cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do we trust image measurements? Variability, accuracy and traceability of image features

The paper addresses the problem of understanding quality of image measurements extracted using widely used software libraries from large images. Image measurements (features) are extracted using software packages that vary in terms of programming languages, theoretical formulas for the same image feature, algorithmic implementations, input parameters, units of measurements, and definitions of image regions of interest. Our motivation is to quantify numerical variability of image features across software packages and determine image accuracy with respect to reference images. In addition, our objective is to enable scientists to extract any image features of interest from heterogeneous software libraries and gain provenance of every extracted numerical feature value. The provenance information is critical to achieve traceability of computations in terascale imaging. We pursue this objective by designing a client-server system that integrates image feature extractions from open source libraries such as ImageJ/Fiji, Python (scikit-image), CellProfiler, and in-house Java software packages. The system becomes useful for evaluating quality of image measurements, leveraging distributed computational resources for feature computations over big image data, sharing resulting feature values, and reproducing the feature values based on provenance. As an application of the designed system, we report the quality evaluations of 319 image features extracted using ImageJ/Fiji, Python (scikit-image), CellProfiler and in-house Java software packages with 43 duplicate features across the four packages. Using the normalized difference as metric, we identified 6 out of the 43 common features to differ over 1% in value and discuss the sources of these numerical differences.
Extension of the Highly Mobile Membrane Mimetic to Transmembrane Systems through Customized in Silico Solvents

The mechanics of the protein–lipid interactions of transmembrane proteins are difficult to capture with conventional atomic molecular dynamics, due to the slow lateral diffusion of lipids restricting sampling to states near the initial membrane configuration. The highly mobile membrane mimetic (HMMM) model accelerates lipid dynamics by modeling the acyl tails nearest to the membrane center as a fluid organic solvent while maintaining an atomic description of the lipid headgroups and short acyl tails. The HMMM has been applied to many peripheral protein systems; however, the organic solvent used to date caused deformations in transmembrane proteins by intercalating into the protein and disrupting interactions between individual side chains. We ameliorate the effect of the solvent on transmembrane protein structure through the development of two new in silico Lennard-Jones solvents. The parameters for the new solvents were determined through an extensive parameter search in order to match the bulk propertie...
An Investigation to Manufacturing Analytical Services Composition using the Analytical Target Cascading Method.

As cloud computing is increasingly adopted, the trend is to offer software functions as modular services and compose them into larger, more meaningful ones. The trend is attractive to analytical problems in the manufacturing system design and performance improvement domain because (1) finding a global optimization for the system is a complex problem; and (2) sub-problems are typically compartmentalized by the organizational structure. However, solving sub-problems by independent services can result in a sub-optimal solution at the system level. This paper investigates the technique called Analytical Target Cascading (ATC) to coordinate the optimization of loosely-coupled sub-problems, each may be modularly formulated by differing departments and be solved by modular analytical services. The result demonstrates that ATC is a promising method in that it offers system-level optimal solutions that can scale up by exploiting distributed and modular executions while allowing easier management of the problem formulation.
Challenges for 5G?The Future of Wireless Communications [From the Guest Editor's Desk]

The articles in this special section focus on initiatives of various IEEE Societies to promote 5G technologies, with particular emphasis on architectures, systems, and evaluation procedures. Wireless communication networks and technologies are being pushed to their limits with ever-increasing user expectations for quality of service. To satisfy the emerging requirements for fifth-generation (5G) communications, various multi antenna-based network infrastructures are being considered. A number of IEEE Societies, including the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society community, are working diligently to develop various candidate technologies and architectures to enable efficient 5G deployments. All aspects of 5G communication-link ingredients—from devices, circuits, and system architectures to over-the-air (OTA) and channel measurements at microwave to millimeter-wave frequencies need to be addressed for successful 5G deployment.
Comparison of Mechanical Properties of Ground Corn Stover, Switchgrass, and Willow and their Pellet Qualities

Mechanical and physical properties of ground corn stover, switchgrass, and willow were measured and compared in addition to the quality of pellets. Biomass was size-reduced with two different scree...
Personality Profiles of Users Sharing Animal-related Content on Social Media

ABSTRACTAnimal preferences are thought to be linked with more salient psychological traits of people, and most research examining owner personality as a differentiating factor has obtained mixed results. The rise in usage of social networks offers users a new medium in which they can broadcast their preferences and activities, including about animals. In two studies, the first on Facebook status updates and the second on images shared on Twitter, we revisited the link between Big Five personality traits and animal preference, specifically focusing on cats and dogs. We used automatic content analysis of text and images to unobtrusively measure preference for animals online using large datasets. In study 1, a dataset of Facebook status updates (n = 72,559) were analyzed and it was found that those who mentioned ownership of a cat (by using the phrase “my cat” (n = 5,053)) in their status updates were more open to experience, introverted, neurotic, and less conscientious when compared with the general popula...
A Perceptual Study of Scale-degree Qualia in Context

