cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Classification of Vegetation for Ecosystem Mapping

Vegetation classification and mapping are important tools for addressing natural resource management, ecosystem restoration, and other contemporary ecological issues. Though classical set theory is most often applied for mapping problems, natural landscapes are often expressed as fuzzy sets. Where contrast among map categories or geometric objects is often weak in ecological contexts fuzzy approaches offer the advantage of identifying and utilizing the degree of membership among multiple possibilities, enabling opportunities for alternative outputs and for the careful analysis of error structure. In this chapter, fuzzy systems are explored for purposes of describing ecological features, for interpretation and mapping of those features, and for analyzing the uncertainty of spatial information. Some ecological applications that lend themselves to fuzzy logic are discussed along with examples of the effective use of fuzzy techniques for mapping and analysis, with explanations of the advantages of fuzzy approaches over crisp methods. Finally, in a look to future, I discuss advanced classifier methods, some Web-based solutions, and the potential for applying fuzzy systems to interactively generate user-defined map products, neutral of a priori ecological classification, according to the precise needs of natural resource managers and researchers.
Brief Announcement: Passive and Active Attacks on Audience Response Systems Using Software Defined Radios

Audience response systems, also known as clickers, are used at many academic institutions to offer active learning environments. Since these systems are used to administer graded assignments, and sometimes even exams, it is crucial to assess their security. Our work seeks to exploit and document potential vulnerabilities of clickers. For this purpose, we use software defined radios to perform jamming, sniffing and spoofing attacks on an audience response system in production, which provide different possible methods of cheating. The results of our study demonstrate that clickers are easily exploitable. We build a prototype and show that it is practically possible to covertly steal or forge answers of a peer or even an entire classroom, with high levels of confidence. Additionally, we find that the receivers software of the system lacks protection against unexpected answers, which allows our spoofer to submit any ASCII character and opens the receiver up to possible fuzzing attacks. As a result of this study, we discourage using clickers for high-stake assessments, unless they provide proper security protection.
A bioinspired study on the compressive resistance of helicoidal fibre structures

Helicoidal fibre structures are widely observed in natural materials. In this paper, an integrated experimental and analytical approach was used to investigate the compressive resistance of helicoidal fibre structures. First, helicoidal fibre-reinforced composites were created using three-dimensionally printed helicoids and polymeric matrices, including plain, ring-reinforced and helix-reinforced helicoids. Then, load–displacement curves under monotonic compression tests were collected to measure the compressive strengths of helicoidal fibre composites. Fractographic characterization was performed using an X-ray microtomographer and scanning electron microscope, through which crack propagations in helicoidal structures were illustrated. Finally, mathematical modelling was performed to reveal the essential fibre architectures in the compressive resistance of helicoidal fibre structures. This work reveals that fibre–matrix ratios, helix pitch angles and interlayer rotary angles are critical to the compressive resistance of helicoidal structures.
The Open SESMO (Search Engine & Social Media Optimization) Project: Linked and Structured Data for Library Subscription Databases to Enable Web-scale Discovery in Search Engines

Today's learners operate in digital environments which can be largely navigated with no human intervention. At the same time, libraries spend millions and millions of dollars to provide access to c...
Portrait of Counseling Psychology: Demographics, Roles, Activities, and Values Across Three Decades:

We summarize the results of a national survey (N = 799) conducted to provide a current snapshot of counseling psychologists, what they do, how and where they do it, and the extent to which they asc...
Examining the impact of spectral uncertainty on hyperspectral data exploitation

Hyperspectral imaging systems are typically characterized in a laboratory environment to determine band centers and bandwidths associated with the collected data. This procedure is commonly referred to as spectral calibration. Generally, this wavelength information is assumed to be accurate and spatially-invariant. Exploitation of hyperspectral data utilizes this information for atmospheric compensation and/or resampling of library data for use in detection and identification applications. The spectral information can be inaccurate due to system aberrations, such as spectral smile, or due to spectral calibration error. This work examines the impact of spectral smile on hyperspectral exploitation.
Neue Evaluationsregime? Von der Inquisition zur Evaluation

Evaluation — die Bewertung und Prufung von Sachverhalten, Leistungen oder auch von Konformitaten — ist sicherlich nicht neu. Das gilt insbesondere fur die Evaluation von Wissen und Erkenntnisanspruchen. Es lohnt daher, exemplarisch die Evaluationsregime aus zwei Wissenskulturen im Hinblick auf ihre Organisation und Tragerschaft, auf Kriterien und Verfahren, auf machtstabilisierende oder destabilisierende Funktionen und auf mogliche Sanktionen bzw. soziale Folgen genauer zu betrachten.
Effect of preeclampsia on placental function: Influence of sexual dimorphism, microRNA's and mitochondria

