cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast mimo transmit antenna selection algorithms: a geometric approach

Motivated by matrix determinant properties, this letter develops a fast transmit antenna selection algorithm for MIMO systems: the G-circles method. This novel scheme is shown to achieve many advantages over other existing algorithms
Dehalogenation and biodegradation of brominated phenols and benzoic acids under iron-reducing, sulfidogenic, and methanogenic conditions

The anaerobic biodegradation of monobrominated phenols and benzoic acids by microorganisms enriched from marine and estuarine sediments was determined in the presence of different electron acceptors [i.e., Fe(III), SO4(2-), or HCO3-]. Under all conditions tested, the bromophenol isomers were utilized without a lengthy lag period whereas the bromobenzoate isomers were utilized only after a lag period of 23 to 64 days. 2-Bromophenol was debrominated to phenol, with the subsequent utilization of phenol under all three reducing conditions. Debromination of 3-bromophenol and 4-bromophenol was also observed under sulfidogenic and methanogenic conditions but not under iron-reducing conditions. In the bromobenzoate-degrading cultures, no intermediates were observed under any of the conditions tested. Debromination rates were higher under methanogenic conditions than under sulfate-reducing or iron-reducing conditions. The stoichiometric reduction of sulfate or Fe(III) and the utilization of bromophenols and phenol indicated that biodegradation was coupled to sulfate or iron reduction, respectively. The production of phenol as a transient intermediate demonstrates that reductive dehalogenation is the initial step in the biodegradation of bromophenols under iron- and sulfate-reducing conditions.
Visceral Leishmanicidal Activity of Hexadecylphosphocholine (Miltefosine) in Mice Deficient in T Cells and Activated Macrophage Microbicidal Mechanisms

Hexadecylphosphocholine (miltefosine), a membrane-active alkylphospholipid, may be the first effective oral agent for visceral leishmaniasis, an intracellular protozoal infection of tissue macrophages. In vitro, miltefosine stimulates T cells and macrophages to respond to and secrete activating cytokines, including interferon (IFN)-gamma, and enhances macrophage production of microbicidal reactive nitrogen and oxygen intermediates (RNIs and ROIs, respectively). To determine whether these effects mediate miltefosine's in vivo leishmanicidal efficacy, genetically deficient mice were infected with Leishmania donovani. Intracellular visceral killing was retained in mice lacking or deficient in T cells, endogenous IFN-gamma, and macrophage generation of leishmanicidal RNIs and ROIs. Although mutant mice responded to miltefosine in the absence of tissue granulomas, treatment enhanced granuloma assembly in normal animals. These results suggest that miltefosine's visceral leishmanicidal effect does not require host T cell-dependent or activated macrophage-mediated mechanisms; thus, this agent may potentially be useful in treating T cell-deficient patients with kala-azar.
An orthotic hand-assistive exoskeleton for actuated pinch and grasp

Over 450,000 Americans suffer from debilitative disorders resulting in the loss of proper hand function. A lightweight, non-cumbrous, orthotic hand exoskeleton was designed to restore normal pinching and grasping finger motions. Three functional digit mechanisms were designed: a thumb, index, and grouped third digit, comprised of the middle, ring, and small fingers. Each phalange was enclosed by a series of cylindrical aluminum bands connected at the centers of rotation of each joint. Bowden cables were mounted beneath each digit to provide active flexion, mimicking the tendons in the hand. A spring extension mechanism maintained constant tension in the Bowden cables, and during relaxation, returned the actuated digits to a fully extended resting position. Individually controlled actuators mounted on a forearm assembly produced 15 N of tensile force in each cable. The orthotic hand exoskeleton will be integrated with a digital control system currently under development in this laboratory. The complete system was designed to restore hand functionality through the amplification of precision pinch and/or power grasp.
4.14 Chemical Weathering in Cold Climates

Chemical weathering processes in cold climates have traditionally been viewed as subordinate in kind, intensity, and rate compared to mechanical weathering processes. Empirical work by Jackli (1956) and Rapp (1960), however, demonstrated that in fact chemical denudation in arctic and alpine environments exceeded mechanical denudation. Since that time a growing body of research has shown that in fact chemical weathering processes operating in cold climates are the same as those operating in milder climatic regimes and that the intensity of weathering as reflected in weathering products and soil formation is also as great as in milder climates. Chemical denudation rates approximate those of milder climates and frequently exceed those of mechanical denudation.
A Peasant Road to Development in Kenya? The Inverse Relationship between Land Size and Productivity and the Household as a Collective

Land distribution has reemerged as an important part of both academic and policy,leading to the resuscitation of the debate on the relationship between size of holdings and output per land unit. We empirically examinewhether the inverse size and output relationship holds in the case of Kenya, using the Agricultural module of the Kenya Integrated Household Budget and Expenditure Survey of 2006. We confirm the existence of a strong inverse relationship, while controlling for factors, such as soil or slope type, thereby tackling previous criticisms of the relationship as a product of misspecification. We add to the literature by more holistically exploring the complimentary inputs to agriculture including quality of land, education, access to credit and other farm inputs, and also by approaching agriculture as a collective endeavor, a fact often ignored by studies which solely focus on the characteristics of household heads. Our paper thus addresses broad rural development policies, such as literacy and agricultural extension, which are needed to achieve sustainable rural livelihoods.
Submission No. 3 to Senate Committee on Finance – Comments on Option Y