A perceptual study investigated the ability of scale degrees to evoke qualia, and the impact of harmonic context in shaping a scale degree’s qualia. In addition, the following questions were addressed: What role does music training have in shaping qualia? Are listeners consistent in their descriptions? Are experiences similar across participants, or are they individual and subjective? Listeners with or without music-theoretic training were asked to rate the qualia of scale degrees following various chord progressions, each ending with a different final harmony. Scale degrees were found to exhibit relatively consistent musical qualia; however, the local chord context was found to significantly influence qualia ratings. In general, both groups of listeners were found to be fairly consistent in their ratings of scale-degree qualia; however, as expected, musician listeners were more consistent than nonmusician listeners. Finally, a subset of the musical qualia ratings were compared against Krumhansl and Kessler’s (1982) scale-degree “profiles.” While profiles created from the present data, overall, were correlated with the K&K profiles, their claim that tonal stability accounts for the high ratings ascribed to tonic triad members was found to be better explained by the effect of the local chord context.
Security evaluation of Tree Parity Re-keying Machine implementations utilizing side-channel emissions

In this work, side-channel attacks (SCAs) are considered as a security metric for the implementation of hybrid cryptosystems utilizing the neural network-based Tree Parity Re-Keying Machines (TPM). A virtual study is presented within the MATLAB environment that explores various scenarios in which the TPM may be compromised. Performance metrics are evaluated to model possible embedded system implementations. A new algorithm is proposed and coined as Man-in-the-Middle Power Analysis (MIMPA) as a means to copy the TPM’s generated keys. It is shown how the algorithm can identify vulnerabilities in the physical device in which the cryptosystem is implemented by using its power emissions. Finally, a machine learning approach is used to identify the capabilities of neural networks to recognize properties of keys produced in the TPM as they are transferred to an encryption algorithm. The results show that physical exploits of TPM implementations in embedded systems can be identified and accounted for before a final release. The experiments and data acquisition is demonstrated with an implementation of a TPM-AES hybrid cryptosystem in an AVR microcontroller.
Power Generation for Wearable Electronics: Designing Electrochemical Storage on Fabrics

We report a new class of textiles with electrochemical functions which, when moistened by a conductive liquid (saline solution, sweat, and wound fluid), generate dc voltage and current levels capable of powering wearable electronics on the go. Contrary to previously reported power generation techniques, the proposed fabrics are fully flexible, feel and behave like regular clothing, do not include any rigid components, and provide dc power via moistening by readily available liquids. Our approach entails printed battery cells that are composed of silver and zinc electrodes deposited onto a polyester fabric to generate power in the microwatt range. Electrochemical characterization of the discharge of a single printed battery cell in a 10 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) electrolyte shows reproducible results with a sustained power level of ∼80 $\mu \text{W}$ for over 3 h. Scalable dc power may also be achieved by connecting multiple battery cells in series via flexible and conductive E-threads. Indeed, a series connection of two battery cells is demonstrated to boost the generated voltage from 1.4 to 2.5 V. Notably, this in-series printed battery arrangement is shown to successfully power a digital thermometer under 10 M NaOH, a 0.5 M sodium chloride solution (mimicking human sweat), and Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline solution (mimicking bodily fluid electrolytes). Overall, the proposed technology is expected to be of utmost significance for healthcare, sports, military, and consumer applications, among others.
Ontological Clarity via Canonical Presentation: Electromagnetism and the Aharonov-Bohm Effect.

Quantum physics demands some radical revision of our fundamental beliefs about physical reality. We know that because there are certain verified physical phenomena—two-slit interference, the disappearance of interference upon monitoring, violations of Bell’s inequality—that have no classical analogs. But the exact nature of that revision has been under dispute since the foundation of quantum theory. I offer a method of clarifying what the commitments of a clearly formulated physical theory are, and apply it to a discussion of some options available to account for another non-classical phenomenon: the Aharonov–Bohm effect.
Comparing developer-provided to user-provided tests for fault localization and automated program repair

To realistically evaluate a software testing or debugging technique, it must be run on defects and tests that are characteristic of those a developer would encounter in practice. For example, to determine the utility of a fault localization or automated program repair technique, it could be run on real defects from a bug tracking system, using real tests that are committed to the version control repository along with the fixes. Although such a methodology uses real tests, it may not use tests that are characteristic of the information a developer or tool would have in practice. The tests that a developer commits after fixing a defect may encode more information than was available to the developer when initially diagnosing the defect. This paper compares, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the developer-provided tests committed along with fixes (as found in the version control repository) versus the user-provided tests extracted from bug reports (as found in the issue tracker). It provides evidence that developer-provided tests are more targeted toward the defect and encode more information than user-provided tests. For fault localization, developer-provided tests overestimate a technique’s ability to rank a defective statement in the list of the top-n most suspicious statements. For automated program repair, developer-provided tests overestimate a technique’s ability to (efficiently) generate correct patches—user-provided tests lead to fewer correct patches and increased repair time. This paper also provides suggestions for improving the design and evaluation of fault localization and automated program repair techniques.
Wetlands and open space: The impact of environmental regulations on land use patterns.

