cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application development on hybrid systems

Hybrid systems consisting of a multitude of different computing device types are interesting targets for high-performance applications. Chip multiprocessors, FPGAs, DSPs, and GPUs can be readily put together into a hybrid system; however, it is not at all clear that one can effectively deploy applications on such a system. Coordinating multiple languages, especially very different languages like hardware and software languages, is awkward and error prone. Additionally, implementing communication mechanisms between different device types unnecessarily increases development time. This is compounded by the fact that the application developer, to be effective, needs performance data about the application early in the design cycle. We describe an application development environment specifically targeted at hybrid systems, supporting data-flow semantics between application kernels deployed on a variety of device types. A specific feature of the development environment is the availability of performance estimates (via simulation) prior to actual deployment on a physical system.
Parascapular muscle atrophy as a delayed effect of radiation treatment

A 73-year-old man presented to the neuromuscular clinic when his wife noted scalloping of his back muscles. He had neither noticed this muscle loss nor felt any weakness or sensory symptoms. He was treated for testicular cancer 35 years ago with abdominal surgery and had undergone mediastinal and para-aortic irradiation to treat the lymphatic …
Entropy and Coding

Let us consider a 2-bit quantizer that represents quantized values using the following set of quantization indexes: f0; 1; 2; 3g: Each quantization index given above is called a source symbol, or simply a symbol, and the set is called a symbol set. When applied to quantize a sequence of input samples, the quantizer produces a sequence of quantization indexes, such as the following: 1; 2; 1; 0; 1; 2; 1; 2; 1; 0; 1; 2; 2; 1; 2; 1; 2; 3; 2; 1; 2; 1; 1; 2; 1; 0; 1; 2; 1; 2: Called a source sequence, it needs to be represented by or converted to a sequence of codewords or codes that are suitable for transmission over a variety of channels. The primary concern is that the average codeword length is minimized so that the transmission of the source sequence demands a lower bit rate.
Hot Electron Transistor with van der Waals Base-Collector Heterojunction and High-Performance GaN Emitter

Single layer graphene is an ideal material for the base layer of hot electron transistors (HETs) for potential terahertz (THz) applications. The ultrathin body and exceptionally long mean free path maximizes the probability for ballistic transport across the base of the HET. We demonstrate for the first time the operation of a high-performance HET using a graphene/WSe2 van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure as a base-collector barrier. The resulting device with a GaN/AlN heterojunction as emitter, exhibits a current density of 50 A/cm2, direct current gain above 3 and 75% injection efficiency, which are record values among graphene-base HETs. These results not only provide a scheme to overcome the limitations of graphene-base HETs toward THz operation but are also the first demonstration of a GaN/vdW heterostructure in HETs, revealing the potential for novel electronic and optoelectronic applications.
Singular-Value Decomposition Feature-Extraction Method for Cost-Performance Prediction

AbstractEarned value analysis (EVA) is a popular method used in the construction industry for cost prediction at completion. However, EVA fails to yield accurate early cost projection because of th...
Locating Algerian literature in world literature

How do current theories of world literature construct their object and how do they map world literary space? This article examines these questions in light of the reception of “Global South” or “po...
Defective positioning in granulomas but not lung-homing limits CD4 T-cell interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis -infected macrophages in rhesus macaques

Protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection requires CD4 T cells to migrate into the lung and interact with infected macrophages. In mice, less-differentiated CXCR3+ CD4 T cells migrate into the lung and suppress growth of Mtb, whereas CX3CR1+ terminally differentiated Th1 cells accumulate in the blood vasculature and do not control pulmonary infection. Here we examine CD4 T-cell differentiation and lung homing during primary Mtb infection of rhesus macaques. Mtb-specific CD4 T cells simultaneously appeared in the airways and blood ∼21-28 days post exposure, indicating that recently primed effectors are quickly recruited into the lungs after entering circulation. Mtb-specific CD4 T cells in granulomas display a tissue-parenchymal CXCR3+CX3CR1-PD-1hiCTLA-4+ phenotype. However, most granuloma CD4 T cells are found within the outer lymphocyte cuff and few localize to the myeloid cell core containing the bacilli. Using the intravascular stain approach, we find essentially all Mtb-specific CD4 T cells in granulomas have extravasated across the vascular endothelium into the parenchyma. Therefore, it is unlikely to be that lung-homing defects introduced by terminal differentiation limit the migration of CD4 T cells into granulomas following primary Mtb infection of macaques. However, intralesional positioning defects within the granuloma may pose a major barrier to T-cell-mediated immunity during tuberculosis.
Effect of cane length and swing arc width on drop-off and obstacle detection with the long cane:

A repeated-measures design with block randomization was used for the study, in which 15 adults with visual impairments attempted to detect the drop-offs and obstacles with the canes of different lengths, swinging the cane in different widths (narrow vs wide). Participants detected the drop-offs significantly more reliably with the standard-length cane (79.5% ± 6.5% of the time) than with the extended-length cane (67.6% ± 9.1%), p <.001. The drop-off detection threshold of the standard-length cane (4.1 ± 1.1 cm) was also significantly smaller than that of the extended-length cane (6.5±1.8cm), p <.001. In addition, participants detected drop-offs at a significantly higher percentage when they swung the cane approximately 3 cm beyond the widest part of the body (78.6% ± 7.6%) than when they swung it substantially wider (30 cm; 68.5% ± 8.3%), p <.001. In contrast, neither cane length (p =.074) nor cane swing arc width (p =.185) had a significant effect on obstacle detection performance. The findings of the study may help orientation and mobility specialists recommend appropriate cane length and cane swing arc width to visually impaired cane users.
Ras Signaling in C. Elegans

C. elegans is one of several model genetic organisms that have contributed substantially to our understanding of the role ras plays in signal transduction and development. Although ras has many developmental roles in C. elegans, it was the unbiased genetic identification and analysis of genes affecting vulval development that first provided a picture of ras function in a universal RTK-RAS-MAPK pathway. However, beyond the discovery of this seemingly simple linear pathway, C. elegans has furthered our appreciation for the complexities inherent in the regulation of RAS signaling. In this chapter, we summarize our current understanding of RAS signaling in C. elegans
Do “Resource‐Cursed States” Have Lower Levels of Social and Institutional Trust? Evidence from Africa and Latin America

Objective This study examines whether a state's abundance of natural resource wealth, such as oil or gas, leads to lower levels of social and institutional trust than in countries that are not as “cursed” with resources. Methods To test this we use survey data from both the Afrobarometer survey (2008–2009) and comparable data on Latin America from the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP), using 44 countries, as well as subnational data from two large oil‐producing countries (Nigeria and Mexico). Results Using multilevel logit analysis we find that individuals in countries that are oil and gas producers are less likely to exhibit high levels of social or institutional trust than individuals in countries that are not oil or gas producers. However, when examining oil‐producing regions within Nigeria and Mexico, we find that individuals in such regions tend to express relatively higher levels of individual social and institutional trust than regions that are not oil producers. Conclusion These findings can be explained by the differential effects of oil and gas wealth—at the national level, oil and gas wealth promotes corruption and a general erosion of both institutional and interpersonal trust, especially for those who live in regions that do not directly benefit from oil and gas revenues. However, in regions within countries, people who reside in such regions are more likely to directly benefit from the economic spoils and patronage derived from resource revenues.
Magnetic phase transition induced by electrostatic gating in two-dimensional square metal-organic frameworks

We investigate theoretically magnetism and magnetic phase transitions induced by electrostatic gating of two-dimensional square metal-organic framework compounds. We find that electrostatic gating can induce phase transitions between homogeneous ferromagnetic and various spin-textured antiferromagnetic states. Electronic structure and Wannier function analysis can reveal hybridizations between transition-metal $d$ orbitals and conjugated $\ensuremath{\pi}$ orbitals in the organic framework. Mn-containing compounds exhibit a strong $d\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ hybridization that leads to partially occupied spin-minority bands, in contrast to compounds containing transition-metal ions other than Mn, for which electronic structure around the Fermi energy is only slightly spin split due to weak $d\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ hybridization and the magnetic interaction is of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida type. We use a ferromagnetic Kondo lattice model to understand the phase transition in Mn-containing compounds in terms of carrier density and illuminate the complexity and the potential to control two-dimensional magnetization.
between Pachamama and Mother Earth: gender, political ontology and the rights of nature in contemporary Bolivia

Focusing on contemporary Bolivia, this article examines promises and pitfalls of political and legal initiatives that have turned Pachamama into a subject of rights. The conferral of rights on the indigenous earth being had the potential to unsettle the Western ontological distinction between active human subjects who engage in politics and passive natural resources. This essay, however, highlights some paradoxical effects of the rights of nature in Bolivia, where Evo Morales’ model of development relies on the intensification of the export-oriented extractive economy. Through the analysis of a range of texts, including paintings, legal documents, political speeches and activist interventions, I consider the equivocation between the normatively gendered Mother Earth that the state recognises as the subject of rights, and the figure of Pachamama evoked by feminist and indigenous activists. Pachamama, I suggest, has been incorporated into the Bolivian state as a being whose generative capacities have been translated into a rigid gender binary. As a gendered subject of rights, Pachamama/Mother Earth is exposed to governmental strategies that ultimately increase its subordination to state power. The concluding remarks foreground the import of feminist perspectives in yielding insights concerning political ontological conflicts.
Sustainable Waste-to-Energy Technologies: Fermentation

