cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The climate-population nexus in the East African Horn: Emerging degradation trends in rangeland and pastoral livelihood zones

Increasing climate variability and extreme weather conditions along with declining trends in both rainfall and temperature represent major risk factors affecting agricultural production and food security in many regions of the world. The rangelands of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia in the East African Horn remain one of the world's most food insecure regions, yet have substantially increasing human populations predominantly dependent on pastoralist and agro-pastoralist livelihoods. We identify regions where substantial rainfall decrease between two periods interrupted by the 1998 El Nino event (1981–2012) in the East African Horn is coupled with human population density increases. Vegetation in this region is characterized by a variable mosaic of land covers, generally dominated by grasslands necessary for agro-pastoralism, interspersed by woody vegetation. Recent assessments indicate that vegetation degradation is occurring, adversely impacting fragile ecosystems and human livelihoods. Using AVHRR and MODIS vegetation products from 1981 to 2012, we observe changes in vegetation patterns and productivity over the last decade across the East African Horn. We observe vegetation browning trends in areas experiencing reduced main-growing season precipitation; these areas are also concurrently experiencing increasing population pressures. We also found that the drying precipitation patterns only partially statistically explain the vegetation browning trends, indicating that other factors such as population pressures and land use changes might be responsible for the observed declining vegetation condition. Furthermore, we show that the general vegetation browning trends persist even during years with normal rainfall conditions such as 2012, pointing to potential long-term degradation of rangelands on which approximately 10 million people depend. These findings may have implications for current and future regional food security monitoring and forecasting as well as for mitigation and adaptation strategies in a region where population is expected to continue increasing against a backdrop of drying climate trends and increased climatic variability.
Studies of an Epstein-Barr virus-induced DNA polymerase.

Abstract Epithelial/Burkitt hybrid cells (D98/HR-1) typically express the Epstein-Barr-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA). Synthesis of early antigen (EA) and virus capsid antigen (VCA) is repressed. Following treatment with 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (IUdR), however, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) EA and late virus-specific products, including EBV DNA and complete virions, are induced. This report demonstrates that phosphonoacetic acid inhibits expression of VCA, but has no effect on EA. Cells treated with IUdR were also found to express a new DNA polymerase which was susceptible to stimulation by salt and was not present in uninduced cells. This salt-stimulated DNA polymerase resembles other herpesvirus-induced DNA polymerases in its requirements for maximal activity and its ability to use synthetic templates in DNA synthesis. Data suggest that this DNA polymerase is induced by EBV and is necessary for the productive synthesis of virus-specific DNA.
Miniplate reconstruction of the lateral orbital rim after orbital decompression for Graves disease.

Background: Removal of lateral orbital bone with or without simultaneous removal of the lateral orbital rim is an accepted method of orbital decompression for Graves disease. Once removed, the bone is no longer available for reconstruction and secondary complications such as rounding of the canthal angle, canthal dystopia, and globe dystopia may result. Methods: The authors replaced the excised bone with a titanium miniplate to protect the globe and fixate the lateral canthal tendon in 18 patients (33 orbits). The orbital rim and lateral orbital wall were completely removed, and the inner aspect of the orbit was enlarged with a cutting burr. A standard titanium miniplate was then anchored to remaining bone, and soft tissue was secured to the miniplate to reconstruct the lateral canthus. Results: The results, as manifest by appearance of the lateral canthus and position of the eyelid in apposition to the globe, were graded as excellent in all patients and orbits. There were no early or late complications. Conclusion: Miniplate reconstruction of the lateral orbital rim after decompression for Graves disease allows the beneficial affect of lateral decompression and preserves the functional aspect of the lateral orbital wall.
Electrofusion between heterogeneous-sized mammalian cells in a pellet: potential applications in drug delivery and hybridoma formation

