cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ataxia-Telangiectasia: Defective in a P53-Dependent Signal Transduction Pathway

Damage to DNA in proliferating cells results in alterations of progression through the cell cycle (e.g. Tolmach et al, 1977; Painter and Young, 1980; Lau and Pardee, 1982; Weinert and Hartwell, 1988; Kaufmann et al, 1991; O’Connor et al, 1992). Such cell cycle “checkpoints” appear to be active cellular responses which permit optimal repair of DNA damage so that the cell will not replicate a damaged DNA template (G1 arrest) nor segregate damaged chromosomes (G2 arrest). Defects in these checkpoints are thought to contribute to decreased cell survival and increased propagatable genetic abnormalities following DNA damage (Hartwell and Weinert, 1989). One consequence of failing to repair DNA damage prior to replicative DNA synthesis is that mutagenic lesions could be fixed and propagated and could thus contribute to the genomic changes which result in neoplastic transformation. Abnormalities in the RAD9 gene in yeast result in a defect in the G2 arrest following ionizing irradiation — such mutant yeast exhibit increased sensitivity and increased genetic abnormalities following exposure to ionizing radiation (Weinert and Hartwell, 1988; Hartwell and Weinert, 1989). However, little has been clarified about the molecular and genetic controls of these checkpoints in mammalian cells.
Electrocatalytic Shilov chemistry for the oxidation of aliphatic groups

Abstract An existing chemistry for the selective oxidation of methane to methanol is the homogeneous platinum(II)-based Shilov system, but limiting its practical implementation is its use of platinum(IV) as the terminal stoichiometric oxidant. However, an examination of the Shilov cycle suggests that electrochemical regeneration of the Pt(IV) oxidant would allow for the system to be catalytic in platinum. We demonstrate that through judicious selection of applied electrical bias to near the initial open circuit potential of the reaction mixture (∼560 mV vs Ag/AgCl), Shilov-type hydroxylation of p-toluenesulfonic acid as a surrogate for methane can be electrocatalytically effected over a homogeneous Pt(II) catalyst, Na2PtCl4 in 0.5 M H2SO4, giving 8% yield of the alcohol product at 4.5 mol% catalyst loading with good Faradaic efficiency and without a co-catalyst or additional redox mediator. Methane can also be converted to methanol electrocatalytically with this system.
Effect of plasticizer on the wear behavior and ice adhesion of elastomeric coatings

Abstract The aim of this paper is to study the effect of wear on the ice adhesion of elastomeric coatings. Approaches in designing surfaces with lower ice adhesion include imparting hydrophobicity, lubrication, crosslink density reduction or induction of interfacial slippage. For icephobic surfaces to find widespread use, it is imperative that they are durable. In the current work, a suitable plasticizer is used to modify the cross-link density and stiffness of a polyurethane elastomeric coating. The wear behavior of the modified elastomer under two body abrasion is studied in terms of its weight loss and topography evolution. The wear loss varies with the coating stiffness, wherein the elastomer with lower stiffness exhibits higher weight loss. The evolution of surface topography as a function of wear is analyzed in terms of roughness parameters and autocorrelation length, and its effect on the ice adhesion behavior of the coating. The results show that wear initially increases ice adhesion, but adhesion reduces as wear propagates due to the evolution of surface topography. The study shows that, among the samples tested, a 20%–30% plasticizer content produces a good combination of icephobicity and wear resistance.
A monstrous performance

The first science fiction novel, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, has withstood many a bad adaptation, wooden performance and wobbly set. It has met its match now, though, says a delighted Chelsea Whyte
Proof of Dudley's Convex Approximation.

We provide a self contained proof of a result of Dudley [Dud64]} which shows that a bounded convex-body in $\Re^d$ can be $\varepsilon$-approximated, by the intersection of $O_d\bigl(\varepsilon^{-(d-1)/2} \bigr)$ halfspaces, where $O_d$ hides constants that depends on $d$.
Properties of Nuclear Levels in a Number of Odd- A Nuclei ( 151 ≤ A ≤ 191 )

In order to obtain more evidence on the systematic behavior of nuclear energy levels in the deformed region, a number of neutron-deficient odd-mass activities were studied with internal conversion electron spectrographs. Some scintillation counter measurements were made. Level schemes are postulated for decays leading to the following odd-neutron nuclei: ${\mathrm{Pm}}^{151}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{151}$, ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{151}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{151}$, ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{153}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{153}$, ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{155}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{155}$, ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{157}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{157}$, ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{163}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Er}}^{163}$, ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{165}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Er}}^{165}$, ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{167}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Er}}^{167}$, ${\mathrm{Re}}^{183}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{W}}^{183}$, ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{185}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Os}}^{185}$, ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{187}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Os}}^{187}$, and ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{189}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Os}}^{189}$. As a corollary, data are presented for the odd-proton nuclei populated in the decays of ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{189}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{189}$ and ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{191}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{191}$. The proposed states are described using the Mottelson and Nilsson predictions. Some conclusions may be drawn concerning such properties of these orbitals as moments of inertia, $\frac{M1}{E2}$ mixing ratios, and positions of the intrinsic excitations. Ratios of gamma-ray transition probabilities from the various states are given. Previously published studies of odd-$A$ nuclei in the region of odd-$N$ numbers 99-107 are incorporated in the energy-level systematics.
Off-Chip Congestion Management for GPU-based Non-Uniform Processing-in-Memory Networks