The Senate Committee on Finance international tax reform staff discussion draft issued November 19, 2013 sets out two possible approaches (Option Y and Option Z) for international tax reform. This letter makes comments on Option Y. The subject matter of these comments include:1. Strengthening the Foreign Tax Credit Limitation So As To Prevent Job, Asset, Risk and Income Shifting2. Interplay of New Code §956 Low-Taxed Income and the Foreign Tax Credit3. Expenses (Other than Interest) Allocable to Exempt Income of a Controlled Foreign Corporation4. Foreign Tax Credit Limitation — Treatment of Foreign Withholding Taxes on Actual Distributions5. Amendment to Code §543 Definition of Foreign Personal Holding Company Income6. Amendment to Code §952(c)(1)(B)(iii) Definition of Qualified ActivityThis is Submission 3 of 7 Comment Letters Provided to the Committee.
A Review of Privacy Preserving Mechanisms for Record Linkage

Record linkage represents the process of identifying records that refer to the same real-world entity across multiple sources. In the recent past, the large explosion of data from organizations and individuals has created critical challenges in record linkage process, leading the scientific community to develop a rich series of techniques. Among these recent developments, the design of record linkage solutions for medical data is a cornerstone for health-care systems, as personal identifying information, such as name and date of birth, is often used for linkage. In this setting, record linkage solutions are expected to preserve individual patients’ privacy in addition to be effective and efficient. In this chapter, we provide a broad review of the recent works in privacy preserving record linkage (PPRL). From a privacy-centric perspective, we summarize a comprehensive framework of the PPRL process and describe the privacy assurance techniques adopted for each step in the framework. With the applications in biomedical domain in mind, we identify several challenges for PPRL and discuss future research directions.
Home Society Politics and Immigrant Political Incorporation: The Case of Greek Immigrants in New York City:

This article examines the processes through which home society politics affect Greek immigrant incorporation into the host society's political structures. The argument made is that immigrant concer...
What the Pre-Social Work Student Can Get from Sociology: A Summary

ity and refuses to accept the responsibilities of executive decision. But if he is forced to accept responsibility for executive decision and the determination of policy, and so to identify himself with a particular program, then, let him become an active l ader only temporarily. For if he remains an executive, he ceases to be a scientist. Let him, therefore, take leave of absence for a stated time from sociology, and let us hope he will return to his first love.
Role of Adjuvant Therapy for Node-Negative Lung Cancer Invading the Chest Wall

Abstract Introduction The present study investigated the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation on survival among patients undergoing chest wall resection for T3N0 non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods Patients with T3N0 NSCLC who underwent chest wall resection were identified in the National Cancer Data Base in 2004 to 2012. The cohort was divided into patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, chemoradiation therapy, or no adjuvant treatment. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to compare overall survival, and a bootstrapped Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the significant contributors to survival. A subset analysis was performed with stratification by margin status and tumor size. Results Of 759 patients identified, 42.0% underwent surgery alone, 23.3% underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy, 22.3% underwent surgery followed by chemoradiation therapy, and 12.3% underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy alone. Tumors > 4 cm benefited from adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the multivariable analysis, and those ≤ 4 cm benefited only from adjuvant chemotherapy. The subgroup analysis by margin status identified that margin-positive patients with tumors > 4 cm benefited significantly from either adjuvant chemoradiation therapy or radiation therapy alone. Conclusion T3N0 NSCLC with chest wall invasion requires unique management compared with other stage IIB tumors. An important determinant of management is tumor size, with tumors ≤ 4 cm benefiting from adjuvant chemotherapy and tumors > 4 cm benefiting from adjuvant chemotherapy if margin negative and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy or radiotherapy if margin positive.
Millimeter Wave: The Future of Commercial Wireless Systems