High-efficiency electrofusion between cells of different sizes was achieved by application of fusing electric pulses to cells in centrifuged pellets. Larger target cells (Chinese hamster ovary or L1210 cells) were stacked among smaller human erythrocytes or erythrocyte ghosts by sequential centrifugation at 700 g to form five-tier pellets in a specially designed centrifugation-electrofusion chamber. The membranes of erythrocytes and ghost were labeled with fluorescent membrane dye (1,1' dioctadecyl-3,3,3'3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (Dil)), and the contents of ghosts were loaded with water-soluble fluorescent dye (42-kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-dextran)), to monitor heterogeneous cell fusion. Fusion efficiency was assayed by the extent of either membrane dye mixing or contents (FITC-dextran) mixing with target cells. Four rectangular electric pulses at 300 V and 80 microseconds each were found to give the optimal fusion results of approximately 80% heterogeneous fusion by the content-mixing assay and approximately 95% by the membrane-dye-mixing assay. Cell viability remained greater than 80% after electrofusion. Because of the electric breakdown of cell membranes at the beginning of the pulse, the pellet resistance and hence the partial voltage across the pellet reduced rapidly during the remaining pulse time. This voltage redistribution favored the survival of fused cells. The limited colloidal-osmotic swelling of cells in pellets enhanced cell-cell contact and increased the pellet resistance after each pulse. As a result, the partial voltage across the pellet was restored when the next pulse was applied. This redistribution of pulse voltage in the pellet system permitted the breakdown of cell membranes at a lower applied voltage threshold than that required for electrofusion of cells in suspension or in dielectrophoretic cell chains. The cell viability and soluble dye retention within cells (FITC-dextran) remained at the same high levels for 3 h when the cells were incubated in respective culture media with serum at 37 degrees C. Viability and dye retention decreased significantly within 30min when cells were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline without serum. The pellet technique was applied to form hybridomas by fusion of larger SP2/0 murine myelomas with smaller naive mouse lymphocytes. An optimum of 173 +/- 70 hypoxanthine aminopterin thymidine (HAT)-selected clones of the hybridomas was obtained from 40,000 SP2/0 cells and 1.5 x 10(6) lymphocytes used in each trial. This high-efficiency fusion technique may be adapted to mediate drug and gene transfer to target cells ex vivo as well as to form hybrid cells with limited cell sources.
Factors that predict the success of cyclosporine treatment for chronic urticaria.

Background Chronic urticaria (CU) is a frequent, difficult clinical problem. When first-line therapy fails, patients are often treated with alternative therapies that either have a poor side effect profile or little evidence to support effectiveness. Objective To describe our low-dose cyclosporine-treated CU population and factors predicting a positive outcome. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of adult CU patients treated with cyclosporine. Elements of the history, physical examination, diagnostic testing, efficacy, and side effects were extracted for statistical analysis. Results Chronic urticaria was defined as having urticaria more than 3 days per week for 6 consecutive weeks. Sixty-eight adults with CU who fulfilled the intake criteria and completed a course of cyclosporine were identified. After taking cyclosporine at an average dose of 1.8 ± 1.1 mg/kg, 53 (78%) patients attained complete remission defined as ≤1 day of hives per month. Recurrence occurred in only 7 patients; all achieved remission with resumption of cyclosporine. A history of hives ( P = .01), shorter duration of urticaria (mean: 55.2 weeks vs 259.63 weeks; P = .03), and positive CU Index ( P = .05) predicted a favorable response to cyclosporine. Notably, autologous serum skin testing, prior response to steroids, atopic status, or presence of antithyroid antibodies was not predictive. Male sex and a positive ANA trended toward significance ( P = .1). Side effects were generally mild and seen in 35% of patients; all were reversible by dose reduction. Conclusion Cyclosporine is an effective treatment for CU, and a history of hives, shorter duration of disease, and CU index ≥10 predict a successful response.
Food Politics of Alliance in a California Frontier Chinatown

Archaeological investigation of Mono Mills (1880–1917), a pluralistic community in California’s mining frontier, is beginning to reveal how immigrants mobilized or mitigated power inequalities through identity expression, community cohesion, and labor relations. Archival records, coupled with the archaeology of household foodways in the Chinatown neighborhood, reveal how social inequalities, labor organization, and identities reflect the impacts of racialization and strategies of resistance. Multicultural objects and aspects of cuisine were intimately entangled in the practices of laborers’ daily lives. The research highlights impacts of late nineteenth-century legislation to discriminate against Chinese immigrants, the agency of marginalized groups, and the long-term effects of discrimination.
Myocardial colchicine-binding proteins: Possible relation to DNA synthesis initiation

Administration of tri-iodothyronine (T 3 ) to 2-week-old rats resulted in enhanced [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation into myocardial cells (126±1.7 dpm/μg DNA vs 69±1.2 dpm/μg DNA in untreated controls, P 3 injection. This suggested that microtubular proteins may be involved in the initiation of DNA synthesis. This possibility was further evaluated by studying the extent of [ 3 H] colchicine binding to myocardial extracts as an index of tubulin content and polymerization. [ 3 H] colchicine-binding decreased progressively with age (49±1.9 pmol/mg/h at 5 days vs 21±0.7 pmol/mg/h at 180 days) with no change in the decay rate of the reaction. The extent of tubulin polymerization also decreased from 39±1.2% at age 5 days to 19±1.4% at age 180 days. In contrast, T 3 administration to neonatal rats resulted in enhanced [ 3 H]colchicine-binding (36±1.7 pmol/mg vs 27±1.5 pmol/mg in controls, P 3 prior to the peak in thymidine incorporation. These results indicate that microtubular assembly may be involved in the early steps of myocardial DNA synthesis activation.
Global Incorporation and Local Conflict: Sierra Leonean Mining Regions

Abstract: This paper draws upon a world-system core–periphery framework to examine the nature and causes of persistent low-level conflict in Sierra Leonean mining regions. Conflict is endemic because of asymmetrical power relations between global core-state corporations and peripheral weak-state Sierra Leone, which are mirrored locally within its mining regions. Structural constraints inherent in these relationships generate and sustain socioeconomic, cultural and environmental inequities. The paper reveals the complex web of micropolitics in the mining locale core-periphery microcosm involving a weak state, exploitative corporations and oppressive traditional social hierarchies. The findings are relevant to effective policy making and conflict resolution.
Update in TSH Receptor Agonists and Antagonists

