cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurements of the t{bar t} production cross section at the Tevatron Run II CDF experiment using b-tagging

We present measurements of the top-antitop production cross section in b-tagged lepton + jets events from proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV using the CDF detector at Fermilab. B-jets are tagged with either a secondary vertex algorithm, or a soft lepton tagger that identifies muons from B hadron semileptonic decays. With Tevatron Run II data, we estimate the top-antitop signal fraction in two different ways: by estimating the various background contributions, and by fitting directly the leading jet transverse energy spectrum for the signal and background contributions. A subset of the sample with two secondary vertex tagged jets yields a production cross section consistent with the inclusive measurements. Results are consistent with a Standard Model top-antitop signal and current measurements of the top quark mass.
Development of CuFeMnAlO4+δ oxygen carrier with high attrition resistance and 50-kWth methane/air chemical looping combustion tests

Abstract A Copper-Ferri-Manganese-Aluminate spinel (CuFeMnAlO4+δ) oxygen carrier, developed at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), shows promising results for chemical looping combustion with methane. Attrition resistance of the spinel oxygen carrier (160–600 µm) produced by a wet agglomeration method was significantly higher than that observed previously with a Copper-Ferri-Aluminate (CuFeAlO4) oxygen carrier. Improved attrition resistance of the novel carrier can be attributed to minimal alumina phase segregation and minimal carbon formation. Heats of reaction measured by differential scanning calorimetry indicated exothermicity during reduction with methane. The total oxygen transfer capacity of the material was about 10.5 wt% at 850 °C. The attrition resistance and the oxygen transfer capacity of the carrier prepared at a commercial manufacturing facility (180 kg) were very similar to observed values during the development phase with the lab scale preparations. The material displays satisfactory methane conversion and significantly high particle durability during a 54 h test campaign conducted in NETL’s 50-kWth chemical looping dual fluid bed reactor unit at temperatures ranging from 700 to 900 °C. Low oxygen carrier make-up cost, due to the use of natural ore and pigment grade raw materials during synthesis and very low attrition rates, exceeded the performance goals determined by systems studies.
p-Hyperbolicity of Ends and Families of Paths in Metric Spaces

The purpose of this note is to give an expository survey on the notions of p-parabolicity and p-hyperbolicity of metric measure spaces of locally bounded geometry. These notions are extensions of the notions of recurrence and transience to non-linear operators such as the p-Laplacian (with the standard Laplacian or the 2-Laplacian associated with recurrence and transience behaviors). We discuss characterizations of these notions in terms of potential theory and in terms of moduli of families of paths in the metric space.
Transmitting Desire: An Experiment on a Novel Measure of Gun Desirability in a Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and protests have marked an unprecedented increase in U.S. gun sales. But America has long been an outlier; the stockpile of private guns climbed to almost 300 million in 2017...
The Hermeneutic Priority of Which Question? A Speech Act Clarification for Interlocutionary Acts

An axiom of philosophical hermeneutics is that questioning has hermeneutic priority. Yet there are many different kinds of questions. Which sort has priority in understanding complete thoughts and for bringing about a fusion of horizons? Speech act theory is one resource for specifying which kind. I first develop the broad notion of questioning in philosophical hermeneutics. Second, I examine aspects of question taxonomies in pedagogy as well as their shortcomings. Third, I turn to the Speech Act approach to questioning and provide a challenge to this theory for adequately addressing what kind takes hermeneutic priority. I propose the category of “suspensives” as the kind of interlocutionary act definitive for questions that have hermeneutic priority.
Hidden Markov Models

Some temporal patterns are difficult to detect, and to learn, because they are hidden: only indirect clues are telling us what is going on under the surface. Problems of this kind fall under the rubric of Hidden Markov Models, HMM.
The Aging Aircraft Fleet a Challenge for Nondestructive Inspection

Since the Aloha aircraft accident, all components of the aircraft industry have made a massive effort to ensure the continued air-worthiness of the air carrier fleet under the purview of the FAA.
Microsatellite Variation of two Pacific Coast Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Populations

The vinegar fly, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a recent invader in North America that has become a serious threat to small fruit production. It was first detected in California in 2008 and in Washington state in 2009. In this study, D. suzukii populations from the area of the original detection on California's central coast and from eastern Washington, the United States, were sampled over a 3-year period to determine genetic variation in both using microsatellite markers. Six different loci were successfully amplified and included in the analysis. These loci included nanos, elf1, antennapedia, mastermind, z600, and tenA. The population from eastern Washington was highly monomorphic with one locus, mastermind, having multiple alleles. There was greater genetic variation in the coastal California population with all loci having multiple alleles, with the exception of tenA. Owing to the relatively low levels of genetic variation in the eastern Washington population compared with the coastal California population, it appears that the D. suzukii population in the eastern Washington region has undergone a significant bottleneck.
Measurements of thermal conductivity of La0.95Sr0.05CoO3 nanofibers using MEMS devices