In pregnancy fetal growth and development occur in a sexually dimorphic manner. Male and female fetuses respond differently to the intrauterine environment with males disproportionately suffering from perinatal morbidity and mortality. We have demonstrated placental dysfunction and sexually dimorphic responses in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia. Production of cytokines and apoptosis in the male placenta is heightened relative to that of the female placenta. We also find increased expression and stabilization and a sexual dimorphism in expression of the transcription factor HIF-1α, but a defect in binding to the hypoxia response element with corresponding reduced expression of HIF-1α target genes including VEGF and Glut-1. HIF-1α is involved in crosstalk with the redox sensitive transcription factor NFκB in regulation by cytokines, reactive oxygen species and expression of inflammatory genes. We find increased placental expression and DNA binding of NFκB and a sexually dimorphic response suggesting a role for NFκB in placental dysfunction with preeclampsia. Placental mitochondrial complex III activity and complex I and IV expression are reduced and alterations in mitochondrial morphology are found in preeclampsia and are linked to the hypoxamir miR-210. We propose that with severe PE placental HIF-1α is stabilized by excessive ROS, inflammation and relative hypoxia. This increases the expression of miR-210 in the placenta causing repression of mitochondria-associated target genes, potentially leading to mitochondrial and placental dysfunction. This placental dysfunction may lead to a fetal programming effect that results in disease in later life.
A Historical Conspiracy: Competition, Opportunity, and the Emergence of Direction in History

I describe historical patterns that I believe would emerge in any system characterized by living things competing for locally scarce resources. I then consider the search for patterns and their explanation in the context of an intellectual climate dominated by anti-adaptationist rhetoric and doubts about the validity of scientific approaches to history. Notwithstanding this hostile environment, I present a summary of the economic principles that in my view not only account for historical patterns but also serve to predict future trends and postdict past ones not yet known. A positive feedback between consumers and resources – a historical conspiracy of sorts – implies the existence of inherent directions in the history of living things, including humans.
Hormones and Behavior: Basic Concepts

This article reviews basic concepts and principles in behavioral endocrinology, the study of the interaction among hormones, brain, and behavior. Researchers have recently begun to examine these relationships by simultaneously manipulating circulating hormone concentrations in the blood, assessing the neural site of these hormones’ actions, elucidating the associated neural circuit, and measuring the behavioral consequences of hormonally-induced changes in neural activity. Generally speaking, hormones change gene expression or cellular function and affect behavior by increasing the likelihood that specific behaviors occur in the presence of precise stimuli. Hormones achieve this by affecting individuals’ sensory systems, central integrators, and/or peripherial effectors. To gain a full understanding of hormone–behavior interactions, it is importatnt to monitor hormone values, as well as receptor interactions in the brain. Because certain chemicals in the environment can mimic natural hormones, these chemicals can have profound effects on the behavior of humans and other animals. This article will highlight several multidisciplinary approaches to discovering how hormones influence brain functions, including behavior, and consider the implications of this body of basic research for field and lab studies of animal behavior.
Post-drought decline of the Amazon carbon sink.

Amazon forests have experienced frequent and severe droughts in the past two decades. However, little is known about the large-scale legacy of droughts on carbon stocks and dynamics of forests. Using systematic sampling of forest structure measured by LiDAR waveforms from 2003 to 2008, here we show a significant loss of carbon over the entire Amazon basin at a rate of 0.3 ± 0.2 (95% CI) PgC yr−1 after the 2005 mega-drought, which continued persistently over the next 3 years (2005–2008). The changes in forest structure, captured by average LiDAR forest height and converted to above ground biomass carbon density, show an average loss of 2.35 ± 1.80 MgC ha−1 a year after (2006) in the epicenter of the drought. With more frequent droughts expected in future, forests of Amazon may lose their role as a robust sink of carbon, leading to a significant positive climate feedback and exacerbating warming trends.
Lexical Stress-Based Authorship Attribution with Accurate Pronunciation Patterns Selection

This paper presents a feature selection methodology for authorship attribution based on lexical stress patterns of words in text. The methodology uses part-of-speech information to make the proper selection of a lexical stress pattern when multiple possible pronunciations of the word exist. The selected lexical stress patterns are used to train machine learning classifiers to perform author attribution. The methodology is applied to a corpus of 18th century political texts, achieving a significant improvement in performance compared to previous work.
Estimates of abundance and longevity of Bridled Quail-Doves (Geotrygon mystacea) on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands

The Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea) is a columbiform resident of the eastern Caribbean. It is a poorly studied species with a lack of quantitative data to assess population status, but perceived population declines have led to it being considered a species of conservation concern on many islands. I attempted to assess population size and survival of Bridled Quail-Doves on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. Based on detection probability, density estimates for Guana Island ranged from 1.38 to 1.57 individuals/ha in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Densities varied among cover type, with an estimated 1.13 individuals/ha in dry forest (90% of the island) and 4.63 individuals/ha in ghaut forest (5% of the island). These values would translate to a pooled estimate of ∼429 individuals during the survey period. Of 36 Bridled Quail-Doves captured and marked, the naive estimate of annual survival was 0.813, with 0.36 captured individuals surviving at least 1 year, and the average minimum age at last recapture was 4.9 years old. This report is the first quantitative based estimates of population size and longevity for the species and may serve as a starting point for longer-term studies on Guana Island, but also for comparison to populations on other islands.
Azatranes and atranes of the group 13 elements

I 1 The monomelic azatranes E(RNCH^H2)3N 7 (E = B, R = Me), 8 (E = B, R = SiMes), and 9 (E = Al, R = SiMeg) can be synthesized from E(NMe2)3 and (HRNCH2CH2)3N in low yields (6-37%). The azatrane 10 (E = Al, R = Me), formed in 64% yield by the analogous reaction, is a stable dimer featuring a I 1 four-membered MeNAlNMeAl ring in which the aluminum is five-coordinate as shown by ^H, and 27a1 NMR spectroscopic techniques (including twodimensional ones). Compound 7 can be made in 30% yield by reacting 10 with B(0Me)3. Compound 8, in contrast to 7 and 9, exists as rigid enantiomers that interconvert slowly at room temperature on the NMR time scale owing to steric repulsion of the SiMes groups. VT and l^B NMR studies provide evidence for a concerted (rather than a stepwise) racemization mechanism (AH*, 61 + 5 kJ-mol"l; AS*, -36 ± 13 J-mol'l K-1) involving a symmetric (Cgy) transition state that retains the trans annular bond.
NSF International’s role in the dietary supplements and nutraceuticals industries

Abstract The dietary supplements industry has grown tremendously over the past decade, thanks in part to a regulatory structure that allows new products to come to market quickly. In turn, consumers have benefited from the wide range and availability of dietary supplements that support a healthy lifestyle. With more than 170 million US adults (76%) identifying themselves as supplement users, nutritional product manufacturers continue to see significant opportunities to grow their operations. However, with this growth comes the responsibility of ensuring that dietary supplement products meet safety and quality standards that consumers and regulators expect. Although most supplement manufacturers are committed to quality and safety, the actions of a relatively small number of suppliers and manufacturers can put consumers at risk. Public health researchers continue to find evidence of inaccurate labeling and dietary supplement products containing potentially harmful levels of unlabeled stimulants and other contaminants. NSF International, a global public health organization that facilitates the development of standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water, and consumer goods industries, discusses the importance of testing and certifying dietary supplements and what that process entails. NSF facilitated the development of NSF/American National Standards Institute Standard 173, the only American National Standard for dietary supplements and ingredients, which establishes labeling, contaminant, and Good Manufacturing Practices requirements for the supplement industry. NSF's Dietary Supplement Certification program is based on this voluntary standard and protects consumers by testing for unsafe levels of contaminants and verifying that NSF-Certified supplements contain only the ingredients listed on the label.
The associations between deployment experiences, PTSD, and alcohol use among male and female veterans.

Abstract Overview Alcohol use is common following traumatic military deployment experiences. What is less clear is why, and for whom, particular deployment experiences lead to alcohol use. Method The current study explored associations between deployment stressors (Warfare, Military Sexual Trauma, and Concerns about Life and Family Disruptions—“Life Disruptions”), PTSD (PCL-5), and alcohol use (CAGE) post-deployment, stratified by gender among 2344 male and female veterans (1137 men; Mage = 35). Conditional process analyses examined the indirect effect of traumatic deployment experiences on alcohol use, via PTSD symptom severity, with Life Disruptions as a moderator. Results More severe Warfare and military sexual trauma (MST) were associated with greater PTSD symptom severity, which was associated with higher problematic alcohol use. PTSD symptom severity accounted for the associations between trauma type (i.e., MST or Warfare) and alcohol use. Among women, but not men, Life Disruptions moderated the associations between trauma type (i.e., MST, Warfare) and PTSD symptom severity, such that elevated Life Disruptions amplified the associations between trauma type and PTSD symptom severity. Moderated mediation was significant for MST among women, indicating that the strength of the indirect effect (MST ➔ PTSD ➔ problematic alcohol use) was moderated by Life Disruptions; problematic alcohol use was highest for women with greater PTSD symptom severity following exposure to more severe Life Disruptions and MST (Est. = 0.0007, SE = 0.0001, CI = 0.0002 to 0.0013). Conclusions Taken together, alcohol use following potentially traumatic deployment experiences can be understood by considering PTSD symptom severity, gender, and Life Disruptions.
Synthesis, characterization, and cytocompatibility of yttria stabilized zirconia nanopowders for creating a window to the brain