The physiological role of the TSH receptor (TSHR) as a major regulator of thyroid function is well understood, but TSHRs are also expressed in multiple normal extrathyroidal tissues, and the physiological roles of TSHRs in these tissues are unclear. Moreover, TSHRs play a major role in several pathological conditions including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid tumors. Small molecule, “drug-like” TSHR agonists, neutral antagonists, and inverse agonists may be useful as probes of TSHR function in extrathyroidal tissues and as leads to develop drugs for several diseases of the thyroid. In this Update, we review the most recent findings regarding the development and use of these small molecule TSHR ligands.
FLAVOR QUALITY IN EXPLOSION PUFFED DEHYDRATED POTATO. 2. Flavor Contribution of 2-Methylpropanal, 2-Methylbutanal and 3-Methylbutanal

SUMMARY– Headspace vapor components previously associated with the intensity of an off-flavor in explosion puffed dehydrated potatoes were added to potatoes lacking the off-flavor to determine the flavor contribution of these compounds. 2-Methylpropanal produced a characteristic wet fur flavor note while 2- and 3-methylbutanal modified this flavor and contributed burnt flavor notes. While these flavor notes resembled some elements of the puffing off-flavor, the total off-flavor at its normal intensity could not be simulated by combinations of these compounds in potato at realistic concentrations. Acetone, which is also present in the headspace vapor of explosion puffed dehydrated potatoes, was found as a major headspace component of fresh boiled potatoes. This compound and smaller amounts of 2- and 3-methylbutanal were produced in overcooked fresh potatoes which lacked the puffing off-flavor.
H215O PET validation of steady‐state arterial spin tagging cerebral blood flow measurements in humans

Steady-state arterial spin tagging approaches can provide quantitative images of CBF, but have not been validated in humans. The work presented here compared CBF values measured using steady-state arterial spin tagging with CBF values measured in the same group of human subjects using the H2 15 O IV bolus PET method. Blood flow values determined by H2 15 O PET were corrected for the known effects of incomplete extraction of water across the blood brain barrier. For a cortical strip ROI, blood flow values determined using arterial spin tagging (64 6 12 cc/100g/min) were not statistically different from corrected blood flow values determined using H2 15 O PET (67 6 13 cc/100g/min). However, for a central white matter ROI, blood flow values determined using arterial spin tagging were significantly underestimated compared to corrected blood flow values determined using H2 15 O PET. This underestimation could be caused by an underestimation of the arterial transit time for white matter regions. Magn Reson Med 44:450 ‐ 456, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.†
Polymer chain motion from viscosity and dielectric dispersion measurements

Shear viscosity and dielectric dispersion measurements have been made on a series of concentrated solutions of poly-p-chlorostyrene in toluene, chlorobenzene, and diethylbenzene, as well as on the pure polymer. It is found that the product ηνm/T is nearly temperature-independent in the present range of measurement (30 ≤ νm ≤ 30 ≤ 104 Hz), where νm is the frequency at which the dielectric loss maximum occurs. For the pure polymer, ηνm (200/T) is 1011.5 poise/sec. This leads to a segmental jump distance of 5 A. Although the results in this range correspond quite well to the concept of a segmental friction constant determined by the matrix viscosity, deviations appear as the apparent energy of activation for viscous flow decreases below 13 kcal/mole. There is reason to believe that these deviations reflect the increasing importance of bond rotation barriers at low matrix viscosity. It is speculated that the damped torsional oscillator interpretation of f0 proposed by Tobolsky will become valid in systems still more fluid.
The Changing Importance of Lifetime Jobs, 1892–1978

Individual-level data on the job tenure of 2,981 workers surveyed by the California Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1892 are used to estimate the extent of lifetime jobs in that era. Among nonunion, native-born men the proportion in jobs with eventual tenure of 20 or more years was about half, and among foreign-born men a fourth, the rate among men in the modern workforce, consistent with the hypothesis of a fundamental change in employment relations over time. Changes for women were even more pronounced but of a different character.
Object detection using feature subset selection

Past work on object detection has emphasized the issues of feature extraction and classification, however, relatively less attention has been given to the critical issue of feature selection. The main trend in feature extraction has been representing the data in a lower dimensional space, for example, using principal component analysis (PCA). Without using an effective scheme to select an appropriate set of features in this space, however, these methods rely mostly on powerful classification algorithms to deal with redundant and irrelevant features. In this paper, we argue that feature selection is an important problem in object detection and demonstrate that genetic algorithms (GAs) provide a simple, general, and powerful framework for selecting good subsets of features, leading to improved detection rates. As a case study, we have considered PCA for feature extraction and support vector machines (SVMs) for classification. The goal is searching the PCA space using GAs to select a subset of eigenvectors encoding important information about the target concept of interest. This is in contrast to traditional methods selecting some percentage of the top eigenvectors to represent the target concept, independently of the classification task. We have tested the proposed framework on two challenging applications: vehicle detection and face detection. Our experimental results illustrate significant performance improvements in both cases.
Sterol utilization and metabolism by Heliothis zea.