ABSTRACT Thermoelectric oxide nanofibers prepared by electrospinning are expected to have reduced thermal conductivity when compared to bulk samples. Measurements of nanofibers thermal conductivity is challenging since it involves sophisticated sample preparatio n methods. In this work, we present a novel me thod suitable for measurements of thermal conductivity in a single nanofiber. A microelectro-mechanical (MEMS) device has been designed and fabricated to perform thermal conductivity measurements on a single nanofiber. A special Si template was designed to collect and transfer individual nanofibers onto a MEMS device. Pt was deposited by Focused Ion Beam to reduce the effective length of a prepared nanofiber. A single La 0.95 Sr 0.05 CoO 3 nanofiber with a diameter of 140 nm was studied and characterized using this approach. Measured thermal conductivity of a nanofiber was determined to be 0.7 W/mK, which is 23% of the value reported for bulk La 0.95 Sr 0.05 CoO 3 samples. Keywords: Thermoelectric, Heat Transfer, Th ermal Conductivity, Nanoscale, MEMS
Path integrals for relativistic Schrodinger operators

Path integral methods for the investigation of the properties of Schrodinger operators go back to the pioneering works of Feynman and Kac. They have been successfully used for a long time but they have been restricted to nonrelativistic operators. We describe a class of stochastic processes, the so-called Levy processes (i.e. processes with stationary independent increments), and we explain how they can be used in the study of the relativistic operators and some of their abstract generalizations. We mimic the classical approach based on the use of Brownian motion and the Feynman-Kac's formula. We describe the class of potentials which can be handled by this approach, we discuss the regularity properties of the semigroups, the decay of the eigenfunctions and the existence of bound states. We also discuss some of the open problems which are naturally unravelled.
Exponents and Polynomials

There are many expressions and equations in mathematics that involve exponents. This chapter discusses the properties of exponents, integer exponents, both positive and negative. It presents some definitions and notation on polynomials and the application of the four basic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—to polynomials. The chapter discusses the concept of factoring polynomials, with the emphasis on factoring trinomials. The fact that multiplication distributes over addition allows one to add and multiply polynomials. Understanding the addition and multiplication of polynomials allows one to understand subtraction and factoring of polynomials. The chapter discusses how the distributive property is used to find sums and differences of polynomials. A term or monomial is a constant or the product of a constant and one or more variables raised to whole-number exponents. The following are examples of monomials or terms: −16, 3 x 2 y , xy 2 z. The numerical part of each monomial is called the numerical coefficient or just coefficient for short. The coefficient for xy 2 z is understood to be 1. A polynomial is any finite sum of terms. As subtraction can be written in terms of addition, finite differences are also included in this definition. The following are examples of polynomials: 2 x 2 − 6 x + 3, −5 x 2 y + 2 xy 2 , 4 a − 5 b + 6 c + 7 d. The degree of a polynomial with one variable is the highest power to which the variable is raised in any one term. Polynomials in one variable are usually written in decreasing powers of the variable. When this is the case, the coefficient of the first term is called the leading coefficient.
Moment estimation based on quantiles

We consider a moment estimation problem using empirical quantiles of the data. Specifically, we estimate the sample mean and the variance based only on the minimum, the quartiles, the median and the maximum values of the data. We propose a computational solution based on fitting a refined version of a generalized λ distribution. Simulation results suggest that our method works reasonably well for a wide range of distributions. WIREs Comput Stat 2013. doi: 10.1002/wics.1267 Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Improved Ballistic Performance by Using a Polymer Matrix Composite Facing on Boron Carbide Armor Tiles

Ballistic impact testing was used to compare the performance of boron carbide armor tiles with and without a polymer matrix composite (PMC) facing. This facing layer was in addition to a Spectra Shield Plus® spall cover and backing plate. The armor tiles were tested against a 7.62 mm armor piercing round fired from a universal receiver at varying velocities. Variations in the PMC facing were examined to evaluate the effect on performance. Facing variables included: the type of fiber, the number of plies in the PMC layer, and the orientation of the fibers in the individual plies. The use of a PMC facing improved the ballistic performance by as much as 40% compared to tiles without the facing layers. Although preliminary, these results suggest that the use of a PMC facing is an effective way to improve the ballistic penetration resistance of ceramic armor.
Optical and UV Diagnostics of Supernova Remnant Shocks

The relatively faint optical and UV emission from non-radiative shock waves provides diagnostics for processes related to cosmic ray acceleration in collisionless shocks. Emission line profiles and intensities can be used to determine the efficiencies of electron-ion and ion-ion thermal equilibration, which influence the population of fast particles injected into the acceleration process. It is found that T e/T P declines with shock speed and that T i is roughly proportional to mass in fast shocks. Important information about cosmic ray precursors may be available, but the interpretation is still somewhat ambiguous. The compression ratios in shocks which efficiently accelerate cosmic rays are predicted to be substantially larger than the factor of 4 expected for a strong shock in a γ = 5/3 perfect gas, and some limits may be available from observations.
The TyrA family of aromatic-pathway dehydrogenases in phylogenetic context