Transparent cranial window to the brain is highly desirable for brain therapies because such cranial implant would allow for continuous monitoring of brain disorders and long-term delivery of photodynamic therapy into the brain without repeated surgeries for opening skull. Nanostructured yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is a potential candidate for the window to the brain application because of its promising mechanical and optical properties. In this study, a new process using aerosol spray pyrolysis was established for synthesizing 6-7 nm YSZ nanopowders with precisely controlled compositions. YSZ nanopowders with 3 M ratios of yttria to zirconia, specifically 3, 6, and 8% yttria in zirconia (referred to as 3YSZ, 6YSZ, and 8YSZ, respectively) were synthesized and characterized. The size, structure, and composition of the produced YSZ nanoparticles are highly controllable and scalable. The in vitro cytocompatibility of the YSZ nanoparticles with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was investigated using a direct exposure culture method for cranial implant applications. Nondoped ZrO2 and commercially available 8YSZ (named as C_8YSZ) served as controls for the in vitro cell studies. BMSCs exhibited normal morphology when cultured with the YSZs of 3 M ratios in the concentrations of 10 mM, 30 mM, and 60 mM, as well as ZrO2 and C_8YSZ controls. The BMSCs cultured with 3YSZ and 6YSZ showed no statistical differences in cell adhesion density when compared with the ZrO2 and C_8YSZ controls at respective concentrations of 10-60 mM. The possible release of YSZ nanoparticles from cranial window implants should be carefully considered and further studied.
Rethinking Media Synchronicity Theory: Examining the Cooperative Assumption

Information systems (IS) research often assumes team members have aligned goals. In practice, people interpret and pursue goals to suit personal agendas, even when they are collaborating. This motivates our examination of the cooperative assumption in Media Synchronicity Theory (MST)--a leading IS theory of communication performance. We assess the boundaries of MST by relaxing the assumption of cooperation. Our results support MST for explaining communication and task performance in a cooperative context. However, MST was insufficient to capture how media capabilities influence performance in a non-cooperative context. Our study shows that relaxing the assumption of cooperation changes MST in profound ways--altering which media capabilities are central to the model and the very processes that underlie communication.
Challenges to assessing motivation in MOOC learners: An application of an argument-based approach

Abstract While data for examining learner activity are abundant, there are relatively little frameworks for principled interpretation of the behavior. Through application of Kane's argument-based approach to assessment validation, the authors conducted several analyses to combine motivation assessment with online behavioral data for further validating inferences made about MOOC learners. The EVC motivation scale was administered to learners in three advanced engineering MOOCs, and event log data was collected from the online learning platform. The EVC items were comprehensively examined (n = 661) through factor analysis, item response theory, and linear regression. Results indicated that the instrument retained a three-factor structure as well as strict and structural invariance across age groups and education levels, but the Expectancy and Value items suffered from significant ceiling effects, a key difficulty in assessing motivation using this approach. As part of a regression model with learners' intentions, EVC scores did not account for a significant amount of variance in learners' assessment outcomes and course behavior. Challenges remain for adjusting to learners' high expectancy and value of courses at the beginning, and for fully understanding how scores relate to learner behavior.
Inverse optimization in semi-infinite linear programs

Abstract Given the costs and a feasible solution for a finite-dimensional linear program (LP), inverse optimization involves finding new costs that are close to the original ones and render the given solution optimal. Ahuja and Orlin employed the absolute weighted sum metric to quantify distances between costs, and then applied duality to establish that inverse optimization reduces to another finite-dimensional LP. This paper extends this to semi-infinite linear programs (SILPs). A convergent Simplex algorithm to tackle the inverse SILP is proposed.
Gene Dosage Balance Immediately following Whole-Genome Duplication in Arabidopsis.

Flowering plants have witnessed multiple cycles of whole-genome duplication (WGD) over the past 200 million years of evolution. Typically, WGD increases genome size and gene content, followed by gene loss, or fractionation, depending on functional categories. Certain classes of genes are retained as
Vibration energy-harvesting using inerter-based two-degrees-of-freedom system

Abstract Rotary electromagnetic generators that have high power density, large power output, and large rotational inertia are increasingly used in vibration energy-harvesting systems. When applied to single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems, it is found that the inertance reduces the system frequency bandwidth. Furthermore, the maximum power output of SDOF systems is limited by the mechanical damping and the maximum allowable stroke. Two-degrees-of-freedom (2DOF) energy-harvesting systems have been proposed in recent years and demonstrated to have larger power output and wider bandwidth compared with SDOF systems. However, a considerable additional physical mass has to be added to an SDOF system to create a 2DOF energy-harvesting system, which may increase the total weight and requires more space. By utilizing the rotational inertia of the electromagnetic generator and a line-to-rotation mechanism as inerter, an inerter-based 2DOF system that requires neglectable additional physical mass is proposed, in which a spring and an inerter are connected in series between the primary mass and the vibration base. Parameters including the mass ratio, the frequency tuning ratio, the spring ratio, and the damping ratio, were optimized for the inerter-based 2DOF system. Optimal specific power with stroke limitation was obtained. A benchmark test using an energy harvesting backpack was done to validate the analysis results. Both analyses and experimental tests show that the inerter-based 2DOF can have larger specific power and larger power-to-stroke ratio compared with its SDOF counterpart. The energy conversion efficiency is also improved. Compared with the conventional 2DOF system, the inerter-based 2DOF system is not only lightweight but also less sensitive to parameter changes.
Traumatic brain injury modifies synaptic plasticity in newly-generated granule cells of the adult hippocampus.