Millimeter wave (mmWave) is coming to fifth generation (5G) cellular, wireless local area networks (WLANs), and wireless personal area networks (WPANs). The benefits of using millimeter wave carriers arise from the potential for larger bandwidths (hundreds of megahertz to gigahertz) compared to lower carrier frequencies. Differences in the propagation, challenges introduced by hardware constraints, and computational issues related to the high data rates have reinvigorated research in wireless communications. This paper, which accompanies a keynote talk with the same name, provides a roadmap to the author's research results in the evolving area of mmWave for consumers.
Absence of FLT3 Mutations in 181 Healthy Blood Donors.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) encodes for a tyrosine kinase receptor located on hematopoietic progenitor cells in the bone marrow, lymph nodes and thymus. Activation of FLT3 results in increased proliferation of these hematopoietic cells. Mutations in the FLT3 gene, resulting in a constitutively activated FLT3 receptor, have been identified in 1/3 of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and portend a worse prognosis. The most frequently occurring FLT3 mutations are internal tandem duplications (ITD) located in the juxtamembrane domain. To our knowledge, previous studies involving FLT3 mutations have not been performed on a control population of normal individuals. Therefore, the prevalence of this mutation has not been established. In this study, we tested volunteer blood donors from a hospital-based blood donation center for the presence of FLT3-ITD mutations. METHODS: Citrated whole blood was obtained from volunteer blood donors, age 17 and older, who presented to donate whole blood at a hospital-based blood donation center. The donors met all qualifications for donating blood as defined by FDA regulations. DNA was extracted using the QIAagen and QIAamp DNA extraction columns, quantified and diluted to 100ng/ul. DNA was amplified using two fluorescently labeled primers for the FLT3-ITD mutation (InVivo Scribe Technologies, San Diego, CA). Using an experimental assay with high sensitivity but high non-specific background, FLT3-ITD mutations were detected by means of size and color separation through capillary electrophoresis (Vidiera NsD, Beckman-Coulter, Fullerton, CA). Samples were defined as negative for a FLT3-ITD mutation if only a single 330 base pair (bp) peak was detected. Samples were defined as positive for a FLT3-ITD mutation if an additional second peak > 330 bp was detected. Samples that had a small second peak ( RESULTS: A total of 181 DNA samples from volunteer blood donors were tested for FLT3-ITD mutations. The test group consisted of 104 males (mean age 44, range 17–77) and 77 females (mean age 42, range 18–71). Of 181 donors, 177 were negative for FLT3-ITD on initial testing. Only 4 donors (2 females: 18 and 19 years old and 2 males: 51 and 59 years old) had very small ( 330 bp. However, these second peaks were not detected with repeat testing and were therefore considered negative. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study documenting the prevalence of FLT3-ITD mutations in a healthy population. In this study of 181 volunteer blood donors none had FLT3-ITD mutations. Although 4 of the 181 donors were initially found to have very small additional second peaks equivocal for FLT3-ITD mutations, all were negative with high specificity, low background repeat testing, indicating these were probably false positive results. Therefore, we recommend that very small additional second peaks should be confirmed with repeat testing. The results of this study indicate that FLT3-ITD mutations are not present in a healthy blood donor population and are therefore significant when detected in leukemic patients.
Instructional Communication Research and Theory: Communication Development and Instructional Communication — An Overview

(1981). Instructional Communication Research and Theory: Communication Development and Instructional Communication — An Overview. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 5, Communication Yearbook 5, pp. 685-715.
Relative Quantitation of Neuropeptides at Multiple Developmental Stages of the American Lobster Using N, N-Dimethyl Leucine Isobaric Tandem Mass Tags.

Neuromodulators and neurotransmitters play important roles in neural network development. The quantitative changes of these signaling molecules often reflect their regulatory roles in physiological processes. Currently, several commercial tags (e.g., iTRAQ and TMT) have been widely used in proteomics. With reduced cost and higher labeling efficiency, we employed a set of custom-developed N,N-dimethyl leucine (DiLeu) 4-plex isobaric tandem mass tags as an attractive alternative for the relative quantitation of neuropeptides in brain tissue of American lobster Homarus americanus at multiple developmental stages. A general workflow for isobaric labeling of neuropeptides followed by LC-MS/MS analysis has been developed, including optimized sample handling procedures. Overall, we were able to quantify 18 trace-amount neuropeptides from 6 different families using a single adult brain as a control. The quantitation results indicated that the expressions of different neuropeptide families had significant changes ...
Digital Tokens and Platform Building

We present a model rationalizing the economic value of digital tokens for launching peer-to-peer platforms: By using the blockchain to transparently distribute tokens before the platform begins operation, a token sale overcomes later coordination failures between transaction counterparties during the platform operation. This result follows from forward induction reasoning, under which the costly and observable action of token acquisition credibly communicates the intent to participate on the platform. Our theoretical framework demonstrates the applications of digital tokens to entrepreneurship, including initial coin offerings (ICOs), and offers guidance for both practitioners and regulators.
Evaluation of Pancreatic VMAT2 Binding with Active and Inactive Enantiomers of [18F]FP-DTBZ in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Type 1 Diabetes.

