cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating Minimally Important Differences for Two Vision-Specific Quality of Life Measures

Purpose To estimate minimally important differences (MIDs) for the Visual Activities Questionnaire (VAQ) and the National Eye Institute-Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). Methods A total of 607 subjects with newly-diagnosed open-angle glaucoma (OAG) was enrolled in the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (CIGTS) and randomized to initial treatment with medications or surgery. Subjects underwent an ophthalmic examination and telephone-administered quality of life (QOL) interview before randomization and every six months thereafter. The VAQ and NEI-VFQ were used to assess participants' perceptions of their visual function. Clinical measures included the mean deviation (MD) from Humphrey 24-2 full threshold visual field (VF) testing, and best-corrected visual acuity (VA) measured using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) protocol. Anchor-based (using MD and VA) and distribution-based methods were used to estimate MIDs. Results Anchor-based cross-sectional analyses at 66 months follow-up found a 10-letter increment in better eye VA corresponded to MIDs of 5.2 units for VAQ and 3.8 units for NEI-VFQ total scores. A 3-dB increment in the better eye MD yielded MIDs of 2.6 and 2.3 units for the same two questionnaires. In longitudinal analyses, MIDs for the VAQ were 3.2 units for a 10-letter change of VA and 3.4 units for a 3-dB change in the MD. Distribution-based MIDs were larger. Conclusions A range of MIDs for the VAQ (2.6-6.5 units) and NEI-VFQ (2.3-3.8 units) was found. Although similar in magnitude, MIDs were sensitive to the MID estimation method, the anchor chosen, and differences between questionnaires. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00000149.).
Intraoperative blood product resuscitation and mortality in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objectives The resuscitation of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) has not been well studied, and the potential benefit of autotransfusion (AT) is unknown. The increased use of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) has been associated with decreased mortality rates in trauma patients and may also improve RAAA survival. We explored the influence of intraoperative AT and FFP resuscitation on mortality rates in massively transfused RAAA patients. Methods A single-center review of RAAA patient records from April 1989 to October 2009 was undertaken. Clinical data and outcomes were studied. Operative and anesthesia records were queried for intraoperative transfusion totals. Massive transfusion was defined as ≥10 units of red blood cells (RBCs) inclusive of AT units. Results We identified 151 RAAA patients, of which 89 (60%) received a massive transfusion and comprised the study population. These 89 patients had an in-hospital mortality rate of 44%. Univariate predictors of mortality included increased age, preoperative hypotension, operative blood loss, and crystalloid, RBCs, and FFP volume. AT was used in 85 patients, with an increased ratio of AT:RBC units associated with survival. Mortality was 34% with AT:packed RBCs (PRBC) ≥1 (high AT) and 55% with AT:PRBC of 74 years (P = .03), lowest preoperative systolic blood pressure (SBP) 6 liters (P = .06), and low AT (P = .02) independently predicted mortality. The mean RBC:FFP ratio was similar in those that died (2.7) and in those that lived (2.9; P = .66). RBC:FFP ≤2 (high FFP) was present in 38 (43%) patients, with mortality of 49%. RBC:FFP >2 (low FFP) had 40% mortality (P = .39). RBC:FFP ratios decreased over time from 3.6 (years 1989 to 1999) to 2.2 (years 2000 to 2009; P Conclusions Greater use of AT but not of FFP was associated with survival in massively transfused RAAA patients. No mortality benefit was seen with increased FFP, but few patients had high FFP transfusion ratios. Further study to identify RAAA patients at risk for massive transfusion should be undertaken and a potentially greater role for AT in RAAA resuscitation investigated.
Analytical inverse kinematics with body posture control

This paper presents a novel whole-body analytical inverse kinematics (IK) method integrating collision avoidance and customizable body control for animating reaching tasks in real-time. Whole-body control is achieved with the interpolation of pre-designed key body postures, which are organized as a function of the direction to the goal to be reached. Arm postures are computed by the analytical IK solution for human-like arms and legs, extended with a new simple search method for achieving postures avoiding joint limits and collisions. In addition, a new IK resolution is presented that directly solves for joints parameterized in the swing-and-twist decomposition. The overall method is simple to implement, fast, and accurate, and therefore suitable for interactive applications controlling the hands of characters. The source code of the IK implementation is provided. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A spline-based approximation method for inverse problems for a hyperbolic system including unknown boundary parameters

We discuss a method for the estimation of unknown parameters (variable as well as constant) occurring in a hyperbolic system, in the context of a seismic application. We present both theoretical results and some numerical (test) examples.
Derlin-1 Promotes the Efficient Degradation of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) and CFTR Folding Mutants