The TyrA protein family includes members that catalyze two dehydrogenase reactions in distinct pathways leading to L-tyrosine and a third reaction that is not part of tyrosine biosynthesis. Family members share a catalytic core region of about 30 kDa, where inhibitors operate competitively by acting as substrate mimics. This protein family typifies many that are challenging for bioinformatic analysis because of relatively modest sequence conservation and small size. Phylogenetic relationships of TyrA domains were evaluated in the context of combinatorial patterns of specificity for the two substrates, as well as the presence or absence of a variety of fusions. An interactive tool is provided for prediction of substrate specificity. Interactive alignments for a suite of catalytic-core TyrA domains of differing specificity are also provided to facilitate phylogenetic analysis. tyrA membership in apparent operons (or supraoperons) was examined, and patterns of conserved synteny in relationship to organismal positions on the 16S rRNA tree were ascertained for members of the domain Bacteria. A number of aromatic-pathway genes (hisH b , aroF, aroQ) have fused with tyrA, and it must be more than coincidental that the free-standing counterparts of all of the latter fused genes exhibit a distinct trace of syntenic association. We propose that the ancestral TyrA dehydrogenase had broad specificity for both the cyclohexadienyl and pyridine nucleotide substrates. Indeed, TyrA proteins of this type persist today, but it is also common to find instances of narrowed substrate specificities, as well as of acquisition via gene fusion of additional catalytic domains or regulatory domains. In some clades a qualitative change associated with either narrowed substrate specificity or gene fusion has produced an evolutionary "jump" in the vertical genealogy of TyrA homologs. The evolutionary history of gene organizations that include tyrA can be deduced in genome assemblages of sufficiently close relatives, the most fruitful opportunities currently being in the Proteobacteria. The evolution of TyrA proteins within the broader context of how their regulation evolved and to what extent TyrA co-evolved with other genes as common members of aromatic-pathway regulons is now feasible as an emerging topic of ongoing inquiry.
Less 9/11 Is More 9/11: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and A Day a Night and a Day

Este ensayo presenta las novelas The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao del escritor dominicano Junot Diaz y A Day and a Night and a Day del britanico Glen Duncan como textos de ficcion influenciados por el peso cultural de los eventos del 11 de septiembre del 2001, aunque sin invocarlos directamente y por tanto convirtiendolos en eventos casi inenarrables. Se explora la hipotesis de que ambas novelas pueden ser leidas como parte de la produccion cultural del 11 de septiembre, no por invocar ese dia en particular, sino por formar parte de las practicas politicas y discursivas pos-11/septiembre.
No evidence of brain cell degeneration after long-term sleep deprivation in rats.

Abstract Sleep deprivation leads to cognitive impairments in humans and, if sustained for 2–3 weeks in rats, it is invariably fatal. It has been suggested that neural activity associated with waking, if it is not interrupted by periods of sleep, may damage brain cells through excitotoxic or oxidative mechanisms and eventually lead to cell death. To determine whether sustained waking causes brain cell degeneration, three parallel strategies were used. The presence and extent of DNA fragmentation was analyzed with the TUNEL technique on brain sections from rats sleep deprived for various periods of time (from 8 h to 14 days) and from their respective controls. Adjacent sections from the same animals were stained with a newly developed fluorochrome (Fluoro-Jade) specific for degenerating neurons. Finally, total RNA from the cerebral cortex of the same animals was used to determine whether the expression of several stress response genes and apoptosis-related genes is modified after sustained waking. In most long-term sleep deprived rats only a few scattered TUNEL positive nuclei (1–3) were found in any given brain section. The overall number, distribution, and morphology of TUNEL positive cells in long-term sleep deprived rats did not differ significantly from yoked controls, short-term sleep deprived rats, and sleep controls. No evidence of degenerating neurons as detected by Fluoro-Jade was found in any experimental group. mRNA levels of all the stress response genes and apoptosis-related genes tested did not differ between long-term sleep deprived rats and their yoked controls. These results argue against the hypothesis that sustained waking can significantly damage brain cells through excitotoxic or oxidative mechanisms and that massive cell death may explain the fatal consequences of sleep deprivation.
Scale-recursive assimilation of precipitation data

Abstract This paper presents a new statistical method for assimilating precipitation data from different sensors operating over a range of scales. The technique is based on a scale-recursive estimation algorithm which is computationally efficient and able to account for the nested spatial structure of precipitation fields. The version of the algorithm described here relies on a static multiplicative cascade model which relates rainrates at different scales. Bayesian estimation techniques are used to condition rainrate estimates on measurements. The conditioning process is carried out recursively in two sweeps: first from fine to coarse scales and then from coarse to fine scales. The complete estimation algorithm is similar to a fixed interval smoother although it processes data over scale rather than time. We use this algorithm to assimilate radar and satellite microwave data collected during the tropical ocean–global atmosphere coupled ocean–atmosphere response experiment (TOGA-COARE). The resulting rainrate estimates reproduce withheld radar measurements to within the level of accuracy predicted by the assimilation algorithm.
Computed tomography-guided bilateral transdiscal superior hypogastric plexus neurolysis.

