cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on the enzymatic dephosphorylation of vitamin B 12 5'-phosphate.

Abstract A study of the dephosphorylation of various forms of cobalamin 5′-phosphate by purified Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase reveals a common trend. The V values increase with the known degree of dissociation of the bond between cobalt and 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole. A discontinuity, at very low substrate concentrations, in the Arrhenius plot of dephosphorylation of cyanocobalamin 5′-phosphate by this enzyme is additional evidence for the postulate that only the base “off” form of this corrinoid is dephosphorylated. This conclusion is strengthened by the nature of the temperature-induced bathochromic and hypochromic shifts in the absorption spectrum of cyanocobalamin 5′-phosphate and of cyanocobalamin. It is proposed that the ability of Propionibacterium shermanii extracts to dephosphorylate the deoxyadenosyl form of B 12 5′-phosphate, but not the cyano form, resides in the fact that the nucleotide part of the corrinoid has to be detached from the cobalt as a prerequisite for dephosphorylation. It was found that a third bacterial extract, from Enterobacter aerogenes , also utilizes a base “off” form of B 12 5′-phosphate, namely reduced B 12 5′-phosphate, but not the deoxyadenosyl form or the cyano form. The apoenzyme of E. aerogenes glycerol dehydratase was used to assay for vitamin B 12 , since this compound irreversibly inhibits the apoenzyme, while vitamin B 12 5′-phosphate does not. The first syntheses of 5′-deoxyadenosyl-methyl- and ethyl-cobalamin 5′-phosphate are described.
Acute adult respiratory distress syndrome associated with gonococcal septicemia.

A case of gonococcal septicemia with monoarticular arthritis and adult respiratory distress syndrome is presented. Prompt treatment of the infection and early treatment for the adult respiratory distress syndrome prior to the full development of the syndrome appeared to ameliorate the course of illness to the extent that intubation and mechanical ventilation were not required. The patient was successfully treated in a community hospital with a relatively short course of therapy and full recovery.
White Conditioning of Black Dependency

The white professional researcher is held responsible for the creation and refinement of the social conditioning techniques employed to establish and maintain dependent and acquiescent behavior in black people. The role which black people play in perpetuating the conditioning process is also significant. Dominant emphasis is placed not on “what whites have done to blacks,” but on “why blacks permit whites to do what they do.” This change of emphasis has profound implications for theory and research in black behavior.
Absorption and elimination of photodieldrin byDaphnia and goldfish

The alga,Ankistrodesmus spiralis, becomes saturated with photodieldrin in 8 hours. TheDaphnia whether contaminated by feeding on the algae saturated with photodieldrin or by directly absorbing this insecticide eliminate about 50 per cent of the absorbed photodieldrin in 4 days which increases up to 70 per cent in 7 days. However, continuous exposure of daphnids to photodieldrin results in increased absorption and accumulation of this insecticide. Transfer of the goldfish contaminated with photodieldrin to clean water results in initial elimination in 24 hours whose rate is then subsequently reduced. These two organisms are thus capable of eliminating their body residues of photodieldrin, the terminal residue: of dieldrin, if their environment is decontaminated.
Modulation of AMPA receptor kinetics differentially influences synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus

Prior studies showed that positive alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor modulators facilitate long-term potentiation (LTP) and improve the formation of several types of memory in animals and humans. However, these modulators are highly diverse in their effects on receptor kinetics and synaptic transmission and thus may differ also in their efficacy to promote changes in synaptic strength. The present study examined three of these modulators for their effects on synaptic plasticity in field CA1 of hippocampal slices, two of them being the benzamide drugs 1-(quinoxalin-6-ylcarbonyl)piperidine (CX516) and 1-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-ylcarbonyl)piperidine (CX546) which prominently enhance synaptic transmission yet differ in their relative impact on amplitude versus duration of the synaptic response. The third drug was cyclothiazide which potently blocks AMPA receptor desensitization. Effects on plasticity were assessed by measuring (i) the likelihood of obtaining stable potentiation when using theta-burst stimulation with three instead of four pulses per burst, (ii) the maximum amount of potentiation under optimal stimulation conditions, and (iii) the effect on long-term depression (LTD). Both benzamides facilitated the formation of stable potentiation induced with three-pulse burst stimulation which is normally ineffective. CX546 in addition increased maximally inducible potentiation after four-pulse burst stimulation from about 50% to 100%. Burst response analysis revealed that CX546 greatly prolonged the duration of depolarization by slowing the decay of the response which thus presumably leads to a more continuous N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation. Cyclothiazide was ineffective in increasing maximal potentiation in either field or whole-cell recordings. CX546, but not CX516, also enhanced nearly two-fold the NMDA receptor-dependent long-term depression induced by heterosynaptic 2 Hz stimulation. Tests with recombinant NMDA receptors (NR1/NR2A) showed that CX516 and CX546 have no direct effects on currents mediated by these receptors. These results suggest that (1) modulation of AMPA receptors which increases either response amplitude or duration can facilitate LTP formation, (2) modulators that effectively slow response deactivation augment the maximum magnitude of LTP and LTD, and (3) receptor desensitization may have a minor impact on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Taken together, our data indicate that AMPA receptor modulators differ substantially in their ability to enhance synaptic potentiation or depression, depending on their particular influence on receptor kinetics, and hence that they may also be differentially effective in influencing higher-order processes such as memory encoding.
Evoked gamma band synchronization and the liability for schizophrenia.