Abstract Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) has worked toward minimizing the degradation of wetlands since its inception. In 1985 the definition of the US waters regulated under Section 404 was expanded due to a Supreme Court ruling in an effort to specifically reduce environmental damage caused by new residential development. This study analyzes the resulting development permit approval process from the new regulatory environment following Section 404's expansion to examine the regulation's efficacy and illustrate potential tradeoffs between water resource protection and land fragmentation. Land use changes are identified using difference-in-difference estimators in duration analysis and a sample selection model. Results indicated that the new regulatory framework significantly slowed development of environmentally sensitive parcels but also decreased the density of new development.
Theological Reflection: A Franciscan Perspective

In life, where disappointments, unexpected challenges, and even tragedies abound, how do we, as pastoral counsellors/theological educators, teach our students to care for themselves and their clien...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Neurobehavioural Outcome in Traumatic Brain Injury

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a sensitive means of detecting haemorrhagic and nonhaemorrhagic forms of brain injury. This study correlates the neurobehavioural (NB) deficits in 49 adult patients with lesions detected by MR imaging. MR imaging was performed 2–19 days following trauma, analyzed for the injury type and graded for severity. A battery of NB tests was performed prior to hospital discharge or at the time of initial follow-up visit (31 patients). 15 patients were so severely impaired that testing could not be done and 3 died prior to discharge. The NB test scores were grouped into 3 levels of impairment.
Generating and visualizing breast re-excision rate from registry and administrative data.

e17624 Background: Monitoring quality metrics in near real time can help healthcare providers and organizations improve care delivery, engage patients, and comply with reporting requirements of acc...
School Leaders’ Caring for Place While Addressing Fear, Moral Panic, and Control

Security is a sacred trust for schooling, fundamental to learning, and tied to communities’ educational values such as access, equity, and achievement for students as well as their families. School leaders must balance safety and learning climate while mediating communities’ concerns, assets, and disagreements. Each day in school rests on a fulcrum balancing individual needs and rights with groups’ expectations and rights. School leaders navigate the daily churn with a clear focus on balancing risks inherent in learning and among the social-emotional, place-based connections between learning and behavior. This chapter suggests issues with reactive policy focus on perpetrators and explores the tensions over schools as place, symbol, and target while addressing the issues of security for students and personnel. These balancing acts entail caring, control, community, identity, and site security. The recommendations for balancing risks focus on adding a place-conscious approach to establishing an authentic purpose within each school’s locale.
Colloids and Crystalloids

Provision of intravenous fluids has been a long-standing mainstay in the resuscitation of traumatically injured persons. There has been mounting evidence this fluid resuscitation carries a risk of harm, particularly when given in large volumes. Although current strategy is for hemostatic resuscitation with blood products, colloid and crystalloid fluids are still commonly used in damage control resuscitation. A colloid solution is one that contains a dissolved high molecular weight compound that is intended to increase the oncotic pressure in the vasculature and increase the circulating volume by drawing water from extracellular space. Colloid use has been largely limited to albumin, hetastarch, and dextran solutions. Crystalloid solutions contain electrolytes and some have small molecule buffers. Each of these fluids has its own set of risks and benefits and indications for use.
Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome of the orbit and gastrointestinal tract

A 14-year-old female with a history of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) with gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations requiring previous endoscopy and bowel resection (Figure 1a,b) presented wit...
Minimally Invasive Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage: A Non-Pharmacologic Approach to Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial Fibrillation's (AF) role in the pathogenesis of thromboembolic stroke has been well established, with estimates from trials of approximately 15-20% of all strokes in the U.S. Research shows more than 90% of atrial thrombi originate from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Traditionally, oral anticoagulants (OACs) have been the keystone of management for AF in reducing the risk of thromboembolic stroke. However, OACs also pose a non-negligible risk of bleeding with between 30-50% of eligible patients not receiving OACs due to absolute contraindications or perceived increased bleeding risk. New technologies aimed at isolating the LAA through ligation, exclusion, or occlusion are attempting to mitigate the embolic risk posed by LAA thrombi while simultaneously reducing the bleeding risk associated with OAC. In this review, we discuss the safety, efficacy, and clinical utility of these technologies as alternatives to OACs. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-05.asp].
Expanding Our Reflexive Toolbox: Collaborative Possibilities for Examining Socio-Technical Systems Using Duoethnography