Objective. This report describes a case of computed tomography (CT)-guided bilateral posteromedian transdiscal approach to the superior hypogastric plexus with neurolysis for treatment of intractable abdominal pain secondary to metastatic prostate cancer. The case is considered in relation to other approaches described in the literature. Design. Case presentation and literature review. Patients. An 83-year-old man with metastatic prostate cancer and intractable abdominal pain. Interventions. Computed tomography-guided bilateral posteromedian transdiscal neurolysis of the superior hypogastric plexus. Results. Pain reduction for intractable metastatic prostate cancer abdominal pain. Conclusions. Neurolysis of the superior hypogastric plexus is effective in treating metastatic prostate cancer abdominal pain. While there are significant risks to the CT-guided bilateral transdiscal approach to the superior hypogastric plexus, it may be used effectively as an alternative to navigate anatomic obstacles necessary to perform the neurolysis.
Deformation behavior of HDPE/(PEC/PS)/SEBS blends

Immiscible blends of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and an amorphous glassy phase consisting of either pure polystyrene (PS) or a miscible blend of PS and a polyether copolymer (PEC) were compatibilized with various amounts of a styrene-hydrogenated butadiene block copolymer (SEBS). PEC is structurally similar to poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO). Using a liquid displacement stress dilatometer, the volume change of samples during uniaxial mechanical straining was determined and related to the various modes of deformation. Blends were fabricated by both injection and compression molding. Miscible PEC and PS blends were found to undergo a craze to shear yielding transition between 40 and 60% PS, which occurred at higher PS concentrations as SEBS was added. Blends with a HDPE matrix and a dispersed glassy phase showed reduced volume dilatation on adding SEBS, indicating better interfacial adhesion between the incompatible blend components. Increases in the sample volume were substantially less in blends with a PEC/PS glassy phase instead of pure PS, suggesting more effective compatibilization by the SEBS copolymer in blends with PEC. This trend is presumed to stem from an exothermic heat of mixing between the PS endblocks of SEBS and the PEC-rich phases in the blend. Microscopic evidence of the improved adhesion and modes of deformation agrees with the results obtained by dilatometry. The volume dilatation of compression-molded materials do not seem to be similarly affected by the composition of the glassy phase which may reflect morphological differences between injection-and compression-molded blends.
NME genes in epithelial morphogenesis

The NME family of genes encodes highly conserved multifunctional proteins that have been shown to participate in nucleic acid metabolism, energy homeostasis, cell signaling, and cancer progression. Some family members, particularly isoforms 1 and 2, have attracted extensive interests because of their potential anti-metastasis activity. Unfortunately, there have been few consensus mechanistic explanations for this critical function because of the numerous molecular functions ascribed to these proteins, including nucleoside diphosphate kinase, protein kinase, nuclease, transcription factor, growth factor, among others. In addition, different studies showed contradictory prognostic correlations between NME expression levels and tumor progression in clinical samples. Thus, analyses using pliable in vivo systems have become critical for unraveling at least some aspects of the complex functions of this family of genes. Recent works using the Drosophila genetic system have suggested a role for NME in regulating epithelial cell motility and morphogenesis, which has also been demonstrated in mammalian epithelial cell culture. This function is mediated by promoting internalization of growth factor receptors in motile epithelial cells, and the adherens junction components such as E-cadherin and β-catenin in epithelia that form the tissue linings. Interestingly, NME genes in epithelial cells appear to function in a defined range of expression levels. Either down-regulation or over-expression can perturb epithelial integrity, resulting in different aspects of epithelial abnormality. Such biphasic functions provide a plausible explanation for the documented anti-metastatic activity and the suspected oncogenic function. This review summarizes these recent findings and discusses their implications.
Comparison of perception of self‐competence among five ethnic groups of preschoolers in the US

This study compared the perception of self‐competence of immigrant Asian‐American, Asian‐Indian, Hispanic, native European‐American, and African‐American preschoolers. Self‐competence is defined by Harter as the “feeling of confidence in achieving certain tasks”. The development of self‐competence emerges gradually as children acquire greater physical, self‐help, social, and cognitive skills and become aware of their own abilities. Preschoolers (n = 205) between the ages of 3 and 5 years participated in the study. The children's perception of self‐competence was measured using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children. Analyses of variance were conducted to compare the selfcompetence scores of the children by their ethnic origin (race × self‐competence scores). Results indicated cultural variations in the perception of self‐competence among the preschoolers: cognitive competence, F(5, 199) = 5.96, p < 0.0001; peer acceptance, F(5, 199) = 11.301, p < 0.0001; physi...
Usefulness of immune monitoring in lung transplantation using adenosine triphosphate production in activated lymphocytes.