Abstract The hippocampus is vulnerable to traumatic brain injury (TBI), and hippocampal damage is associated with cognitive deficits that are often the hallmark of TBI. Recent studies have found that TBI induces enhanced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, and this cellular response is related to innate cognitive recovery. However, cellular mechanisms of the role of DG neurogenesis in post-TBI recovery remain unclear. This study investigated changes in long-term potentiation (LTP) within the DG in relation to TBI-induced neurogenesis. Adult male rats received a moderate TBI or sham injury and were sacrificed for brain slice recordings at 30 or 60 days post-injury. Recordings were taken from the medial perforant path input to DG granule cells in the presence or absence of the GABAergic antagonist picrotoxin, reflecting activity of either all DG granule cells or predominately newborn granule cells, respectively. Measurements of LTP observed in the total granule cell population (with picrotoxin) showed a prolonged impairment which worsened between 30 and 60 days post-TBI. Under conditions which predominantly reflected the LTP elicited in newly born granule cells (no picrotoxin), a strikingly different pattern of post-TBI changes was observed, with a time-dependent cycle of functional impairment and recovery. At 30 days after injury this cell population showed little or no LTP, but by 60 days the capacity for LTP of the newly born granule cells was no different from that of sham controls. The time-frame of LTP improvements in the newborn cell population, comparable to that of behavioral recovery reported previously, suggests the unique functional properties of newborn granule cells enable them to contribute to restorative change following brain injury.
Analysis of the Binge Eating in China

Binge Eating Disorder(BED) is a common disorder of eating behavior. It is estimated to affect 1- 3% of the total population. The research on binge eating is still in its early stages. The ubiquity of it made it important to explore the specific link between binge eating and negative emotions, especially among Chinese adolescents. BED is also common in China. There are different results of studies in other countries due to cultural, dietary, and psychological factors. This article explores the relationship between psychological factors (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress) and binge eating behavior among Chinese adolescents and how to deal with them.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 Pneumonia Who Developed Bradycardia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes of bradycardic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. METHODS: The electronic medical records of 221 consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia between June and September 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics, electrocardiographic data, and clinical and laboratory information were retrospectively collected. Patients not treated with drugs that blunt chronotropic response (nodal) were analyzed separately. RESULTS: Only patients whose heart rate was <60 beats per minute (bpm) (136/221, 61.5%) were included. Serial electrocardiography revealed that most patients (130/137, 97.7%) remained in sinus rhythm. The heart rate was between 50 and 59 bpm in 75% of the patients, while 18.4% were in the 40 to 49 bpm range, and 6.6% were <40 bpm. Medians for development of bradycardia after swab polymerase chain reaction positivity and duration of bradycardia were 41 hours and 5 days, respectively. Bradycardia resolved in 81 patients (59.6%). There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes according to degree of bradycardia (<50 vs 50-59, all P ≥ 0.073). No significant differences were noted for the overall cohort when comparing COVID-19 treatments according to resolution of bradycardia; however, when considering only the patients who were not receiving a nodal agent or antiarrhythmic, treatment with lenzilumab was more common in patients with resolution of bradycardia than patients without resolution of bradycardia (12.2% vs 0.0%, P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Sinus bradycardia occurs frequently in patients with severe COVID-19, but the degree of bradycardia does not correlate with clinical outcomes. Lenzilumab may be associated with the resolution of bradycardia.
The LiFePO4 battery sorting method based on temperature analysis

Using temperature as the main state basis for sorting the LiFePO4 battery can solve the problem of insufficient response to the internal working state of the cell. By tracking and monitoring the status of each cell inside the module, which can reflect the consistency of the complex system after large-capacity grouping. Here, the dynamic temperature change of the LiFePO4 battery is detected, the temperature rise and the temperature rise rate are compared. The corresponding temperature rise rate of the old cell were significantly higher than the new cell. The temperature difference can be used to judge the consistency of the single cells in the battery module.
Racial Justice Beyond Credentials: The Radical Politic of a Black College Dropout