A complex involving Derlin-1 and p97 mediates the retrotranslocation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation of misfolded proteins in yeast and is used by certain viruses to promote host cell protein degradation (Romisch, K. (2005) Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 21, 435-456; Lilley, B. N., and Ploegh, H. L. (2004) Nature 429, 834-840; Ye, Y., Shibata, Y., Yun, C., Ron, D., and Rapoport, T. A. (2004) Nature 429, 841-847). We asked whether the components of this pathway are involved in the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of the mammalian integral membrane protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a substrate for the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We report that Derlin-1 and p97 formed complexes with CFTR in human airway epithelial cells. Derlin-1 interacted with nonubiquitylated CFTR, whereas p97 associated with ubiquitylated CFTR. Exogenous expression of Derlin-1 led to its co-localization with CFTR in the ER where it reduced wild type (WT) CFTR expression and efficiently degraded the disease-associated CFTR folding mutants, ΔF508 and G85E (>90%). Consistent with this, Derlin-1 also reduced the amount of WT or ΔF508 CFTR appearing in detergent-in-soluble aggregates. An ∼70% knockdown of endogenous Derlin-1 by RNA interference increased the steady-state levels of WT and ΔF508 CFTR by 10-15-fold, reflecting its significant role in CFTR degradation. Derlin-1 mediated the degradation of N-terminal CFTR fragments corresponding to the first transmembrane domain of CFTR, but CFTR fragments that incorporated additional domains were degraded less efficiently. These findings suggest that Derlin-1 recognizes misfolded, nonubiquitylated CFTR to initiate its dislocation and degradation early in the course of CFTR biogenesis, perhaps by detecting structural instability within the first transmembrane domain.
The torque dependence of the H-mode power threshold in hydrogen, deuterium and helium plasmas in DIII-D

On DIII-D, the H-mode power threshold has been determined for hydrogen, deuterium and helium plasmas heated by neutral beam injection and/or by electron cyclotron heating and as a function of the applied torque plasmas for plasma configurations in the favourable ion grad-B drift direction. The H-mode threshold power has been determined to increase with input torque for all the main ion species (hydrogen, deuterium and helium). The H-mode threshold power for similar plasma parameters and configurations is the least for deuterium, followed by helium and hydrogen in that order. The plasma geometry also affects the power threshold, which is dependent on the X-point height.
Parallel implementation of domain decomposition techniques on Intel's hypercube

Parallel implementation of domain decomposition techniques for elliptic PDEs in rectangular regions is considered. This technique is well suited for parallel processing, since in the solution process the subproblems either are independent or can be easily converted into decoupled problems. More than 80% of execution time is spent on solving these independent and decoupled problems.The hypercube architecture is used for concurrent execution. The performance of the parallel algorithm is compared against the sequential version. The speed-up, efficiency, and communication factors are studied as functions the number of processors. Extensive tests are performed to find, for a given mesh size, the number of subregions and nodes that minimize the overall execution time.
Automatic Real Time Detection of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Timely diagnosis of the arrhythmia, particularly transient episodes, can be difficult since patients may be asymptomatic. In this study, we describe a robust algorithm for automatic detection of AF based on the randomness, variability and complexity of the heart beat interval (RR) time series. Specifically, we employ a new statistic, the Turning Points Ratio, in combination with the Root Mean Square of Successive RR Differences and Shannon Entropy to characterize this arrhythmia. The detection algorithm was tested on two databases, namely the MIT-BIH Atrial Fibrillation Database and the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database. These databases contain several long RR interval series from a multitude of patients with and without AF and some of the data contain various forms of ectopic beats. Using thresholds and data segment lengths determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves we achieved a high sensitivity and specificity (94.4% and 95.1%, respectively, for the MIT-BIH Atrial Fibrillation Database). The algorithm performed well even when tested against AF mixed with several other potentially confounding arrhythmias in the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database (Sensitivity = 90.2%, Specificity = 91.2%).
Jesus as Merkabah Mystic

This article examines and critiques the portrayal of Jesus as a merkabah mystic in Bruce Chilton’s Rabbi Jesus. After providing a brief summary of Chilton’s presentation of Jesus’ spirituality, the article explores the origin of merkabah mysticism and questions whether available sources confirm the existence of a developed mysticism that included the practice of the ascent during Jesus’ lifetime. The article also examines the New Testament texts to which Chilton appeals as evidence of Jesus’ mysticism. The article concludes that Chilton’s fascinating theory has only meager support in the canonical Gospels since a careful comparison of the words and activities of Jesus of Nazareth and the descenders of chariot in Tannaitic and hekhaloth literature discovers more differences than similarities.
Level Set Based Multispectral Segmentation with Corners

In this paper we propose an active contour model for segmentation based on the Chan-Vese model. The new model can capture inherent sharp features, i.e., the sharp corners of objects, which are often smoothed by the regularization term in segmentation. Motivated by the snaked based method in [M. Droske and A. Bertozzi, SIAM J. Imaging Sci., 3 (2010), pp. 21-51] that emphasizes straight edges and corners without regard to orientation, we develop a region based method with a level set representation. The model combines the Chan-Vese model with the level set version of a higher order nonlinear term. We extend this model to multispectral images. Higher order methods can be very stiff, so we propose a splitting scheme to remove the stiffness and prove the model's stability and convergence. Finally we show numerical results on gray, color, and hyperspectral images. We can see that the model is robust to noise.
An empirical examination of senior accounting students' ethical reaction to grade inflation