Advancements in packaging and 3D-stacking technology have enabled novel non-uniform processing-in-memory (NUPIM) architectures integrating a network of hybrid modules each with varying sizes and proportions of compute and memory. In such systems, network congestion can have a significant impact on performance and energy-efficiency scaling. At the same time, NUPIM systems often have strict power and thermal constraints, where traditional routing/redundancy or buffering based approaches to reduce congestion cannot be applied.In this paper, we propose a low-overhead yet scalable scheme for congestion management in off-chip networks of emerging GPU-based NUPIM systems. We note that congestion in NUPIM networks exhibits a form of tree saturation in which individually congested links form congested paths, where congestion effects due to back pressure vary across paths. Additionally, memory responses can have different performance impact due to memory divergence. Our approach exploits differences in performance impact of NUPIM traffic to mitigate congestion effects. We dynamically track congested paths and divergent data to manage priorities and accelerate performance-critical traffic. We further use critical paths knowledge to dynamically manage link widths and save I/O energy.Results show that our congestion management outperforms a configuration with double the number of virtual channels and buffers indicating its effectiveness in managing congestion under stringent constraints. It improves performance by 15% (and up to 31%) over baseline and 10% (and up to 29%) against a memory distance based approach for congestion-affected benchmarks. Our scheme reduces 78% of I/O energy on average and up to 29% of system energy across all benchmarks.
Inducing apoptosis through upregulation of p53: structure–activity exploration of anthraquinone analogs

We previously reported a series of p53-elevating anthraquinone compounds with considerable cytotoxicity for acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL) cells. To further develop this class of compounds, we examined the effect of a few key structural features on the anticancer structure-activity relationship in ALL cells. The active analogs showed comparable cytotoxicity and upregulation of p53 but did not induce significant downregulation of MDM2 as seen with the lead compound AQ-101, indicating the importance of the anthraquinone core scaffold for MDM2 regulation. The result from the current study not only contributes to the SAR framework of these anthraquinone derivatives but also opens up new chemical space for further optimization work.
Electric Transmission System Fault Identification Using Modular Artificial Neural Networks for Single Transmission Lines

Identifying the fault location is usually the first step in system restoration. Accurate fault location is therefore essential in speeding up repair of faulted components and enhancing system reliability. Diverse fault location methods exist that have different strengths and weaknesses. This paper focuses on using artificial neural networks to classify and locate faults on single two-terminal transmission lines. There has not been sufficient existing work that elaborates how to choose the best neural network structures such as the number of hidden layers and the number of neurons in each layer. This paper aims to study the effects of various ANN structures (number of neurons in a single layer) and identify the most effective neural network structure. Study results based on simulated data are reported, which may provide guidance on designing efficient neural networks for classifying fault types and locating faults on single power transmission lines.
Education and communication are critical to effectively incorporating cannabis into cancer treatment.

Providers need to be better equipped to discuss medical cannabis with patients even if they are not willing to prescribe it. The oncology community would be well served to ensure that providers are aware of existing cannabis research and are able to incorporate it into their communications with patients instead of leaving patients to figure out medical cannabis on their own.
Particulate Trace Metals in Arctic Snow, Sea Ice, and Underlying Surface Waters during the 2015 US Western Arctic GEOTRACES Cruise GN01

Sea ice, an intrinsic component of the Arctic system, is undergoing rapid change. Sea ice dynamics play a role in the distributions of trace metals in Arctic waters through the incorporation, trans...
The Role of the Pharmacist in Optimizing Outcomes With Roflumilast, a PDE4 Inhibitor for the Treatment of COPD.

PurposeThe pharmacology of roflumilast, recent dosing revisions, and the integral roles of pharmacists in effective chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management are reviewed here.Summary...
Using Flow Disruptions to Examine System Safety in Robotic-Assisted Surgery: Protocol for a Stepped Wedge Crossover Design.