Objective: Electroencephalographic (EEG) synchronization in the gamma band is thought to represent a neuronal mechanism by which the brain integrates information processed in different cortical areas to build a coherent internal representation. Previous studies have reported abnormal gamma range (∼40 Hz) synchronization in schizophrenic patients. We tested a group of first-degree relatives of schizophrenic probands who have schizophrenia spectrum personality symptoms, and a group of schizophrenic patients, to examine whether individuals with increased liability for schizophrenia have reduced gamma synchronization. Method: A steady-state auditory evoked potential paradigm was used to evaluate the brain's capacity to sustain 20, 30, and 40 Hz EEG synchronization in 11 relatives, 24 schizophrenic patients (11 on conventional, 13 on new generation antipsychotic medications), and 17 normal controls. Results: Relatives with schizophrenic spectrum personality symptoms had reduced power at 40 Hz synchronization compared to normal controls (p=0.022). Previous findings of reduced steady-state gamma band synchronization in schizophrenic patients were not directly replicated in this study. Patients as a group did not significantly differ from controls, but patients taking new generation antipsychotics had significantly enhanced 40 Hz synchronization compared to patients taking conventional antipsychotics (p<0.001). There were no group differences in 20 or 30 Hz synchronization. Conclusions: Gamma band synchronization was found to be reduced in first-degree relatives with schizophrenia spectrum personality symptoms. Patients on new generation antipsychotic medications may exhibit enhanced gamma band synchronization.
Antifeedant effect of commercial chemicals and plant extracts against Schistocerca americana (Orthoptera: Acrididae) and Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

BACKGROUND: The deterrent effect of seven commercial compounds against Schistocerca americana (Drury) nymphs and Diaprepes abbreviatus L. adults, two important citrus pests, was investigated. Extracts of three Florida local plants were also tested as deterrents. Antifeedant activity was assayed using a leaf-disk bioassay in choice and no-choice tests. The residual activity of the commercial compounds that significantly deterred the insects was assayed by applying them to foliage of citrus plants exposed to three time intervals of sunlight. RESULTS: Sabadilla, azadirachtin and ryanodine effectively deterred S. americana, whereas rotenone, sabadilla and ryanodine reduced the feeding activity of D. abbreviatus. Methanol and methylene chloride extracts of Ceratiola ericoides Michaux deterred D. abbreviatus, but only methylene chloride extract dissuaded S. americana. Methanol extract of Ardisia crenata Sims functioned as a feeding deterrent against both S. americana and D. abbreviatus, but only the latter species was deterred by methylene chloride extract of A. crenata. Extracts of Illicium parviflorum Michaux ex Ventetat only dissuaded the insects in choice bioassays. Rapid loss of effectiveness was observed under field conditions. Sabadilla was the only compound that maintained its antifeedant properties in the field, but only against S. americana. CONCLUSION: Based on their deterrency, some of the commercial products and plant extracts have potential for use as substitute crop protectants against the pest species tested. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Let's Suspend Suspensions: Consequences and Alternatives

National data dispute the value of school suspensions. This article describes specific alternatives to suspension, with special attention devoted to the creation of “in-school” suspension programs. It outlines the philosophies, benefits, essential components, and major difficulties of in-school suspension centers. The author discusses truancy prevention, contingency contracting, and corporal punishment, and provides sources for obtaining detailed information on each disciplinary technique.
Evolution of body size in Galapagos marine iguanas.

Body size is one of the most important traits of organisms and allows predictions of an individual's morphology, physiology, behaviour and life history. However, explaining the evolution of complex traits such as body size is difficult because a plethora of other traits influence body size. Here I review what we know about the evolution of body size in a group of island reptiles and try to generalize about the mechanisms that shape body size. Galapagos marine iguanas occupy all 13 larger islands in this Pacific archipelago and have maximum island body weights between 900 and 12 000 g. The distribution of body sizes does not match mitochondrial clades, indicating that body size evolves independently of genetic relatedness. Marine iguanas lack intra- and inter-specific food competition and predators are not size-specific, discounting these factors as selective agents influencing body size. Instead I hypothesize that body size reflects the trade-offs between sexual and natural selection. We found that sexual selection continuously favours larger body sizes. Large males establish display territories and some gain over-proportional reproductive success in the iguanas' mating aggregations. Females select males based on size and activity and are thus responsible for the observed mating skew. However, large individuals are strongly selected against during El Nino-related famines when dietary algae disappear from the intertidal foraging areas. We showed that differences in algae sward (‘pasture’) heights and thermal constraints on large size are causally responsible for differences in maximum body size among populations. I hypothesize that body size in many animal species reflects a trade-off between foraging constraints and sexual selection and suggest that future research could focus on physiological and genetic mechanisms determining body size in wild animals. Furthermore, evolutionary stable body size distributions within populations should be analysed to better understand selection pressures on individual body size.
Packaging design for potato chips