This study examines the ethical behaviour of accounting students. In contrast to most prior studies which have examined perceptions of accounting students, this study investigates the action of accounting students with respect to ethical issues. More specifically, this research investigates whether students behave ethically when they have been exposed to ethical issues but confront a situation in which they have a direct stake. The results of a laboratory experiment using students enrolled in two auditing classes showed that students, in spite of exposure to ethical issues, did not behave ethically in a situation where their interests were directly involved. The implications of the findings as well as future directions are provided in the paper.
A study of back-error propagation networks for a trainable tactile pattern classifier

Abstract Current robotic taction applications have largely been limited to presence/absence detection via “simple touch” or the use of force-torque sensors. Although artificial tactile sensors have been developed, advanced industrial applications have not matured due to time and resource constraints in manufacturing environments to develop and maintain application specific pattern recognition algorithms. This difficulty can be resolved if the sensor modules permit users to simply “train” the classification of object impressions specific to the tasks of individual work-cells. A description is given of artificial neural networks (ANNs) consisting of coupled back-error propagation (BEP) networks that perform feature extraction, clustering, and categorization of tactile surface impressions. The network characteristics, including a study using noisy input patterns, are presented. Simulation results indicate that regarding geometry-, size- and activation-constrained grey-scale patterns, a BEP classifier is sensitive to both additive low-amplitude spike noise and additive white Gaussian noise. Most of the misclassifications occur among patterns that differ only by small variations in force gradients. The network's performance gradually improves when noisy patterns are included in the training set, but large training sets will be required to achieve robust performance in the tactile domain.
Photooxidation of ethanol and 2-propanol on TiO2(110): evidence for methyl radical ejection.

The photooxidation of ethanol and 2-propanol was studied under UHV conditions on a single crystal TiO2(110) surface using a combination of temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and pump–probe laser ionization techniques. Previous studies of these reactions have shown that the first step involves photocatalytic dehydrogenation to either an acetaldehyde or acetone intermediate. In this work, we show that when adsorbed alcohols are irradiated with UV light in the presence of molecular oxygen, methyl radicals are ejected from the surface. Furthermore, it is shown that these radicals possess kinetic energy distributions which are remarkably similar to those measured for the photooxidation of acetaldehyde and acetone. This result suggests that methyl radicals are produced during a second photocatalytic step which involves photooxidation of the aldehyde/ketone intermediates.
Biomedical signal processing using a new class of wavelets

We design a new compactly-supported interpolating wavelet- distributed approximating functional (DAF) wavelet for biomedical signal/image processing. DAF class is a smooth, continuous interpolating function system which is symmetric and fast-decaying. DAF neural networks are designed for time varying electrocardiogram signal filtering. The neural nets use the Hermite-DAF as the basis function and implement a 3- layer structure. DAF wavelets and the corresponding subband filters are constructed for image processing. Edge- enhancement normalization and device-adapted visual group normalization algorithms are presented which sharpen the desired image features without prior knowledge of the spatial characteristics of the images. We design a nonlinear multiscale gradient-stretch method for feature extraction of mammograms. A fractal technique is introduced to characterize microcalcifications in localized regions of breast tissue. We employ a DAF wavelet-based multiscale edge detection and Dijkstra fractal technique is introduced to characterize microcalcifications in localized regions of breast tissue. We employ a DAF wavelet-based multiscale edge detection and Dijkstra fractal technique to identify micro calcification regions, and use a stochastic thresholding method to detect the calcified spots. The combined perceptual techniques produce natural high-quality images based on the human vision system. The underlying technologies significantly facilitate the creation of generic signal processing and computer-aided diagnostic systems. The system is implemented in the JAVA language, which is cross-platform friendly and is facilitated for telemedicine application.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Association of vitamin D and antimicrobial peptide production during late-phase allergic responses in the lung.

