cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biology of Disease

The term amyloidosis describes a group of diseases characterized by the deposition of abnormal fibrillar proteins in the extracellular and intracellular spaces. These proteins are assembled forming amyloid fibrils, that accumulate leading to cellular dysfunction and death. Regardless of their biochemical composition, all the types of amyloid fibrils share the following properties: (a) β-pleated sheet secondary structure; (b) green birefringence under polarized light after Congo red staining, and (c) a fibrillar quaternary structure with a typical electron microscopic appearance (11, 37, 38). Moreover, they all share the physical property of being highly insoluble under physiologic conditions and this is probably one of the most important features that precludes their complete degradation in vivo by cellular proteases.
Geographic Peer Effects in Management Earnings Forecasts

We find that the likelihood that a firm voluntarily provides an earnings forecast is sensitive to the extent to which other firms in the same geographic area provide earnings forecasts. This geographic peer effect in forecasting is stronger for firms with greater exposure to local institutional investors, and when firms do forecast, liquidity improves more when a larger fraction of their geographic peers forecast. Further, we use instrumental variable techniques to help alleviate the concern that these geographic peer effects are driven by omitted local economic factors that can lead firms to make similar disclosure decisions. Overall, our findings suggest that geographic peer effects in disclosure choices arise in part due to firms responding to capital market incentives created by local investors.
Estimating unmeasured invasive EEG signals using a reduced-order observer

Epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide. Over 30% of patients are drug-resistant where the only treatment may be surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone (EZ), the region of the brain that generates seizures. Identification of the EZ is often based on invasive EEG recordings. As such, surgical outcome relies heavily on precise and dense placement of EEG electrodes into the brain. Despite large brain regions being removed, success rates barely reach 65%. This gives rise to the “missing electrode problem”, where clinicians want to know what neural activity looks like between sparsely implanted electrodes. Solving this problem will enable more accurate localization of the EZ. In this paper, we demonstrate the first steps towards developing a computational platform to estimate neural activity at the “missing electrodes” using a reduced-order observer from control theory. Specifically, we constructed a sequence of discrete time Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) models using the available EEG data from two epilepsy patients. Then, we used the models to simulate EEG data and remove selected signals (“missing” states) from the simulated data set. Finally, we used a reduced-order observer to estimate the signals of these “missing” states and evaluated performance by comparing the observer estimates to the simulated EEG time series.
Neuropsychological Development in the Child and the Adolescent: Functional Maturation of the Central Nervous System

Anatomical measures of fiber tract myelination and cortical thickness indicate that brain maturation is hierarchical both within and across functional systems. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures support this view and indicate that functional maturation is most rapid in the first six years of life with slower development thereafter. Recent EEG data indicates that there are spurts in development that occur at different ages in the two hemispheres, the left shows a spurt at age four to six years and the right hemisphere at ages four to six, and again at eight to ten years. Maturation is bilateral and primarily frontal from age 11 to maturity. There is at present no good evidence that major changes in brain development are associated with the achievement of new cognitive abilities in the child. While the hypothesis of correlated brain and cognitive development is attractive, both brain maturation and cognitive development are highly complex and both present difficult measurement problems.
The Dangers of Denial: The Need for a Clear-Eyed Understanding of the Power and Accountability Structure Established by the Delaware General Corporation Law

There is now a tendency among those who believe that corporations should be more socially responsible to pretend that corporate directors do not have an obligation under Delaware corporate law to make stockholder welfare the sole end of corporate governance within the limits of their legal discretion. These advocates of corporate social responsibility contend that Delaware directors may subordinate stockholder welfare to other interests, such as those of the company’s workers or society generally. That is, they do not argue simply that directors may choose to forsake a higher short-term profit if they believe that course of action will best advance the interests of stockholders in the long run, they argue that directors have no legal obligation to make – within the constraints of positive law – the promotion of stockholder welfare their end. But, the problem with that argument is that it is inconsistent with both judge-made common law of corporations in Delaware and the design of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).More important, pretending that the nation’s leading corporate law is fundamentally different than it is runs contrary to the goal of ensuring that for-profit corporations behave lawfully, responsibly, and ethically. Lecturing others to do the right thing without acknowledging the rules that apply to their behavior and the power dynamics to which they are subject is not a responsible path to social progress. Rather, it provides an excuse to avoid tougher policy challenges, such as advocating for stronger externality regulation and encouraging institutional investors to exercise their power as stockholders responsibly. Those challenges must be confronted if we are to ensure that for-profit corporations are vehicles for responsible, sustainable, long-term wealth creation.
Mental health outcomes among Arab refugees, immigrants, and U.S. born Arab Americans in Southeast Michigan: a cross-sectional study