Addressing harm and ethical dilemmas that arise from the design of socio-technical systems requires methodologies that foster critical investigations of normative values, perspectives, and experiences. In this paper, we propose duoethnography as a feminist methodological tool for collaboratively researching interactions between users, devices, and data. Drawing on an interdisciplinary body of work and reflexive methodological traditions, we propose and describe four facets of the methodology: relationality, difference, dialogic process, and critical subjectivity. Next, we provide examples of the methodology "in practice" by detailing how the facets were implemented in a six-month diary study of digital health tracking. We use the study findings to illustrate how the application of these four facets facilitated a collaborative and dialogic process that enhanced self-knowledge and resulted in a multifaceted understanding of individual and shared health experiences. Finally, we conclude by discussing the methodological contributions of duoethnography for socio-technical research critically examining normative values and ethics in design. We contend that the collaborative intentionality of duoethnography offers a unique contribution and unifying methodology that views the personal as a valuable site of knowledge production, positions knowledge formation as a dialogic process, and promotes alternative ways of knowing and meaning making.
Toward an Erotics of Truth: Commentary on Session I

Playfully opposing the Biblical pronouncement ‘In the beginning was the word’, Lacan suggests rather that in the beginning of psychoanalytic practice there was love—a fact made painfully apparent in the inaugural case of Breuer and Anna O. This commentary underlines three related and immediate themes of the seminar’s opening session in order to forefront how the topic of love is crucial in a proper understanding both of transference and of the technical implications of such an understanding.
Synthesis of Zwitterionic and Trehalose Polymers with Variable Degradation Rates and Stabilization of Insulin

Polymers that stabilize biomolecules are important as excipients in protein formulation. Herein, we describe a class of degradable polymers that have tunable degradation rates depending on the poly...
Abstract 4959: Targeting of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A against breast cancer stemness

Chemoresistance is a clinically significant issue in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, leading to minimal residual disease. The surviving breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) undergo multilineage differentiation and repopulate a more aggressive primary tumor leading to metastasis and subsequent mortality. Not only are BCSCs innately chemo/radioresistant but also contribute to therapy failure through interconversion between BCSCs and bulk tumor cells. Therefore, it is imperative to co-target BCSCs and bulk tumor cells simultaneously. Identifying novel molecular targets is key to eliminate both bulk tumor cells and BCSCs. The eukaryotic protein translation initiation machinery, the eIF4F complex, is a convergence point for many oncogenic signaling pathways. This complex plays a vital role in translation of many oncogenic mRNAs implicated in cell cycle, tumor progression, chemoresistance and metastasis. We have previously demonstrated that the mRNA helicase eIF4A1, of the eIF4F complex, might serve as a vulnerable node to kill TNBC cells. In the current study, we hypothesized that targeting of eIF4A1 would reduce/eliminate both bulk tumor cells and BCSCs and overcome chemoresistance. In order to evaluate the effects of targeting eIF4A1 in BCSCs, we isolated BCSCs based on aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and CD44 expression by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting and characterized for stemness. Through pharmacological targeting (Rocaglamide A) and genetic ablation (CRISPR-Cas9) of eIF4A1, we demonstrated that there was a statistically significant reduction in the self-renewal ability indicated by the reduction in primary and secondary mammosphere formation efficiency (MFE) of BCSCs, levels of the pluripotency transcription factors (SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG), expression of drug transporters (ABCG2, ABCB1 and ABCC1) and increased induction of apoptotic cell death. Overall, we demonstrated that targeting eIF4A1 is effective in eliminating BCSCs through reduction in the levels of stemness factors and drug transporters. This sets up a stage to employ small molecule inhibitors against eIF4A1 in co-targeting strategic therapies. Citation Format: Sangita Sridharan, Megan Robeson, Diwakar Tukaramrao Bastihalli, Cory Howard, Boopathi Subramaniyan, Augustus Tilley, Dayanidhi Raman. Targeting of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A against breast cancer stemness [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4959.
1D potential wells of the form \boldsymbol{V}≤ft(≤ft| \boldsymbol{x}\right| {< }\boldsymbol{a}\right)=-{\boldsymbol{V}}_{\boldsymbol{o}}≤ft(1-\frac{{≤ft| \boldsymbol{x}\right| }(\boldsymbol{n}}}{{\boldsymbol{a}}({\boldsymbol{n}})) \right)