Background: The integration of high technology into health care systems is intended to provide new treatment options and improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of care. Robotic-assisted surgery is an example of high technology integration in health care, which has become ubiquitous in many surgical disciplines. Objective: This study aims to understand and measure current robotic-assisted surgery processes in a systematic, quantitative, and replicable manner to identify latent systemic threats and opportunities for improvement based on our observations and to implement and evaluate interventions. This 5-year study will follow a human factors engineering approach to improve the safety and efficiency of robotic-assisted surgery across 4 US hospitals. Methods: The study uses a stepped wedge crossover design with 3 interventions, introduced in different sequences at each of the hospitals over four 8-month phases. Robotic-assisted surgery procedures will be observed in the following specialties: urogynecology, gynecology, urology, bariatrics, general, and colorectal. We will use the data collected from observations, surveys, and interviews to inform interventions focused on teamwork, task design, and workplace design. We intend to evaluate attitudes toward each intervention, safety culture, subjective workload for each case, effectiveness of each intervention (including through direct observation of a sample of surgeries in each observational phase), operating room duration, length of stay, and patient safety incident reports. Analytic methods will include statistical data analysis, point process analysis, and thematic content analysis. Results: The study was funded in September 2018 and approved by the institutional review board of each institution in May and June of 2019 (CSMC and MDRH: Pro00056245; VCMC: STUDY 270; MUSC: Pro00088741). After refining the 3 interventions in phase 1, data collection for phase 2 (baseline data) began in November 2019 and was scheduled to continue through June 2020. However, data collection was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected a total of 65 observations across the 4 sites before the pandemic. Data collection for phase 2 was resumed in October 2020 at 2 of the 4 sites. Conclusions: This will be the largest direct observational study of surgery ever conducted with data collected on 680 robotic surgery procedures at 4 different institutions. The proposed interventions will be evaluated using individual-level (workload and attitude), process-level (perioperative duration and flow disruption), and organizational-level (safety culture and complications) measures. An implementation science framework is also used to investigate the causes of success or failure of each intervention at each site and understand the potential spread of the interventions.
Muscle Performance Changes with Age in Active Women.

The purpose of this study was to examine age-related differences in muscle performance in women divided into young (YW, 20–39 years, n = 29) middle-aged (MAW, 40–59 years, n = 33), and older (OW, ≥60 years, n = 40) age groups. Methods: Hand grip strength, vertical jump performance, and knee extensor (KE) strength (0 deg/s, 60 deg/s, and 240 deg/s), speed of movement (SoM; at 1 Nm, 20%, 40%, and 60% isometric strength), and endurance (30-repetition test at 60 degs/s and 240 deg/s) were assessed. Computed tomography-acquired muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA) was measured and included to determine specific strength (KE strength/mCSA). Results: Hand grip strength was similar across groups, while jump performance declined with age (YW and MAW > OW, p < 0.001). KE strength declined significantly with age (all conditions p < 0.01), while specific strength was similar across groups. SoM was significantly higher for YW and MAW compared to OW (both p < 0.01). An age × velocity interaction revealed YW KE endurance was similar between conditions, whereas MAW and OW displayed significantly better endurance during the 60 deg/s condition. OW displayed impaired KE endurance at 240 deg/s (vs. YW and MAW, p < 0.01) but improved at 60 deg/s (vs. YW, p < 0.01). Dynamic torque decline increased with age (YW < OW, p = 0.03) and was associated with intramuscular adipose tissue (r = 0.21, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Performance declines were most evident among OW, but few performance deficits had emerged in MAW. Interestingly, strength declines disappeared after normalizing to mCSA and endurance appears to be velocity-dependent.
Cognitive efficiency beats top-down control as a reliable individual difference dimension relevant to self-control.

Abstract Top-down control of responses is a key construct in cognitive science that is thought to be critical for self-control. It is typically measured by subtracting performance in experimental conditions in which top-down control is theoretically present against performance in matched conditions in which it is assumed to be absent. Recently, however, subtraction-based metrics of top-down control have been criticized for having low test-retest reliability, weak intercorrelations, and little relation to self-report measures of self-control. Concurrently, there is growing evidence that task-general cognitive efficiency, indexed by the drift rate parameter of the diffusion model ( Ratcliff, 1978 ), constitutes a cohesive, reliable individual difference dimension relevant to self-control. However, no previous studies have directly compared latent factors for top-down control (derived from subtraction metrics) with factors for task-general efficiency “head-to-head” in the same sample in terms of their cohesiveness, temporal stability, and relation to self-control. In this re-analysis of a large open data set ( Eisenberg et al., 2019 ; N = 522), we find that top-down control metrics fail to form cohesive latent factors, that the resulting factors have poor temporal stability, and that they exhibit tenuous connections to questionnaire measures of self-control. In contrast, cognitive efficiency measures—drawn from conditions of the same tasks that both are, and are not, assumed to demand top-down control—form a robust, temporally stable factor that correlates with questionnaire measures of self-control. These findings suggest that task-general efficiency is a central individual difference dimension relevant to self-control. Moreover, they go beyond recent measurement-based critiques of top-down control metrics, and instead suggest problems with key theoretical assumptions that have long guided this research paradigm.
Una carta desconocida de pablo neruda