Background The ImmuKnow (Cylex Inc, Columbia, MD) assay measures the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) produced by helper CD4 + cells after stimulation with a T-cell mitogen. We hypothesized that this assay can be used to assess the immune function of lung transplant recipients and identify those at risk of developing acute cellular rejection and respiratory infection. Methods Lung transplant recipients at University of California Los Angeles between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009 received a bronchoscopy with broncheoalveolar lavage, transbronchial biopsy and ImmuKnow values drawn at regular intervals as well as during episodes of clinical deterioration. The recipient's clinical condition at each time-point was classified as healthy, acute cellular rejection, or respiratory infection. Mixed-effects models were used to compare the ATP levels among these groups, and odds ratios for rejection and infection were calculated. Results The mean ATP level was 431 ± 189 ng/ml for the rejection group vs 377 ± 187 ng/ml for the healthy group ( p = 0.10). A recipient with an ATP level > 525 ng/ml was 2.1 times more likely to have acute cellular rejection (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–3.8). Similarly, the mean ATP level was 323 ± 169 ng/ml for the infection group vs 377 ± 187 ng/ml for the healthy group ( p = 0.03). A recipient with an ATP level Conclusions The ImmuKnow assay appears to have some ability to assess the overall immune function of lung transplant recipients. However, this study does not support its use as a reliable predictor of episodes of acute cellular rejection or respiratory infection.
Construct validity of a single-item, self-rated question of diet quality.

Abstract Objective To provide evidence of the construct validity of a single-item overall diet question with a nomological network of self-rated and biometric measures of dietary intake and outcomes. Methods The authors conducted a secondary analysis of survey and biometric data from a cross-sectional sample of urban-dwelling adults. In addition to self-rated diet quality, they examined dietary behaviors, biomarkers of intake, and related outcomes. Self-rated diet quality was treated as a continuous variable to calculate P for trend using regression analysis. Results Self-rated diet quality was significantly associated with variation in both subjective and objective measures of dietary intake (fruit and vegetable intake, P P P P P = .010; diastolic blood pressure, P P Conclusions and Implications Evidence supports the construct validity of a single-item measure of diet quality. This single-item question may be a useful proxy for more burdensome measures of overall diet quality.
The Uniform Accountancy Act – state leaders speak out

Outlines the role of the Uniform Accountancy Act published jointly by the National Association of Accountancy and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountancy, showing it is a vehicle to align state accountancy laws. Discusses the need to do this as travel and communication makes clients easily accessible from any area. Covers the perceived benefits and looks at the barriers to implementation. Reports the results of a survey of State Board of Accountancy Members and the State Society of CPA officers about the proposals. Looks at the concerns expressed and concludes that the main principles are supported but there are areas which need to be addressed before these regulations would be adopted by all states.
Expectations and fairness in a simple bargaining experiment

We evaluate two competing hypotheses that try to account for robust violations of the predictions of game theory in Ultimatum bargaining experiments. One popular hypothesis is that the subjects are motivated by considerations of fairness that are not modelled by traditional theory. The alternative hypothesis is that the subjects do not have common knowledge of the rationality, beliefs and motives of other players. Each hypothesis can explain existing data. We design several experiments to discriminate between these two hypotheses. The results provide strong support for the alternative hypothesis.
Use of ganglionic blockers to assess neurogenic pressor activity in conscious rats.

Abstract The present study was conducted to develop a standardized ganglionic blockade protocol to assess neurogenic pressor activity in conscious rats. Rats were instrumented with arterial and venous catheters for measurement of arterial pressure and heart rate and for administration of three different ganglionic blockers (trimethaphan, hexamethonium, and chlorisondamine). To investigate the role of the pressor hormones angiotensin II (AII) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in modulating the cardiovascular responses to ganglionic blockade, we also administered ganglionic blockers to rats pretreated with AVP and AII receptor antagonists. The peak depressor responses to trimethaphan (20 mg/kg; −45 ± 2 mm Hg), hexamethonium (20 mg/kg; −44 ± 2 mm Hg), and chlorisondamine (2.5 mg/kg; −47 ± 3 mm Hg) were not different from each other. With trimethaphan, there was a significantly enhanced peak depressor response after blockade of AT 1 /V 1 receptors (−45 ± 2 vs −59 ± 2 mm Hg). No significant differences were observed for hexamethonium or chlorisondamine after hormonal blockade (−44 ± 2 vs. −46 ± 3 and −47 ± 3 vs −48 ± 4 mm Hg, respectively). These observations suggest that, for hexamethonium and chlorisondamine, the peak depressor response to ganglionic blockade is a consistent measure of neurogenic pressor activity in the conscious rat. This response is not influenced by circulating AII or AVP. On the other hand, trimethaphan should be used carefully due to its complex interactions with other systems, particularly under conditions in which AVP or AII may be altered.
In Pursuit of (Sexual) Happiness and Well-Being: A Response