Abstract The food industry contributes significantly to the global economy, and there is great interest in continuously improving economic and environmental performance in this sector. At the same time, depletion of natural resources and the rising price of raw materials draw attention to the need to develop fuels from renewable energy sources, especially waste materials. Production of biofuels, particularly fuel alcohols using lignocellulosic biomass, has gained increased interest over the last decade. As the cost of processing lignocellulosic raw materials is very high, it is reasonable to evaluate cheaper and renewable raw materials like food waste to produce fuel alcohols and other clean fuels like hydrogen. Food waste is a rich source of nutrients for microbes and can be converted to biofuels using fermentation processes. This not only contributes to development of low-carbon renewable fuels like ethanol, butanol, and hydrogen, but also helps in effective utilization of wastes resources from the food sector to obtain economic and environmental benefits. Integrating fuel production from food waste into existing biofuel infrastructure can be very economical, since food waste can generally be obtained at low or zero cost. However, several technological and economic barriers must be addressed to commercialize biofuel production from food wastes.
Program Directors' Perceptions of School Counselor Roles

School counseling program directors hold unique positions as both administrators and school counselors. Research to date has not explored the status of professional school counseling from the persp...
Integrating Sensor Buoys into a Marine Robotics Algorithm Validation Testbed

Clean water is an important and critical resource that still has minimal protection. This was demonstrated during the Gold King Mine spill on August 7, 2015. An event that released three-million gallons of toxic, acid-mine drainage into the Animas River. In response to this accident, students at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, USA developed a network of autonomous surface vehicles to monitor water quality within the local reservoirs that hold the primary potable water supply for the region. In addition to water quality monitoring, these autonomous surface vehicles are used for persistent data collection and multi-robot, cooperative algorithm testing. Static sensor buoys were recently added to this fleet to create a heterogeneous network that can provide high-resolution data collection in areas of interest. The sensor buoys were fabricated in-house, using off-the-shelf electronics and Internet of Things devices. This paper presents the design of these buoys and the data flow from the deployed nodes to cloud databases and websites that display the water quality data from these reservoirs to the public.
TEACHING METHOD: English for Craft Students — 3

GREAT STRESS must be placed on oral work in the English syllabus for any craft course. If the students are not engaged in listening and speaking during at least half the time allocated to English they are not benefiting as fully as they might. But though such an allocation of time to oral work may even be made in the syllabus, in actual practice this proportion is, for various reasons, not often reached.
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome: Ocular Signs and Symptoms.

Background:To evaluate ocular signs and symptoms in Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and determine the frequency of ophthalmic involvement.Methods:A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients diagnosed with LEMS at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, from January, 1976, to Dec
A new flow pattern map for flow boiling of R410A in horizontal micro-fin tubes considering the effect of the helix angle

Abstract This paper presents an improved flow pattern map for flow boiling in horizontal micro-fin tubes considering the effect of helix angle. The proposed map is modified from the one developed for horizontal smooth tubes by Wojtan et al. (2005) and takes the early transition to annular flow due to micro-fin geometry into account. Visualization of R410A flow boiling is carried out through the transparent smooth and micro-fin tubes with 0°, 10° and 18° helix angle and plotted on the proposed map for comparison. The result shows that the flow pattern map for micro-fin tube with 0° helix angle is generally similar to that for the smooth tube. For the tube with 10° and 18° helix angle, the annular flow occurs at lower vapor quality and lower mass flux. The proposed map shows good agreements when compared with the visualization and reflects the downward shift (to lower mass flux and vapor quality conditions) of the SW-WA transition with the increase of the helix angle. In order to further validate the proposed model, the flow pattern transitions calculated from the equations are also compared with the experimental data of the micro-fin tube in literature. The results show that the modified map increase the prediction accuracy of the flow patterns in the micro-fin tube.
Advances in Technologies to Improve Ventricular Ablation Safety and Efficacy

This review focuses on advances within the field of cardiac electrophysiology that have helped to improve the safety and efficacy of ventricular arrhythmia ablation. Improvements in three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping systems and catheters allow providers to generate high-resolution maps in less time while identifying critical areas of arrhythmogenic substrate with greater efficiency and possibly better accuracy. Advanced imaging integration into the mapping systems have improved pre- and periprocedural planning and safety. Novel ablation catheters and techniques have improved the ability to target and deliver effective lesions to areas that are critical in sustaining ventricular arrhythmias. Risk prediction algorithms have been developed to improve the ability to determine those undergoing VA ablation that are at highest risk for acute hemodynamic decompensation, and for whom hemodynamic mechanical support should be instituted, allowing for this therapy to be able to be more safely performed in even those with advanced heart failure. Finally, emerging techniques undergoing development may further improve the safety and efficacy of ventricular arrhythmia management. Recent advancements in the field of cardiac electrophysiology now enable us to approach ablation of ventricular arrhythmias with increasing precision, safety, and success. With the increasing tools available to the electrophysiologist, ventricular arrhythmia ablations can be offered to increasing larger scope of patients with positive outcomes.
Neighborhood-level measures of socioeconomic status are more correlated with individual-level measures in urban areas compared with less urban areas