The scholarly paper explores how racial justice and college credentials have become conflated despite the higher education system being a site of anti-Blackness. The argument is advanced through analyzing critiques of higher education—stratification, lack of support, un(der)employment, and consumerism—on Kanye West’s first album The College Dropout. I argue that a focus on college dropouts or the uncredentialed allows for a more evidence-based analysis of how higher education fails to be an equalizer for poor Black urban communities and provides lessons for how to imagine a radical education praxis not based on who has a degree but on human needs and Blackness as valuable.
Four investment areas for ethical AI: Transdisciplinary opportunities to close the publication-to-practice gap:

Big Data and Artificial Intelligence have a symbiotic relationship. Artificial Intelligence needs to be trained on Big Data to be accurate, and Big Data's value is largely realized through its use ...
Chapter 26 HIV Infection: Diagnosis and Disease Progression Evaluation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the applications of flow cytometry in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. The primary application of flow cytometry in HIV disease is to determine the CD4 + T cell number (CD4 count). It is this measurement that has the greatest utility in clinical practice. Most analysis routines set a gate around the lymphocytes, and values are usually provided by the flow cytometer as a percentage of the lymphocytes with the immunophenotype of interest. The percentage can be multiplied by the peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count to determine the absolute number of each lymphocyte subset per volume of blood (mm3 or liter). These values, especially the CD4 + cell number (CD4 count), are used to stage disease, predict outcome, select subjects for trials of therapeutic vaccines, and decide on the timing of treatment with anti-retroviral drugs or drugs for prophylaxis against opportunistic infections. Flow cytometry immunophenotyping is also invaluable for investigations of the underlying basis of lymphocyte dysfunction and activation in HIV disease. Several alternative technologies have been developed that allow absolute CD4 counts to be measured directly on whole blood at a reduced cost for instrumentation.
Inhibitors of the transfer of amino acids from aminoacyl soluble ribonucleic acid to proteins.

SUMMARY Puromycin, gougerotin, neomycin B, tetracycline, chloram- phenicol, and cycloheximide inhibit protein synthesis in various cell-free systems. Assays designed to determine the mechanism of action of these inhibitors indicat.e (a) that tetracycline inhibits the binding of aminoacyl soluble ribonucleic acid to messenger ribonucleic acid-containing ribosomes; (b) that the aminoacyl nucleoside, puromycin, releases peptide material from peptidyl soluble ribonucleic acid, messenger ribonucleic acid, ribosome complexes while the related aminoacyl nucleoside, gougerotin, blocks this release; (c) that neomycin B alters the binding of aminoacyl soluble ribonucleic acid onto messenger ribonucleic acid, ribosome complexes; (d) that chloramphenicol can compete with a messenger ribonucleic acid for sites on bacterial ribosomes; and (e) that cycloheximide does not influence the binding of aminoacyl soluble ribonucleic acid to ribosomes or the puromycin- dependent release of peptides from pept’idyl soluble ribonucleic acid, messenger ribonucleic acid, ribosome complexes. Aclcnowledgments-We wish to thank Dr. Richard Schweet for his encouragement of this work and Mrs. Ronnie Barker for invaluable technical assistance. REFERENCES
The GridLite DREAM: bringing the grid to your pocket

The emergence of small, mobile, inexpensive computing platforms has made computation possible virtually anywhere, and has opened up countless opportunities for distributed and decentralized collaboration and information sharing among a wide range of actors. The software-intensive systems of today are increasingly shaped by their decentralized, resource-constrained, embedded, autonomic, and mobile (DREAM) computing environments. In this paper we present GridLite, a software architecture-based grid platform suitable for deployment in DREAM environments. Our prototype implementation of GridLite represents an effective and highly efficient marriage of our OODT data grid and Prism-MW architectural middleware solutions. The ultimate goal of GridLite is to extend the reach of the grid all the way to people's "pockets". Our initial experience suggests that this goal is achievable and worthy of further active pursuit.
Methoden und Algorithmen zur automatischen Informationsverwaltung

Formal methods for an automatical extraction of secondary information from primary and usage information are described. Two related aspects are discussed: (1) Catalogues describing primary data shall be extended by selected ‘important’ or ‘characteristical’ data items and relations between them for an overview on the data files. (2) Performance in the execution of powerful functions shall be improved by more sophisticated internal secondary (index) data, suitable also for textual fields in formated data base systems. Basic underlying algorithms are tested. Experiments in several applications are presented.
Marrying a Man with “Baggage”

Abstract Cultural views of previously married men include the assumption that they bring ex-wives and children as “baggage” into subsequent marriages. Analysis of 274 questionnaires of second wives revealed that such baggage was significantly associated with reporting less marital happiness, thinking about divorce, and wishing that they had not married their current husband. Implications for women contemplating marriage to a previously married man include acknowledging the vulnerability of second marriages to marital instability, questioning if living together ensures subsequent marital success, delaying the marriage until issues settle out, and considering moving into a new home or apartment with the new spouse rather than having him move into her home.
The association between Vitamin B6 and cognitive decline is modified by inflammatory state (LB425)