Arab refugees and immigrants living in the United States may be exposed to political, economic, social, and environmental stressors that may affect their mental health. Yet, little is known regarding mental health outcomes among Arab Americans. The purpose of this study was to measure depression and anxiety levels among Arabs in Southeast Michigan and determine whether these levels differ by resident status: refugee, immigrant, or U.S. born. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a convenience sample of 275 adults who self-identify as Arab living in Southeast Michigan. Participants were recruited from a non-profit health and social services organization between August–November 2015. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires, using standardized instruments to assess depression and anxiety symptoms. All three resident groups exhibited high mean levels of depression and anxiety. Refugees reported higher levels of depression and anxiety than either immigrants or U.S. born Arab Americans. After adjustment for sociodemographics, differences between U.S. born Arab Americans and refugees were statistically significant for depression (b = 2.84; 95% CI: 0.21, 5.47), but not for anxiety. Refugees had significantly higher depression scores (b = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.52, 4.84) and anxiety scores (b = 1.31, 95% CI: 0.11, 2.50) than immigrants. Those reporting political violence and religious persecution as reasons for immigration had the highest levels of depression and anxiety. This convenience sample of Arab Americans reported high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. Refugees appear to have poorer mental health outcomes than either immigrants or U.S.-born Arab Americans.
Fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of eight antiepileptic drugs and an active metabolite in human plasma using polarity switching and timed selected reaction monitoring.

Abstract A fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method using polarity switching and timed selected reaction monitoring has been developed and validated to quantify eight antiepileptic drugs and an active drug metabolite in human plasma within a single analytical assay. The antiepileptic drugs include levetiracetam, lamotrigine, zonisamide, topiramate, carbamazepine, phenytoin, divalproex sodium, oxcarbazepine, and the oxcarbazepine active metabolite 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxycarbamazepine. The method was validated over concentration ranges specifically for each compound, with a lower limit of quantification of 5–50 ng/mL. The method is accurate and precise, with intra-day and inter-day accuracy ranging from 93.7 to 104.7% and 94.1 to 107.1%, respectively, and intra-day and inter-day coefficient of variation (CV) ranging of 0.8–4.4% and 1.5–7.1%, respectively. Simple two-step protein precipitation and dilution sample preparation, high sensitivity, and high throughput make this method suitable for multi-drug monitoring for epileptic patients.
Forged by DXZ4, FIRRE, and ICCE: How Tandem Repeats Shape the Active and Inactive X Chromosome

Recent efforts in mapping spatial genome organization have revealed three evocative and conserved structural features of the inactive X in female mammals. First, the chromosomal conformation of the inactive X reveals a loss of topologically associated domains (TADs) present on the active X. Second, the macrosatellite DXZ4 emerges as a singular boundary that suppresses physical interactions between two large TAD-depleted "megadomains." Third, DXZ4 reaches across several megabases to form "superloops" with two other X-linked tandem repeats, FIRRE and ICCE, which also loop to each other. Although all three structural features are conserved across rodents and primates, deletion of mouse and human orthologs of DXZ4 and FIRRE from the inactive X have revealed limited impact on X chromosome inactivation (XCI) and escape in vitro. In contrast, loss of Xist or SMCHD1 have been shown to impair TAD erasure and gene silencing on the inactive X. In this perspective, we summarize these results in the context of new research describing disruption of X-linked tandem repeats in vivo, and discuss their possible molecular roles through the lens of evolutionary conservation and clinical genetics. As a null hypothesis, we consider whether the conservation of some structural features on the inactive X may reflect selection for X-linked tandem repeats on account of necessary cis- and trans-regulatory roles they may play on the active X, rather than the inactive X. Additional hypotheses invoking a role for X-linked tandem repeats on X reactivation, for example in the germline or totipotency, remain to be assessed in multiple developmental models spanning mammalian evolution.
Pax-Africana Versus Western Digi-Culturalism: An Ethnomethodological Study of Selected Mobile African Apps

The solution to Africa’s problems especially with regard to issues plaguing her culture is still far-fetched even with the presence of digital cultures, henceforth referred to as digi-culture. The west will continue to dictate the pace of cultural and social realities on the continent thereby asphyxiating the growth of traditional communicative patterns. Nevertheless, a few start-ups mobile companies on the continent have begun to create virtual presence on the cybernetic cultural sphere of communicative influence. But their presence may be fraught with psycho-cultural and social problems that constitute the subject of this chapter. Why is Africa always late in the game? Why is Africa always seeking to create secondary presence? When will the rest of the world follow an initiative from Africa with enough security that warrants confidence? That is the subject of this chapter using some African-driven mobile Apps as points of reference.
Personality Traits, Coping, Health-related Behaviors, and Cumulative Physiological Health in a National Sample: 10 Year Prospective Effects of Conscientiousness via Perceptions of Activity on Allostatic Load.

