leading to strongly adsorbed Cr(OH)3(ads). A water molecule bonds, forming H2O·Cr(OH)3(ads) which then loses three hydrogen atoms to the surface. The product, H2O·CrO3(ads), is weakly held and desorbs easily. Each step leading to the product in eq i is calculated to have a low activation energy. However, HCrO4-(aq) remains stable only when the electrode is at a potential >1.35 V (SHE); otherwise, it is expected to be reduced to CrIII(aq) ...
Heat generated when threaded pins are cut: A comparison of techniques

The temperature rise of threaded pins was measured when cut under various conditions and with different instruments. The air-water coolant and intermittent cutting produced significantly lower temperature rises than the air coolant and constant cutting, respectively. No particular carbide bur or diamond stone is recommended since little difference existed among them with respect to heat generation.
Which Is the Thermoneutral Environment of the Full Term Infant Cared for Under Radiant Warmer

Which Is the Thermoneutral Environment of the Full Term Infant Cared for Under Radiant Warmer?
Colorimetric estimation of cephalexin, cephaloglycin, and related compounds.

Abstract A specific color reaction is described for the colorimetric estimation of cephalosporin derivatives having the following intact side chain in the 7‐position: RCH(NH 2 )CO—, R being a hetero‐cyclic or aromatic ring. The method is applicable for the detection of cephaloglycin (or desacetyl cephaloglycin) or cephalexin in urine. Penicillin analogs respond to the test, but the sensitivity is much less.
An Example of Eddy-Induced Ocean Circulation

Abstract Gyre scale and local vorticity balances are examined for a single numerical experiment designed to elucidate the role of eddies in the oceanic general circulation. Due to the complex nature of the flow, a combination of different analyses is needed. In particular the mean potential vorticity fields are calculated and related to local and global vorticity fluxes. The nature of eddy generation and decay is discussed in terms of eddy enstrophy balances in the fluid. Momentum balances in various parts of the gyre are deduced through the application of the circulation theorem. Fields of eddy diffusivity for the mixing of potential vorticity and heat are determined. The applicability of Sverdrup dynamics in various parts of the fluid and the manner in which the deep abyssal gyres are driven are examined. The net picture is a complex but consistent one. In the upper layer, eddy generation occurs in the separation region of the eastward jet and in the region of westward return flow. Eddy decay occurs pri...
Association between accelerometer-assessed sedentary behavior and objectively-measured hearing sensitivity in older US adults.

Abstract Objective To examine the association between sedentary behavior and hearing sensitivity among a nationally representative sample of older US adults. Methods Data from the 2003–2006 NHANES study was used, with 682 older adults (≥ 55 years) included in the study. Participants wore an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer to measure sedentary behavior and hearing sensitivity was objectively measured in a sound-isolating room. Results After adjustments, and comparisons to those with moderate or greater hearing loss, participants 65 years and older with hearing within normal limits (coefficient = − 0.07; 95% CI: − 0.12 to − 0.01) engaged in less sedentary behavior; participants with mild hearing loss (coefficient = 0.02; 95% CI: − 0.01–0.07) did not differ in sedentary behavior than those with moderate or greater hearing loss. Sedentary behavior was not associated with hearing among those 55 and older. Conclusions Adults 65 and older with hearing in normal limits engage in less sedentary behavior than their counterparts with moderate or greater hearing loss. Evaluation and implementation of strategies to limit sedentary behaviors among older adults with greater hearing impairment, in particular, are needed.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN REACTIVITY CHANGES, BUCKLING CHANGES, AND PERIODS IN A HEAVY WATER REACTOR

Period-reactivity relationships were measured in the PDP, a large D/sub 2/O-moderated reactor fueled with natural uranium. The measured relationships were found to correspond almost eractly to those predicted from the delayed neutron parameters measured by Keepin for fission neutrons and by Bernstein for pholoneutrons. Satisfactory agreement was also observed between values of the migrabon area obtained from a measured reactivity-buckling relationship and those obtained as the sum of the separately measured values of the thermal diffusion area and the neutron age. (auth)
Sudden cardiac death