Individuals with inflammatory conditions like CVD, diabetes, and cancer have low plasma pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) levels, a marker of functional vitamin B6 deficiency. Prior studies suggest that...
The Classical Model

In this chapter, changes in the rate of inflation are finally incorporated into the ISLM-ADAS analysis. This raises the overall level of sophistication of our analysis from Chapter 7 by incorporating a “real world” aggregate supply curve into the ISLM analysis. The stage is also set for an explanation of paradigm shifts between Keynesian and supply-sider models.
Calcium ions tune the zinc-sequestering properties and antimicrobial activity of human S100A12

Human S100A12 is a host-defense protein expressed and released by neutrophils that contributes to innate immunity. Apo S100A12 is a 21-kDa antiparallel homodimer that harbors two Ca(II)-binding EF-hand domains per subunit and exhibits two His3Asp motifs for chelating transition metal ions at the homodimer interface. In this work, we present results from metal-binding studies and microbiology assays designed to ascertain whether Ca(II) ions modulate the Zn(II)-binding properties of S100A12 and further evaluate the antimicrobial properties of this protein. Our metal depletion studies reveal that Ca(II) ions enhance the ability of S100A12 to sequester Zn(II) from microbial growth media. We report that human S100A12 has antifungal activity against Candida albicans, C. krusei, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis, all of which cause human disease. This antifungal activity is Ca(II)-dependent and requires the His3Asp metal-binding sites. We expand upon prior studies of the antibacterial activity of S100A12 and report Ca(II)-dependent and strain-selective behavior. S100A12 exhibited in vitro growth inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes. In contrast, S100A12 had negligible effect on the growth of Escherichia coli K-12 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Loss of functional ZnuABC, a high-affinity Zn(II) import system, increased the susceptibility of E. coli and P. aeruginosa to S100A12, indicating that S100A12 deprives these mutant strains of Zn(II). To evaluate the Zn(II)-binding sites of S100A12 in solution, we present studies using Co(II) as a spectroscopic probe and chromophoric small-molecule chelators in Zn(II) competition titrations. We confirm that S100A12 binds Zn(II) with a 2:1 stoichiometry, and our data indicate sub-nanomolar affinity binding. Taken together, these data support a model whereby S100A12 uses Ca(II) ions to tune its Zn(II)-chelating properties and antimicrobial activity.
SAFE-OPS: An approach to embedded software security

The new-found ubiquity of embedded processors in consumer and industrial applications brings with it an intensified focus on security, as a strong level of trust in the system software is crucial to their widespread deployment. The growing area of software protection attempts to address the key steps used by hackers in attacking a software system. In this paper, we introduce a unique approach to embedded software protection that utilizes a hardware/software codesign methodology. Results demonstrate that this framework can be the successful basis for the development of embedded applications that meet a wide range of security and performance requirements.
Operator-in-the-loop experimentation: Providing combat utility measures

This paper describes an experiment to assess the operational effectiveness of airborne platforms employing candidate advanced tactical data links (ATDL) and representative network-enabled applications in support of Close Air Support (CAS) missions. Results showed that increased network throughput reduced the total time required to build shared situational awareness (SA) between the aircrew and the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), and ultimately shortened mission timelines. The ability to send and receive current imagery in a timely manner from and to the cockpit significantly enhanced SA for the air / ground team, particularly in a high clutter environment. For the Baghdad scenario, the average difference in time to build situational awareness was reduced by 7 minutes, 10 seconds by using Tactical Targeting Network Technologies (TTNT) versus Link 16.
Long-term projection for U.S. oil and gas production and the demands for petroleum engineers and geologists

Abstract Historically, a gross revenue of $3 million (constant 1992 dollars) has been needed for each U.S. member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). This revenue per member is used with projected U.S. oil and gas production and price estimates to predict future U.S. SPE and AAPG membership levels, and hence, future demand for petroleum engineers and geologists. A large short-term membership decline of as much as 25% followed by a long-term decline of between 1 and 10% per year is projected. Remaining oil and natural gas production is projected to be between 30 and 118 billion barrels and 232 and 647 Tcf respectively. Price, new technology, access restrictions, environmental regulations, and premature abandonment of fields were considered in these projections.
Differences in the nature of induction of mixed-function oxidase systems of the rat liver among phenobarbital, DDT, 3-methylcholanthrene, and TCDD