Background Personality traits, coping styles, and health-related behaviors show associations with various aspects of health. However, integrative life-course investigations of pathways by which these factors might affect later cumulative physiological health risk remain sparse. Purpose To investigate prospective associations of personality traits via coping styles and health-related behaviors on allostatic load in a national sample. Methods Using data from the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS; N = 1,054), path analyses were used to test direct and indirect associations (via coping styles, smoking, frequency of alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity, and perceptions of activity) of personality traits on a latent measurement model of allostatic load informed by 10 biomarkers associated with cardiovascular, inflammation, glucose, and lipid subsystems. Results Direct 10 year associations of greater conscientiousness on healthier allostatic load and greater extraversion on less healthy allostatic load were observed. Consistent with hypothesized behavioral pathways, relationships between conscientiousness and extraversion on allostatic load were prospectively mediated by greater perceptions of activity. Physical activity and more frequent alcohol use were associated with healthier allostatic load but did not act as prospective mediators. Conclusions The results provide further evidence of conscientiousness' standing as a marker of health via cumulative physiological health. Moreover, a greater perception of activity was identified as a pathway through which conscientious individuals experienced healthier physiological profiles over time. Examining a more detailed picture of the psychosocial mechanisms leading to development of health risk, as was found with perceptions of activity, remains an important area for future research.
Point-of-Care Drug of Abuse Testing in the Opioid Epidemic.

Context.— The United States is experiencing an opioid overdose epidemic. Point-of-care (POC) drug of abuse testing is a useful tool to combat the intensified opioid epidemic. Objectives.— To review commercially available POC drug of abuse testing involving opioids, to review opportunities and challenges for POC opioid testing and emerging testing methods in research literature, and finally to summarize unmet clinical needs and future development prospects. Data sources.— The Google search engine was used to access information for commercial opioid POC devices and the Google Scholar search engine was used to access research literature published from 2000 to 2019 for opioid POC tests. Conclusions.— The opioid epidemic provides unprecedented opportunities for POC drug testing, with significant clinical needs. Compared with gold standard tests, limitations for commercially available opioid POC testing include lower analytical sensitivity, lower specificity, and cross-reactivity. In response to unmet clinical needs, novel methods have emerged in research literature, such as microfluidics and miniature mass spectrometry. Future prospects include the development of quantitative POC devices and smarter and real-time drug testing.
Spatial regression analysis of MR diffusion reveals subject-specific white matter changes associated with repetitive head impacts in contact sports.

Repetitive head impacts (RHI) are a growing concern due to their possible neurocognitive effects, with research showing a season of RHI produce white matter (WM) changes seen on neuroimaging. We conducted a secondary analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data for 28 contact athletes to compare WM changes. We collected pre-season and post-season DTI scans for each subject, approximately 3 months apart. We collected helmet data for the athletes, which we correlated with DTI data. We adapted the SPatial REgression Analysis of DTI (SPREAD) algorithm to conduct subject-specific longitudinal DTI analysis, and developed global inferential tools using functional norms and a novel robust p value combination test. At the individual level, most detected injured regions (93.3%) were associated with decreased FA values. Using meta-analysis techniques to combine injured regions across subjects, we found the combined injured region at the group level occupied the entire WM skeleton, suggesting the WM damage location is subject-specific. Several subject-specific functional summaries of SPREAD-detected WM change, e.g., the $${L}^{\infty }$$ norm, significantly correlated with helmet impact measures, e.g. cumulative unweighted rotational acceleration (adjusted p = 0.0049), time between hits rotational acceleration (adjusted p value 0.0101), and time until DTI rotational acceleration (adjusted p = 0.0084), suggesting RHIs lead to WM changes.
Therapeutic Relationship and Dropout in High-Risk Adolescents’ Intensive Group Psychotherapeutic Programme

Objective Dropout rates are a prominent problem in youth psychotherapy. An important determinant of dropouts is the quality of the therapeutic relationship. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the therapeutic relationship and dropouts in an intensive mentalization-based treatment (MBT) for adolescents with personality disorders. Methods Patients (N = 105) included were either dropouts (N = 36) or completers (N = 69) of an intensive MBT. The therapeutic relationship was measured with the child version of the Session Rating Scale (C-SRS), which was completed by the patient after each group therapy session. For each patient, the treatment termination status (dropout or completer) was indicated by the treatment staff. The reliable change index (RCI) was calculated for the C-SRS to determine significant changes in the therapeutic relationship. Results While both groups started with similar scores on the C-SRS, the scores between dropouts and completers differed significantly at the end of the treatment period. On average, during therapy, an increase was seen in the scores of completers, and a decrease was seen in the scores of dropouts. While dropouts could not be predicted based on the C-SRS scores, a significant decrease (RCI) in C-SRS scores during the last two sessions occurred more often for dropouts than for completers. Conclusion Our findings show that to prevent dropouts, the patient's judgment of the quality of the therapeutic relationship should be monitored continuously, and decreases discussed with the patient and the group.
Raising the Stakes: How Individual Taxes Affect Risk-Taking by Pass-Through Businesses