Previous studies demonstrated the utility of [18F]fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine ([18F]FP-(+)-DTBZ) as a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer for the vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) to quantify beta cell mass in healthy control (HC) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) groups. Quantification of specific binding requires measurement of non-displaceable uptake. Our goal was to identify a reference tissue (renal cortex or spleen) to quantify pancreatic non-specific binding of [18F]FP-(+)-DTBZ with the inactive enantiomer, [18F]FP-(−)-DTBZ. This was the first human study of [18F]FP-(−)-DTBZ. Six HCs and four T1DM patients were scanned on separate days after injection of [18F]FP-(+)-DTBZ or [18F]FP-(−)-DTBZ. Distribution volumes (VT) and standardized uptake values (SUVs) were compared between groups. Three methods for calculation of non-displaceable uptake (VND) or reference SUV were applied: (1) use of [18F]FP-(+)-DTBZ reference VT as VND, assuming VND is uniform across organs; (2) use of [18F]FP-(−)-DTBZ pancreatic VT as VND, assuming that VND is uniform between enantiomers in the pancreas; and (3) use of a scaled [18F]FP-(+)-DTBZ reference VT as VND, assuming that a ratio of non-displaceable uptake between organs is uniform between enantiomers. Group differences in VT (or SUV), binding potential (BPND), or SUV ratio (SUVR) were estimated using these three methods. [18F]FP-(−)-DTBZ VT values were different among organs, and VT(+) and VT(−) were also different in the renal cortex and spleen. Method 3 with the spleen to estimate VND (or reference SUV) gave the highest non-displaceable uptake and the largest HC vs. T1DM group differences. Significant group differences were also observed in VT (or SUV) with method 1 using spleen. SUV was affected by differences in the input function between groups and between enantiomers. Non-displaceable uptake was different among organs and between enantiomers. Use of scaled spleen VT values for VND is a suitable method for quantification of VMAT2 in the pancreas.
New Media for Educational Change

Educational technologists should be regarded as change agents. New media should be regarded as digital tools that can be used for innovation. The contention here is that experiential learning offers an effective way for new media to affect change and can be accomplished through an experiential learning framework. A five-component strategy for organizing new media based on an experiential learning framework is presented here and includes technology-supported student activities that are active, interactive, situated, authentic, and case-based. Thus, the use of digital tools is used to increase the fidelity between the activities that occur inside the classroom and the actual performances that will be expected of students once they leave the classroom. The new media classroom will remain a common forum and will continue to be a meeting place, but the reconceptualized classroom will include a broader array of contexts. New media for educational change will likely focus on effective instructional design and development strategies.
Ethische Grundordnungen und Ethik

Eine der weitreichendsten Kontroversen der Ethik ist ausgelost worden durch Kants These, das nur ein solches Verhalten als ethisch gelten konne, welches „aus Pflicht“, d. h. allein um der Pflicht willen erfolge. Diese durfe das einzige Motiv der Handlung bilden, sofern das Verhalten ethisch zu sein beanspruche.
Importance of Organizational Infrastructure

This chapter emphasizes the need for organizations to form a solid infrastructure upon which the basis of services are delivered. Consumers of human service agencies often face a difficult decision when choosing the provider most suitable for the varying needs of loved ones, and due to varying disability types and severities, providers also face the issue of determining the best methods for providing such a wide service array to all with whom they work. Such complexity in adaptation and the need for ongoing responding to varied circumstances may leave administrators and middle managers confused and searching for a solution to organizational issues. Anecdotal reports in the media often suggest the newest theory of how an organization should operate to intervene when crises arise, and plenty of management books exist that promise solutions for all organizational troubles. The overwhelmingly increasing number of theories of “best practice” may sound convincing to those in need of immediate assistance, though end up costing the agency valuable resources and unnecessary amounts of time. Years of research in the science of behavior offer solutions that best prepare an organization for effective responding in crisis situations, with well-designed, organizational infrastructure and systems processes outlined for predictability. Organizational infrastructure provides the groundwork and major basis upon which performance may be demonstrated, then enhanced, and ensuring a solid infrastructure requires careful consideration and thorough planning, with constant analysis and intervention leading to adaptation, given enough feedback from consumers. This chapter provides an analysis of how agencies may better prepare an organizational system using the work amounted from the fields of behavior analysis and organizational behavior management, with emphasis on antecedent or preventative interventions that permit swift and effective responding when crises arise.
Controlling a language generation planner

The set of partially interdependent lexical and syntactic decisions that have to be made in the process of natural language generation are best seen as a complex planning and search problem. This paper discusses the phenomena involved in natural language generation planning and argues that a blackboard-type architecture with agenda-style control is more appropriate for this task than a sequential control architecture with backtracking. The blackboard architecture we describe is implemented in the language generator DIOGENES.
Alkyl chain length effects of hydroxyl-functionalized imidazolium ionic liquids in the ionothermal synthesis of LiFePO4

LiFePO4 is one of the most promising cathode materials for lithium ion batteries. To investigate the role of the cation in the ionothermal synthesis of LiFePO4, three imidazolium-based ionic liquid...
Chapter 3 Direct Growth of Nanometer-Size Quantum Wire Superlattices