Heliothis zea (corn earworm), an insect that fails to synthesize sterols de novo, was reared on an artificial diet treated with 18 different sterol supplements. Larvea did not develop on a sterol-less medium. Δ5-Sterols with a hydrogen atom, a methylene group, an E-or Z-ethylidene group, or an α- or β-ethyl group (cholesterol, ostreasterol, isofucosterol, fucosterol, sitosterol, and clionasterol, respectively) at position C-24, and Δ5-sterols doubly substituted in the side chain at C-24 with an α-ethyl group and at C-22 with a double bond (stigmasterol) supported normal larval growth to late-sixth instar (prepupal: maturity). The major sterol isolated from each of these sterol treatments was cholesterol, suggesting that H. zea operates a typical 24-dealkylation pathway. The sterol requirement of H. zea could not be met satisfactorily by derivatives of 3β-cholestanol with a 9β, 19-cyclopropyl group, gem dimethyl group at C-4, a Δ5,7-bond or Δ8-bond, or by side-chain modified sterols that possessed a Δ25(27)-24β-ethyl group, Δ23(24)-24-methyl group, or 24-ethyl group, or Δ24(25)-24-methyl or 24-ethyl group. The major sterol recovered from the larvae (albeit developmentally arrested larvae) treated with a nonutilizable sterol was the test compound. Sterol absorption was related to the degree of sterol utilization. The most effective sterols absorbed by the insect ranged from 27 to 66 μg per insect, whereas the least effective sterols absorbed by the insect ranged from 0.6 to 6 μg per insect. Competition experiments using different proportions of cholesterol and 24-dihydrolanosterol (from 9:1 to 1:9 mixtures) indicated that abnormal development of H. zea may be induced on less than a 1 to 1 mixture of utilizable (cholesterol) to nonutilizable (24-dihydrolanosterol) sterols. The results demonstrate new structural requirements for sterol utilization and metabolism by insects, particularly with respect to the position of double bonds in the side chain and functionalization in the nucleus. The novel sterol specificities observed in this study appear to be associated with the dual role of sterols as membrane inserts (nonmetabolic) and as precursors to the ecdysteroids (metabolic).
Electron beam induced desorption and dissociation of CO chemisorbed on Ir(111)

Abstract Election beam induced perturbations of CO chemisorbed on Ir(111) have been measured using LEED and AES. The total interaction cross-section for electron-stimulated desorption and dissociation is found to be 0.8 to 1.7 × 10−17 cm2 near 1 3 monolayer coverage at a beam energy of 86 eV. This total cross-section is estimated to be 1 × 10−17 cm2 when defined with respect to the primary flux of a 2.5 keV beam. Electron-stimulated dissociation is found to occur at 1–2% of the rate of stimulated desorption.
Aggregation and Disaggregation of Fine-Grained Lake Sediments

Abstract The effects of fluid shear and sedimentation concentration on the aggregation, and especially disaggregation, of fine-grained sediments in lake waters continues to be an important research area. It has been shown in previous studies that the steady-state median floe size decreases as the shear stress increases and also decreases as the suspended sediment concentration increases. Here, the time rate of change of the particle size distribution as affected by aggregation and disaggregation due to fluid shear and to collisions between particles is considered from a theoretical point of view. Approximate value for the coefficients appearing in the rate equation and their dependence on floe diameter, shear stress, and density were determined. In order to explain the observed decrease in floe size as the sediment concentration increases, the theoretical analysis requires disaggregation due to three-body collisions. The theory does not require disaggregation due to fluid shear. For the present range of parameters, fluid shear seems to have a negligible direct effect on disaggregation, while collisions between particles (possibly due to shear but also due to differential settling and Brownian motion) are the dominant mechanism for disaggregation.
Annual Deaths Attributable to Obesity in the United States

ContextObesity is a major health problem in the United States, but the number of obesity-attributable deaths has not been rigorously estimated.ObjectiveTo estimate the number of deaths, annually, attributable to obesity among US adults.DesignData from 5 prospective cohort studies (the Alameda Community Health Study, the Framingham Heart Study, the Tecumseh Community Health Study, the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study I, and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study) and 1 published study (the Nurses' Health Study) in conjunction with 1991 national statistics on body mass index distributions, population size, and overall deaths.SubjectsAdults, 18 years or older in 1991, classified by body mass index (kg/m2) as overweight (25-30), obese (30-35), and severely obese (>35).Main Outcome MeasureRelative hazard ratio (HR) of death for obese or overweight persons.ResultsThe estimated number of annual deaths attributable to obesity varied with the cohort used to calculate the HRs, but findings were consistent overall. More than 80% of the estimated obesity-attributable deaths occurred among individuals with a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2. When HRs were estimated for all eligible subjects from all 6 studies, the mean estimate of deaths attributable to obesity in the United States was 280,184 (range, 236,111-341,153). Hazard ratios also were calculated from data for nonsmokers or never-smokers only. When these HRs were applied to the entire population (assuming the HR applied to all individuals), the mean estimate for obesity-attributable death was 324,940 (range, 262,541-383,410).ConclusionsThe estimated number of annual deaths attributable to obesity among US adults is approximately 280,000 based on HRs from all subjects and 325,000 based on HRs from only nonsmokers and never-smokers.
Intermittent Mitral Regurgitation: An Indicator of Severe Beall Valve Dysfunction