We consider the finite potential well defined by V(|x| ≤ a) = Vo(1-|x|n/an) where n is an integer. The Schrodinger equation is recast into dimensionless form; the size of the well is characterized by a single parameter α. We use three different mathematical techniques to solve for the energy eigenvalues and wave functions. Analytic solutions are given for the triangular well (n=1), the parabolic well (n=2), and the square well (n=∞ ). The finite element method is used to obtain accurate numerical results for all n over a full range of α. Finally, both the energy and wave function are expanded in a Taylor series in order to study the analytic behavior of the ground state energy (as a function of n) as α approaches 0.
Communication—Impact Behaviors of Pouch and Prismatic Battery Modules

The responses of pouch and prismatic battery modules when they are impacted by two types of indenters from three different directions are investigated experimentally. The test results show that the failure mechanism, peak force and penetration that leads to short-circuit in modules strongly depend on the impact direction, indenter shape, cell form factor and module design. It sheds lights on the abuse tolerance of batteries in different scenarios and demonstrates that the cell type, orientation and module structure should be considered simultaneously in order to improve the battery safety in electrical vehicles.
Lessons from the Present: Three Crises and Their Potential Impact on the Legal Profession (preprint)

The United States faces three simultaneous crises: a pandemic, a civil-rights reckoning, and a crisis of democracy. The first of these crises has sparked dramatic—though potentially temporary—changes to the practice of law: moving much legal work to remote settings almost overnight, after the profession had largely resisted making such accommodations for decades. The second has sparked an assessment of the extent to which the practice of law and the legal system are both riddled with racism and institutional bias. The third, the crisis of democracy, has lawyers at its center, filing frivolous claims and fomenting an armed insurrection with designs on overturning the results of a free and fair election. If the past is any guide, these crises will provoke a period of introspection within the legal profession and prompt calls for change. What the profession tends to do in the wake of such crises and in response to such calls, however, is tinker around the margins of the rules regarding the operation of the profession, leading to little substantive, long-term, formal change. It is entirely possible, if not likely, that the legal profession could respond to these crises according to this same pattern. It does not have to be that way, however. This Article calls on the profession—even as we are still in the midst of these crises in many ways—to seize the opportunity to advance real, lasting, and meaningful change and recommit to the central role it must play in the defense of the rule of law and democracy.
Hemorrhagic complications of cutaneous surgery for patients taking antithrombotic therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Cutaneous operations are generally safe procedures with minimal major risks. Excessive bleeding occasionally occurs, especially for patients taking antithrombotic medications. Conversely, stopping these medications before cutaneous surgery may increase the risk of a thromboembolic event. We aimed to synthesize the evidence regarding the risk of hemorrhage and thromboembolic events for patients undergoing cutaneous surgery while taking antithrombotic therapy. We performed a comprehensive search to identify randomized controlled trials and cohort studies that compared rates of hemorrhage and/or thromboembolic events between patients receiving antithrombotic therapy at cutaneous surgery and patients not receiving it. Odds ratio (OR) and risk difference for complications were calculated with random-effects models. Of 9214 patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, 323 (3.5%) had hemorrhagic complications; of 21,696 control patients, 265 (1.2%) had hemorrhagic complications. Patients taking antithrombotic therapy had increased bleeding risk relative to control patients (OR 2.63 [95% CI 1.90–3.63]; P < 0.001) and an increased but less clinically important risk difference (OR 0.02 [95% CI 0.01–0.03]; P < 0.001) with high heterogeneity. No difference was observed in hemorrhage rates among patients whose antithrombotic therapy was stopped vs continued (OR 1.16 [95% CI 0.73–1.83]; P = 0.54). No difference was seen in rates of thromboembolic events among patients taking antithrombotic therapy vs control patients. However, two serious thromboembolic events were noted in a cohort of 59 patients whose antithrombotic therapy was stopped. Because of potentially devastating effects of thromboembolic events, the current accepted practice is indicated for continuation of antithrombotic therapy for patients undergoing cutaneous surgery.
BAYESIAN GROUP TESTING WITH DILUTION EFFECTS.

Summary A Bayesian framework for group testing under dilution effects has been developed, using lattice-based models. This work has particular relevance given the pressing public health need to enhance testing capacity for COVID-19 and future pandemics, and the need for wide-scale and repeated testing for surveillance under constantly varying conditions. The proposed Bayesian approach allows for dilution effects in group testing and for general test response distributions beyond just binary outcomes. It is shown that even under strong dilution effects, an intuitive and simple-to-implement group testing selection rule that relies on the model order structure, referred to as the Bayesian halving algorithm, has attractive optimal convergence properties. Analogous look-ahead rules that can reduce the number of stages in classification by selecting several pooled tests at a time are proposed and evaluated as well. Group testing is demonstrated to provide great savings over individual testing in number of tests needed even for moderately high prevalence levels, although with a trade-off of higher number of testing stages, and increased variability. A web-based calculator is introduced to assist in weighing these factors and to guide decisions on when and how to pool under various conditions. High performance distributed computing methods have also been implemented for considering larger pool sizes, when savings from group testing can be even more dramatic.
Chapter 17 The Regulation of Calcium in the Intact Retinal Rod: A Study of Light-Induced Calcium Release by the Outer Segment