Abstract Purpose We tested the hypothesis that individual- and neighborhood-level measures of socioeconomic status (SES) are more concordant in urban than rural areas, and we used the previously established association between obesity and self-rated health to illustrate the effect of residual confounding by individual-level SES when only neighborhood-level SES is considered. Methods Using data from two population-based surveys, we calculated Spearman's rank correlations between household income and neighborhood socioeconomic advantage across eight Pennsylvania counties. We applied multivariable Poisson regression models with robust variance estimates to estimate the degree to which individual SES confounds the association between obesity and self-rated health when the analysis accounts for neighborhood SES only, and we examined how this confounding varied by county urbanicity. Results Concordance between household income and neighborhood advantage increased with county urbanicity (ρ = 0.16–0.26 vs. 0.31–0.45 vs. 0.47 in medium metro/micropolitan, suburban, and large metro counties, respectively), while confounding by individual SES on the obesity and self-rated health association decreased with urbanicity (15%–22% vs. 6%–13% vs. 3% in medium metro/micropolitan, suburban, and large metro counties, respectively). Conclusions Individual- and neighborhood-level SES measures are poorly correlated outside of urban areas, suggesting that neighborhood-level measures inadequately account for individual SES in rural settings.
Retirement and health: Evidence from England

This paper utilizes census records, inpatient records, comprehensive surveys, and mortality records from England to trace out the effect of reaching retirement age on retirement status and health outcomes. Applying a regression discontinuity design leveraging the pension age, I find that retirement substantially improves well-being and reported health. I find no immediate effect of retirement on behavioral outcomes and no evidence of changes to cognitive ability, utilization, or mortality. While prior literature has considered the effects of retirement on specific outcomes, this paper systematically examines the full range of health-related outcomes with administrative and survey data in a unified context.
Phenylalanine Mutation to Cyclohexylalanine Facilitates Triangular Trimer Formation by β-Hairpins Derived from Aβ

Oligomers of the β-amyloid peptide, Aβ, play a central role in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Trimers and higher-order oligomers composed of trimers are thought to be the most neurotoxic Aβ oligomers. To gain insights into the structure and assembly of Aβ oligomers, our laboratory has previously designed and synthesized macrocyclic peptides derived from Aβ17-23 and Aβ30-36 that fold to form β-hairpins and assemble to form trimers. In this study, we found that mutating Phe20 to cyclohexylalanine (Cha) in macrocyclic Aβ-derived peptides promotes crystallization of an Aβ-derived peptide containing the Aβ24-29 loop (peptide 3F20Cha) and permits elucidation of its structure and assembly by X-ray crystallography. X-ray crystallography shows that peptide 3F20Cha forms a hexamer. X-ray crystallography and SDS-PAGE further show that trimer 4F20Cha, a covalently stabilized trimer derived from peptide 3F20Cha, forms a dodecamer. Size exclusion chromatography shows that trimer 4F20Cha forms higher-order assemblies in solution. Trimer 4F20Cha exhibits cytotoxicity against the neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. These studies demonstrate the use of the F20Cha mutation to further stabilize oligomers of Aβ-derived peptides that contain more of the native sequence and thus better mimic the oligomers formed by full-length Aβ.
Fast Characterization of Catalysts by a New Thermal Method

An evolved gas analysis system is described for the quick detection and characterization of catalysts. In this method the sample is heated linearly with temperature with and without the catalyst, and the observed change in the peak temperature of the reaction is used as a measure of the effectiveness of the catalyst.
Analysis of Natural Convection in Horizontal Concentric Annuli of Varying Inner Shape

An investigation is presented of free convection in horizontal concentric annuli of varying with inner shape where the inner and outer surfaces are kept at a constant temperature. The simulation is categorized into four groups based on the shape of the inner entity, which is either cylindrical, elliptical, square, or triangular. Flow and thermal fields are exhibited by means of streamlines and isotherms. Overall heat transfer correlations incorporating thermal radiation are established and presented in terms of the Nusselt number. It is observed that the surface radiation and presence of corners and larger top space enhances the heat transfer rate. As the reference temperature increases, surface radiation plays a more prominent role in the overall heat transfer performance.
The epigenome as a molecular marker and target