“Hug me till you drug me, honey; Kiss me till I'm in coma: Hug me, honey, snuggly bunny; Love's as good as soma.” Aldous Huxley, “Brave New World,” 1932 “You can't have a lasting civilization w...
Emotion Dysregulation as a Mechanism Linking Stress Exposure to Adolescent Aggressive Behavior

Exposure to stress is associated with a wide range of internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescents, including aggressive behavior. Extant research examining mechanisms underlying the associations between stress and youth aggression has consistently identified social information processing pathways that are disrupted by exposure to violence and increase risk of aggressive behavior. In the current study, we use longitudinal data to examine emotion dysregulation as a potential mechanism linking a broader range of stressful experiences to aggressive behavior in a diverse sample of early adolescents (N = 1065). Specifically, we examined the longitudinal associations of peer victimization and stressful life events with emotion dysregulation and aggressive behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to create latent constructs of emotion dysregulation and aggression. Both stressful life events and peer victimization predicted subsequent increases in emotion dysregulation over a 4-month period. These increases in emotion dysregulation, in turn, were associated with increases in aggression over the subsequent 3 months. Longitudinal mediation models showed that emotion dysregulation mediated the relationship of both peer victimization (z = 2.35, p = 0.019) and stressful life events (z = 2.32, p = 0.020) with aggressive behavior. Increasing the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies is an important target for interventions aimed at preventing the onset of adolescent aggressive behavior.
Leigh syndrome caused by a novel m.4296G>A mutation in mitochondrial tRNA isoleucine.

Leigh syndrome is a severe neurodegenerative disease with heterogeneous genetic etiology. We report a novel m.4296G>A variant in the mitochondrial tRNA isoleucine gene in a child with Leigh syndrome, mitochondrial proliferation, lactic acidosis, and abnormal respiratory chain enzymology. The variant is present at >75% heteroplasmy in blood and cultured fibroblasts from the proband, A as a pathogenic mutation causing Leigh syndrome.
Challenges for the development of clinically useful fluorescing diagnostic contrast agents for optical imaging: a radiologist's perspective

The goal of this work is to highlight those unique aspects of contrast-enhanced diagnostic optical imaging (OI) that favor a broad clinical utilization of this emerging diagnostic technique and to illustrate certain identified challenges opposing the enthusiastic clinical welcome for the OI method. We consider the single most appealing feature of OI to be its much-touted exquisite sensitivity for the detection of near-infrared fluorescing (NIRF) probes, a sensitivity supporting the development of disease- and molecule-specific NIR diagnostic probes, akin to nuclear imaging but without the ionizing radiation and with superior spatial resolution. But a qualitative OI diagnostic examination, merely defining the presence or absence of NIRF signal, may not be sufficient. The signal must be measurable. A quantitative OI examination, capable of accurately assaying the tissue concentration of the fluorescing probe and changes in that probe concentration related to disease progression or treatment would be extremely valuable. We discuss here at least three challenges to quantitative diagnostic OI, a non-linear relationship between probe concentration and signal intensity, background signal in the form of tissue auto-fluorescence, and the requirement to define precise location and depth of the signal origin from within the subject.
Dynamic fine-grained localization in Ad-Hoc networks of sensors

The recent advances in radio and em beddedsystem technologies have enabled the proliferation of wireless microsensor networks. Such wirelessly connected sensors are released in many diverse environments to perform various monitoring tasks. In many such tasks, location awareness is inherently one of the most essential system parameters. It is not only needed to report the origins of events, but also to assist group querying of sensors, routing, and to answer questions on the network coverage. In this paper we present a novel approach to the localization of sensors in an ad-hoc network. We describe a system called AHLoS (Ad-Hoc Localization System) that enables sensor nodes to discover their locations using a set distributed iterative algorithms. The operation of AHLoS is demonstrated with an accuracy of a few centimeters using our prototype testbed while scalability and performance are studied through simulation.
The binding cascade of SecB to SecA to SecY/E mediates preprotein targeting to the E. coli plasma membrane.