Pass-through businesses (PTBs) generate over 60 percent of U.S. business income. Despite their economic significance, little is known about how individual taxes affect risk-taking by PTBs. This is important because PTBs are subject to a different tax system than traditional corporations, with characteristics that predict divergent relations between tax rates and risk-taking. We study PTBs using the unique setting of thoroughbred racing and examine how taxes affect the decision to enter thoroughbreds in risky stakes races or less risky allowance races. The setting is advantageous because we can observe the choice between two discrete investment options with varying levels of risk. Using multiple difference-in-differences designs that exploit plausibly exogenous changes in federal and state tax rates, we find that higher taxes discourage risk-taking. Our findings suggest that owners of PTBs still face a significant degree of tax loss asymmetry, which affects investment behavior.
Development of a conceptual model of patient-reported outcomes in light chain amyloidosis: a qualitative study

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a plasma cell neoplasm associated with high early mortality and severe morbidity that can cause severe disability. We explored the impact of AL amyloidosis on symptoms and well-being from the perspectives of patients and health care providers who regularly care for AL patients. We intended to develop a conceptual understanding of patient-reported outcomes in AL amyloidosis to identify the context of use and concept of interest for a clinical outcome assessments tool in this disease. Twenty patients and ten professionals were interviewed. Patient interviews captured the spectrum of amyloidosis experience including time from diagnosis, type of organ involvement, and presence and type of treatment received. Interviews with professionals included physicians, advanced practice providers, registered nurse, and a patient advocate; these interviews covered similar topics. The impact of AL amyloidosis on patients’ life was multidimensional, with highly subjective perceptions of normality and meaning. Four major themes from patients and experts included diagnosis of AL amyloidosis, living with AL amyloidosis, symptom burden, and social roles. Barriers to patient-reported outcomes data collection in patients were additionally explored from experts. The themes provide a comprehensive understanding of the important experiences of symptom burden and its impact on daily life from AL amyloidosis patients’ and from the perspectives of professionals who care for patients with AL amyloidosis. These findings further the conceptual understanding and identification of a preliminary model of concept of interest for development of a clinical outcome assessments tool for AL amyloidosis.
Singular value decomposition utilizing parallel algorithms on graphical processors

One of the current challenges in underwater acoustic array signal processing is the detection of quiet targets in the presence of noise. In order to enable robust detection, one of the key processing steps requires data and replica whitening. This, in turn, involves the eigen-decomposition of the sample spectral matrix, C x = 1 over K Σ x KX(k)XH(k) where X(k) denotes a single frequency snapshot with an element for each element of the array. By employing the singular value decomposition (SVD) method, the eigenvectors and eigenvalues can be determined directly from the data without computing the sample covariance matrix, reducing the computational requirements for a given level of accuracy (van Trees, Optimum Array Processing). (Recall that the SVD of a complex matrix A involves determining V, Σ, and U such that A = UΣVH where U and V are orthonormal and Σ is a positive, real, diagonal matrix containing the singular values of A. U and V are the eigenvectors of AAH and AHA, respectively, while the singular values are the square roots of the eigenvalues of AAH.) Because it is desirable to be able to compute these quantities in real time, an efficient technique for computing the SVD is vital. In addition, emerging multicore processors like graphical processing units (GPUs) are bringing parallel processing capabilities to an ever increasing number of users. Since the computational tasks involved in array signal processing are well suited for parallelization, it is expected that these computations will be implemented using GPUs as soon as users have the necessary computational tools available to them. Thus, it is important to have an SVD algorithm that is suitable for these processors.
Analysis of the basal chordate Botryllus schlosseri reveals a set of genes associated with fertility

Background Gonad differentiation is an essential function for all sexually reproducing species, and many aspects of these developmental processes are highly conserved among the metazoa. The colonial ascidian, Botryllus schlosseri is a chordate model organism which offers two unique traits that can be utilized to characterize the genes underlying germline development: a colonial life history and variable fertility. These properties allow individual genotypes to be isolated at different stages of fertility and gene expression can be characterized comprehensively.
The association between vitamin D and inflammation with the 6-minute walk and frailty in patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: To identify relationships between anabolic hormones, inflammatory markers, and physical function. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Outpatient university heart failure program in Connecticut. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients with an ejection fraction of 40% or less. MEASUREMENTS: The 6-minute walk distance and frailty phenotype were measured. The relationship between physical measures of hormones and inflammatory mediators were examined. Linear and ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed for the physical measures. RESULTS: Forty-three men (mean age 77 ± 9) and 17 women (mean age 78 ± 12) participated. Longer 6-minute walk distance was correlated with higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level, and a shorter walk was correlated with higher cortisol: dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) ratio, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL6), and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) (all P<.05). Percentage of free testosterone, DHEAS alone, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTpro-BNP) did not correlate with 6-minute walk distance. Higher frailty phenotype score (more frail) was correlated with higher high-sensitivity CRP, higher IL6, and lower 25OHD levels (all P<.05). Linear regression with the 6-minute walk distance as the dependent variable and independent variables of age, sex, percentage of free testosterone, DHEAS, 25OHD, intact PTH, hsCRP, IL6, cortisol/DHEAS ratio, and NTpro-BNP, revealed age, sex, 25OHD and hsCRP to be significant (coefficient of determination=53.5%). Ordinal logistic regression with the frailty phenotype and hormonal levels revealed that age, 25OHD, and hsCRP also predicted frailty status. CONCLUSION: Twenty-five-hydroxyvitamin D and hsCRP levels may contribute to lower aerobic capacity and frailty in patients with heart failure. A longitudinal study will further define the role of 25OHD and hsCRP on muscle strength and functional decline.
Measurement of rRNA Variations in Natural Communities of Microorganisms on the Southeastern U.S. Continental Shelf.