Abstract In this chapter, we discuss the growth processes that are involved in the direct deposition of lateral superlattices (LSL) and quantum wire superlattices (QWS). In the LSL, a nanometer scale band gap modulation is introduced in a direction parallel to the original growth surface. The QWS consists of a thin LSL layer sandwiched between two wider band gap semiconductor layers. The LSL and QWS are grown on vicinal surfaces by using fractional submonolayer depositions of two III-V compound semiconductors with different band gaps. As an introduction to the LSL structural properties, we extensively discuss the growth kinetic issues relating to the interface structure and chemistry for growth on singular and vicinal surfaces. The critical parameters controlling the size fluctuations and compositions in the LSL and quantum wire structures have been identified. Quantum confinement effects measured by optical methods in serpentine quantum wire superlattices are presented.
Mean-Chord-Length Approximations in the Interface-Currents Formulation of the Collision-Probabilities Techniques

The use of several mean-chord-length approximations to interface-currents matrix elements are investigated. On the basis of comparison with numerical integration, an approximate technique is propos...
A General Procedure for Assigning the 31P Spectra of Nucleic Acids

Description d'une methode generale, pour l'attribution des resonances dans le spectre RMN de 31 P des oligonucleotides, basee sur un marquage des oxygenes phosphoryl non esterifies du squelette, avec l' 17 O
A segmental defect adaptation of the mouse closed femur fracture model for the analysis of severely impaired bone healing.

Objective To better characterize nonunion endochondral bone healing and evaluate novel therapeutic approaches for critical size defect healing in clinically challenging bone repair, a segmental defect model of bone injury was adapted from the three-point bending closed fracture technique in the murine femur. Methods The mouse femur was surgically stabilized with an intramedullary threaded rod with plastic spacers and the defect adjusted to different sizes. Healing of the different defects was analyzed by radiology and histology to 8 weeks postsurgery. To determine whether this model was effective for evaluating the benefits of molecular therapy, BMP-2 was applied to the defect and healing then examined. Results Intramedullary spacers were effective in maintaining the defect. Callus bone formation was initiated but was arrested at defect sizes of 2.5 mm and above, with no more progress in callus bone development evident to 8 weeks healing. Cartilage development in a critical size defect attenuated very early in healing without bone development, in contrast to the closed femur fracture healing, where callus cartilage was replaced by bone. BMP-2 therapy promoted osteogenesis of the resident cells of the defect, but there was no further callus development to indicate that healing to pre-surgery bone structure was successful. Conclusions This segmental defect adaptation of the closed femur fracture model of murine bone repair severely impairs callus development and bone healing, reflecting a challenging bone injury. It is adjustable and can be compared to the closed fracture model to ascertain healing deficiencies and the efficacy of therapeutic approaches.
Investing the Time: Group Differences in Cultural Capital Development Among U.S. Adolescents:

This study examines the extent of class and racial inequalities in cultural capital development among recent adolescent cohorts in the United States. Informed by several decades of cultural capital...
Off is Not Off: On the Security of Parked Vehicles

While various ways of attacking and thus controlling the vehicle have been demonstrated, all these attacks were shown to be feasible and effective only while the vehicle is running, i.e., ignition is on. In this paper, we invalidate the conventional belief that remote vehicle attacks are feasible and hence their defenses are required only when the vehicle’s ignition is on. We first analyze how operation (e.g., normal, sleep, listen) modes of electronic control units (ECUs) are defined in various invehicle network standards and how they are implemented in real vehicles. From this analysis, we discover that an adversary can exploit the wake-up function of in-vehicle networks–which was originally designed for enhanced user experience/convenience (e.g., remote diagnosis, remote temperature control) -as an attack vector. Ironically, the battery-saving feature in in-vehicle networks makes it easier for an attacker to wake up ECUs and, therefore, mount Battery-Drain (BD) orDenial-of-Bodycontrol (DoB), and Unattended Control (UC). In particular, we show that the adversary mounting the BD attack can completely drain the vehicle battery within an hour in the worst case, the attack mounting the DoB attack can disable the communications between the vehicle and its key-fob by shutting down the associated ECU, thus immobilizing the vehicle, and the adversary can physically access a vehicle by controlling the door and/or trunk locks via the UC attack.
Foundational Combinatorial Structures

This chapter contains foundational combinatorial results. It covers basic abstract counting techniques and gives a detailed description of permutations of finite sets, relating them to Japanese ladders. It concludes with a description of generating functions, and how they are used to count objects.
A State-Level Analysis of Gender Inequality on Male and Female Homicide:

Inequalities have received a fair amount of study from criminologists interested in homicide and crime. The vast majority of the examinations exploring the relationship between inequality and homic...
Multiphoton imaging of neural structure and activity in Drosophila through the intact cuticle

We developed a multiphoton imaging method to capture neural structure and activity in behaving flies through the intact cuticles. Our measurements show that the fly head cuticle has surprisingly high transmission at wavelengths > 900 nm, and the difficulty of through-cuticle imaging is due to the air sacs and/or fat tissue underneath the head cuticle. By compressing the air sacs, we performed deep multiphoton imaging of fly brains through the intact cuticle. Our anatomical and functional imaging results show that 2- and 3-photon imaging are comparable in superficial regions such as the mushroom body, but 3-photon imaging is superior in deeper regions such as the central complex and beyond. We further demonstrated 2-photon through-cuticle functional imaging of odor-evoked calcium responses from the mushroom body gamma-lobes in behaving flies short-term and long-term (12 consecutive hours). The through-cuticle imaging method developed here extends the time limits of in vivo imaging in flies, and opens up new ways to capture neural structure and activity from the intact fly brain.
Who Regulates Whom and How? An Overview of U.S. Financial Regulatory Policy for Banking and Securities Markets