SummaryBackground Vitamin D may play important roles in regulating immune responses and in defence against infectious diseases by effects on both innate and adaptive immune responses. Little is known regarding activation of vitamin D within airway tissues and its relationship to inflammation and antimicrobial responses. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the activation of vitamin D within the airways and to define relationships between vitamin D metabolites and measures of inflammatory and antimicrobial responses assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) during late-phase responses following allergen challenge of allergic subjects. Methods Segmental allergen challenge was performed with saline and allergen in 16 adult allergic subjects. BAL was performed in both saline and allergen-challenged sites 20–24 h. after challenge. Following extraction from BAL fluids, levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) were assayed by specific radioimmunoassays. The cleavage product of cathelicidin, LL-37, was assayed by ELISA. Cellular constituents and albumin were measured. Results Levels of vitamin D metabolites were increased in concentrated BAL fluids after allergen compared to saline challenge. Levels of 1,25(OH)2D increased from largely undetectable to 2.5 pm (median; range: 1–29.5; P = 0.005) while 25(OH)D increased from 3.2 (0.8–6.2) to 6.2 (1.5–184.9) nm (P = 0.0006). Levels of LL-37 increased from 2.1 (1.4–4.1) to 14.5 (2.2–106.7) ng/mL BAL (P = 0.0005). Levels of LL-37, 1,25(OH)2D, and 25(OH)D following allergen challenge were correlated with each other (P < 0.0001), cellular changes, and levels of albumin (P < 0.001). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Levels of vitamin D metabolites, particularly 1,25(OH)2D, were low within the airways and increased after allergen challenge. The increases correlated with the magnitude of inflammation and increases in cathelicidin. Normalization to albumin suggested plasma exudation as a mechanism for the increases. The findings support a role for vitamin D in allergic and innate immune responses in the lung.
Pressure dependence of the intra rare earth generalized binary phase diagram

Abstract A generalized phase diagram for the trivalent intra lanthanide and yttrium-lanthanide binary alloys has been developed [1]. The single diagram represents a total of 91 binary phase diagrams. This paper extends this concept to take into account another variable — pressure. The generalized phase diagrams were established at 1, 2, and 4 GPa (10, 20 and 40 kbar). These diagrams clearly show that the b.c.c. phase as a function of pressure disappears in the light lanthanides, and is stabilized in the heavy lanthanides. This dependence can be understood in terms of the d occupation number, which increases with increasing pressure. The generalized phase diagram is also presented as a 25 °C isothermal section up to pressures of 24 GPa. The use of systematics enables one to calculate the phase relationships of the intra lanthanide alloys at various pressures between 0 and 4 GPa, and to evaluate the reliability of experimental results. Furthermore, an analysis of the pressure dependences of the various transformations indicates that 4f hybridization plays a significant (but probably not the major) role in determining the lanthanide crystal structures.
Pressure dependence of the melting temperature of solids: Rare-gas solids.

A method presented by Schlosser et al. (1989) for analyzing the pressure dependence of experimental melting-temperature data is applied to rare-gas solids. The plots of the logarithm of the reduced melting temperature vs that of the reduced pressure are straight lines in the absence of phase transitions. The plots of the reduced melting temperatures for Ar, Kr, and Xe are shown to be approximately straight lines.
The Supreme Court Argument that Saved the Union: Richard Henry Dana, Jr., and the Prize Cases

On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, claiming constitutional authority to do so “as a fit and necessary war measure.” The epic struggle between North and South had been raging for nearly two years. There were over a million soldiers under arms. At Antietam there had been more than 20,000 casualties in the bloodiest single day of battle in American history.1 But was it, in point of law, a war?
Exclusive expression of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 in Burkitt lymphoma arises from a third promoter, distinct from the promoters used in latently infected lymphocytes.

Abstract Epstein-Barr virus transformation of human B lymphocytes in vitro results in the expression of six viral nuclear antigens (EBNAs) and three viral membrane proteins. However, examination of viral gene expression in fresh Burkitt lymphoma isolates has revealed expression of only one of the nuclear antigens, EBNA-1. Previous transcriptional analyses of the EBNA-encoding genes demonstrated that all these genes are driven from one of two distal promoters located near the left end of the viral genome, raising the question of how exclusive expression of EBNA-1 occurs in Burkitt lymphoma tumors. Although most established Burkitt lymphoma cell lines (group 3) exhibit the full-expression pattern of viral antigens seen in lymphoblastoid cell lines, a few cell lines have been established that retain the restricted pattern of viral gene expression (group 1). In this paper we characterize transcription of the EBNA-1 gene in a group 1 Burkitt lymphoma cell line and show that (i) neither Cp nor Wp, the promoters involved in driving EBNA gene expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines, are active in this cell line; (ii) treatment of this cell line with 5-azacytidine, previously shown to induce expression of all EBNA genes, induced Cp and Wp activity; (iii) sizes of the EBNA-1 transcripts detected in two group 1 Burkitt lymphoma cell lines correlated with each other and were distinct from the size of the EBNA-1 transcript seen in lymphoblastoid cell lines; (iv) the EBNA-1 transcripts in the group 1 Burkitt lymphoma cell lines do not hybridize to a probe containing the common 5' exons present in all the EBNA transcripts from lymphoblastoid cell lines; and (v) anchored-PCR cloning the 5' region of the EBNA-1 transcript from one of the group 1 cell lines identified two exons, FQ and U, upstream of the EBNA-1 coding exon. The FQ exon lies just downstream of a TATAA box, which may represent the promoter for transcription of EBNA-1 in these cells. It is particularly noteworthy that an incomplete EBNA-1 cDNA clone from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumor line that expresses EBNA-1, but not the other EBNAs, has been characterized; this EBNA-1 transcript also contains the FQ/U splice junction, suggesting that the organization of exons upstream of the EBNA-1 coding exon is the same and that this organization may reflect a viral program for exclusive EBNA-1 expression.
Palladium-catalyzed DYKAT of butadiene monoepoxide : Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-DMDP, (-)-bulgecinine, and (+)-broussonetine G

Palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction of an amine with two equivalents of butadiene monoxide allows for the expedient synthesis of trans- and cis-2,5-dihydropyrroles. The versatility of these chiral synthons towards the synthesis of a wide variety of iminosugar natural products was demonstrated with the short and high yielding asymmetric syntheses of (+)-DMDP, and (-)-bulgecinine. In addition, the first total synthesis of (+)-broussonetine G, a potent glycosidase inhibitor, is described along with the assignment of its relative and absolute stereochemical configuration.
UnLINCing the nuclear envelope: towards an understanding of the physiological significance of nuclear positioning

Appropriate tissue morphogenesis strictly requires the developmental regulation of different types of nuclear movements. LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complexes are macromolecular scaffolds that span the nuclear envelope and physically connect the nuclear interior to different cytoskeletal elements and molecular motors, thereby playing essential roles in nucleokinesis. Recent studies dedicated to the in vivo disruption of LINC complexes not only confirmed their widespread role in nuclear dynamics, but also led to a vigorous regain of interest in the physiological relevance of nuclear positioning within cells and syncitia. In the present paper, we review the results of LINC complex disruption in vivo across different organisms and the potential implications of observed phenotypes in human diseases.
Model-theoretic semantics for the web

Model-theoretic semantics is a formal account of the interpretations of legitimate expressions of a language. It is increasingly being used to provide Web markup languages with well-defined semantics. But a discussion of its roles and limitations for the Semantic Web has not yet received a coherent and detailed treatment. This paper takes the first steps towards such a treatment. The major result is an introductory explication of key ideas that are usually only implicit in existing accounts of semantics for the Web. References to more detailed accounts of these ideas are also provided. The benefit of this explication is increased awareness among Web users of some important issues inherent in using model-theoretic semantics for Web markup languages.
Getting more out of programming-by-demonstration

Programming-by-demonstration (PBD) can be used to create tools and methods that eliminate the need to learn difficult computer languages. Gamut is a PBD tool that nonprogrammers can use to create a broader range of interactive software, including games, simulations, and educational software, than they can with other PBD tools. To do this, Gamut provides advanced interaction techniques that make it easier for a developer to express all aspects of an application. These techniques include a simplified way to demonstrate new examples, called nudges, and a way to highlight objects to show they are important. Also, Gamut includes new objects and metaphors like the deck-of-cards metaphor for demonstrating collections of objects and randomness, guide objects for demonstrating relationships that the system would find too difficult to guess, and temporal ghosts which simplify showing relationships with the recent past. These techniques were tested in a formal setting with nonprogrammers to evaluate their effectiveness.
Evolution of catalytic function

An RNA-based evolution system was constructed in the laboratory and used to develop RNA enzymes with novel catalytic function. By controlling the nature of the catalytic task that the molecules must perform in order to survive, it is possible to direct the evolving population toward the expression of some desired catalytic behavior. More recently, this system has been coupled to an in vitro translation procedure, raising the possibility of evolving protein enzymes in the laboratory to produce novel proteins with desired catalytic properties. The aim of this line of research is to reduce darwinian evolution, the fundamental process of biology, to a laboratory procedure that can be made to operate in the service of organic synthesis.
Evaluation of ground-based optical surveys for near-Earth asteroids

Abstract Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) pose a long-term hazard to the Earth and its inhabitants as a result of impacts such as the Tunguska event of 1908, and especially from still larger, although even less frequent events. An evaluation is presented of the ability of ground-based telescope systems to inventory the population of NEAs, as a function of telescope parameters, NEA size and albedo, and duration of the survey. The optimum strategy for surveying appears to be to cover the entire visible sky every month, rather than covering a smaller area of sky to a fainter threshold of detection. An optimally designed and operated system consisting of two or three 1 m telescopes should be able to achieve ∼ 75% completeness of survey down to a size of 1 km diameter, in 10 years of operation. To achieve a completeness > 90% in the same time would require several telescopes of 2–3 m aperture. Achieving near-completeness down to the size of the smallest NEAs capable of causing significant ground damage (∼ 70 m diameter) on a timescale of 10 years appears impractical with present technology, however because of the long timescale of events, even present or soon-to-start surveys are likely to discover the next Earth-impacting body before it hits.
Efficient algorithms for pursuing moving evaders in terrains