The development of a clear understanding of the physiology of marine prokaryotes is complicated by the difficulties inherent in resolving the activity of various components of natural microbial communities. Application of appropriate molecular biological techniques offers a means of overcoming some of these problems. In this regard, we have used direct probing of bulk RNA purified from selective size fractions to examine variations in the rRNA content of heterotrophic communities and Synechococcus populations on the southeastern U.S. continental shelf. Heterotrophic communities in natural seawater cultures amended with selected substrates were examined. Synechococcus populations were isolated from the water column by differential filtration. The total cellular rRNA content of the target populations was assayed by probing RNA purified from these samples with an oligonucleotide complementing a universally conserved region in the eubacterial 16S rRNA (heterotrophs) or with a 1.5-kbp fragment encoding the Synechococcus sp. strain WH 7803 16S rRNA (cyanobacteria). The analyses revealed that heterotrophic bacteria responded to the addition of glucose and trace nutrients after a 6-h lag period. However, no response was detected after amino acids were added. The cellular rRNA content increased 48-fold before dropping to a value 20 times that detected before nutrients were added. Variations in the rRNA content from Synechococcus spp. followed a distinct diel pattern imposed by the phasing of cell division within the irradiance cycle. The results indicate that careful application of these appropriate molecular biological techniques can be of great use in discerning basic physiological characteristics of selected natural populations and the mechanisms which regulate growth at the subcellular level.
Exploring auction mechanisms for role assignment in teams of autonomous robots

We are exploring the use of auction mechanisms to assign roles within a team of agents operating in a dynamic environment. Depending on the degree of collaboration between the agents and the specific auction policies employed, we can obtain varying combinations of role assignments that can affect both the speed and the quality of task execution. In order to examine this extremely large set of combinations, we have developed a theoretical framework and an environment in which to experiment and evaluate the various options in policies and levels of collaboration. This paper describes our framework and experimental environment. We present results from examining a set of representative policies within our test domain — a high-level simulation of the RoboCup four-legged league soccer environment.
The Impact of Prolonged Nomination Contests on Presidential Candidate Evaluations and General Election Vote Choice: The Case of 2008

The fact that political parties hold competitive nomination contests that require voters to choose among multiple candidates leaves open the possibility that the contest itself could damage the prospects of an eventual nominee. In this study, we employ the American National Election Study panel survey data from the 2008 U.S. presidential election to assess the impact of the Democratic Party nomination process on candidate evaluations and general election vote preference. We find evidence that Barack Obama had greater difficulty uniting his party than his Republican counterpart due to the fact that Clinton voters were slow to coalesce around Obama. These supporters failed to report higher levels of favorability until Clinton conceded the race in the summer, while Huckabee and Romney voters were seen rallying to their party's nominee in the spring. In the end, many Clinton primary voters either abstained from voting in November or crossed over to support the Republican nominee. El hecho de que los partidos politicos realicen contiendas de nominaciones competitivas que exijan a los votantes elegir entre multiples candidatos crea la posibilidad de que la contienda en si misma perjudique las expectativas del candidato ganador. En este estudio, empleamos datos de una encuesta de ANES sobre las elecciones presidenciales del 2008 en los Estados Unidos para determinar el impacto del proceso de nominacion presidencial del Partido Democrata en la evaluacion de los candidatos y las preferencias electorales generales. Encontramos evidencia de que Barack Obama tuvo una mayor dificultad unificando su partido que su equivalente Republicano debido a que partidarios de Clinton fueron lentos en sumarse a Obama. Estos partidarios no reportaron altos niveles de apoyo hasta que Clinton confirio la contienda en el verano, mientras que partidarios de Huckabee y Romney se concentraron en el candidato de su partido desde la primavera. Al final, muchos votantes adeptos a Clinton se abstuvieron de votar en noviembre o decidieron apoyar al candidato Republicano.
The Collaborative Virtual Workspace