Abstract For many years modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) has been successfully used to prolong the shelf life of many products. One of the issues that still need to be addressed is the evaluation of the optimal head space gas composition (i.e., the initial head space gas composition that guarantees the longest shelf life to the product). An experimental evaluation of the optimal head space gas composition is usually avoided because it takes long time; instead, a rough estimation is generally made by means of empirical methods. In the present paper an evaluation of the optimal head space gas composition, based on the use of mathematical models able to predict the shelf life of the product, has been made for the specific case of potato chips. Two commercially used multilayer films have been analyzed, for both films the potato chip's shelf life can be substantially prolonged by varying the head space gas composition. In particular, replacing the currently used nitrogen with a mixture of nitrogen and water vapor, having a relative humidity ranging from 0.1% to 32%, yields an increase in the shelf life of the product as high as 80% for film 1 and 43% for film 2.
Public Television as a Public Good

An economic evaluation of the “market plan” used to select public television programs and a potential to expand available programming.
Frequency domain wave-oriented data processing of scattering by truncated periodic strip gratings

Guided by a Floquet-modified GTD model developed by us for finite periodic and weakly aperiodic wire gratings, we propose and apply space-wavenumber phase space processing algorithms to extract that phenomenology from a numerical data base. A method of moments (MOM) reference algorithm is used to compute the frequency domain (FD) scattering data for truncated gratings whose elements are arbitrarily oriented periodically distributed strips rather than thin wire filaments. Because the processing is tied to the wave physics, we refer to this procedure as wave-oriented data processing. Implementation involves projection onto appropriate FD phase space subdomains, and the generation of space-wavenumber phase-space distributions by windowed Fourier transforms. It is found that this form of FD processing highlights effects of truncation and perturbed periodicity but is less sensitive to the structure of the grating elements (i.e. wires vs. strips). >
Demographic Sensitivity of Population Change in Northern Bobwhite

Abstract The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) is an economically important gamebird that is currently undergoing widespread population declines. Despite considerable research on the population ecology of bobwhites, there have been few attempts to model population dynamics of bobwhites to determine the contributions of different demographic parameters to variance of the finite rate of population change (λ). We conducted a literature review and compiled 405 estimates of 9 demographic parameters from 49 field studies of bobwhites. To identify demographic parameters that might be important for management, we used life-stage simulation analyses (LSA) to examine sensitivity of λ to simulated variation in 9 demographic parameters for female bobwhites. In a baseline LSA based on uniform distributions bounded by the range of estimates for each demographic parameter, bobwhite populations were predicted to decline (λ = 0.56) and winter survival of adults made the greatest contribution to variance of λ (r2 = 0...
Gabapentin for Parkinsonism: A Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Trial

Abstract PURPOSE: Gabapentin is a recently available anticonvulsant whose mechanism of action remains unknown. We suspected efficacy from serendipitous observations of gabapentin in patients with parkinsonism. This led us to a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We administered gabapentin in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial to 19 subjects with advanced parkinsonism. We measured the effect of placebo and gabapentin on subjects' symptoms with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the Webster Scale, and the Hoehn and Yahr Scale. We assessed tremor with surface-recorded electromyography. RESULTS: Total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale improved with gabapentin compared with placebo ( P = 0.0005). Likewise, activities of daily living and examination subscore of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale improved with gabapentin compared with placebo but did not achieve statistical significance. Webster Scale showed improvement but neither Hoehn and Yahr Scale nor Webster Scale changes reached statistical significance. Tremor as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale improved with gabapentin but the use of the root mean square of the rectified electromyography as a measure of tremor activity was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that gabapentin improves rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor of parkinsonism including both Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's syndrome. The rigidity and bradykinesia of parkinsonism improve on the drug even when the effects of gabapentin on tremor are discounted.
Clearance of 125I-labeled interleukin-6 from brain into blood following intracerebroventricular injection in rats