The Teflon disc of Beall valves is subject to extraordinary wear and tear. Clinical evidence of valvular dysfunction is critical in following patients who have implanted Beall valves. We describe 4 patients with the interesting auscultatory finding of intermittent mitral regurgitation. Each of these patients demonstrated severe wear of the Teflon disc with abnormal intermittent disc tilting noted at cardiac catheterization. Intermittent mitral regurgitation in patients with Beall valves in the mitral position heralds severe valvular dysfunction and should prompt urgent cardiac catheterization and valve replacement.
Characterization of the Aminocoumarin Ligase SimL from the Simocyclinone Pathway and Tandem Incubation with NovM,P,N from the Novobiocin Pathway†

Simocyclinone D8 consists of an anguicycline C-glycoside tethered by a tetraene diester linker to an aminocoumarin. Unlike the antibiotics novobiocin, clorobiocin, and coumermycin A1, the phenolic hydroxyl group of the aminocoumarin in simocyclinone is not glycosylated with a decorated noviosyl moiety that is the pharmacophore for targeting bacterial DNA gyrase. We have expressed the Streptomyces antibioticus simocyclinone ligase SimL, purified it from Escherichia coli, and established its ATP-dependent amide bond forming activity with a variety of polyenoic acids including retinoic acid and fumagillin. We have then used the last three enzymes from the novobiocin pathway, NovM, NovP, and NovN, to convert a SimL product to a novel novobiocin analogue, in which the 3-prenyl-4-hydroxybenzoate of novobiocin is replaced with a tetraenoate moiety, to evaluate antibacterial activity.
Splicing Factor SPF30 Bridges an Interaction between the Prespliceosome Protein U2AF35 and Tri-small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Protein hPrp3 *

Spliceosome assembly is a dynamic process involving the sequential recruitment and rearrangement of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) on a pre-mRNA substrate. Here we identify several spliceosome protein interactions with different domains of human splicing factor SPF30 that have the potential to mediate the addition of the tri-snRNP to the prespliceosome. In particular, we show that the C-terminal tails of SmD1, SmD3, and the protein Lsm4 interact with the central Tudor domain of SPF30. We identify a novel interaction between the N-terminal domain of SPF30 and U2AF35, a prespliceosome protein that has a role in recognizing the 3' splice site and recruiting U2 snRNP. We also show that the C terminus of SPF30 interacts with a middle domain of hPrp3, a component of U4/U6 di-snRNP and the tri-snRNP. Importantly, we show that the U2AF35 and hPrp3 interactions with SPF30 can occur simultaneously, thereby potentially linking 3' splice site recognition with tri-snRNP addition. Finally, we note that SPF30 and its partner-interacting domains are not conserved in yeast, suggesting this interaction network may play an important role in the complex splicing observed in higher eukaryotes.
A review of the stability of feature selection techniques for bioinformatics data

Feature selection is an important step in data mining and is used in various domains including genetics, medicine, and bioinformatics. Choosing the important features (genes) is essential for the discovery of new knowledge hidden within the genetic code as well as the identification of important biomarkers. Although feature selection methods can help sort through large numbers of genes based on their relevance to the problem at hand, the results generated tend to be unstable and thus cannot be reproduced in other experiments. Relatedly, research interest in the stability of feature ranking methods has grown recently and researchers have produced experimental designs for testing the stability of feature selection, creating new metrics for measuring stability and new techniques designed to improve the stability of the feature selection process. In this paper, we will introduce the role of stability in feature selection with DNA microarray data. We list various ways of improving feature ranking stability, and discuss feature selection techniques, specifically explaining ensemble feature ranking and presenting various ensemble feature ranking aggregation methods. Finally, we discuss experimental procedures such as dataset perturbation, fixed overlap partitioning, and cross validation procedures that help researchers analyze and measure the stability of feature ranking methods. Throughout this work, we investigate current research in the field and discuss possible avenues of continuing such research efforts.
Real-time genre classification for music digital libraries

This poster describes a real-time audio-based automatic music genre classifier for use in organizing, browsing, and searching musical digital libraries. A decision tree classifier trained on a 40-dimension feature space is used to categorize music into one of 14 different genres with the results being displayed to a continuously updating user interface.
Real-time virus trapping and fluorescent imaging in microfluidic devices