We propose algorithms for computing optimal trajectories of a group of flying observers (such as helicopters or UAVs) searching for a lost child in a hilly terrain. Very few assumptions are made about the speed or direction of the child's motion and whether it might (either deliberately or accidentally) try to avoid being found. This framework can also be applied to seekers searching for hostile evaders, such as smugglers/criminals, or friendly evaders, such as lost hikers.Based on the features of the area of the terrain where the pursuit takes place, and the visibility and motion characteristics of the UAVs, we show how to plan their synchronized trajectories in a way that maximizes the likelihood of a successful pursuit, while minimizing their battery or fuel usage, which may, in turn, enable a longer pursuit. Our algorithm explores useful I/O-efficient data structures and branch-cutting (search pruning) techniques to achieve further speedup by limiting the storage requirements and the total number of graph nodes searched, respectively.
Modeling of a Series Hybrid Electric High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle

In an effort to reduce fuel costs and gas emissions, the U.S. Army is looking into replacing their diesel high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) with hybrid electric vehicles. The aim of this paper is to present the simulation of the series hybrid electric HMMWV based on a multidomain model using Ansoft Simplorer. Emphasis is placed on the vehicle's transient response to desired speeds dictated by drive cycles based on an urban dynamometer driving schedule and SAE J227a Schedule D. Also included in this paper were the vehicle's responses to hill climbing up to 60% grade
Social and ethical implications of BRCA testing

Oncologists are asked with increasing frequency to counsel their patients with respect to the medical, psychological and social repercussions of genetic testing for cancer susceptibility that may have been prescribed by physicians or carried out through direct-to-consumer tests. This article critically reviews the main ethical and social implications of BRCA testing, focusing on genetic responsibility and genetic discrimination. Genetic responsibility toward oneself and others is a highly debated implication of genetic testing for cancer predisposition that requires broad considerations of the boundaries between individual and community rights and a reappraisal of the notion of autonomy as relational. Physicians’ duty to warn ‘at risk’ relatives can be an ethical quandary, yet confidentiality is key to the patient–doctor relationship. Mutation carriers may be subject to different forms and degrees of genetic discrimination and many individuals at risk have forgone BRCA testing to avoid potential discrimination. The scientific and medical community, together with patients and the public, has actively engaged against genetic discrimination. The legislation in many countries now protects against genetic discrimination by insurance companies and employers. Legal and regulatory issues are not the final answer to discrimination and profound cultural changes are required to create understanding and acceptance of all differences.
Adaptive Significance of the Formation of Multi-Species Fish Spawning Aggregations near Submerged Capes

Background Many fishes are known to spawn at distinct geomorphological features such as submerged capes or “promontories,” and the widespread use of these sites for spawning must imply some evolutionary advantage. Spawning at these capes is thought to result in rapid offshore transport of eggs, thereby reducing predation levels and facilitating dispersal to areas of suitable habitat. Methodology/Principal Findings To test this “off-reef transport” hypothesis, we use a hydrodynamic model and explore the effects of topography on currents at submerged capes where spawning occurs and at similar capes where spawning does not occur, along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. All capes modeled in this study produced eddy-shedding regimes, but specific eddy attributes differed between spawning and non-spawning sites. Eddies at spawning sites were significantly stronger than those at non-spawning sites, and upwelling and fronts were the products of the eddy formation process. Frontal zones, present particularly at the edges of eddies near the shelf, may serve to retain larvae and nutrients. Spawning site eddies were also more predictable in terms of diameter and longevity. Passive particles released at spawning and control sites were dispersed from the release site at similar rates, but particles from spawning sites were more highly aggregated in their distributions than those from control sites, and remained closer to shore at all times. Conclusions/Significance Our findings contradict previous hypotheses that cape spawning leads to high egg dispersion due to offshore transport, and that they are attractive for spawning due to high, variable currents. Rather, we show that current regimes at spawning sites are more predictable, concentrate the eggs, and keep larvae closer to shore. These attributes would confer evolutionary advantages by maintaining relatively similar recruitment patterns year after year.
A Social-Conceptual Map of Moral Criticism

Moral criticism is both a social act and the result of complex cognitive and conceptual processes. We demonstrate consensual features of various acts of moral criticism and locate them within a higher-order feature space. People showed consensus in judging 28 verbs of moral criticism on 10 features, and the judgment patterns formed a twodimensional space, defined by an intensity axis and an interpersonal engagement axis. Subsets of verbs formed welldefined clusters roughly corresponding to the four quadrants of this space. The marker verbs of these clusters were lashing out (intense, public), pointing the finger (mild, public), vilifying (intense, private), and disapproving (mild, private).
Product-order adjustment model and algorithm in steelmaking and continuous casting scheduling system

Multi-objectives optimization and heuristic algorithm were respectively presented to solve time and device problems in product-order adjustment.Recently,this subsystem has been used in a big steelmaking factory.The result indicates that the model and algorithm worked well.
Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium and Random Mating

The Hardy–Weinberg principle is central to population genetics and evolutionary biology. It describes how allele and genotype frequencies are related, and that genetic variation can persist over multiple generations. Here, the historical origins and assumptions of the Hardy–Weinberg principle are described. Chi-square tests are used to find whether populations are at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and departures from Hardy–Weinberg proportions can be due to genotyping error, non-random mating, natural selection, or other phenomena.
WiFi Receiver Evolution in a Dense Blocker Environment