To test the hypothesis that interleukin-6 (IL-6) induced within the brain can be released into peripheral blood, 125I-labeled IL-6 was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle of rats, and its concentration in peripheral blood followed serially. Acid-precipitable tracer appeared within 5 min of injection and entered the blood following first-order kinetics (fractional rate, 0.0116 +/- 0.0022/min). Comparison of areas under the curve of intracerebroventricular (icv) vs. iv injection showed that 37.1-46.5% of tracer injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle appeared in the blood over a 4-h period. icv IL-6 exits at least in part via venous drainage (superior sagittal sinus/aortic concentration gradient was 1.47 +/- 0.23 and 3.05 +/- 0.87 in two separate groups). Prior icv injection of human IL-1beta (100 ng) did not alter rate of degradation or of exit ofradioiodine-labeled IL-6 from the brain. These studies indicate that a relatively high proportion of IL-6 that arises in the brain enters the peripheral circulation. Direct secretion of IL-6 from brain to blood may be a mechanism by which the brain modifies peripheral metabolic, endocrine, and immune activity.
Professionalization of Women's Health Groups in Sao Paulo: The Troublesome Road towards Organizational Diversity

This article gives an overview of the origins and characteristics of the women's health movement in Sao Paulo as a specific example of a social movement. It focuses, in particular, on its organizat...
Proliferative and Cytokine Responses of Human T Lymphocytes Isolated from Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients to the Major Surface Glycoprotein of Pneumocystis carinii

The current study examined the proliferative capacity and cytokine secretion pattern of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients in response to the major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of Pneumocystis carinii. PBMC from AIDS patients with <200 CD4 cells/mL had significantly less proliferative responses to MSG than did healthy controls. Cytokine analysis indicated that interferon-gamma secreted in response to MSG was also significantly less. There was no significant difference in interleukin-4 levels following incubation with MSG between any of the groups; however, all the HIV-infected persons had slightly elevated levels. When the CDC class C3 patients who had a previous episode of P. carinii pneumonia were compared with those who had not had a previous episode, there was a significant increase in the proliferative response to MSG and in interleukin-4 secretion. CDC class C3 patients who had a previous episode of P. carinii pneumonia showed a predominately Th2 response to MSG.
Reconfigurable Security Support for Embedded Systems

Embedded systems present significant security challenges due to their limited resources and power constraints. We propose a novel security architecture for embedded systems (SANES) that leverages the capabilities of reconfigurable hardware to provide efficient and flexible architectural support to both security standards and a range of attacks. This paper shows the efficiency of reconfigurable architecture to implement security primitives within embedded systems. We also propose the use of hardware monitors to detect and defend against attacks. The SANES architecture is based on three main ideas: 1) reconfigurable security primitives, 2) reconfigurable hardware monitors and 3) a hierarchy of security controllers at the primitive, system and executive level. Results are presented for a reconfigurable AES security primitive within the IPSec standard and highlight the interest of such a solution.
Targeted bisulfite sequencing reveals changes in DNA methylation associated with nuclear reprogramming

Current DNA methylation assays are limited in the flexibility and efficiency of characterizing a large number of genomic targets. We report a method to specifically capture an arbitrary subset of genomic targets for single-molecule bisulfite sequencing for digital quantification of DNA methylation at single-nucleotide resolution. A set of ~30,000 padlock probes was designed to assess methylation of ~66,000 CpG sites within 2,020 CpG islands on human chromosome 12, chromosome 20, and 34 selected regions. To investigate epigenetic differences associated with dedifferentiation, we compared methylation in three human fibroblast lines and eight human pluripotent stem cell lines. Chromosome-wide methylation patterns were similar among all lines studied, but cytosine methylation was slightly more prevalent in the pluripotent cells than in the fibroblasts. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells appeared to display more methylation than embryonic stem cells. We found 288 regions methylated differently in fibroblasts and pluripotent cells. This targeted approach should be particularly useful for analyzing DNA methylation in large genomes.
Techniques for endovascular recanalization of supra-aortic trunks.

The supra-aortic arteries are no stranger to endovascular interventions. Since the 1980s, interventionists have been evaluating and refining the use of transluminal techniques for recanalizing stenotic and occlusive lesions in these large-bore, high-flow vessels. The authors present their methodologies for evaluating, selecting, and treating supra-aortic lesions with balloon angioplasty and stenting. Helpful suggestions are offered for optimizing the outcome of these endovascular approaches to atherosclerotic occlusive disease in the supra-aortic trunks.
Regulated secretion in endothelial cells: biology and clinical implications.