We have used dielectrophoretic filters within microfluidic biochips to capture from a flow and image virus particles in real-time. The verification of capture was performed by fluorescently labeling the particles using dual or triple labeling. These nonmechanical filters can be very valuable in the sample preparation, purification, and concentration of viral particles from a mixed sample. The described imaging methodology can be used for real-time imaging of nanometer scale virus particles for analysis of capture, detection, and characterization of these particles within micro and nanoscale sensors.
Fundamental Concepts and Methods in Developmental Science: A Relational Perspective

The articles in this issue represent an advance towards the goal of articulating a coherent contemporary Developmental Science. Our commentary reflects on and elaborates each contribution. The articles demonstrate a commitment to the principles of the meta-theory of a scientific paradigm termed “Relationism.” After describing the ontological-epistemological assumptions of the relational model, we describe how these categories lead directly to a characterization of the organism and development that defines “relational developmental systems.” The categories and characterizations result in a relational vocabulary; we discuss features of each of the articles in the context of this vocabulary.
A rapid method for production of binucleate cells.

Abstract Populations of BHK-21 fibroblasts that are 90–95% binucleate can be obtained within 2–3 h by combining mitotic synchrony techniques with use of the drug cytochalasin B. Such populations are potentially useful for the study of nuclear-cytoplasmic balance and control, nuclear synchrony, and the production of tetraploid cell lines.
Menominee Termination: Observations on the End of a Tribe

In their article, "The Menominee Termination Crisis," published in Human Organization, Ames and Fisher conclude by saying thatThe last act of the Menominee drama is beginning.
State-of-health aware optimal control of plug-in electric vehicles

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are key new energy technology to reduce the fossil fuel usage and therefore environmental pollution. The vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in the smart grid infrastructure can exploit the electrical energy storage ability of PEV batteries to enhance the stability and reduce peak power demand of the power grid. Through V2G, PEV owners can reduce cost through properly scheduling PEV charging (and perhaps discharging at some time) and at the same time mitigate the negative impacts on the grid. However, there are challenges with V2G services because it is not clear how much PEV battery aging, and therefore also the associated warranty, are affected during V2G operation. This paper addresses the problem of PEV charging under dynamic pricing, taking into account the degradation of battery state-of-health (SoH) during V2G operations. The objective function to minimize therefore becomes the summation of the energy during PEV charging (and perhaps discharging at some moment) and the extra cost associated with the aging of PEV battery. An optimal algorithm of PEV battery charging is derived to minimize the objective function based on convex optimization techniques. Moreover, this algorithm also accurately accounts for the power loss during charging/discharging of PEV batteries and in power conversion circuitries, which is often neglected in the reference work. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed charging control algorithm is able to minimize the combination of electricity cost and battery aging cost, whereas a naive algorithm which only consider the electricity cost may result in as high as 9X battery aging rate.
Pitfalls of clinical practice: the treating clinician as expert witness.

Patients involved in legal proceedings may turn to their psychiatrists for testimony on their behalf. Because the treating psychiatrist has firsthand knowledge of a patient's condition, the patient may call the psychiatrist to testify as a fact witness. Fact witnesses testify on the basis of what they have seen or heard; they may not rely on what others have heard (hearsay) or offer expert opinions as evidence. Psychotherapist-patient privilege generally prevents the psychiatrist from testifying without the patient's permission; even in cases where permission is granted (by the patient), such testimony poses substantial hazard to the treatment. Once the privilege is broken, all matters are open to examination. For example, the patient who asks his or her psychiatrist to testify about the emotional harm suffered after an accident cannot then invoke the psychotherapist-patient privilege to prevent the doctor from discussing the patient's previous psychiatric hospitalizations.
A Puzzle Regarding Reid's Theory of Motives

In Essays on the Active Powers, Thomas Reid offers two different accounts of motives. According to the first, motives are the ends for which we act. According to the second, they are mental states, such as desires, that incite us to action. These two accounts, I claim, do not fit comfortably with Reid's agent causal account of human action. My project in this article is to explain why and then to propose a strategy for reconciling these two accounts with Reid's views about action.
Reactions of Male Raters to Interviewee Self-Presentation Style and Sex: Extensions of Previous Research.