Tumor cell proliferation, de-differentiation, and progression depend on a complex combination of altered cell cycle regulation, excessive growth factor pathway activation, and decreased apoptosis. The understanding of these complex mechanisms should lead to the identification of potential molecular markers, targets, and molecular profiles that should eventually expand and improve therapeutic intervention. It now appears clear that methylation plays a central role in transformation, both in vitro and in vivo. However, the exact targets and mechanism(s) are not yet fully understood. This is partly due to the significant number of genes altered by changes in intracellular methyltransferase activity and the chemical agents used to modulate gene expression. The complex nature of methylation's role in regulating gene expression suggests that in addition to investigating individual genes, researchers should develop more comprehensive methods to examine gene expression patterns and their predictive value as this will likely be necessary in the future. If methylation plays a role in transformation, then it seems logical that genes regulating intracellular methylation status may be used as molecular markers to profile tumors by any new methods currently being developed. Perhaps more noteworthy is that DNMT genes may be found to be novel molecular targets for new factor-specific anticancer agents. This idea will be addressed.
Are technological and social networks really different

The use of the Pearson coefficient (denoted r) to characterize graph assortativity has been applied to networks from a variety of domains. Often, the graphs being compared are vastly different, as measured by their size (i.e., number of nodes and arcs) as well as their aggregate connectivity (i.e., degree sequence D). Although the hypothetical range for the Pearson coefficient is [−1,+1], we show by systematically rewiring 38 example networks while preserving simplicity and connectedness that the actual lower limit may be far from −1 and also that when restricting attention to graphs that are connected and simple, the upper limit is often very far from +1. As a result, when interpreting the r-values of two different graphs it is important to consider not just their direct comparison but their values relative to the possible ranges for each respectively. Furthermore, network domain (“social” or “technological”) is not a reliable predictor of the sign of r. Finally, we show that networks with observed r<0 are constrained by their D to have a range of possible r which is mostly <0, whereas networks with observed rτ;0 suffer no such constraint. Combined, these findings say that the most minimal network structural constraint, D, can explain observed r<0 but that network circumstances and context are necessary to explain observed rτ;0.
Digital system debug techniques

Hewlett-Packard's extensive experience working with digital system design teams, semiconductor manufacturers and industry design consultants has made HP the expert in digital system debug techniques. This paper, gives valuable insights from HP. HP share design for debug techniques that you can use to shorten your development process and improve team productivity. Learn how to design your hardware to simplify debug and performance characterization. Understand the needs of the software development team so that you can design digital hardware to help meet those needs. Architectural, hardware and software design considerations for debug will also be explored.
A descriptive qualitative study of the roles of family members in older men's depression treatment from the perspectives of older men and primary care providers

Objective The aim of this study is to describe the roles of family members in older men's depression treatment from the perspectives of older men and primary care physicians (PCPs). Methods Cross-sectional, descriptive qualitative study conducted from 2008–2011 in primary care clinics in an academic medical center and a safety-net county teaching hospital in California's Central Valley. Participants in this study were the following: (1) 77 age ≥ 60, noninstitutionalized men with a 1-year history of clinical depression and/or depression treatment who were identified through screening in primary care clinics and (2) a convenience sample of 15 PCPs from the same recruitment sites. Semi-structured and in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted and audiotaped then transcribed and analyzed thematically. Results Treatment-promoting roles of family included providing an emotionally supportive home environment, promoting depression self-management and facilitating communication about depression during primary care visits. Treatment-impeding roles of family included triggering or worsening men's depression, hindering depression care during primary care visits, discouraging depression treatment and being unavailable to assist men with their depression care. Overall, more than 90% of the men and the PCPs described one or more treatment-promoting roles of family and over 75% of men and PCPs described one or more treatment-impeding roles of family. Conclusions Families play important roles in older men's depression treatment with the potential to promote as well as impede care. Interventions and services need to carefully assess the ongoing roles and attitudes of family members and to tailor treatment approaches to build on the positive aspects and mitigate the negative aspects of family support. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The neurotensin analog NT69L enhances medial prefrontal cortical dopamine and acetylcholine efflux: potentiation of risperidone-, but not haloperidol-, induced dopamine efflux.