La carta inedita de Pablo Neruda que damos a conocer, en el afio en que se recuerdan los sesenta de la aparacion de Crepusculario y un decenio de la muerte de su autor, tiene especialisimo interes porque cubre un periodo intenso y mutante de su vida. Tras su regreso de la "temporada en los infiernos" que fue la estancia en Oriente (1927-1932), Neruda se reinstalo en Chile cautivo de una situacion economica que, por lo menos, podemos designar como dramatica. Por unos meses llevo una tediosa vida burocratica, cuyo hastio y vaciedad expresa bien un poema escrito en esos dias y mas tarde incorporado a Residencia en la tierra :"Desespediente". Poco despues, en agosto de 1933, salio con un minimo cargo consular, para servir bajo las ordenes de don Socrates Aguirre, padre de Margarita Aguirre, a quien tanto se debe en las investigaciones sobre la vida y la obra de Neruda. El poeta vivio unos meses en Buenos Aires; hizo alii excelentes amigos que le durarian : Norah Lange, Conrado Nale Roxlo, Pablo Rojas Paz y su esposa, "la Rubia" (Sara Tornu), Oliverio Girondo, Amado Villar, Raul Gonzalez Tunon y otros. Vio a menudo a la escritora chilena Maria Luisa Bombal que en 1935 iba a publicar un libro de veras renovador en el terreno de la nueva ficcion del Continente: La amortajada. Tal vez el hecho sobresaliente de los dias de Buenos Aires fue el conocimiento de Fedcrico Garcia Lorca, en casa de los Rojas Paz, el 13 de octu-
Global Competition for Power and Wealth: The Chinese Views of the World before and after the Great War

This chapter expands on Xu's argument by comparing Chinese geographical writings in the early 20th century. As with many places outside of Europe, the Chinese developed a keen interest in world geography during the 19th and 20th centuries when their country was incorporated into the global system of nation-states. To demonstrate the relationship between spatial knowledge and the global system of nation-states, it examines writings which appeared in the Journal of Geographical Studies (Dixue zazhi, 1910-37), the flagship publication by the first professional association for geographers, Chinese Geographical Society (Zhongguo dixue hui). The writings in the Journal of Geographical Studies both affirm and modify Xu Guoqi's argument. They affirm Xu's findings that there was indeed a fundamental shift in the Chinese view of the world before and after WWI. The chapter shows that for many Chinese of the early 20th century, the nation-state system was full of contradictions and incongruities. Keywords: Chinese Geographical Society; Journal of Geographical Studies ; Xu Guoqi
Divine Command Theory

This encyclopedia article defines and describes the Divine Command Theory and selected topics revolving around the Divine Command Theory.
Characterization by NMR of the heme-myoglobin adduct formed during the reductive metabolism of BrCCl3: Covalent bonding of the proximal histidine to the ring I vinyl group

The reductive debromination of BrCCl3 by ferrous deoxymyoglobin leads to the covalent bonding of the prosthetic heme to the protein. We have previously shown, by the use of peptide mapping and mass spectrometry, that histidine residue 93 is covalently bound to the heme moiety. In the present study the structure of the heme adduct was more completely determined by 1H and 13C NMR techniques. We have found that the ring I vinyl group of the prosthetic heme was altered by the addition of a histidine imidazole nitrogen to the alpha-carbon and a CCl2 moiety to the beta-carbon. The electronic absorption spectra of the oxidized and reduced states of the altered heme-protein indicated that the heme-iron exists in a bis-histidine-ligated form. Analysis of the crystal structure of native myoglobin suggested that for the altered heme-protein, histidine residues 97 and 64 are ligated to the heme-iron and that residue 97 has replaced the native proximal histidine residue 93. These movements, in effect a "histidine shuffle" at the active site, may be responsible for the enhanced reducing activity of the altered protein.
Intramyocardial injection of DNA encoding vascular endothelial growth factor in a myocardial infarction model.

In a previous study, we observed that one injection of 500 μg of DNA for the plasmid encoding for vascular endothelial growth factor (ph VEGF165) into one site in a rat myocardial infarction model resulted in neovascularization confined to angiomatous structures that did not contribute to regional myocardial blood flow. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a lower dose (125 μg DNA), which is the same as that being used in some clinical trials, injected into four separate sites could enhance collateral flow and vascularity to the ischemic bed without inducing angiomas. Rats received injections of 125 μg DNA of the plasmid encoding phVEGF165 or control DNA at four separate sites within the anterior free wall of the left ventricle (LV) supplied by the left coronary artery. The left coronary artery was ligated and hearts analyzed at 4 weeks. In vitro studies confirmed that the phVEGF165 used was capable of producing VEGF polypeptide in mammalian cells. The infarct size (percentage of endocardial circumference that infarcted) was similar in controls (42±6%) and treated hearts (39±7%); the LV cavity area did not differ between groups. The number of vascular structures per high-power field within the infarct scar was 10.50±0.68 in controls and 10.00±0.85 in phVEGF165-treated rats. Relative regional myocardial blood flow determined by radioactive microspheres and expressed as a ratio of radioactive counts within the scar divided by radioactive counts in the noninfarcted ventricular septum was similar in control (0.74±0.25) and treated hearts (0.88±0.30) (p=not significant). No angiomatous structures were observed. Injections of 125 μg of DNA of phVEGF165 into myocardium to become ischemic had no effect on infarct size or LV cavity size. Unlike higher doses of 500 μg of DNA, it did not cause gross angiomatous structures; however, it failed to improve neovascularization or regional myocardial blood flow in this rodent model of acute myocardial infarction.
Perspectives in Company Law and Financial Regulation: Learning from Eddy: a meditation upon organizational reform of financial supervision in Europe