This paper presents three different WiFi receiver chain lineups using a high dynamic range continuous time Sigma Delta A/D converter (SD-ADC). The chains tradeoffs are analyzed from the perspective of the ADC design. The key performance indexes are performance, blocker rejection, area and power consumption. Two lineups implement an active filter stage between the mixer and the ADC: one uses a trans-impedance amplifier and the other one a Gm stage. A third lineup avoids the active filtering stage and replaces it with a passive pole. The measurements show that the three lineups achieve the same chain performance and can therefore be directly and fairly compared in the same environment.
Food justice racial projects: fighting racial neoliberalism from the Bay to the Big Apple

Food justice scholarship utilizing racial formation theory has largely analyzed race and racism within the conventional food system and the food movement, leaving under-examined the political projects of food justice organizations to realize racial equity. This article recovers the dialectical spirit of racial formation theory, that of oppression and resistance, and interjects a distinct focus on activism in the context of racial neoliberalism to investigate two food justice organizations, ‘Planting Justice’ and ‘East New York Farms!’ These organizations reveal through their work some of the heterogeneity of food and urban agriculture related race-making practices, namely antiracist racial projects that challenge racial and economic inequities. We show how these projects intervene in the system of mass incarceration, reclaim land for cultural reproduction, and build racial and class solidarity. We argue that the food justice movement, which is comprised of many racial projects, contributes to setting in m...
Deletion of protein kinase C-ε attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction and ameliorates ischemic renal injury

Previously, we documented that activation of protein kinase C-e (PKC-e) mediates mitochondrial dysfunction in cultured renal proximal tubule cells (RPTC). This study tested whether deletion of PKC-e decreases dysfunction of renal cortical mitochondria and improves kidney function after renal ischemia. PKC-e levels in mitochondria of ischemic kidneys increased 24 h after ischemia. Complex I- and complex II-coupled state 3 respirations were reduced 44 and 27%, respectively, in wild-type (WT) but unchanged and increased in PKC-e-deficient (KO) mice after ischemia. Respiratory control ratio coupled to glutamate/malate oxidation decreased 50% in WT but not in KO mice. Activities of complexes I, III, and IV were decreased 59, 89, and 61%, respectively, in WT but not in KO ischemic kidneys. Proteomics revealed increases in levels of ATP synthase (α-subunit), complexes I and III, cytochrome oxidase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase after ischemia in KO but not in WT animals. PKC-e deletion prevented ischemia-induced increases in oxidant production. Plasma creatinine levels increased 12-fold in WT and 3-fold in KO ischemic mice. PKC-e deletion reduced tubular necrosis, brush border loss, and distal segment damage in ischemic kidneys. PKC-e activation in hypoxic RPTC in primary culture exacerbated, whereas PKC-e inhibition reduced, decreases in: 1) complex I- and complex II-coupled state 3 respirations and 2) activities of complexes I, III, and IV. We conclude that PKC-e activation mediates 1) dysfunction of complexes I and III of the respiratory chain, 2) oxidant production, 3) morphological damage to the kidney, and 4) decreases in renal functions after ischemia.
Cosmogenic 22 Na as a steady-state tracer of solute transport and water age in first-order catchments

Abstract Naturally-occurring cosmogenic 22Na ( T 1 / 2 = 2.6 yr ) is a potentially powerful tracer of solute and water movement in catchments. However, due to its low abundance in precipitation ( ∼ 10 − 20 mol L − 1 ), there are only a handful of datasets documenting cosmogenic 22Na atmospheric fluxes and concentrations in surface waters. Here we present the first record of cosmogenic 22Na fallout to North America and test its use as a radiometric tracer of water age in three small catchments in the Eastern United States. We show that 22Na deposition to southeastern Virginia, USA during 2012–2014 was 187 ± 10 mBq m − 2 yr − 1 and that flux is largely additive with precipitation amounts. Our measurements of fallout combined with previous 22Na deposition data from other regions indicate that approximately 77% of the variability in the annual global 22Na atmospheric flux is controlled by precipitation. Export of 22Na in drainage waters from three first-order forested catchments ranged from 12.5 to 174 mBq m−2 yr−1 and can be explained by a flux-based radioactive decay model, indicating that the watersheds are in steady-state with respect to cosmogenic 22Na on annual timescales. We conclude that in temperate climates with no systematic changes in rainfall amounts at the annual timescale, 22Na may be useful for quantifying the recharge age of relatively young (
Activity of pure and transition metal-modified CoOOH for the oxygen evolution reaction in an alkaline medium