Abstract NT69L is a novel neurotensin (8–13) analog that produces atypical antipsychotic-like effects in animal models. Because atypical antipsychotic drugs increase dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) efflux in the medial prefrontal cortex and DA efflux in the nucleus accumbens, the present study sought to further evaluate the putative antipsychotic-like effects of NT69L by assessing DA and ACh efflux in these regions. Dual probe microdialysis was conducted in awake freely moving male rats, without using an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor in the perfusion medium. NT69L (1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg) produced significant increases in extracellular DA and ACh efflux in the medial prefrontal cortex. NT69L (1.0 mg/kg, but not 3.0 mg/kg) produced a significant increase of DA, but not ACh, efflux in the nucleus accumbens. Pretreatment with the serotonin (5-HT)1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 (0.2 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the 3.0 mg/kg NT69L-induced increase in medial prefrontal cortical DA efflux. Pretreatment with NT69L (1.0 mg/kg) significantly potentiated the effects of the atypical antipsychotic drug risperidone (0.1 mg/kg) on DA, but not ACh, efflux in the medial prefrontal cortex, while pretreatment with NT69L 1.0 mg/kg failed to alter the effects of haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg) on DA or ACh efflux in either region. These findings further suggest that NT analogs may be useful alone or adjunctively for the treatment of schizophrenia.
A Special Issue from the NARSTO Symposium on Tropospheric Aerosols

This dedicated issue of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association contains nine peer-reviewed scientific papers that were presented at the NARSTO Symposium on Tropospheric Aerosols: Science and Decisions in an International Community, held October 24-26, 2000, in Queretaro, Mexico.1 Other peer-reviewed papers2-9 appear in a companion issue of Science of the Total Environment to be published in February 2002. More than 130 papers were presented in platform and poster sessions at the meeting. Approximately 28% of the technical presentations dealt with topics from Mexico, and 15% related to Canada, with the remainder discussing U.S. and global topics.
Antiviral activity produced by the polycytidylic acid-hexainosinate system.

Experiments with poly C oligo I indicate that both components are necessary for interferon induction and that the secondary structure of the polymer is not critical.
Spatial Symmetries and Geometrical Phases in Classical Dissipative Systems

We describe the emergence of geometrical phases in dissipative systems with continuous spatial symmetries. The phase characterizes the spatial shift of a wave pattern that arises as the result of a cyclic adiabatic transport of control parameters of the system. Geometrical phases are calculated for both stationary and propagating wave patterns. Complementary formulations are provided for finite-dimensional and continuum systems. The theory is used to determine the phase shift for a traveling wave front in a standard reaction-diffusion model.
Immunoglobulin disulfide bridges: Theme and variations

Prelude There are two types of disulfide bridges in immunoglobulins. One is the conserved intrachain bridge, spanning about 60 to 70 amino acid residues and found, as a monotonous theme, in every immunoglobulin domain. Buried deep between the opposing ~3-sheets, these bridges are shielded from solvent and, ordinarily, can be reduced only in the presence of denaturing agents. In contrast, the remaining disulfide bridges- interchain as well as occasional extra intrachain bonds- form a set of variations, differing in number and location according to immunoglobulin class and species, apparently constrained only by the necessity of conforming to the overall structure of the immunoglobulin fold. The latter bridges are typically located on the surface of the molecule, external to the ~3-sheets; they are accessible to solvent and are usually relatively easily reduced. Although their presence may impart special properties to certain immunoglobulin classes, the interchain disulfide bridges are not required for chain association, noncovalent forces generally being adequate for this task (see reviews by Beale & Feinstein, 1976, and Amzel & Poljak, 1979). The presence of buried conserved and superficial nonconserved disulfide bridges is also a characteristic feature of other extracellular proteins (Thornton, 1981). In historical context, recognition of the existence (Edelman, 1959; Edelman & Poulik, 1961), number and location (Nisonoff et al., 1961; Palmer and Nisonoff, 1964), and lability to reduction (Porter, 1962; Fleischman et al., 1963) of the interchain bridges in immunoglobulins played a crucial role in the establishment of the familiar four-chain model. In this article, I shall discuss some of the work carried out in my laboratory that bears on the general subject of the disulfide bridges in immunoglobulins. Partly by design, but mostly by accident, investigations of disulfide bridges have recurred in my research from the time I was a medical student at Yale, working in the laboratory of Fred Richards on the reduction and reoxidation of the disulfide bonds of ribonuclease (Steiner, t959). In the Porter laboratory, I studied patterns of interchain disulfide bonds in rabbit and human IgG. When I came to MIT, I drew on these experiences to work out a method for preparing heavy-atom derivatives of immunoglobulins in which mercuric ions are inserted into the interchain disulfide bridges. This was followed by the investigation of a crystallizable immunoglobulin strangely deficient in interchain bonds. Very recently, we have found that the light chains of bullfrog immunoglobulins have apparently replaced their bridge to the heavy
«Authenticity» and ritual gone awry in Mobutu's Zaire: looking beyond turnerian models