In this essay written in honor of the retirement of Eddy Wymeersch, Professor Howell Jackson explores the manner in which European nations have moved towards more consolidated systems of financial regulation and discusses the implications of the European experience for the United States. While U.S. policy debates over regulatory reform often reduce to theoretical claims regarding the benefits and pitfalls of consolidation, the consolidation of oversight within the members states of the European Union offers many concrete examples of how consolidated supervision actually works. European experience demonstrates that there are many different ways in which to implement consolidated regulation, and often times the process of consolidation occurs gradually over a number of years. In addition to the expected advantages of increased efficiency and the elimination of regulatory gaps, European experience suggests that consolidated regulatory agencies often attract higher quality personnel and do a better job maintaining consistency across different sectors of the financial services industry. In addition, European reforms have devised a number of mechanisms to ensure that consolidated agencies remain politically accountable and resolve policy conflicts in an efficient and timely manner.
Multicultural Career Counseling: Ten Essentials for Training:

In the past 20 years, several changes have taken place within the field of counseling and psychology with regard to practice and research with individuals from racial/ethnic groups. At the same time, the United States population has experienced a dramatic shift in its composition. Both have contributed to transformations in graduate training. This article will highlight salient aspects from the multicultural literature regarding culturally competent practice and apply it to the training of vocational counselors.
Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer Progression After Castration

The dominant driver of malignant behavior for most prostate cancers is the androgen receptor (AR). AR signaling may act at the genesis of the disease to trigger the appearance of rearrangements between AR-regulated genes, such as TMPRSS2, and transcription factor genes, such as ERG, and in turn, the products of such fusion genes, now regulated by AR, function to prevent terminal differentiation and to promote invasive tumor growth and metastatic dissemination. Interference with AR function has served as the principal treatment for advanced prostate cancer for more than seven decades. However, despite the well-known benefits of androgen deprivation therapy, disease progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has proven inevitable. CRPC appears to evolve via two major mechanisms: one with maintained AR signaling (AR “addiction”) and the other without (escape from AR “addiction”). In this chapter, the molecular features of AR “addicted” and non-AR “addicted” cancers will be reviewed.
In vivo bisphenol-A exposure in combination with high-fat diet modulates murine innate immune responses (INC6P.345)

The recent obesity epidemic has led to an expansion in our understanding of the link between adipose tissue and inflammation. The prevalent use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in food containers and other products provides an additional environmental challenge to the immune system. BPA disrupts the action of physiologic estrogens by binding to estrogen receptors and has previously been shown to impact immune responses. We explored the combined effects of high-fat diet and in vivo BPA exposure on spleen innate immune mediators. BPA treatment (2.5 or 25.0 ug/kg body weight per day; 4 weeks) reduced the LPS-induced secretion of KC chemokine, a neutrophil chemotaxin, by 25% and 40% respectively in normal diet mice, with a more dramatic BPA-induced decrease in KC secretion observed in high-fat fed mice. High-fat diet increased TNF-α mRNA expression overall compared to normal diet, and high dose-BPA reduced LPS-stimulated TNF-α mRNA expression in both normal (19%) and high-fat fed (34%) mice. High-fat fed mice also had a greater increase in LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression than normal diet mice, with BPA modulating expression in both groups in a dose dependent manner. High-fat diet and low dose BPA exposure increased non-fasting blood glucose levels by 30% on average when compared to control normal diet mice. These data demonstrate that peripubertal BPA exposure dampens aspects of innate immune function and that BPA combined with high-fat diet may disrupt glucose metabolism.
An image coding algorithm based on a class of doubly stochastic image models

The authors present a novel image coding algorithm based on a class of image models known as doubly stochastic Gaussian models (DSGM). They exploit the nonhomogeneous nature of images by a space-variant autoregressive representation that switches in a set of linear predictive submodels. The switch is controlled by a 2-D Markov chain. The coder is a DPCM (differential pulse code modulation) system that is given the submodel (predictor) coefficients. In order to obtain these predictors, a recursive state estimation of the underlying Markov chain is done. This combination provides the doubly recursive prediction nature of this algorithm. Two coding schemes based on this structure are introduced. The first is a backward adaptation DPCM coder that needs very few side information bits. The other transmits codes for both model indices and quantized prediction residuals. Experimental results for different bit rates are presented. >
Confidence estimation with discrete reliability growth models

Abstract Interest in modeling reliability growth has motivated the introduction of discrete time versions of the Crow continuous time non-homogeneous Poisson process. The discrete reliability growth model applies to well defined trials that result in success or failure. Extending the results of Bhattacharyya, Fries and Johnson (1989) to unequal numbers of trials per equipment configuration, we investigate the large sample properties of some estimators that are analogous to those of the continuous model. Large sample confidence intervals are obtained for the parameters and the reliability at the last stage of testing.
U(VI) adsorption on aquifer sediments at the Hanford Site.