A new electrode structure enabling low overpotentials for the oxidation of water, based on three-dimensional arrays of CoOOH nanowires, is presented. The electrocatalytic activities of pure and M-modified cobalt oxyhydroxides (M = Ni or Mn) nanowires have been investigated in detail for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline environment. The pure, Ni-, and Mn-modified nanowires, with preferentially exposed low-index surfaces, were fabricated directly on stainless steel mesh current collectors using an inexpensive and scalable chemical synthesis procedure. The unique electrode structure ensures excellent substrate–catalyst electrical contact and increases the surface area accessible to the electrolyte. The OER activity of CoOOH nanowires is shown to be significantly improved through incorporation of Ni. Specifically, optimal OER activity is obtained for CoOOH nanowires with 9.7% surface Ni content, which corresponds to four-times greater current density compared to pure CoOOH. In contrast, Mn modification of the CoOOH nanowires did not improve the OER activity. Tafel analysis suggests Ni incorporation leads to change in the OER rate-determining step based on an observed decrease in the Tafel slope. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals that Ni incorporation improves the ability of the catalysts to stabilize surface intermediates, whereas Mn incorporation impedes intermediate stabilization. This study provides new insights regarding the influence of transition metal impurities on the OER activity of CoOOH and provides a clear strategy for the optimization of CoOOH-based OER catalysts in alkaline electrolytes.
Coordinated Variations in Myosin Light Chain and Troponin T Isoforms and in Maximal Shortening Velocity in Human Slow Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Recent measurements revealed a 1.7-fold range in maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) among a set of slow fibers from adult human skeletal muscle. The fibers were examined on multiple gel formats to determine whether there were differences in myofibrillar protein isoform composition that might explain the variation in Vmax. All of the fibers in this set were determined to express exclusively slow-type myosin heavy chain (MHC). The fibers were then examined on a gel format to reveal potential differences in myosin light chain (MLC) isoform composition. The faster fibers in this set expressed substantial amounts of fast-type MLC1 (MLC1F), along with slow type MLC1 (MLC1b) and slow type MLC2, and their mean Vmax was significantly higher (24%) than the slower fibers in this set, which had only trace or no detectable amounts of MLC1F. The slower fibers had greater amounts of a protein that is tentatively identified as MLC1Sa, which others have reported to be expressed in human skeletal muscle. The same gel format also indicated differences in troponin T (TnT) isoform composition among the same fibers. Regression analysis revealed that there are strong associations between the expression of specific TnT isoforms and the expression of specific MLC 1 isoforms among human slow skeletal muscle fibers. Conclusion: coordinated variations in MLC isoform and TnT isoform appear to provide a mechanism to expand the range of contractile properties of human slow muscle fibers that express exclusively slow-type MHC.
Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, a novel target of omega-3 fatty acids for reducing breast cancer risk in obese postmenopausal women

Background/objectives Conversion of saturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids by the enzyme stearoyl-Co-A-desaturase (SCD-1) is emerging as a major factor in promoting carcinogenesis including breast cancer. The aim of our study was to explore the regulation of SCD-1 by Raloxifene and omega-3 fatty acids in women at increased risk of breast cancer based on high breast density. Subjects/methods As a reflection of SCD-1 activity, we measured the ratios of palmitoleic acid (C16:1n7) to palmitic acid (C16:0) (SCD-16) and oleic acid (C18:1n9) to steric acid (C18:0) (SCD-18) in plasma samples of postmenopausal women enrolled in our clinical trial (NCT00723398) designed to test the effects of the antiestrogen, Raloxifene and/or the omega-3 preparation Lovaza, on breast density, a validated biomarker of breast cancer risk. Results We report that Lovaza but not Raloxifene-reduced SCD-16 and SCD-18 for the 2-year duration of the trial. Importantly, decreasing levels of SCD-16 and SCD-18 were associated with a progressive reduction in breast density but only in obese women (body mass index ⩾30). Conclusions Body mass index-related factors play an important role in the reduction of breast density and hence breast cancer risk by omega-3 fatty acids. SCD-1 may be a useful biomarker in future clinical trials testing the benefit of nutritional interventions in reducing obesity-associated breast cancer risk.
Role of Pressure Drop on Rapid Pressure Swing Adsorption Performance

A loss in process performance for rapid pressure swing adsorption processes at high cycling frequencies is typically associated with an increase in pressure drop and mass and heat transfer resistances. An experimental study was performed to isolate the effect of pressure drop on process performance using particles ∼0.5 mm in diameter. The results demonstrate column pressure drop has a negligible effect on process performance in the flow regime where Darcy’s law holds for the high pressure production step. They also suggest, within our operational range, it is more advantageous to operate with a long, thin column as opposed to a short, wide column. A brief simulation study was also conducted to support the experimental results. It confirmed pressure drop effects were minimal, leaving mass and heat transfer resistances as more logical causes of performance decline with increasing cyclic frequency in this study. However, further research is needed to extend these conclusions to much smaller particles.
Silicon photonic add-drop microring filter banks with pinch-resistor characteristics

We design and demonstrate widely-tunable large-FSR dual-microring add/drop filters. The integrated resistive tuning section in microrings included “pinched” p-n junctions, limiting the current at higher voltages and inhibiting damage under microsecond-scale pre-emphasized drive.