L'A. presente un cas de mort attribue a la sorcellerie dans le village de Lubanda (Zaire), ou un homme a ete tue par les fils de sa propre victime. L'accusation de sorcellerie qui a suivit met en evidence la fragilite de la societe locale. A travers cet exemple, est souligner la necessite d'aller au-dela des contextes politiques locaux et de prendre en compte des evenements regionaux, nationaux pour comprendre la maniere dont les populations gerent leurs drames sociaux. L'A. critique ainsi la methode a-historique de Victor Turner.
Histone Crosstalk: H2Bub and H3K4 Methylation

Two new studies in this issue of Molecular Cell (Kim et al., 2013 and Wu et al., 2013) provide new insights and reignite debate over how histone H2B ubiquitination promotes methylation of histone H3 lysine 4.
What I have learned about the ACL: utilizing a progressive rehabilitation scheme to achieve total knee symmetry after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament surgery and rehabilitation have changed drastically during the past 30 years. The patellar tendon autograft fixed with buttons provides tight bone-to-bone placement of the graft and quick bony healing, which allows accelerated rehabilitation to obtain full range of motion and strength. Although surgical stability is easily reproducible, long-term patient satisfaction is difficult to guarantee. Full knee range of motion should be compared to that of the contralateral normal knee, including full hyperextension. We followed the progress of all patients to gauge the utility of our rehabilitation program. In order of importance, the lack of normal knee range of motion (within 2° extension and 5° of flexion compared with that of the normal knee), partial or total medial meniscectomy, partial or total lateral meniscectomy, and articular cartilage damage were related to lower subjective scores. Rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction must first strive to achieve full symmetrical knee range of motion before aggressive strengthening can begin. Our current perioperative rehabilitation starts at the time of injury and preoperatively includes aggressive swelling reduction, hyperextension exercises, gait training, and mental preparation. Goals after surgery are to control swelling while regaining full knee range of motion. After quadriceps strengthening goals are reached, patients can shift to sport-specific exercises. When using a graft from the contralateral knee, the conflicting goals of strengthening the donor site and achieving full knee range of motion are divided between the knees. Thus, normal range of motion and strength can be achieved more easily and more quickly than when using an ipsilateral graft. Regardless of the graft source, a systematic rehabilitation program that emphasizes the return to symmetrical knee motion, including hyperextension, is necessary to achieve the optimum result.
Some Properties of the Exact and Score Methods for Binomial Proportion and Sample Size Calculation

In this article, we point out some interesting relations between the exact test and the score test for a binomial proportion p. Based on the properties of the tests, we propose some approximate as well as exact methods of computing sample sizes required for the tests to attain a specified power. Sample sizes required for the tests are tabulated for various values of p to attain a power of 0.80 at level 0.05. We also propose approximate and exact methods of computing sample sizes needed to construct confidence intervals with a given precision. Using the proposed exact methods, sample sizes required to construct 95% confidence intervals with various precisions are tabulated for p = .05(.05).5. The approximate methods for computing sample sizes for score confidence intervals are very satisfactory and the results coincide with those of the exact methods for many cases.
Paternalism and the Ill-Informed Agent

Most anti-paternalists claim that informed and competent self-regarding choices are protected by autonomy, while ill-informed or impaired self-regarding choices are not. Joel Feinberg, among many others, argues that we can in this way distinguish impermissible “hard” paternalism from permissible “soft” paternalism. I argue that this view confronts two related problems in its treatment of ill-informed decision-makers. First, it faces a dilemma when applied to decision-makers who are responsible for their ignorance: it either permits too much, or else too little, intervention to satisfy its proponents. Second, the most promising rationales in favor of the view ignore the distinction between an agent’s voluntarily bringing about some state of affairs, on the one hand, and an agent’s voluntarily assuming a risk, on the other. I conclude that a decision-maker’s ignorance is irrelevant to the permissibility of intervention on her behalf. If it is permissible to intervene in a given ill-informed choice, it would be permissible to intervene in an otherwise similar but informed choice, at least provided that intervention would produce similar benefits in both cases. This shows that we should sometimes accept straightforwardly paternalistic rationales.
Optimizing Depression Treatment to Increase the Likelihood of Remission

Depression is one of the highest ranking causes of disease burden worldwide but remains underrecognized and undertreated in clinical settings. Measurement-based care is the standard of care strived for by leading psychiatric researchers and is considered treatment as usual in other areas of medicine. However, routine measurement has yet to be implemented in all clinical practices for the detection and treatment of mental disorders such as depression. Physicians may help to improve illness outcomes and reduce illness burdens of patients with depression by using measurement-based care, including standardized measurement instruments and treatment algorithms in all phases of the treatment process.
Racial Differences in Survival after Surgical Treatment for Melanoma