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the regulation of calcium in the intact retinal rod. The coordination and regulation of many of the processes occurring within a single cell are performed by intracellular messengers. The vertebrate rod photoreceptor represents a class of cells in which the need for an internal messenger is well established. In the rod outer segment (ROS), illumination produces an electrical response that is due to a decrease in the Na permeability of the outer segment plasma membrane. Moreover, it is evident that measurements of the Ca and cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) levels in intact cells are needed to resolve the roles of these substances in mediating rod phototransduction. The chapter addresses this problem with respect to Ca by measuring the extracellular Ca concentration in the photoreceptor layer of a living retina with an ion-selective electrode. The active transport mechanisms in the outer segment plasma membranes might communicate changes in intracellular free Ca to the extracellular space. The chapter explores a large, rapid light-induced efflux of Ca from the ROSs in the isolated retina of the toad Bufo marinus .
Verified Software: The Real Grand Challenge

This position paper addresses, and attempts to propose solutions for, critical issues in software engineering that need to be resolved before the Verified Software grand challenge as proposed by Professor Tony Hoare can be usefully exploited in industry to increase the assurance of software intensive systems.
Sugar-sweetened beverage, diet soda, and fatty liver disease in the Framingham Heart Study cohorts

Background & Aims Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects ∼30% of US adults, yet the role of sugar-sweetened beverages and diet soda on these diseases remains unknown. We examined the cross-sectional association between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages or diet soda and fatty liver disease in participants of the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation cohorts. Methods Fatty liver disease was defined using liver attenuation measurements generated from computed tomography in 2634 participants. Alanine transaminase concentration, a crude marker of fatty liver disease, was measured in 5908 participants. Sugar-sweetened beverage and diet soda intake were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Participants were categorized as either non-consumers or consumers (3 categories: 1 serving/month to Results After adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, Framingham cohort, energy intake, alcohol, dietary fiber, fat (% energy), protein (% energy), diet soda intake, and body mass index, the odds ratios of fatty liver disease were 1, 1.16 (0.88, 1.54), 1.32 (0.93, 1.86), and 1.61 (1.04, 2.49) across sugar-sweetened beverage consumption categories ( p trend=0.04). Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was also positively associated with alanine transaminase levels ( p trend=0.007). We observed no significant association between diet soda intake and measures of fatty liver disease. Conclusion In conclusion, we observed that regular sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was associated with greater risk of fatty liver disease, particularly in overweight and obese individuals, whereas diet soda intake was not associated with measures of fatty liver disease.
GABAergic innervation organizes synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptor clustering in cultured hippocampal neurons.

We have studied the effects of GABAergic innervation on the clustering of GABAA receptors (GABAARs) in cultured hippocampal neurons. In the absence of GABAergic innervation, pyramidal cells form small (0.36 ± 0.01 μm diameter) GABAAR clusters at their surface in the dendrites and soma. When receiving GABAergic innervation from glutamic acid decarboxylase-containing interneurons, pyramidal cells form large (1.62 ± 0.08 μm breadth) GABAAR clusters at GABAergic synapses. This is accompanied by a disappearance of the small GABAAR clusters in the local area surrounding each GABAergic synapse. Although the large synaptic GABAAR clusters of any neuron contained all GABAAR subunits and isoforms expressed by that neuron, the small clusters not localized at GABAergic synapses showed significant heterogeneity in subunit and isoform composition. Another difference between large GABAergic and small non-GABAergic GABAAR clusters was that a significant proportion of the latter was juxtaposed to postsynaptic markers of glutamatergic synapses such as PSD-95 and AMPA receptor GluR1 subunit. The densities of both the glutamate receptor-associated and non-associated small GABAAR clusters were decreased in areas surrounding GABAergic synapses. However, no effect on the density or distribution of glutamate receptor clusters was observed. The results suggest that there are local signals generated at GABAergic synapses that induce both assembly of large synaptic GABAAR clusters at the synapse and disappearance of the small GABAAR clusters in the surrounding area. In the absence of GABAergic innervation, weaker GABAAR-clustering signals, generated at glutamatergic synapses, induce the formation of small postsynaptic GABAAR clusters that remain juxtaposed to glutamate receptors at glutamatergic synapses.
In-flight EMI from portable electronic devices (PEDs): FDTD predictions vs. measurements