Abstract In an earlier experiment, college recruiters evaluated a video tape of an interviewee who was either male or female and who displayed either a moderately aggressive or passive self-presentation. In the present paper, two studies are presented which replicated and extended the findings of the original experiment ( R. Dipboye and J. Wiley, Journal of Vocational Behavior , 1977 , 10 , 1–12.). As in the original study, moderately aggressive candidates were evaluated more favorably than passive candidates for a supervisory position and no differences were found in the ratings of male and female candidates. In addition, a short job description was found to result in less favorable ratings than a long job description and passive candidates tended to be rated more favorably than a moderately aggressive candidate for an editorial assistant position.
The Relation of Refrigerated Lockers to Conservation of Fishery Products

Abstract The use of refrigerated lockers by the housewife as a method of preservation of foods has recently become of considerable importance, and hundreds of such locker plants are now available. The use of such facilities for storage of fish can be of benefit to the sports fisherman to preserve his catch, to the frugal housewife in putting up a supply of fish when there is a surplus and prices are low, and to the commercial fishery industry as a means of distributing frozen fish in small communities where large commercial cold storage plants are not located. As is the case in the commercial cold storage of fish, considerable care must be taken in provision of adequate storage methods for fishery products which are to be stored in refrigerated lockers in order to prevent development of such undesirable changes as freezer burn, rancidity, and discoloration of the products. Methods which are satisfactory for use in commercial freezers may not be suitable for use by the refrigerated locker patron. Freezing ...
Scheduling arrivals to queues for minimum average blocking: the S(n)/M/C/C system

Abstract Given a finite time interval [0, T], a fixed number of customers N, a stochastic service system with C servers, and an initial occupancy distribution Π(0), we show how to calculate a schedule for the customer arrival times to minimize average blocking. We have in mind a facility user who infrequently receives a burst of N items to submit where N is a random variable. If such a “bursty” user can tolerate the delay associated scheduling items over an interval of duration T, then substantial improvements in blocking performance can be had over random scheduling (N Poisson arrivals on [0, T]) and periodic scheduling (constant interarrivals). The matrix exponential method used herein can be applied to any stochastic service system whose state transitions can be modeled by linear differential equations and for which an arrival changes the system state in a predictable way. However, we here concentrate on the tractable C-server exponential service system.
Decision by division: making cortical maps

In the past three decades, mounting evidence has revealed that specification of the basic cortical neuronal classes starts at the time of their final mitotic divisions in the embryonic proliferative zones. This early cell determination continues during the migration of the newborn neurons across the widening cerebral wall, and it is in the cortical plate that they attain their final positions and establish species-specific cytoarchitectonic areas. Here, the development and evolutionary expansion of the neocortex is viewed in the context of the radial unit and protomap hypotheses. A broad spectrum of findings gave insight into the pathogenesis of cortical malformations and the biological bases for the evolution of the modern human neocortex. We examine the history and evidence behind the concept of early specification of neurons and provide the latest compendium of genes and signaling molecules involved in neuronal fate determination and specification.
High-temperature electron mobilities in LPE-Grown GaP

We report measurements to 500°C of resistivity and Hall mobility in Sn-doped, n-type GaP grown by liquid phase epitaxy. Samples with room-temperature carrier densities between 1 × 1016 and 1 × 1018cm−3 were studied. Mobilities were in the range 100–180 cm2/V-sec at room temperature and in the range 27–35 cm2/V-sec at 400°C. Carrier densities increased by only about a factor of two with increasing temperature. Theoretical fits to the mobility data were made by considering contributions from intervalley, polar-optic, acoustic-deformation-potential, and ionlzed-impurity scattering mechanisms. Our results confirm the utility of GaP for high-temperature device applications and provide important information on electrical parameters needed for device modeling and design.
Design of a Climate Adaptable Solar Energy system using biomimetic inspiration from a lichen symbiosis

Designing energy systems that are adaptable and provide undisturbed service in different climate conditions is an essential challenge for sustainable design. This project involves the design and construction of a Climate Adaptable Solar Energy (CASE) System that aims to address the performance reduction due to changing environmental conditions. The CASE System is a biomimetic design, inspired by lichen, and applies biological concepts of protection and energy conversion to achieve adaptability. Symbiotic organisms of fungus and algae within lichen organisms exhibit environmental adaptability through close integration, thus living as a single organism. DSSCs were implemented as the driving mechanisms for harnessing energy for the system from the sun, just as algae performs in lichen. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which currently convert up to 15 percent of solar energy into electrical energy, are cheaper to manufacture than traditional photovoltaic systems, offer greater mechanical durability, and are a rising competitor for the current solar energy system market. Since the DSSCs were commercially unavailable, the DSSCs were assembled from core components contained in a kit. Additional pieces of the CASE System were designed and manufactured to perform functions similar to a fungus in a lichen organism, by providing protection and temperature control to the DSSCs.
Development of Multi-Layered and Graded Die Coatings for Materials Processing Applications

The paper will present the methodology used to design optimized die coatings employed in material forming processes in an effort to extend the life and effect efficient operation of the dies. An optimized die coating 'architecture' requires that the coating system be essentially non-wetting with the material (metal, glass, polymer) being formed in the die, coupled with good wear and oxidation resistance Other factors, such as delaying the onset of thermal fatigue cracking (heat checking), and an acceptably low coefficient of friction. And, possibly, self-lubricating, also need to be considered based on the processing and forming conditions that include both liquid and solid materials. Many different die coatings have and are being used with different levels of success. This paper presents the current understanding that has been gained in laboratory testing, in-plant trials, and modeling in an effort to generate a fundamental understanding of how such optimized die coating systems may be designed for specific forming operations and conditions, with examples based on dies used in aluminum pressure die casting, glass molding, and metal forming operations.
Serratospiculoides amaculata in a Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

During a routine examination of a female Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) nematodes were found in the thoracic air sacs. A total of 12 females and nine males were recovered and identified as Serratospiculoides amaculata. This is the first record of this parasite found in a raptor, other than a falcon, in North America.
Testing of 2,4,5-T-amino acid conjugates for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strains.