This report provides an overview of the regulatory policies of the agencies that oversee banking and securities markets and explains which agencies are responsible for which institutions, activities, and markets. Some agencies regulate particular types of institutions for risky behavior or conflicts of interest, some agencies promulgate rules for certain financial transactions no matter what kind of institution engages in them, and other agencies enforce existing rules for some institutions, but not for others. These regulatory activities are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
The Circadian Component in Photoperiodic Induction

Revue des mecanismes d'entrainement et modeles de la contribution circadienne au photoperiodisme chez les insectes
UNA BIOPSIA DE LA TRADUCCIÓN DE THE SUNSET LIMITED DE CORMAC MCCARTHY: SIGUIENDO LA PISTA DEL PROCESO RE-CREATIVO

Los analisis anteriores de las traducciones de la narrativa de Cormac McCarthy al castellano de Luis Murillo Fort se hicieron con el proposito de crear, por medio de autopsias de traduccion, un mapa retrospectivo de los metodos del traductor. En el presente caso, sin embargo, el traductor espanol ha permitido un seguimiento de su trabajo mientras se realizaba, mas semejante a hacerle una biopsia en la que las muestras de las versiones tempranas y posteriores, aun vivientes en ese momento, se examinaron con la ayuda de comentarios encadenados por parte del traductor. El presente articulo hace uso de la metodologia del seguimiento [shadowing] como una herramienta unica e intima para explorar retos ilustrativos de como traducir. El proposito es comprender mejor los procesos mentales y las soluciones de un traductor consumado mientras se halla en el acto mismo de traducir una obra literaria de generos mezclados, escrita por un icono de las letras norteamericanas.
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonists modulate homocysteine-induced developmental abnormalities

We showed previously that the induction of neural crest (NC) and neural tube (NT) defects is a general property of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists. Since homocysteine induces NC and NT defects and can also act as an NMDAR antagonist, we hypothesized that the mechanism of homocysteine-induced developmental defects is mediated by competitive inhibition of the NMDAR by homocysteine. If this hypothesis is correct, homocysteine-induced defects will be reduced by NMDAR agonists. To test the hypothesis, we treated chicken embryos during the process of neural tube closure with sufficient homocysteine thiolactone to induce NC and NT defects in ∼40% of survivors or with homocysteine thiolactone in combination with each of a selected set of NMDAR agonists in 0.05–5000 nmol doses. Glutamate site agonists selected were L-glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate. Glycine site agonists were glycine, D-cycloserine, and aminocyclopropane-carboxylic acid. Glycine was the most effective overall, reducing defects...
Generation of attribute value taxonomies from data for data-driven construction of accurate and compact classifiers

Attribute value taxonomies (AVT) have been shown to be useful in constructing compact, robust, and comprehensible classifiers. However, in many application domains, human-designed AVTs are unavailable. We introduce AVT-learner, an algorithm for automated construction of attribute value taxonomies from data. AVT-learner uses hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC) to cluster attribute values based on the distribution of classes that co-occur with the values. We describe experiments on UCI data sets that compare the performance of AVT-NBL (an AVT-guided naive Bayes learner) with that of the standard naive Bayes learner (NBL) applied to the original data set. Our results show that the AVTs generated by AVT-learner are competitive with human-gene rated AVTs (in cases where such AVTs are available). AVT-NBL using AVTs generated by AVT-learner achieves classification accuracies that are comparable to or higher than those obtained by NBL; and the resulting classifiers are significantly more compact than those generated by NBL.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Genetic and Epigenetic View

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common systemic autoimmune disease with complex aetiology, in which susceptibility is determined by the combination of genetic, environmental, epigenetic and stochastic factors. SLE is very heterogeneous in its clinical manifestations and the presence of different autoantibodies may predict different set of clinical outcome. However, despite considerable accumulated knowledge, the detailed pathogenesis of SLE still remains unknown. Several studies have indicated the importance of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hypomethylation in the aetiology of SLE. Recent advances in high-throughput genotyping technologies and high-density genetic association studies have identified and replicated many SLE susceptibility genes in different populations. In this article, we outline our current understanding of some genetic and epigenetic aspects of SLE. Keywords: SLE; Candidate gene; Linkage; Association; Epigenetic; DNA methylation
Kinetics of substrate hydrolysis by molecular variants of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase.