Attend business meetings and bullsessions without ever leaving home--enter the virtual world
Coalition formation among bounded rational agents

This paper analyzes coalitions among self-interested agents that need to solve combinatorial optimization problems to operate efficiently in the world. By colluding (coordinating their actions by solving a joint optimization problem), the agents can sometimes save costs compared to operating individually. A model of bounded rationality is adopted, where computation resources are costly. It is not worth solving the problems optimally: solution quality is decision-theoretically traded off against computation cost. A normative, protocol-independent theory of coalitions among bounded rational (BR) agents is devised. The optimal coalition structure and its stability are significantly affected by the agents'' algorithms'' performance profiles (PPs) and the unit cost of computation. This relationship is first analyzed theoretically. A domain classification including rational and BR agents is introduced. Experimental results are presented in the distributed vehicle routing domain using real data from 5 dispatch centers; the optimal coalition structure for BR agents differs significantly from the one for rational agents. These problems are NP-complete and the instances are so large that, with current technology, any agent''s rationality is bounded by computational complexity.
Architecting Solvers for SAT Modulo Theories: Nelson-Oppen with DPLL

We offer a transition system representing a high-level but detailed architecture for SMT solvers that combine a propositional SAT engine with solvers for multiple disjoint theories. The system captures succintly and accurately all the major aspects of the solver's global operation: boolean search with across-the-board backjumping, communication of theory-specific facts and equalities between shared variables, and cooperative conflict analysis. Provably correct and prudently underspecified, our system is a usable ground for high-quality implementations of comprehensive SMT solvers.
Unraveling international terrorist groups' exploitation of the web: technical sophistication, media richness, and web interactivity

Terrorists and extremists have become mainstream exploiters of the Internet beyond routine communication operations and dramatically increased their own ability to influence the outside world. Although this alternate side of the Internet, referred to as the “Dark Web,” has recently received extensive government and media attention, the terrorists/extremists' Internet usage is still under-researched because of the lack of systematic Dark Web content collection and analysis methodologies. To address this research gap, we explore an integrated approach for identifying and collecting terrorist/extremist Web contents. We also propose a framework called the Dark Web Attribute System (DWAS) to enable quantitative Dark Web content analysis from three perspectives: technical sophistication, media richness, and Web interactivity. Using the proposed methodology, we collected and examined more than 200,000 multimedia Web documents created by 86 Middle Eastern multi-lingual terrorist/extremist organizations. In our comparison of terrorist/extremist Web sites to U.S. government Web sites, we found that terrorists/extremist groups exhibited similar levels of Web knowledge as U.S. government agencies. We also found that the terrorists/extremist groups are as effective as the U.S. government agencies in terms of supporting communications and interaction using Web technologies. Based on our case study results, we believe that the DWAS is an effective framework to analyze the technical sophistication of terrorist/extremist groups' Internet usage and our Dark Web analysis methodology could contribute to an evidence-based understanding of the applications of Web technologies in the global terrorism phenomena.
The great (nuclear) escape: new insights into the role of the nuclear egress complex of herpesviruses

Herpesviruses are unusual among enveloped viruses because they bud twice yet acquire a single envelope. They are also the only known viruses that bud into the nuclear envelope. We discovered that the herpesvirus nuclear egress complex could bud membranes without the help of other proteins by forming a coat-like hexagonal scaffold inside the budding membrane. This finding raises the possibility that a phenotypically similar nuclear export of large RNAs is cargo driven.
Recovery of Exocellular Acid Phosphatase Activity on Saccharomyces mellis After Treatment of the Organism with Reagents That Affect the Cell Surface

Derepressed cells of Saccharomyces mellis were treated in one of several different ways to either elute or inactivate the exocellular enzyme, acid phosphatase. The enzyme was either (i) eluted from resting cells with 0.5 m KCl plus 0.1% β-mercaptoethanol, (ii) eluted from exponential phase cells by growing the organism in derepressing media containing 0.5 m KCl, or (iii) inactivated on exponential phase cells by adding sufficient acid or base to growth media to destroy the enzyme but not enough to kill the cells. These treatments did not affect viability. Treated cells were transferred to fresh growth media or some other reaction mixture, and the kinetics of recovery of acid phosphatase activity was studied. In these reaction mixtures, enzyme was synthesized only by actively growing cells. Treated resting cells were indistinguishable from untreated, repressed resting cells in that the organism inoculated into complete growth medium remained in the lag phase for approximately 6 hr before both growth and enzyme synthesis began. Exponential phase derepressed cells treated by method (ii) or (iii) were transferred to fresh medium under conditions that allowed growth to continue. The cells immediately started to manufacture enzyme at a rate greater than normal until the steady-state level was reached, thus demonstrating a feedback control system. Exponential phase repressed cells were also transferred to fresh derepressing media under conditions which sustained growth. Though these cells began to grow immediately, there was a lag before acid phosphatase synthesis began followed by a lengthy inductive period. The length of the period of induction could be correlated with the polyphosphate content of the cells. As the supply of polyphosphate neared exhaustion, the rate of synthesis increased rapidly until it was greater than normal; this differential rate was sustained until the steady-state concentration was reached. When derepressed cells grow in a medium containing 0.5 m KCl, some acid phosphatase activity is found free in the culture fluid and some remains firmly attached to the cells despite the presence of the salt. The bound activity is subject to feedback control, but the steady-state level of this activity on the cells is only one-third that of the acid phosphatase on cells growing in nonsaline media. The extracellular phosphatase is produced at a rate that is several-fold greater than that of the exocellular enzyme in a nonsaline medium. The synthesis of the extracellular enzyme does not seem to be controlled by a feedback mechanism but is produced at a maximal rate as long as the cells are growing.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy in spinal metastases