Abstract Since amino acid conjugates are plant metabolites of the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), 5 amino acid conjugates (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, leucine, methionine and tryptophan) of 2,4,5-T were tested for possible mutagenic activity utilizing 5 strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA97, TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1538) with and without rat-liver microsomal and cytosolic enzymes. These compounds did not cause any significant increase in reversions when compared with controls in the presence or absence of the activating system. Further, linear regression analysis showed no significant (p
A new method for calibration of an opti-acoustic stereo imaging system

Range measurements offer a key advantage in deploying a sonar and an optical camera as a multi-modal stereo imaging system for 3-D object shape recovery in underwater. Establishing the relative pose of these cameras by a priori calibration enables exploiting the opti-acoustic epipolar geometry, and confine the complex multi-modal correspondence problem to a 1-D search. By imaging points on a known planar grid with distinct visual and acoustic reflectance properties, we previously proposed an iterative optimization scheme for opti-acoustic stereo calibration, requiring a search in 6+3N space based on N opti-acoustic stereo pairs of the grid at different orientations. In this paper, we present a new calibration method, where most of the computations are carried out in closed form, with a final search in 3-D space. Although extendable to make use of data from several views, the current implementation applies to only one view of the target grid. Thus, the results can be less accurate than the solution from the iterative method, for sonar cameras with a small field of view. We assess the performance of this method and discuss its merits based on experimental results with synthetic and real data.
A finite-particle scheme for three-dimensional gas dynamics

Abstract A method for simulating three-dimensional gas dynamics by following the motions of representative fluid particles is described. The gas pressure is represented by repulsive forces between neighboring pairs of particles, and the effect of shock dissipation is represented by an artificial-viscosity force between neighboring particles. Tests show that the scheme represents the static pressure and the oscillation period of an enclosed gas sphere with an accuracy of ≈5 % for 100 particles, and it reproduces the Jeans criterion for spherical gravitational collapse with an accuracy of ≈20 %. It also simulates the formation of accretion discs as thin as ∼10 percent of the diameter, with an effective Reynolds number due to artificial viscosity of R ≈ 50.
Remarkably facile solvolyses of triflates via carbocationic processes in dimethyl sulfoxide.

A number of triflates have been shown to undergo clean pseudo-first-order solvolysis reactions in DMSO-d6 to give products derived from carbocationic intermediates. Thus, t-BuCH(OTf)CO-t-Bu (5) and t-BuCH2OTf (9) react readily in DMSO-d6 at 25 °C to give a rearranged oxosulfonium salts, and subsequent alkene products where methyl migration to the incipient cationic center occurs. t-BuCH(OTf)CO2CH3 (14) gives analogous rearranged products, and 1-methylcyclopropyl triflate (21) gives a ring-opened allylic oxosulfonium salt. These triflates react primarily via kΔ pathways. 6-Methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl triflate (23), bicyclo[2.2.1hept-1-yl triflate (24), 1,6-methano[10]annulen-11-yl triflate (25), (CH3)2C(OTf)CO2CH3 (26), and (CH3)2CCN(OTf) (29) all react in DMSO-d6 to give carbocation-derived products. PhCH(OTf)CF3 (33) and substituted analogues also react readily in DMSO-d6, and the Hammett ρ+ value is −3.7. This suggests a “borderline” mechanism where the transition state has substantial charge developme...
An analysis of the late glacial lake levels within the western Lake Superior basin based on digital elevation models

This study establishes a detailed lake-level history for the Lake Superior basin by mapping strandlines from 10-m and 3-m digital elevation models. There are 24 levels above the mid-Holocene Nipissing level, and elevations increase along a direction of 23.1° due to post-glacial rebound. The highest level, the Epi-Duluth, is steeper than subsequent levels and may pre-date the Lake View ice advance into the western Lake Superior basin at the end of the Younger Dryas stade. The most prominent level is the Duluth, ca. 10,800 cal yr BP. Ice retreat exposed successively lower outlets, routing overflow to the Lake Michigan and Huron basins. By 10,600 cal yr BP, lake levels in the western Superior basin had dropped almost 200 m. This transformative period is complicated by multiple basin-wide events: the influx of glacial Lake Agassiz overflow, the creation of three sub-aqueous moraines, and a red to gray color transition in basin sediments. A later drawdown event has been hypothesized to have initiated the 9300 cal yr BP cooling event, but this flood was much smaller than estimated previously. If freshwater triggered the 9300 cal yr BP event, the source of the water must have been Lake Agassiz, not Lake Superior.