Regulated secretion provides a means by which endothelial cells (EC) can rapidly and selectively alter the microenvironment of individual vascular beds, and modulate the interrelated processes of coagulation, fibrinolysis, and inflammation. The rapid release of high molecular weight multimers of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and surface expression of P-selectin in response to a wide variety of stimuli have been well documented, and are the result of exocytosis of Weibel- Palade bodies (WPB). The regulated release of other EC secretory proteins, including tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), interleukin-8, endothelin-1, and multimerin, has also been described. New light is being shed on how secretory proteins are selectively targeted to storage granules in EC, and on the molecular and cellular events that comprise regulated secretion. Knowledge of the mechanisms of sorting and secretion from EC storage granules may provide basis for new strategies for treating inflammatory and coagulation disorders.
G-Storm: GPU-enabled high-throughput online data processing in Storm

The Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture of Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) makes them perfect for parallel processing of big data. In this paper, we present the design, implementation and evaluation of G-Storm, a GPU-enabled parallel system based on Storm, which harnesses the massively parallel computing power of GPUs for high-throughput online stream data processing. G-Storm has the following desirable features: 1) G-Storm is designed to be a general data processing platform as Storm, which can handle various applications and data types. 2) G-Storm exposes GPUs to Storm applications while preserving its easy-to-use programming model. 3) G-Storm achieves high-throughput and low-overhead data processing with GPUs. We implemented G-Storm based on Storm 0.9.2 and tested it using two different applications: continuous query and matrix multiplication. Extensive experimental results show that compared to Storm, G-Storm achieves over 7x improvement on throughput for continuous query, while maintaining reasonable average tuple processing time. It also leads to 2.3x throughput improvement for the matrix multiplication application.
The Effects of Familial and Social Variables on Children's Educational Attainment

Throughout this project, the impact of variables such as income, family size, single vs. dual headed households, parents’ educational attainments and other background factors affecting the educational attainments of children in these families are examined. Additionally, the effect of children’s drug and alcohol use/ abuse on their education is examined. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol10/iss1/11
Mexico's Attempt to Extend its Continental Shelf Beyond 200 Nautical Miles Serves as a Model for the International Community

Abstract In June 2000, the United States and Mexico signed a treaty for the delimitation of the continental shelf in the western Gulf of Mexico beyond 200 nautical miles. When the treaty was signed, both countries realized that the interpretation and implementation of the treaty depended on the scientific and legal certainty of determinations regarding how far their respective submarine continental shelves extended. On 13 December 2007, Mexico submitted information to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured in relation to the Western Polygon in the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico sought an extension of its continental shelf in the Western Polygon based on international law, UNCLOS, and bilateral treaties with the United States, in accordance with Mexico's domestic legislation. Peaceful delimitation of maritime borders is essential to maintaining world order. Mexico is a country of peace, and has attempted to use international law as a tool to represent its interests. Mexico has meticulously adhered to a series of international precedents and treaties to support its claim. Moreover, Mexico has gathered significant scientific evidence to verify its sovereign authority over its maritime areas. In the author's opinion, the United States should recognize these claims and show the world that the U.S. stands for fairness, equity and the rule of law.
Giant elastocaloric effect in ferroelectric Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 alloys from first-principles

As the need for efficient energy converting devices has been rapidly increasing, the materials that exhibit large or even giant caloric responses have emerged as promising candidates for solid-state refrigeration, which is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional refrigeration technology. However, despite recent ground breaking discoveries of giant caloric responses in some materials, they appear to remain one of nature's rarities. Here we predict the existence of giant elastocaloric effect in ferroelectric Ba${}_{0.5}$Sr${}_{0.5}$TiO${}_{3}$ alloys, which adds one more member to this exclusive collection. Moreover, this computational finding reveals the multicaloric nature of such alloys, which could lead to new paradigms for cooling devices.
Locus Chemotherapy in Cancer Angiogenesis

A cancer angiogenesias is a complex system. Its robustness is supported by the signaling elements from cancer hypoxic microenvironment. The signaling angiogenic networks have nodal organization of its elements. The AKT is crucial macromolecule in the nodal angiogenic system of solid cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, plasmocytoma and myeloma. Targeting AKT locus by the locus chemotherapy, angiogenesis and all cancer system will fail. The AKT dephosphorylation phenomenon is induced by the redox balance change, causing conversion of the positive loops into normal feedback loops and leading to abolishment of cancer angiogenesis and cancer progression.
AN EQUIVALENT LINEARIZATION/DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION METHOD FOR NONLINEAR RANDOM COMPOSITE PANEL RESPONSE

The nonlinear random response of composite plates to the simultanously applied, combined acoustic and thermal loads is investigated in this paper. A finite element formulation for the nonlinear random response is developed. The three-node Mindlin plate element with improved transverse shear is extended and employed. The acoustic load can be normal incidence or grazing incidence. An interesting observationis that the antisymmetric modes are participated in the response of the plate for grazing incident acoustic wave. The numerical results feature grazing incidence, nonuniform temperature distribution, initial imperfection and skewed planform.
How Archaeologists and Artifact Collectors Can—and Should—Collaborate to Comply with Legal and Ethical Antiquities Codes