Abstract Aquifer sediments collected via split-spoon sampling in two new groundwater wells in the 200-UP-1 operable unit at the Hanford Site were characterized and showed typical Ringold Unit E Formation properties dominated by gravel and sand. High iron-oxide content in Fe oxide/clay coatings caused the highest U(VI) adsorption as quantified by batch K d values, indicating iron oxides are the key solid adsorbent in the 200-UP-1 sediments that affect U(VI) fate and mobility. Even though U(VI) adsorption on the gravel-sized fraction of the sediments is considered to be negligible, careful characterization should be conducted to determine U(VI) adsorption on gravel, because of presence of Fe oxides coatings and diffusion-controlled adsorption into the gravel particles' interior surfaces. A linear adsorption isotherm was observed up to 10 − 6 M (238 μg/L) of total U(VI) concentration in batch U(VI) adsorption tests with varying total U(VI) concentrations in spiked groundwater. U(VI) adsorption decreased with increasing concentrations of dissolved carbonate, because strong anionic aqueous uranium–carbonate complexes formed at high pH and high alkalinity conditions. Noticeable uranium desorption hysteresis was observed in a flow-through column experiment, suggesting that desorption K d values for aged uranium-contaminated sediments at the Hanford Site can be larger than adsorption K d values determined in short-term laboratory experiments and slow uranium release from contaminated sediments into the groundwater is expected.
Gastric evacuation rate, index of fullness, and daily ration of Lake Michigan slimy (Cottus cognatus) and deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsonii)

Abstract Accurate estimates of fish consumption are required to understand trophic interactions and facilitate ecosystem-based fishery management. Despite their importance within the food-web, no method currently exists to estimate daily consumption for Great Lakes slimy ( Cottus cognatus ) and deepwater sculpin ( Myoxocephalus thompsonii ). We conducted experiments to estimate gastric evacuation (GEVAC) and collected field data from Lake Michigan to estimate index of fullness [(g prey/g fish weight)100%) to determine daily ration for water temperatures ranging 2–5 °C, coinciding with the winter and early spring season. Exponential GEVAC rates equaled 0.0115/h for slimy sculpin and 0.0147/h for deepwater sculpin, and did not vary between 2.7 °C and 5.1 °C for either species or between prey types ( Mysis relicta and fish eggs) for slimy sculpin. Index of fullness varied with fish size, and averaged 1.93% and 1.85% for slimy and deepwater sculpins, respectively. Maximum index of fullness was generally higher (except for the smallest sizes) for both species in 2009–2010 than in 1976 despite reductions in a primary prey, Diporeia spp. Predictive daily ration equations were derived as a function of fish dry weight. Estimates of daily consumption ranged from 0.2 to 0.8% of their body weight, which was within the low range of estimates from other species at comparably low water temperatures. These results provide a tool to estimate the consumptive demand of sculpins which will improve our understanding of benthic offshore food webs and aid in management and restoration of these native species in the Great Lakes.
“It Was Very Rewarding for Me …”: Senior Volunteers’ Experiences With Implementing a Reminiscence and Creative Activity Intervention

Purpose of the study To describe the experience of recruiting, training, and retaining retired senior volunteers (RSVs) as interventionists delivering a successful reminiscence and creative activity intervention to community-dwelling palliative care patients and their caregivers. Design and methods A community-based participatory research framework involved Senior Corps RSV programs. Recruitment meetings and feedback groups yielded interested volunteers, who were trained in a 4-hr session using role plays and real-time feedback. Qualitative descriptive analysis identified themes arising from: (a) recruitment/feedback groups with potential RSV interventionists; and (b) individual interviews with RSVs who delivered the intervention. Results Themes identified within recruitment/feedback groups include questions about intervention process, concerns about patient health, positive perceptions of the intervention, and potential characteristics of successful interventionists. Twelve RSVs achieved 89.8% performance criterion in treatment delivery. Six volunteers worked with at least one family and 100% chose to work with additional families. Salient themes identified from exit interviews included positive and negative aspects of the experience, process recommendations, reactions to the Interventionist Manual, feelings arising during work with patient/caregiver participants, and personal reflections. Volunteers reported a strong desire to recommend the intervention to others as a meaningful volunteer opportunity. Implications RSVs reported having a positive impact on palliative care dyads and experiencing personal benefit via increased meaning in life. Two issues require further research attention: (a) further translation of this cost-effective mode of treatment delivery for palliative dyads and (b) further characterization of successful RSVs and the long-term impact on their own physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning.
Dynamic polarization of 13C in ethylene-1,2-13C2 glucol☆