Purpose Based on reports of safety and efficacy, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for treatment of malignant spinal tumors was initiated at our institution. We report prospective results of this population at Mayo Clinic. Materials and Methods Between April 2008 and December 2010, 85 lesions in 66 patients were treated with SBRT for spinal metastases. Twenty-two lesions (25.8%) were treated for recurrence after prior radiotherapy (RT). The mean age of patients was 56.8 ± 13.4 years. Patients were treated to a median dose of 24 Gy (range, 10–40 Gy) in a median of three fractions (range, 1–5). Radiation was delivered with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and prescribed to cover 80% of the planning target volume (PTV) with organs at risk such as the spinal cord taking priority over PTV coverage. Results Tumor sites included 48, 22, 12, and 3 in the thoracic, lumbar, cervical, and sacral spine, respectively. The mean actuarial survival at 12 months was 52.2%. A total of 7 patients had both local and marginal failure, 1 patient experienced marginal but not local failure, and 1 patient had local failure only. Actuarial local control at 1 year was 83.3% and 91.2% in patients with and without prior RT. The median dose delivered to patients who experienced local/marginal failure was 24 Gy (range, 18–30 Gy) in a median of three fractions (range, 1–5). No cases of Grade 4 toxicity were reported. In 1 of 2 patients experiencing Grade 3 toxicity, SBRT was given after previous radiation. Conclusion The results indicate SBRT to be an effective measure to achieve local control in spinal metastases. Toxicity of treatment was rare, including those previously irradiated. Our results appear comparable to previous reports analyzing spine SBRT. Further research is needed to determine optimum dose and fractionation to further improve local control and prevent toxicity.
Stereocontrol of bilirubin conformation

Abstract Optically active, diastereomeric synthetic bilirubin analogs ( 1 and 2 ) with an α-methyl and a β-methyl in each propionic acid side chain were synthesized. Both diastereomers adopt a folded, ridge-tile conformation. The methyls force the pigment to adopt either a left-handed ( M ) or right-handed ( P ) helicity. As evidenced by exciton-type circular dichroism spectra, in the ( αS , α ' S , βS , β ' S ) diastereomer ( 1 ) the M helicity ridge-tile enantiomer is strongly preferred; in the ( αR , α ' R , βS , β ' S ) diastereomer ( 2 ), the P helicity conformation is preferred.
Biologic role of fetal lung fibroblast triglycerides as antioxidants.

The pulmonary response to hyperoxia is highly variable, depending on such seemingly disparate biologic factors as gestational age, sex, hormonal milieu, and nutritional status. Descriptively, the magnitude and direction of these biologic differences in response to hyperoxia correlate with the triglyceride content of developing fetal rat lung fibroblasts (FRLFs). Mechanistically, these same factors affect the triglyceride content of FRLFs, e.g. d 21 FRLFs contain more triglyceride than d 18 FRLFs; female FRLFs contain more triglyceride than male FRLFs (d 20); dexamethasone increases FRLF triglyceride content, dihydrotestosterone decreases it; nutritionally, exposure of FRLFs to graded amounts of serum triglyceride (0%, 2%, 10%, 20%) results in increased intracellular FRLF triglyceride content. To test the hypothesis that these biologic differences in intracellular triglyceride content may account for differences in the cytoprotection of lung fibroblasts against oxidant injury, fibroblast cultures representing each of these biologic groups were challenged with graded doses of the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide (0.1-1.0 mM for 5 min). The number of surviving cells and their antioxidant status, as measured by lipid peroxidation and glutathione content of the surviving cells, were determined. We found that in response to hydrogen peroxide 1) d 21 FRLFs were more resistant than d 18 FRLFs; 2) female FRLFs were more resistant than male FRLFs; 3) dexamethasone-treated FRLFs were more resistant than dihydrotestosterone-treated fibroblasts; 4) fibroblasts fed increasing amounts of serum triglycerides were increasingly resistant to hydrogen peroxide; 5) cell survival in different serum triglyceride- and hormone-treated groups was not related to the antioxidant status as measured by glutathione content. These data are consistent with the hypothesized role of FRLF triglycerides as antioxidants.
Safety risk interactions among highway construction work tasks