In a recent American Antiquity forum (Pitblado 2014), I argued that not only is it possible for archaeologists to engage in ethical collaborations with members of the artifact-collecting public, but that the Society for American Archaeology’s “Principles of Archaeological Ethics” stipulates that we should do so. This is not a message, however, that has fully permeated the archaeological community, which has led to a schism between populations who are often natural allies. This paper starts with that premise: that archaeologists should actively pursue collaborations with the artifact-collecting community with the goal of advancing research agendas, public education, and long-term care of collections in private hands. The paper offers guidelines for establishing and nurturing professional-collector relationships in a way that furthers the directives of legal and ethical archaeological codes. I begin with an overview of the changing nature of professional-collector relationships during the twentieth century, exploring reasons for the divisiveness that has characterized recent decades. I next suggest five steps for establishing appropriate relationships with artifact collectors—and avoiding inappropriate ones. Finally, I describe how I followed those steps to establish a network of collector-collaborators to build the foundation for a Paleoamerican research program in southeastern Idaho and northern Utah.
The role of fluid pressure on frictional behavior at the base of the seismogenic zone

To characterize stress and deformation style at the base of the seismogenic zone, we investigate how the mechanical properties of fluid-rock systems respond to variations in temperature and strain rate. The role of fluids on the processes responsible for the brittle-ductile transition in quartz-rich rocks has not been explored at experimental conditions where the kinetic competition between microcracking and viscous flow is similar to that expected in the Earth. Our initial analysis of this competition suggests that the effective stress law for sliding friction should not work as efficiently near the brittle-ductile transition as it does at shallow conditions.
Transition Metal Ion Species in Glass: A Comparison of Optical Absorption and Luminescence Evidence

Optical absorption spectra of d-d transitions can be interpreted through crystal field theory as evidence for at least four kinds of species: traditional network modifier ions (Mn2+, Fe2+, and Ni2+), octahedral complexes (Cr3+, Mn3+), tetrahedral complexes (Co2+, Fe3+), and network-forming ions (Ti4+, Fe3+). Absorption spectra measure only majority species since crystal field bands are broad and overlapping. Luminescence spectra reveal minority species if these species happen to be efficient emitters under laser excitation. Doublet-quartet emission bands (Cr3+) are independent of crystal field but allow the distinction between species because of small differences in bonding which shifts the Racah B parameter. Quartet-sextet emission (Mn2+, Fe3+) is strongly dependent on coordination number and bond lengths. Qualitative, but not quantitative, changes in speciation can be followed as glass composition is varied. Conceptually, the complexation of transition metal ions in insulator glasses results from a competition between the transition metal and the glass-forming framework for p-orbital electrons of non-bridging oxygens. Complexation is further enhanced in clustered glasses where the ions segregate into the more depolymerized units.
SCAWG: A toolbox for generating synthetic workload for spatial crowdsourcing

With the popularity of mobile devices, Spatial Crowdsourcing (SC) is emerging as a new framework that enables human workers to perform tasks in the physical world. With spatial crowdsourcing, the goal is to outsource a set of spatiotemporal tasks (i.e., tasks with time and location) to a set of workers, which requires the workers to be physically present at the location of the tasks in order to perform them. Research efforts have focused on different aspects of SC, such as task assignment, task scheduling and protecting workers' privacy. However, one of the biggest challenges for the research community is the absence of public real-world datasets from SC applications such as Uber, TaskRabbit, etc. Therefore, we propose a synthetic workload generator for the SC applications, namely SCAWG1, to produce common datasets for experimentation, thus leading to reproducible research. SCAWG facilitates and standardizes workload generation in SC research. Specifically, SCAWG considers realistic spatiotemporal properties and behaviors for both workers and tasks. In addition, to further emulate the real-world workloads, it considers various application-specific constraints and properties of workers and tasks as well as their temporal arrival patterns. SCAWG is very flexible and thus can be customized for different spatial crowdsourcing and crowdsensing applications via a set of user-defined parameters and distributions. We developed an open-source toolbox2 to demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of SCAWG. The toolbox is designed to be generic and extensible, which would expedite experimental studies.
Bottom-Up Proteomics Methods for Strain-Level Typing and Identification of Bacteria

Timely identification of bacteria is of vital importance in many areas of public health, biotechnology, forensics, and epidemiology. Mass spectrometry-based methods provide an attractive alternative to well-established microbiological procedures and are characterized by the relatively high speed of acquiring taxonomically relevant information. Bottom-up, shotgun-proteomics techniques allow for high-throughput sequencing of peptides from protease-digested cellular proteins using mass analysis of fragments from collision-induced dissociation of peptide ions. This peptide-centric technique uses database searching of product ion mass spectra against a database of a comprehensive list of protein sequences translated from protein-encoding open-reading frames found in bacterial genomes. The results of such searches allow assigning amino acid sequences to peptide fragmentation spectra and matching such peptides to reference microbial proteomes. Phylogenomic profiles of sequenced peptides may be then analyzed using numerical taxonomy tools to reveal strain identities up to subspecies level. The results thereof reveal not only the taxonomic position of an investigated strain but also allow for sequence-based subtyping of microbial strains based on expression of proteins associated with the virulence, antibiotic resistance, or with traditional serotyping methods.
Mechanisms of Familial Influence on Reentry among Formerly Incarcerated Latino Men