SCD continues to be an important cause of death and morbidity. Despite expanding insight into the mechanisms causing SCD, the population at high risk is not being effectively identified. Although there is still much to do in the management phase of SCD (predicting the efficacy of various therapies), recent clinical trials have helped define the relative risks and benefits of therapies in preventing SCD. Trials are underway to determine whether treating other patient populations, including asymptomatic patients after MI, will improve survival rate. The approach to reducing mortality rate will always be multifaceted; primary prevention of coronary artery disease and prompt salvage of jeopardized myocardium are 2 important aspects of this approach. In addition to interventions for MI, such as myocardial revascularization when indicated, simple and easily administered therapies that are likely to remain the most effective prophylactic interventions are aspirin, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and cholesterol-lowering agents. However, the MADIT and AVID data clearly demonstrate a role for ICD therapy in a subgroup of patients who have VT/VF and are at risk of cardiac arrest. Even though the absolute magnitude of benefit associated with ICDs is still to be determined, the AVID study and other recent reports provide convincing evidence that patients who have VT/VF fare better with ICDs than with antiarrhythmic drug therapy. For the high-risk population described in this article, in addition to aggressive anti-ischemic and heart failure therapy, ICDs are now a mainstay of life-saving treatment. Still to be surmounted is the challenge of identifying patients who have nonischemic substrates and of providing them with the appropriate therapy. Guided by genetic studies and new insight into the mechanisms of such problems as congenital long QT syndrome, life-saving and life-enhancing therapies may soon be available for the management of SCD.
Estimation of population characteristics of pharmacokinetic parameters from routine clinical data

A general data analysis technique estimates average population values of pharmacokinetic parameters and their interindividual variability from clinical pharmacokinetic data gathered during the routine care of patients. Several drug concentration values from each individual, along with dosage information and the values of other routinely assessed variables suffice for purposes of analysis. The Maximum Likelihood principle estimates underlying population values without the necessity for the intermediate estimation of individual parameter values. The approach is quite general, permitting the use of nonlinear statistical models with both fixed and random effects. Complex expressions involving physiological variables can be used to define the pharmacokinetic parameters. Thus, the relationship of physiological factors to parameter values can be assessed. The generality and appropriateness of the analysis technique are demonstrated by analysis of a set of data derived from 141 patients receiving the drug digoxin.
Immunological Barriers to Stem-Cell Based Cardiac Repair

Repair of damaged myocardium with pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes is becoming increasingly more feasible. Developments in stem cell research emphasize the need to address the foreseeable problem of immune rejection following transplantation. Pluripotent stem cell (PSC) derived cardiomyocytes have unique immune characteristics, some of which are not advantageous for transplantation. Here we review the possible mechanisms of PSC-derived cardiomyocytes rejection, summarize the current knowledge pertaining to immunogenicity of such cells and describe the existing controversies. Myocardial graft rejection can be reduced by modifying PSCs prior to their differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Overall, this approach facilitates the development of universal donor stem cells suitable for the regeneration of many different tissue types.
Computer Aided Detection of Breast Masses in Tomosynthesis Reconstructed Volumes Using Information-Theoretic Similarity Measures

The purpose of this project is to study two Computer Aided Detection (CADe) systems for breast masses for digital tomosynthesis using reconstructed slices. This study used eighty human subject cases collected as part of on-going clinical trials at Duke University. Raw projections images were used to identify suspicious regions in the algorithm's high sensitivity, low specificity stage using a Difference of Gaussian filter. The filtered images were thresholded to yield initial CADe hits that were then shifted and added to yield a 3D distribution of suspicious regions. The initial system performance was 95% sensitivity at 10 false positives per breast volume. Two CADe systems were developed. In system A, the central slice located at the centroid depth was used to extract a 256 X 256 Regions of Interest (ROI) database centered at the lesion coordinates. For system B, 5 slices centered at the lesion coordinates were summed before the extraction of 256 × 256 ROIs. To avoid issues associated with feature extraction, selection, and merging, information theory principles were used to reduce false positives for both the systems resulting in a classifier performance of 0.81 and 0.865 Area Under Curve (AUC) with leave-one-case-out sampling. This resulted in an overall system performance of 87% sensitivity with 6.1 FPs/ volume and 85% sensitivity with 3.8 FPs/ volume for systems A and B respectively. This system therefore has the potential to detect breast masses in tomosynthesis data sets.