Abstract A comparative study of the induction patterns of rat hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidases was carried out in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The pattern of induction by DDT was different from that of phenobarbital. First, DDT induction was not acompanied by an increase in δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase, and second, it was not affected by prior treatment with actinomycin D or α-amanitin in vivo . Otherwise, induction by these two chemicals as determined by differential increases in various drug-metabolizing activities and cytochrome P -450 was indistinguishable, indicating the basic similarities of these two induction patterns. Both TCDD and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) induced a similar type of change in the cytochrome as judged by ethyl isocyanide- and CO-binding spectra. However, induction by TCDD and 3-MC was also different in two important areas: first, induction by 3-MC was inhibited by a prior or simultaneous treatment with actinomycin D, while that by TCDD was not. Second, the pH response of the induced cytochrome P -448 in terms of ethyl isocyanide-binding spectral changes was different in the two cases.
Electrical excitability of oat cell carcinoma

Cultured tumour cells from two oat cell carcinomas of the lung were demonstrated to generate all-or-nothing, short-duration action potentials similar to those previously reported in neurones, in bronchial carcinoid cells, and in a number of endocrine cells of proven or proposed neural ancestry. This observation provides new evidence to establish oat cell carcinomas and carcinoids as closely related tumours distinct from other pulmonary neoplasms, and raises the possibility of treating these tumours by manipulation of hormonal agents.
Ordered Loop Current States in Bilayer Graphene

While single-layer graphene shows extraordinary phenomena which are stable against electronic interactions, the noninteracting state of bilayer graphene is unstable to infinitesimal interactions leading to one of many possible exotic states. Indeed a gapped state is found in experiments but none of the states proposed so far can provide full accounts of its properties. Here we show that a magnetoelectric (ME) state is consistent with the experimental observations. This state breaks time-reversal symmetry through a pair of spontaneously generated current loops in each layer, and has odd parity with respect to the two layers. We also suggest further experiments to check whether the ME state is indeed the gapped state found in experiments.
A correlation between normal and hemispherical emissivity of low-emissivity coatings on glass

Abstract Transparent low-emissivity coatings are commonly used to reduce the thermal conductance of windows. It is important to be able to characterize and compare the wide variety of these coatings that are now available. The property that best describes the effectiveness of a coating in suppressing radiative heat transfer is the total hemispherical emissivity. It is much simpler, however, to measure the normal emissivity. This paper shows that a correspondence exists between these two properties which applies to most types of low-emissivity composite coatings. An empirical expression for this correspondence is provided.
A safer insecticide for herbarium use

Pyrethrins, the active ingredients of the insecticide pyrethrum, are very effective in killing insects but are quite harmless to mammals. When combined with silica gel to form Drione powder, they can be applied inside herbarium cases for long-term protection against insects. Preliminary tests at the New York Botanical Garden have shown that Drione powder or aerosol spray readily kills anobiid beetles. Drione has potential as a safer alternative to dangerous chemicals that have been used in the past.
Algebraic grid generation

Three methods are described for transforming grids in bounded two- and three- dimensional physical domains into a uniform grid in a rectangular computational domain. The methods are based on mathematical interpolation functions and do not require the solution of differential equations or the use of complex variables. They are simply referred to as algebraic methods and are called transfinite interpolation, the multisurface method, and the two-boundary technique. The primary advantage of the methods is that they provide explicit control of physical grid shape and physical grid spacing. Secondly, they require relatively few computations. Consequently, the application of inter-active computer graphics in conjunction with the methods is advocated for rapid generation of grids. The basic mathematical structure of each method is described, and particular attention is given to surface representation, parameter variable generation, and control function generation. Physical boundary topology and grid derivative requirements are presented.
A fundamental base in physical science for measurement and analytical instrumentation

Abstract The underpinning of transducers and analytical instrumentation, used for a range of measurement techniques in a variety of industrial sectors, is traced on the basis of the fundamental science on which it depends. A functional decomposition of the analytical method is used, and the role of the science that determines the operation of a range of instrumental elements and transducers is examined. The application to expert systems use is considered, in light of the information flow in the systems described.
Efficacy of ethyl nitrite in reversing surgical vasospasm.

ABSTRACT Vasospasm leading to thrombosis is a major cause of free flap failure. Flap blood flow may improve by application of vasodilating agents to the pedicle. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a novel S-nitrosylating agent, 0-ethyl nitrite, on flap blood flow and pedicle vessels diameter in a rat model, after induction of vasospasm. Two hours after surgery, the arterial diameter was significantly (P < .05) dilated by treatment with 0-ethyl nitrite, lidocaine, or lidocaine+ 0-ethyl nitrite. None of these treatments had a statistically significant effect on blood flow or venous diameter. Twenty-four hours following surgery, both 0-ethyl nitrite-and lidocaine-treated groups h~d larger arteries than the control group (P < .05). The 0-ethyl nitrite-treated animals also had significantly (P < .05) elevated blood flow compared with control animals, but lidocaine-treated animals did not demonstrate any improved flow at 24 hours. 0-Ethyl nitrite may become clinically useful in microvascular surgery procedures.