Recent research has produced frameworks for integrating safety risk data into project schedules, visual models and other construction planning tools. Unfortunately, only a few studies have attempted to quantify base‐level safety risk for construction tasks and no study has attempted to quantify the degree to which spatial and temporal interactions among tasks contribute to the potential for injury. A research study was performed to quantify the impact that pair‐wise spatial and temporal interactions have on the base‐level risk of 25 common highway construction work tasks in the United States. Six hundred risk interactions were quantified by obtaining and aggregating over 23 500 individual ratings from certified experts using the Delphi method. The results indicate that incompatible tasks may increase the base‐level risk up to 60%. The most incompatible highway construction tasks are: (1) installing curbs and gutters and installing rigid pavement; and (2) construction zone traffic control and installing ri...
Bacteriophage T12 of Streptococcus pyogenes integrates into the gene encoding a serine tRNA.

The region of temperate bacteriophage T12 responsible for integration into the chromosome of Streptococcus pyogenes has been identified. The integrase gene (int) and the phage attachment site (attP) are found immediately upstream of the gene for speA, the latter of which is known to be responsible for the production of erythrogenic toxin A (also known as pyrogenic exotoxin A). The integrase gene has a coding capacity for a protein of 41 457 Da, and the C-terminus of the deduced protein is similar to other conserved C-terminal regions typical of phage integrases. Upstream of int is a second open reading frame, which is capable of encoding an acidic protein of 72 amino acids (8744 Da); the position of this region in relation to int suggests it to be the phage excisionase gene (xis). The arms flanking the integrated prophage (attL and attR) were identified, allowing determination of the sequences of the phage (attP) and bacterial (attB) attachment sites. A fragment containing the integrase gene and attP was cloned into a streptococcal suicide vector; when introduced into S. pyogenes by electrotransformation, this plasmid stably integrated into the bacterial chromosome at attB. The insertion site for the phage into the S. pyogenes chromosome was found to be in the anticodon loop of a putative type II gene for a serine tRNA. attP and attB share a region of identity that is 96 bp in length; this region of identity corresponds to the 3′ end of the tRNA gene such that the coding sequence remains intact after integration of the prophage. The symmetry of the core region of att may set this region apart from previously described phage attachment sites (Campbell, 1992), and may play a role in the biology of this medically important bacteriophage.
Common trends in mutualism revealed by model associations between invertebrates and bacteria

Mutually beneficial interactions between microorganisms and animals are a conserved and ubiquitous feature of biotic systems. In many instances animals, including humans, are dependent on their microbial associates for nutrition, defense, or development. To maintain these vital relationships, animals have evolved processes that ensure faithful transmission of specific microbial symbionts between generations. Elucidating mechanisms of transmission and symbiont specificity has been aided by the study of experimentally tractable invertebrate animals with diverse and highly evolved associations with microorganisms. Here, we review several invertebrate model systems that contribute to our current understanding of symbiont transmission, recognition, and specificity. Although the details of transmission and symbiont selection vary among associations, comparisons of diverse mutualistic associations are revealing a number of common themes, including restriction of symbiont diversity during transmission and glycan–lectin interactions during partner selection and recruitment.
The “Imaginary Audience,” Self-Handicapping, and Drinking Patterns among College Students

A study of 80 midwestern college students indicated that higher scores on Lapsley's 1990 Imaginary Audience scale were associated with lower grades, greater use of immature self-handicapping strate...
Density Functional Calculation of the Electronic Circular Dichroism Spectra of the Transition Metal Complexes (M(phen)3) 2+ (M ) Fe, Ru, Os)

The circular dichroism spectra of the tris-bidentate metal complexes Λ-[M(phen)3]2+, with M = Fe, Ru, Os and phen = 1,10-tris-phenanthroline, are investigated computationally, employing time-dependent density functional theory. Good agreement with experimental spectra is obtained for Ru and Os. The Λ-[Os(phen)3]2+ spectrum is analyzed in detail. It is shown how relativistic effects red shift CD bands where the Os 5d-orbital participates to a large extent in the excitations. Further, the participation of the metal in the ligand π → π* exciton CD is determined to be of the order of 10%. Though solvent effects can have a noticeable effect on individual transitions and rotatory strengths, they are demonstrated to have only a very small overall effect on the resulting simulated CD spectra. For Λ-[Fe(phen)3]2+, the results are shown to be rather sensitive to the choice of the applied hybrid and nonhybrid density functionals, and the optimized geometries based thereupon. In particular, the sign pattern of the lo...