In the United States more than 10,000 people are released from state and federal prisons every week and often reenter the communities in which they were arrested. Formerly incarcerated individuals face considerable challenges to securing employment and housing. Subsequently, approximately two-thirds of former prisoners are rearrested within three years of their release. Latino men represent the fastest growing ethnic group of prisoners in the United States with unique cultural and social needs during the reentry process. The present study examined the role of the family in the reentry process through in-depth interviews (N = 16) with formerly incarcerated Latino men (FILM). The authors sought to identify familial processes specific to Latino men with potential to affect engagement and participation in reentry programs. Findings suggest that family mechanisms of social control and social support influence FILM's reentry. Social work practitioners who work with this growing population can engage familial processes to prevent recidivism and promote desistance.
Analysis and treatment of vibration of a small hydro-generator set

A variety of vibration problems such as overproof vibration of upper frame,larger throw and instable vibration of lower guide occurred during the debugging process of a hydro-generator set with installed capacity of 35 MW.In view of the analysis of measured vibration data and in-site observation,the results show that the abnormal vibration of the hydro-generator set is likely due to insufficient stiffness of support system,mass unbalance of rotor,dynamic and static friction and so on.By amplifying lower bearing seal clearance and conducting dynamic balance in the field,the vibration faults of hydro-generator set are solved successfully.
Four Roads to the Ramsey Function

In this paper we are concerned with lower bounds to the Ramsey function R ( k ). We examine four arguments and the bounds they yield. All arguments we consider are variants of the probabilistic method.
A Vision of the Future of Appellate Practice and Process

Technology is changing appellate practice in two different ways. The first, is increasing efficiency. Technology is also changing the scope and direction of traditional appellate practice and process.
Optimization for hybrid vehicles

Fuel efficiency has always been an important task in auto industry. Hybrid vehicles achieve this through the presence of an additional electrical machine which can act as both motor and generator. The combination of the engine and electrical machine makes them each be more efficient than when operating alone. The goal of this research is to build a controller that optimally manages the transfer of energy within the system such that the fuel consumption is minimized.
Vesical neck reconstruction in patients with epispadias-exstrophy.

AbstractVesical neck reconstruction was performed in 50 male and 12 female patients with the epispadias-exstrophy complex. Of these patients 45 had epispadias and 17 had classical exstrophy. Patient age ranged from 3 to 27 years, with a mean age of 12.6 years. Followup after vesical neck reconstruction averaged 11.6 years. Of the 45 patients with epispadias 35 (78 per cent) and of the 17 with bladder exstrophy 13 (76 per cent) are continent, for an over-all continence rate of 77 per cent. An adequate bladder capacity was one of the most important determinants of continence. In 11 patients with a small capacity or poorly compliant bladder augmentation cystoplasty was combined with vesical neck reconstruction to increase vesical capacity and to produce complete urinary continence.
Preoperative Preparation of the Patient with Carcinoma of the Colon

Although operability, age, concurrent medical problems, and surgical technique probably influence postoperative sepsis, the use of oral neomycin-erythromycin combination as preoperative prophylaxis appears satisfactory in its prevention.
Posthuman Ethics, Violence, Creaturely Suffering and the (Other) Animal: Schnurre's Postwar Animal Stories

The othering of whole groups of people in a biopolitical discourse during the Third Reich has caused many to re-assess ethics that is based on specific categories. Adorno and Horkheimer reckoned with both Enlightenment as well as classical “humanist” discourses to question whether they imply structures that lead to fascism. In the wake of these arguments, classical humanist (or sometimes also called anthropocentric) ethics have also been criticized by philosophers such as Agamben, Derrida, and Wolfe. It is thus time to work on posthuman(ist) ethics that avoids the traps of a narrow human ethics and that is inclusive rather than exclusive. The short stories by postwar German author Wolfdietrich Schnurre, written in the wake of the Holocaust, reckon with a purely human-centered worldview and draw a bleak picture of an anthropocentrically structured and valued world. Under the surface that portrays a speciesist world, Schnurre employs a network of sub-discourses to “cave out” carno-phallogocentric discourses and point towards a different, post-human ethics. This paper examines how anthropocentric discourses of power lead to inhumane violence and how a different approach to the Other, based on empathy and shared vulnerability, might just move us beyond it.
Topical Decolonization Does Not Eradicate the Skin Microbiota of Community-Dwelling or Hospitalized Adults