Numerical predictions of the coupling of energy from a simulated PED within a scaled airliner cabin to an antenna mounted on the top of the fuselage were made using the FDTD. An excellent level of agreement between the predictions and measurements were achieved up to frequencies consistent with the FDTD cell size. However, the FDTD predictions, even up to 11.0 GHz (550 MHz scaled frequency), are sufficiently accurate for engineering purposes.
A method for the combined measurement of ethiofos and WR-1065 in plasma: Application to pharmacokinetic experiments with ethiofos and its metabolites☆

Abstract An analytical method for the combined measurement of ethiofos (WR-2721) and a major metabolite (WR-1065) in plasma is described. Plasma samples were subjected to conditions which quantitatively converted both ethiofos and bound WR-1065 to free WR-1065 which was subsequently separated by HPLC and detected electrochemically using established procedures. Although bound WR-1065 in plasma is thought to exist mainly in the form of mixed disulfides, the symmetrical disulfide, WR-33278, also was quantitatively converted to the free thiol form. Standard curves were linear over the range 0.10 to 25 μg/mL (0.75 to 186 μmol/L). Mean precision over the range was 5.4% (coefficient of variation, CV) and recoveries of various mixtures of ethiofos, WR-1065 and WR-33278 averaged 102% (CV = 6.6%). This analytical procedure and others specific for ethiofos, free WR-1065 and WR-33278 were applied to dosing experiments in which the parent drug and its major metabolites were variously administered to beagle dogs and rhesus monkeys. Following i.v. administration of ethiofos (120–150 mg per kg body weight) to monkeys, plasma concentrations of unchanged drug ranged from 477 μg/mL (2.23 mM) down to the minimum detectable limit of the analytical procedure (0.05 μg/mL, 0.23 μM) 2–3 hours postinfusion. Clearances averaged 43.5 ± 13.4 (SD) mL min −1 kg −1 and half-lives observed in the 20–60 minute postinfusion period were 8–15 min.
Amplifying the voice of youth in Africa via text analytics

U-report is an open-source SMS platform operated by UNICEF Uganda, designed to give community members a voice on issues that impact them. Data received by the system are either SMS responses to a poll conducted by UNICEF, or unsolicited reports of a problem occurring within the community. There are currently 200,000 U-report participants, and they send up to 10,000 unsolicited text messages a week. The objective of the program in Uganda is to understand the data in real-time, and have issues addressed by the appropriate department in UNICEF in a timely manner. Given the high volume and velocity of the data streams, manual inspection of all messages is no longer sustainable. This paper describes an automated message-understanding and routing system deployed by IBM at UNICEF. We employ recent advances in data mining to get the most out of labeled training data, while incorporating domain knowledge from experts. We discuss the trade-offs, design choices and challenges in applying such techniques in a real-world deployment.
Diasporic Identities: The Science and Politics of Race in the Work of Franz Boas and W. E. B. Du Bois, 1894–1919

In February 1995, researchers at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meetings announced, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times, that "the concept of race ... has no basis in fundamental human biology" (Hotz 1995b:A1). At a moment when debates about multiculturalism, affirmative action, and racial and ethnic differences and identities occupy much time and space in public discourse in the United States, scientists question the very categories these arguments presuppose. "The scientific case against race has been building quietly among population geneticists and anthropologists for more than a decade," a follow-up article declared (Hotz 1995a:A1). For a good 100 years, however, scientists and scholars-anthropologists and activists among them-have waged their own battle against the scientific underpinnings of racial thought, in much the same terms as today's challenge. Academic proclamations notwithstanding, it is clear that the social and political meanings of "race" have not lost their currency. The connection of past debates with present-day controversies has not gone without notice. Franz Boas has made cameo appearances in recent discussions about race and culture, nature and nurture (Degler 1991:61-83; Ehrenreich and McIntosh 1997:12; Freeman 1983:19-33; Tucker 1994:91, 138, 149, 155, 158-159, 165), and has been the subject of increasing interest in his own right (Hyatt 1990; Liss 1995, 1996; Stocking 1996; Williams 1996). For his part, W. E. B. Du Bois has garnered a stunning amount of attention (Bell et al. 1996; Du Bois 1986a; Early 1993; Gooding-Williams 1994; Harrison 1992; Harrison and Nonini 1992; Lewis 1993, 1995; Massiah 1995; Rath 1997; Reed 1997; Sundquist 1993, 1996; Zamir 1995). In one of the recent turns in the cycle of culture wars, Dinesh D'Souza links Boas, his students, and Du Bois with the rise of cultural relativism, the civil rights movement, multiculturalism, and affirmative action, which have, he contests, convinced Americans that racism, rather than
The evolution of double fertilization and endosperm: an ”historical” perspective