Abstract The 13 C nuclei in ethylene-1,2- 13 C 2 glycol have been dynamically polarized to 28%. The material appears suited for use as a polarized nuclear target for intermediate energy hadron+ 13 C scattering experiments.
Bivariate n-term rational approximation

We study nonlinear approximation in Lp(R2), 0 〈 p 〈 ∞, from n-term rational functions. Our main result relates n-term rational approxmation in Lp to nonlinear approximation from a broad class of piecewise polynomials over multilevel triangulations allowing a lot of flexibility and, in particular, arbitrarily sharp angles. This relationship and the existing estimates for spline approximation give a Jackson estimate for n-term rational approximation in terms of a minimal smoothness norm over a large collection of anisotropic Besov-type spaces (B-spaces).
Bodily synchronization underlying joke telling

Advances in video and time series analysis have greatly enhanced our ability to study the bodily synchronization that occurs in natural interactions. Past research has demonstrated that the behavioral synchronization involved in social interactions is similar to dynamical synchronization found generically in nature. The present study investigated how the bodily synchronization in a joke telling task is spread across different nested temporal scales. Pairs of participants enacted knock-knock jokes and times series of their bodily activity were recorded. Coherence and relative phase analyses were used to evaluate the synchronization of bodily rhythms for the whole trial as well as at the subsidiary time scales of the whole joke, the setup of the punch line, the two-person exchange and the utterance. The analyses revealed greater than chance entrainment of the joke teller’s and joke responder’s movements at all time scales and that the relative phasing of the teller’s movements led those of the responder at the longer time scales. Moreover, this entrainment was greater when visual information about the partner’s movements was present but was decreased particularly at the shorter time scales when explicit gesturing in telling the joke was performed. In short, the results demonstrate that a complex interpersonal bodily “dance” occurs during structured conversation interactions and that this “dance” is constructed from a set of rhythms associated with the nested behavioral structure of the interaction.
Measurement and Perturbation of Morphogen Lifetime: Effects on Gradient Shape

Protein lifetime is of critical importance for most biological processes and plays a central role in cell signaling and embryonic development, where it impacts the absolute concentration of signaling molecules and, potentially, the shape of morphogen gradients. Early conceptual and mathematical models of gradient formation proposed that steady-state gradients are established by an equilibration between the lifetime of a morphogen and its rates of synthesis and diffusion, though whether gradients in fact reach steady state before being read out is a matter of controversy. In any case, this class of models predicts that protein lifetime is a key determinant of both the time to steady state and the spatial extent of a gradient. Using a method that employs repeated photoswitching of a fusion of the morphogen Bicoid (Bcd) and the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Dronpa, we measure and modify the lifetime of Dronpa-Bcd in living Drosophila embryos. We find that the lifetime of Bcd is dynamic, changing from 50 min before mitotic cycle 14 to 15 min during cellularization. Moreover, by measuring total quantities of Bcd over time, we find that the gradient does not reach steady state. Finally, using a nearly continuous low-level conversion to the dark state of Dronpa-Bcd to mimic the effect of increased degradation, we demonstrate that perturbation of protein lifetime changes the characteristic length of the gradient, providing direct support for a mechanism based on synthesis, diffusion, and degradation.
The effects of expectancy upon electrodermal responses to signaled stimuli

The research evaluates the role of expectancy in determining magnitude of electrodermal response to a moderately loud noise. Main emphasis was upon comparisons of response magnitudes when the intensity received confirmed that which was expected and when the intensity received was different from that expected. Based on preliminary observations which suggested that response magnitudes shifted in a direction corresponding to stimulus intensity expected, the experiment varied direction of change and evaluated subjective intensity of stimuli received, as well as magnitude of electrodermal responding. Perceived intensities of the noise stimuli were influenced by the direction of shift in the same fashion as electrodermal response magnitudes. Examination of factors determining electrodermal responses to the noises showed several contributing variables: the direction of shift from expectation, the subjective intensity of stimuli, and the amount of anticipatory electrodermal activity just prior to noise onset.
An overview of the role of edible insects in preserving biodiversity