Abstract The export of many E. coli proteins such as proOmpA requires the cytosolic chaperone SecB and the membrane-bound preprotein translocase. Translocase is a multisubunit enzyme with the SecA protein as its peripheral membrane domain and the SecYE protein as its integral domain. SecB, by binding to proOmpA in the cytosol, prevents its aggregation or association with membranes at nonproductive sites. The SecA receptor binds the proOmpA-SecB complex (K d ≈ 6 × 10 −8 M) through direct recognition of both the SecB (K d ≈ 2 × 10 −7 M) as well as the leader and mature domains of the precursor protein. SecB has a dual function in stabilizing the precursor and in passing it on to membrane-bound SecA, the next step in the pathway. SecA itself is bound to the membrane by its affinity (K d ≈ 4 × 10 −8 M) for SecYE and for acidic lipids. The functions of SecB and SecA as a two-stage receptor system are linked by their affinity for each other.
The World Trade Center Attack Disaster preparedness: health care is ready, but is the bureaucracy?

When a disaster occurs, it is for governments to provide the leadership, civil defense, security, evacuation, and public welfare. The medical aspects of a disaster account for less than 10% of resource and personnel expenditure. Hospitals and health care provider teams respond to unexpected occurrences such as explosions, earthquakes, floods, fires, war, or the outbreak of an infectious epidemic. In some geographic locations where natural disasters are common, such as earthquakes in Japan, such disaster practice drills are common. In other locations, disaster drills become pro forma and have no similarity to real or even projected and predicted disasters. The World Trade Center disaster on 11 September 2001 provides new information, and points out new threats, new information systems, new communication opportunities, and new detection methodologies. It is time for leaders of medicine to re-examine their approaches to disaster preparedness.
Maximum energy harvesting from vibration-based electromagnetic microgenerator using active damping

A power electronic scheme for active damping of electromagnetic microgenerators is presented.The scheme utilises a direct AC–DC converter capable of optimum energy harvesting from low-voltage generators. The converter also boosts the low AC generator voltage to a high DC voltage required by electronic loads (2–3.3 V). Variable damping of the resonance-based electromechanical system is demonstrated. The ability of the converter to offer an adjustable resistive load to the microgenerator and harvest maximum energy by changing the duty cycle of the converter is validated through experimental results.
XMAP230 IS REQUIRED FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF CORTICAL MICROTUBULES AND PATTERNING OF THE DORSOVENTRAL AXIS IN FERTILIZED XENOPUS EGGS

The dorsoventral axis of Xenopus embryos is specified by a rotation of the egg cortex relative to the underlying yolky cytoplasm. This cortical rotation, which occurs during the first cell cycle after fertilization, is dependent upon an array of parallel microtubules in the subcortical cytoplasm. We have used confocal immunofluorescent microscopy and microinjection of affinity-purified anti-XMAP230 antibody to address the role of XMAP230, one of three high-molecular-weight microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in Xenopus eggs, in the assembly and organization of the cortical microtubule array and specification of the dorsoventral axis. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that XMAP230 was associated with cortical microtubules shortly after their appearance in the subcortical cytoplasm. XMAP230 staining became more prominent as microtubules were aligned and bundled during the cortical rotation. Loss of XMAP230 appeared to precede disassembly of cortical microtubules at the end of the first cell cycle. Deeper within the cytoplasm, XMAP230 was associated with microtubules early in the assembly of the sperm aster. However, later in the first cell cycle, XMAP230 was associated with microtubules (MTs) of the first mitotic spindle, spindle asters, and the cortical MTs, but not with microtubule remnants of the sperm aster. Microinjection of anti-XMAP230 antibody locally disrupted the assembly and organization of microtubules in the cortex of activated or fertilized eggs and resulted in defects in the dorsoventral patterning of embryos. These results indicate that the assembly and/or organization of cortical microtubules in fertilized Xenopus eggs and subsequent specification of the dorsoventral axis are dependent upon XMAP230.
A confidence interval triggering method for stock trading via feedback control

This paper builds upon the robust control paradigm for stock trading established in [1]. To this end, the contribution of the current work is an algorithm for triggering a trade. Whereas previous work considered the management of a trade, this paper concentrates on entry into the trade. That is, based on historical prices, we generate, three possible signals: long, short or no trade. These signals are derived using an Ito process model based on geometric Brownian motion. The parameters of this model, the Ito process drift μ and the volatility σ, are estimated and adaptively updated as each new piece of price data arrives. The confidence interval for μ determines when a trade is triggered. If a trade is triggered, then the amount invested in stock is obtained using a saturation-reset linear feedback controller much like the one described in [1]. The performance of this trading method is studied in both idealized markets and real-world markets.
Subanalytic sets and feedback control

Abstract The theory of subanalytic sets is used to prove: If a real analytic control system is completely controllable, then for every point p in the state space there exists a piecewise analytic feedback control that steers every state into p .
Empirical evaluation of directional-dependence tests:

Testing of directional dependence is a method to infer causal direction that recently has attracted some attention. Previous examples by e.g. von Eye and DeShon (2012a) and extensive simulation stu...
Laser-induced fluorescence of N2(X 1Σg+) and electron-impact excited N2+ (X 2Σg+) in a pulsed supersonic beam: Rotational distributions