Surgical-treatment outcomes for melanoma in African Americans are poorly characterized as a result of low incidence of melanoma among African Americans. We examined differences by race in overall and melanoma-specific survival, stratified by receipt of surgical treatment and by specific types of surgical treatment. Data from the 1973–2004 public-use Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard models to compare the effects of surgical treatments on overall and melanoma-specific survival in blacks, whites, and other race, controlling for confounding demographic and tumor-related variables. Of 151,154 patients with first primary melanoma (148,883 whites, 789 blacks and 1,532 other race), 142,653 (94.4%) received surgical treatment. Among patients who received surgical treatment, 10-year melanoma-specific survival was lower in blacks (73%) than in whites (88%) and other race (85%); black patients were at significantly higher risk of overall and melanoma-specific mortality when compared with white (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44–1.86, P < 0.0001 and HR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.25–1.79, P < 0.0001, respectively) and with other race (HR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.31–1.85, P < 0.0001 and HR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.16–1.91, P = 0.0017, respectively). Blacks who underwent biopsy, wide excision and surgery not otherwise specified were at higher risk of overall mortality compared with whites with the same treatment. Overall and melanoma-specific survival was lower in blacks undergoing surgical treatment for melanoma compared to both whites and other race. Reasons for these disparities remain poorly understood.
The project of learning from the inner-city youth perspective.

Inner-city, at-risk adolescents prefer organizations that provide a range of program choices, offer youth-driven activities, and permit high levels of activity and enjoyment.
Development of a Self-Report Measure of Self-Relevant Feedback: Initial Validation

The development of a self-report measure of preferences for self-relevant feedback (choice between positive or negative personality trait adjectives that might be descriptive of the self) is described. The initial study of validity yielded correlations in the expected direction with measures of depression, self-esteem, neurosis, and general maladjustment. Implications for research were discussed.
Molecular Evolution of VEF-Domain-Containing PcG Genes in Plants

Arabidopsis VERNALIZATION2 (VRN2), EMBRYONIC FLOWER2 (EMF2), and FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT SEED2 (FIS2) are involved in vernalization-mediated flowering, vegetative development, and seed development, respectively. Together with Arabidopsis VEF-L36, they share a VEF domain that is conserved in plants and animals. To investigate the evolution of VEF-domain-containing genes (VEF genes), we analyzed sequences related to VEF genes across land plants. To date, 24 full-length sequences from 11 angiosperm families and 54 partial sequences from another nine families were identified. The majority of the full-length sequences identified share greatest sequence similarity with and possess the same major domain structure as Arabidopsis EMF2. EMF2-like sequences are not only widespread among angiosperms, but are also found in genomic sequences of gymnosperms, lycophyte, and moss. No FIS2- or VEF-L36-like sequences were recovered from plants other than Arabidopsis, including from rice and poplar for which whole genomes have been sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the full-length sequences showed a high degree of amino acid sequence conservation in EMF2 homologs of closely related taxa. VRN2 homologs are recovered as a clade nested within the larger EMF2 clade. FIS2 and VEF-L36 are recovered in the VRN2 clade. VRN2 clade may have evolved from an EMF2 duplication event that occurred in the rosids prior to the divergence of the eurosid I and eurosid II lineages. We propose that dynamic changes in genome evolution contribute to the generation of the family of VEF-domain-containing genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the VEF domain alone showed that VEF sequences continue to evolve following EMF2/VRN2 divergence in accordance with species relationship. Existence of EMF2-like sequences in animals and across land plants suggests that a prototype form of EMF2 was present prior to the divergence of the plant and animal lineages. A proposed sequence of events, based on domain organization and occurrence of intermediate sequences throughout angiosperms, could explain VRN2 evolution from an EMF2-like ancestral sequence, possibly following duplication of the ancestral EMF2. Available data further suggest that VEF-L36 and FIS2 were derived from a VRN2-like ancestral sequence. Thus, the presence of VEF-L36 and FIS2 in a genome may ultimately be dependent upon the presence of a VRN2-like sequence.
Análisis multivariado de parámetros fisicoquímicos del relleno sanitario de São Giacomo de Caxias do Sul, RS en la de degradaciòn de polipropilene

This article describes the application of software tools to investigate the degradation /biodegradation of the commodity polymer polypropylene (PP) in the sanitary filling of Sao Giacomo in Caxias Do Sul, RS. A description is given of the sanitary filling, in addition to the physicochemical variables that are relevant for the process. The data are organized in matrices and a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm is applied to interpret the variables correlated with the degradation and biological activity. For analyzing the data, use was made of the tools Matlab and InfoStat, with the purpose of establishing the physicochemical parameters involved in the degradation/biodegradation, and for determining the correlated components in order to predict the behavior of the parameters and the polymer degradation in the sanitary filling. The PCA analysis allowed one to describe the structure and interrelations of the original variables for the biodegradation of organic matter. The important parameters were found to be DQO and DBO which measure biodegradability and ammoniac nitrogen, an indicative of biological activity.