Topical antimicrobials are often employed for decolonization and infection prevention and may alter the endogenous microbiota of the skin. The objective of this study was to compare the microbial communities and levels of richness and diversity in community-dwelling subjects and intensive care unit (ICU) patients before and after the use of topical decolonization protocols. We enrolled 15 adults at risk for Staphylococcus aureus infection. Community subjects (n = 8) underwent a 5-day decolonization protocol (twice daily intranasal mupirocin and daily dilute bleach-water baths), and ICU patients (n = 7) received daily chlorhexidine baths. Swab samples were collected from 5 anatomic sites immediately before and again after decolonization. A variety of culture media and incubation environments were used to recover bacteria and fungi; isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Overall, 174 unique organisms were recovered. Unique communities of organisms were recovered from the community-dwelling and hospitalized cohorts. In the community-dwelling cohort, microbial richness and diversity did not differ significantly between collections across time points, although the number of body sites colonized with S. aureus decreased significantly over time (P = 0.004). Within the hospitalized cohort, richness and diversity decreased over time compared to those for the enrollment sampling (from enrollment to final sampling, P = 0.01 for both richness and diversity). Topical antimicrobials reduced the burden of S. aureus while preserving other components of the skin and nasal microbiota.
The Corruption Norm

The article weaves together concepts and arguments from law, behavioral ethics, and management to explain the spread of systemic wrongdoing at the levels of individuals, companies, and across industries.
Disparities between research attention and burden in liver diseases: implications on uneven advances in pharmacological therapies in Europe and the USA

Objectives Effective oral therapies for hepatitis B and C have recently been developed, while there are no approved pharmacological therapies for alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (ALD and NAFLD). We hypothesise that fewer advances in fatty liver diseases could be related to disparities in research attention. Methods We developed the Attention-to-Burden Index (ABI) that compares the research activities during 2010–2014, and an estimate of disease burden of these 4 major liver diseases. The resulting ratio reflects either overattention (positive value) or inadequate attention (negative value) compared with disease burden. The mean research attention and disease burden were calculated from 5 and 6 different parameters, respectively. The efficacy rate of current pharmacological therapies was assessed from published clinical trials. Findings The mean research attention for hepatitis B and C was 31% and 47%, respectively, while NAFLD and ALD received 17% and 5%. The overall burden was 5% and 28% for hepatitis B and C, and 17% and 50% for NAFLD and ALD. The calculated ABI for hepatitis B and C revealed a +6.7-fold and +1.7-fold overattention, respectively. NAFLD received an appropriate attention compared with its burden, while ALD received marked inadequate attention of −9.7-fold. The efficacy rate of current pharmacological agents was 72% for hepatitis B, 89% for hepatitis C, 25% for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and 13% for alcoholic hepatitis. Importantly, we found a positive correlation between the mean attention and the efficacy rate of current therapies in these 4 major liver diseases. Interpretation There are important disparities between research attention and disease burden among the major liver diseases. While viral hepatitis has received considerable attention, there is a marked inadequate attention to ALD. There is a critical need to increase awareness of ALD in the liver research community.
Behavioral Response of Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to its Synthetic Pheromone

A wind-tunnel bioassay was used to determine the effect of age and feeding history (starvation) on the response of Podisus maculiventris (Say) to its synthetic pheromone. Starved male and female adults showed positive anemotaxis toward the pheromone source; well-fed insects did not. This supports the hypothesis that P. maculiventris adults use the pheromone as a cue indicating presence of prey, in addition to a mating cue, although a physiological explanation for the lack of response by well-fed insects is also possible. In the presence of the pheromone, fed as well as starved insects increased activities such as extending antennae upwind; fluttering wings; and rubbing antennae, proboscis, forelegs, hindlegs, and abdomen. These activities may indicate stimulation of olfactory receptors on antennae and contact chemoreceptors elsewhere on the body. First- to third-generation offspring of field-collected P. maculiventris showed greater response to the synthetic pheromone compared with individuals from a 2-ye...
Exact solutions to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation

New exact solutions to the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation are presented and the equivalence of two methods of arriving at these solutions shown.
Energy optimization for hybrid-ARQ and AMC

We consider the energy optimization of a cross-layer design which combines hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) and adaptive modulation and coding. We consider two cases: variable alphabet size with constant transmit power, and variable alphabet size with variable transmit power. We optimize the alphabet size selection algorithm and/or the transmit power for each transmission round to minimize energy consumption, subject to an overall packet error probability constraint. Numerical results show that the variable alphabet size and variable power case significantly reduces energy consumption compared to conventional HARQ schemes. For example, at a packet error probability of 5 × 10∼2, energy consumption of the proposed scheme is reduced by 40% relative to a comparison scheme.