Abstract Rotational population distributions have been obtained for N 2 and N 2 + in a pulsed supersonic expansion. For N 2 , the populations were determined from two-photon laser-induced fluorescence spectra of the a 1 Π g ← X 1 Σ g + transition, while rotational populations for N 2 + (X 2 Σ g + ) were determined from single-photon laser-induced fluorescence spectra of the B 2 Σ u + ← X 2 Σ g + transition. The N 2 + produced by electron impact exhibits much higher rotational excitation than predicted by either the dipole or dipole plus n quadrupole model, and indicates the ionization—excitation process is more complex than has previously been realized.
Reflectance cross-plot analysis of graptolites from the anchi-metamorphic region of northern Maine, U.S.A.

Abstract Reflectance crossplot analysis, a graphical technique plotting apparent reflectance maxima and minima against the apparent bireflectance and previously used primarily for interpretation of biaxial vitrinite data, is applied to graptolite reflectance data from the subgreenschist and chlorite zones of northern Maine, U.S.A., to determine the value of the intermediate reflectance axis (Rint), the shape and change in the graptolite reflecting indicating surface (GRIS) with rank, and calculate random reflectance. From the crossplots, GRIS shapes for this region were found to become rapidly oblate with increasing maturation. In addition, the random reflectance calculated as the arithmetic mean of the three reflectance axes compares favorably with the measured mean random reflectance.
Nonperturbative approach to quantum chromodynamics

In this article a nonperturbative approach to quantum chromodynamics in the confinement phase is developed. The principal idea is to assume confinement, rather than attempting to prove it, and then to examine the consequences of the resulting quantum field theory. We implement confinement by assuming that the gauge field propagator becomes infrared singular like q/sup -4/ at small momenta. The consequences of this confinement Ansatz are explored for the quark propagator, ghost propagator, and quark-gluon proper vertex. Slavnov-Taylor-Ward identities are used to fix the low-momentum behavior of the Green's functions, so no approximations are made in the Dyson equations. In both the covariant Landau gauge and the noncovariant axial gauge we obtain differential equations for the quark propagator which are solved. Vacuum ..gamma../sub 5/ invariance is dynamically broken so the solutions satisfy partial conservation of axial-vector current. We also obtain the solution for the quark propagator in the case in which the flavor symmetry is explicitly broken by a quark mass term. Some implications of this approach, which is an expansion about the infrared behavior of the amplitudes, for the bound-state problem are briefly discussed.
Airway management in neuroanaesthesia

Airway management in neurosurgical patients pre sents unique challenges to the anaesthetist. This review will consider specific approaches to numerous problems in airway management related to logistical, physiological and anatomi cal concerns. The goal is to provide a clinically oriented and practical discussion regarding issues of airway management in neurosurgical patients. The recent literature has been reviewed regarding airway management options and related perioperative complications in the neurosurgical population. This is interlaced with approaches to many of the problems and their solutions based on experience gained in a very busy university neurosurgical practice over the past decade. Specific pathophysiological alterations in the neurosurgical patient influence the technique chosen for securing an airway. These relate to the presence of increased intracranial pressure, intracranial aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. Other important disordes influencing airway management include severe coronary artery disease, acromegaly and congenital airway difficulties. Stereotactic neurosurgery and conscious sedation for various neurosurgical procedures also provide unique challenges. There are other considerations unique to the neurosurgical patient such as intra- and postoperative airway obstruction and the timing of postoperative extubation. The demands for airway management in neu roanaesthesia require expertise in the various modes of secur ing the airway while considering the patient’s physiological requirements as well as the unique surgical demands.
Point defect movement and annealing in collision cascades

The effect of collision cascades on preexisting point defects in crystalline materials was studied by simulating 5 keV collision cascades in gold, copper, aluminum, platinum, and silicon. The results indicate that collision cascades do not significantly affect interstitials or vacancies outside the liquid core of the cascade, although in the fcc metals the heating of the crystal due to the cascade causes some thermal migration of the interstitials. Within the liquid cascade core, both interstitials and vacancies move towards the center of the molten region when it resolidifies and recombine or cluster there. At elevated temperatures, random jumps of interstitials during the thermal-spike phase can cause significant additional trapping of interstitials in the liquid. In contrast to the annealing effects of preexisting damage in the fcc metals, in silicon the amount of new damage created by a cascade is roughly independent of the number of initial point defects. The difference is attributed to the nature of the bonding in the materials.
Modulators of immune responses: the evolutionary trail

Abstract The evolutionary aspects of immunoregulation and the immunotoxic effects of xenobiotics in species ranging from lumious to marine invertebrates were discussed at a recent meeting ★ ★The meeting ‘Modulators of Immune Responses: the Evolutionary Trail' was held at Breckenridge, USA, on 8–13 July 1995., this report describes progress in our understanding of this fascinating field.