Abstract Two isozymes of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase have been compared in the stopped flow spectrophotometer with respect to the kinetics of hydrolysis of two phosphate esters. Hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl phosphate at pH 5.5 is biphasic; release of chromophoric alcohol occurs in a rapid burst followed by a slower steady state. The two isozymes show similar burst rates and amplitudes but their steady state rates differ by a factor of 2. Hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate at pH 8.0 shows no significant burst and the homogeneous steady state rate is essentially the same for both isozymes. These observations and the ionic strength dependence of the rates of these reaction steps support the hypothesis, proposed previously in the literature, that the molecular process which determines the steady state rate at pH 8.0 is responsible for the presteady state burst at pH 5.5. The steady state process at pH 5.5 must be a subsequent step in the catalytic mechanism. A molecular hybrid containing one subunit of wild type alkaline phosphatase and one subunit from an inactive mutationally altered alkaline phosphatase shows one-half the normal burst amplitude at pH 5.5. All transient and steady state rates observed for the hybrid equal those seen for wild type enzyme, once corrected for the halved number of active sites inferred from the burst amplitude. This finding casts doubt on catalytic mechanisms involving alternately functioning subunits that several workers have proposed for E. coli alkaline phosphatase.
Environmental Exposure Monitoring

Exposure monitoring has become increasingly important since the mid-1970s due to greater awareness about chemical pollution in the environment and concern about the role pollutants may play in the early onset of disease. Exposure monitoring methods have been developed to measure contact with environmental pollutants contained in air, water, food, products, and transport media directly or indirectly. Biological monitoring of blood, breath, feces, saliva, or urine is frequently incorporated in these methods to provide not only another indication of exposure but also an indication of internal dose and the potential for the pollutant to cause adverse effects to one or more target organs. Exposure monitoring is a key ingredient of health surveillance and exposure assessment, an integral component of environmental health risk assessment. Direct methods employ personal monitoring devices and collection of personal samples to estimate pollutant exposure. Indirect methods employ pollutant concentration measurements or estimates in various media combined with fate and transport models and assumptions about the nature, frequency, and duration of pollutant contact to estimate exposure. Both are widely used to estimate exposure to environmental pollutants. Keywords: exposure; monitoring; modeling; biological monitoring; microenvironment; personal sampling; reconstructed exposure; risk assessment
Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in processed stored carrot sticks

Abstract The sesquiterpene hydrocarbon composition in processed, stored carrot sticks was studied as part of an investigation on the changes in secondary metabolites that occur during processing and storage of carrots. Carrot sticks were treated by infusion with antimicrobial compounds, antioxidants and cellular constituents and stored in plastic vacuum shrink bags at 2°C for up to three weeks. In each of the five treatments studied, the concentrations of the two major sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, caryophyllene and γ-bisabolene, increased markedly in the second week of storage while the concentrations of these two compounds in control samples decreased moderately during this same period. It appears that the infusion process must stimulate major changes in the sesquiterpene metabolism.
Service Networks Topological Design

Topological design of service networks is studied in the paper. Quantitative model and algorithm minimizing cost of processing and delivery is described. Algorithm solving combinatorial problem of optimal design based on binary partitioning, a parametric search and dynamic programming optimization of a binary tree is described and demonstrated in numeric example.
Discovery of a layer of probable impact melt spherules in the Late Archaean Jeerinah Formation, Fortescue Group, Western Australia

Individual layers rich in sand-sized spherules interpreted as distal ejecta from Late Archaean to Early Palaeoproterozoic impacts have already been reported from three stratigraphic units in the Hamersley Group of Western Australia: the Wittenoom Formation, the Carawine Dolomite, and the Dales Gorge Member of the Brockman Iron Formation. Here we report the occurrence of a similar layer near the top of the Jeerinah Formation, the uppermost unit in the underlying Fortescue Group. This layer, which we informally name the Jeerinah Impact Layer, was deposited ca 2.63 Ga below wave-base in a marine deep shelf to upper slope environment. As in all other spherule layers, the spherules in the Jeerinah Impact Layer are sand-sized (up to 0.83 mm across), dominantly spheroidal, and show a mix of crystallisation and devitrification textures internally, indicating they are droplets of former low-silica silicate melt. The morphologies of some of the crystallites indicate they were originally plagioclase, yet they now consist of K-feldspar; this, too, is common in all of the other spherule layers. Despite the fact that it is ≤6 mm thick, the Jeerinah Impact Layer pinches and swells laterally and consists of several different subunits internally. This indicates that more than the passive settling of particles in still water was involved in the formation of the Jeerinah Impact Layer, which probably involved traction of coarse sand-sized grains. Despite its thinness, the Jeerinah Impact Layer still represents a thicker accumulation of spherules than all but the most proximal parts of spherule layers formed by some of the largest Phanerozoic impacts, suggesting the Jeerinah Impact Layer represents a major impact. If the Jeerinah Impact Layer and the other spherule layers in the Hamersley Basin did form by impacts, this also means that ejecta from a minimum of three distinct impacts are preserved with age dates suggesting a recurrence interval similar to the inferred rate of impacts in the Phanerozoic. The discovery of the Jeerinah Impact Layer also reconfirms that basinal successions such as black shale are among the most favourable environments for the preservation of distal layers of impact ejecta. It also raises intriguing questions about stratigraphic correlations in the Hamersley Basin of Western Australia and to another spherule layer discovered recently in the Transvaal Supergroup of South Africa.
Inhibition of human sperm-zona pellucida tight binding in the presence of antisperm antibody positive polyclonal patient sera.