In this discussion the principle is adopted that factors tending to increase food and/or income for economically marginal rural families, while decreasing pressure for land‐clearing, pesticides and intensive agriculture, will tend to favor the preservation of biodiversity and a sustainable future. The great diversity of habitats of insect species that serve as traditional foods presents an almost endless diversity of situations in which recognition and enlightened management of the food insect resource can result not only in better human nutrition but simultaneously aid in maintaining diversity of habitats for other forms of life. Approaches include: 1) Enhancing forest conservation and management by acting on the desire of local populations for protection of traditional insect foods (i.e., caterpillars in Zambia and Zaire) 2) Reducing poaching in parks and wildlife preserves by allowing sustainable use of the food insect resources by the local people (i.e., caterpillars in Malawi) 3) Reducing pesticide u...
White Crappie Summer Movements and Habitat Use in Delaware Reservoir, Ohio

Abstract Adult white crappies Pomoxis annularis were radio-tagged to determine summer movement patterns and habitat preferences in Delaware Reservoir, a 532-hectare flood control reservoir in central Ohio. Movements of 29 white crappies (271–352 mm total length) increased at dusk, peaked at night, declined at dawn, and remained low throughout the day. Day and night movements averaged 17 and 47 m/h in 1988 and 9 and 28 m/h in 1989, respectively. Movement was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) between 2200 and 0200 hours than it was for all time periods between 0600 and 2000 hours in 1988 and between 0800 and 2200 hours in 1989. Peak movements occurred when measurable light intensity approached zero. Greater movements also occurred during times of high barometric pressure and during times of little change in barometric pressure. Transmitter signal strength, calibrated to estimate fish depth, indicated that white crappies were generally deeper during the day (5.4 m) than at night (4.3 m). Ten high-use areas we...
The carbohydrate content of IgG from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Summary: We compare the complete carbohydrate composition of IgG purified from the serum of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with that of control subjects. Our results indicate that IgG from cystic fibrosis patients is underglycosylated with respect to galactose and sialic acid, the two terminal sugars on the antennae of the complex-type oligosaccharide chains found on IgG. The galactose content, as determined by gas liquid chromatography, was 2.81 ± 0.86 (S.D.) molefmole of IgG for normal subjects versus 1.5 ± 0.39 for CF subjects (P < 0.025). Sialic acid content, as determined by the Warren procedure, was 1.33 ± 0.39 for normals versus 0.47 ± 0.10 for CF subjects (P < 0.001). Neither galactose nor sialic acid values for the two groups overlapped. The contents of the core sugars, mannose and glucosamine, and of fucose were not significantly different. When the data are expressed as residues per 3 moles mannose, similar results are obtained. We suggest that immune complex formation, which has been documented in many CF patients, exposes sugar chains of IgG molecules to hydrolytic activity of serum glucosidases, resulting in partial removal of the more peripheral sugars. Because serum glycoproteins missing sialic acid and galactose are not readily cleared from the circulation, the observed changes may contribute to elevated levels of IgG and immune complexes in older people with CF.
Dose-dependent facilitation or supression of rat fighting by methamphetamine, phenobarbital, or imipramine.

To clarify the effects of different doses of methamphetamine HCl, Na phenobarbital, and imipramine HCl on aggressive behavior, the drugs were administered to pairs of rats trained to regularly fight on an electric shock grid. Fighting time and motor activity were measured during the shock sessions. Each drug was given to a different group of rats, in the following doses (mg/kg i.p.): methamphetamine HCl 0, 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, and 4; Na phenobarbital 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80; imipramine HCl 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20. At lower doses methamphetamine and phenobarbital both stimulated fighting behavior, and at higher doses both reduced it. Motor activity rose above control with lower doses of both of these drugs; it fell markedly with higher doses of phenobarbital, while remaining elevated at higher doses of methamphetamine. Imipramine reduced fighting time at higher doses. The results show that, depending upon the dose, the “stimulant”, methamphetamine, and the “sedative”, phenobarbital, can both increase or decrease aggressive behaviors. Together with previous animal studies, these findings fit with clinical observations that amphetamines and barbiturates can increase aggressive behavior, and suggest that dose may be important in that increase.
The Russian Economy in 2008: Testing the "Market Economy"

In Russia, the market system that arose out of the financial crisis of a decade earlier faced its first major challenge in the second half of 2008. The Russian response to this crisis provides a defining event for the Russian market economy. Drawing on macroeconomic statistics and newspaper coverage, the article uses the crisis as a lens for focusing on the nature of the Russian economy in 2008, and on the defining characteristics behind its response to the crisis. The beginnings of a systematic response that tells us much about the state of the Russian economy in 2008 is already evident.
Polyelectrolyte Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes as Efficient Metal-free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction

Having a strong electron-withdrawing ability, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) was used to create net positive charge for carbon atoms in the nanotube carbon plane via intermolecular charge transfer. The resultant PDDA functionalized/adsorbed carbon nanotubes (CNTs), either in an aligned or nonaligned form, were demonstrated to act as metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells with similar performance as Pt catalysts. The adsorption-induced intermolecular charge-transfer should provide a general approach to various carbon-based efficient metal-free ORR catalysts for oxygen reduction in fuel cells, and even new catalytic materials for applications beyond fuel cells.