One hundred years ago, the developmental origin of endosperm from double fertilization was discovered independently by Navashin and Guignard. For much of the twentieth century, specific events related to the evolutionary origin of the endosperm of flowering plants remained a mystery. However, during the past 20 years, advances in phylogenetic reconstruction of seed plants, genetic theory associated with kin selection, and comparative study of the reproductive biology of the closest living relatives of angiosperms (Gnetales) have advanced our understanding of the evolutionary events associated with the origin of double fertilization and endosperm. Recent developmental analyses of Ephedra and Gnetum (members of Gnetales) indicate that these nonflowering seed plants undergo a regular process of double fertilization that yields two diploid zygotes. Use of explicit genetic and developmental criteria for analysis of evolutionary homology demonstrates congruence with the hypothesis that double fertilization processes in Gnetales and angiosperms were inherited from a common ancestor of the two lineages. In its rudimentary form, the second fertilization event in the ancestors of flowering plants yielded a supernumerary diploid embryo that was genetically identical to the normal embryo, a process most similar to what occurs in extant Ephedra. Subsequent to the divergence of the angiosperm stem lineage, the supernumerary embryo derived from double fertilization was developmentally modified into an embryo-nourishing structure, endosperm, that now characterizes angiosperms.
Bradyrhizobium elkanii lipo-oligosaccharide signals induce complete nodule structures on Glycine soja Siebold et Zucc.

The (Brady)rhizobium nodulation gene products synthesize lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) signal molecules that induce nodule primordia on legume roots. Previously, nodule primordia had been induced by LOS on several legumes, but the induction of a complete nodule structure by LOS had only been shown on alfalfa. Since alfalfa can spontaneously form nodules at a low frequency, it has been unclear whether LOS molecules are sufficient to induce morphologically complete nodules on plants that do not spontaneously form nodules. In this study, we isolated LOS from Bradyrhizobium elkanii previously Bradyrhizobium japonicum group II; (Kuykendall et al. 1992, Can. J. Microbiol. 38, 501–505) strain USDA61 and determined their biological activity on Glycine soja. When spot-inoculated onto G. soja roots, these LOS induced a morphologically complete nodule structure showing many features similar to root nodules induced by rhizobia. These features include a broad mitotically active nodule primordium in the root outer cortex and a vascular bundle that emanates from the pericycle and bifurcates to surround the mitotically active cells. From this work it can be concluded that LOS are sufficient to induce a structurally complete nodule on plants that form determinate nodules.
Palmar fasciitis with polyarthritis syndrome in a patient with breast cancer

Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis syndrome (PFPAS) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome often associated with ovarian and pancreatic cancers, and rarely lung and breast cancers. A 39-year-old patient with breast cancer underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radical mastectomy, and radiation therapy. Subsequently, the patient developed PFPAS coinciding with progression of the breast cancer. The rheumatological symptoms were severe causing significant distress and handicap. The patient had a partial response to treatment with corticosteroids. A literature review of PFPAS and its relation to breast cancer is discussed.
An Interactive Anatomy Experience Utilizing a Computerized 3-Dimensional Radiation Oncology Planning and Treatment System

Gross anatomy with dissection remains a mainstay course at most medical schools despite rising costs and time constraints.1. However, interactive educational experiences that reinforce "spatial" anatomy concepts have been recommended.2. At our institution, we developed an interactive anatomy elective for medical students utilizing a treatment planning technology employed in radiation oncology, therefore the system is widely available.
Reassessment of the Predatory Effects of Rainbow Smelt on Ciscoes in Lake Superior

Abstract Evidence from small lakes suggests that predation on larval ciscoes Coregonus artedi by nonnative rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax can lead to cisco suppression or extirpation. However, evidence from larger lakes has led to equivocal conclusions. In this study, we examine the potential predation effects of rainbow smelt in two adjacent but contrasting embayments in Lake Superior (Thunder and Black bays, Ontario). During May 2006, we sampled the ichthyoplankton, pelagic fish communities, and diet composition of rainbow smelt in both bays. Using acoustics and midwater trawling, we estimated rainbow smelt densities to be 476 ± 34/ha (mean ± SE) in Thunder Bay and 3,435 ± 460/ha in Black Bay. We used a bioenergetics model to estimate the proportion of cisco larvae consumed by rainbow smelt. Our results suggest that predation by rainbow smelt accounts for 15–52% and 37–100% of the mortality of larval ciscoes in Thunder and Black bays, respectively, depending on the predator feeding rate and the scale of p...
Removal of Phthalic Acid Esters from Aqueous Solution by Inclusion and Adsorption on β-Cyclodextrin

Removal of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) by the formation of inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in aqueous solution was studied. According to the measure ments of fluorescence and NMR spe...