Abstract Patient sera previously characterized as containing high levels of IgG and IgA antisperm antibodies that bound to the sperm surface, most specifically the head region, were evaluated for their effect on sperm-zona pellucida tight binding as assessed by the hemizona assay (HZA). Of the ten patient sera tested, 7 reduced zona binding by approximately half. Two of the most strongly inhibitory (> 70% inhibition) were examined for their effect on the prefertilization maturation of sperm. The patient sera did not affect sperm motion characteristics, or development of hyperactivated motility. However, in the presence of these sera some impedance was noted in calcium uptake after stimulation with human follicular fluid and in the acrosome reaction after calcium ionophore induction. Whether these two sera specifically affect sperm-zona pellucida binding or non-specifically affect the normal progression of capacitation remains to be eludicated.
A review and synthesis of research on supplier concentration, quality and fee structure in non-U.S. markets for auditor services

Abstract This paper reviews and summarizes extant research into auditor concentration, audit quality, and the determinants of audit fees in audit markets outside the United States. Similarities and differences between studies, including methodologies and findings, are discussed. The review identifies some structural differences in audit markets between studies that are traceable to divergences in economic, cultural and social norms across developed and developing nations. The paper concludes with the identification of areas where future research may be most helpful in identifying other differences and similarities in international markets for audit services.
Clinical versus fundus photographic evaluation of the status of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients

PURPOSE To evaluate the accuracy of clinical examinations and serial fundus photographic readings in determining the response of cytomegalovirus retinitis to antiviral therapy in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. METHODS Fifty two consecutive patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis who were prospectively evaluated over a 30-month period for a minimum of 6 months (or until death) were included in this study. There was a total of 708 patients visits. The clinical evaluations included indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus drawings, 60 degrees fundus photographs, and a comparison of the photographs with those of the previous visit. The fundus photographs were reevaluated in a blinded fashion. Cytomegalovirus retinitis was classified as active (progression of border since last examination) intermediate (border activity without progression), healed (no activity since last visit), or normal (no retinitis). RESULTS Using the photographic data as the measure of cytomegalovirus retinitis activity, the sensitivity and specificity of clinical assessments were determined. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical versus photographic evaluations varied with retinitis status. In healed retinitis the sensitivity of the clinical examination was 98%, and the specificity was 83%. In cases of border opacification without progression the sensitivity was 80%, and the specificity was 96%. In cases of clinically active retinitis the sensitivity was 63% with a specificity of 100%. Clinical detection of active retinitis and border opacification without progression was reduced when potential problems were present that made visualization of the retinitis border difficult, such as smoldering retinitis, progressive retinal destruction without border opacification, poor media, or fundus pigmentation. CONCLUSIONS Progressive retinal destruction and visual loss can occur in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis despite antiviral therapy. Examining the patient through indirect ophthalmoscopy only can result in failure to detect subtle changes.
A modified quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for measuring gene-specific repair of UV photoproducts in human cells

Methods for measuring the induction and repair of ultraviolet (UV) induced modifications in short DNA fragments are essential for the study of gene-specific DNA repair. Measurements in genomic fragments of 14 kilobases (kb) or larger can be obtained using the enzyme-sensitive site (ESS) assay introduced by Hanawalt and Bohr (Bohr et al., 1985). More recently, several assays based on variations of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique have been developed which have increased sensitivity (Govan et al., 1990; Kalinowski et al., 1992; Jennerwein and Eastman, 1991), even nucleotide resolution (Pfeifer et al., 1993). However, examination of these reports indicates that the PCR based DNA repair assays lack precision (Govan et al., 1990; Kalinowski et al., 1992; Tornaletti and Pfeifer, 1994; Jennerwein and Eastman, 1991). We report here, the development of a highly precise QPCR DNA repair assay. The assay was used to measure the induction and repair of UV photoproducts in a 2.7 kb genomic fragment containing the human growth hormone (hGH) gene in SL89 (wild-type) fibroblasts. The assay was exceedingly reproducible with an overall coefficient of variation from the mean of about 2.5%. This level of precision enabled the apparent simultaneous resolution of cyclobutane dimer (CPD) and (6-4) photoproduct (6-4PP) induction and repair.
Effect of SC-1 Treatment in Thermal Wall Oxide on Nanoscale STI Gap-Filling by O3/TEOS CVD

The SC-1 treatment prior to the O3/TEOS CVD was a very effective method for gapfilling the nanoscale trench of the high aspect ratio by improving the adsorption of TEOS precursors onto the wall oxide. It was found that the interval duration after the SC-1 cleaning was a critical parameter for the contact angle and the gapfill performance of the O3/TEOS CVD.