cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the Usage of Crowd Feedback for Iterative Design

Online crowd platforms (e.g. social networks, online communities, task markets) enable designers to gain insights from large audiences quickly and affordably. However, there is no guidance for designers to better allocate their social capital, time, and financial resources for acquiring feedback that meets their own needs. Also, feedback received online can be ambiguous and contradictory, making it difficult to interpret and act on. These limitations hinder the utility of crowd feedback, making designers hesitant to actively make use of feedback received. The goal of my dissertation is to 1) formulate a framework that suggests which crowd genres to solicit feedback according to individual needs, 2) develop lightweight activities that promote deeper interpretation on a large volume of feedback, and 3) design and deploy an experimental platform that collects long-term user data, and reduces the burden of conducting online studies of design feedback.
Communicating emotion in everyday life: Cues, channels, and processes

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an account of emotional cues, cue combinations or channel combinations, and emotion as a process. . Cue and channel combinations depend on sex and ethnicity and whether the emotion is expressed in public or private. The information carried by cues does not break out into categories of cues and channels. Emotion as a process has some emotion-eliciting event or events that generate certain appraisals (novelty, valence, control), action tendencies, expressions, and processes by which events are then dominated. More often, the emotion falls in between anger and fear, or is a combination of envy and hate, or is vague, ill defined, and hard to label. Implication of the process perspective is that emotions are not snapshots that “click” on and off. They may come on gradually, evolve, dissipate, return, and just generally make interpretation more difficult because they change.
Profits, Power, and Legitimacy: The Zheng Maritime Empire in Seventeenth-Century Maritime East Asia by Xing Hang

Hang, Xing. Profits, Power, and Legitimacy: The Zheng Maritime Empire in Seventeenth-Century Maritime East Asia . Washington, DC: American Historical Association, 2016. Review by Paul A. Rodell.
Categorizing coordination from the perception of joint actions.

The ability to perceive others’ actions and coordinate our own body movements accordingly is essential for humans to interact with the social world. However, it is still unclear how the visual system achieves the remarkable feat of identifying temporally coordinated joint actions between individuals. Specifically, do humans rely on certain visual features of coordinated movements to facilitate the detection of meaningful interactivity? To address this question, participants viewed short video sequences of two actors performing different joint actions, such as handshakes, high fives, etc. Temporal misalignments were introduced to shift one actor’s movements forward or backward in time relative to the partner actor. Participants rated the degree of interactivity for the temporally shifted joint actions. The impact of temporal offsets on human interactivity ratings varied for different types of joint actions. Based on human rating distributions, we used a probabilistic cluster model to infer latent categories, each revealing shared characteristics of coordinated movements among sets of joint actions. Further analysis on the clustered structure suggested that global motion synchrony, spatial proximity between actors, and highly salient moments of interpersonal coordination are critical features that impact judgments of interactivity.
A communication based infeed correction method for distance protection in distribution systems

Due to the increasing penetration of Distributed Generation (DG) units in the power grid, traditional protection philosophies in distribution systems need to be updated. Distance protection offers an interesting choice in microgrid protection since it is independent of variations in source impedance. However, there are several constraints in applying conventional distance protection on the distribution side. If a DG is present between the fault point and measurement location, the resultant infeed effect might lead the relay to incorrectly infer that the fault is located at a higher time grading zone. This paper proposes a simple communication based scheme for accurately estimating the distance to fault in presence of infeeds. The performance of the method is demonstrated with a microgrid model in MATLAB/Simulink.
Deceptive jugular manometry, blood colour and Po2 in the presence of an ipsilateral upper extremity arteriovenous fistula: a report of two cases

Manometry, blood gas analysis and colour of blood are often used as adjuncts to verify central venous access and rule out inadvertent arterial puncture. Several clinical scenarios may make these te...
Deciduosis of the Appendix

A clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of six cases of deciduosis of the appendix is presented. The patients were pregnant women aged 18-40 years. In four cases, the patients presented with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis during their 26th to 31st week of pregnancy; in the other two, the lesions were discovered incidentally in appendectomy specimens obtained during cesarean section and tubal ligation at term. Histologically, the lesions were characterized by the presence of multiple, irregularly distributed submesothelial deposits of decidualized cells in the serosa of the appendix, without any associated evidence of endometriosis. By immunohistochemistry, the decidualized cells strongly labelled with vimentin antibodies, consistent with their stromal origin. In two cases, coexpression of vimentin and desmin intermediate filaments was observed, suggestive of myoid differentiation. The possible relationship of the lesions with the development of symptoms of peritoneal irritation in these patients is discussed along with a review of the literature on the abdominal complications of ectopic decidua.
Die richterliche Überprüfung der Gesetzgebung als Verfassungsschutz

Hamiltons Ansicht, das ein Gericht den besten Schutz fur ein Verfassungssystem gewahrt1, war eine politische Neuformulierung des beruhmten Ausspruchs Sir Edward Cokes, der feststellte: „Die Magna Charta ist ein Ding, das keinen Souveran haben will.“ Gewis, zur Zeit des Richters Coke war es der Konig im Parlament, der die „Vorherrschaft des Gesetzes“ zu bedrohen schien. Zu Hamiltons Zeit aber hatte das englische Unterhaus nahezu die Vorherrschaft des Parlaments verwirklicht. Was daher Hamilton und vielen anderen Amerikanern als notwendig erschien, waren Begrenzungen der gesetzgebenden Gewalt, gleichgultig, ob diese nun von einem Fursten oder einer wahlbaren Korperschaft ausgeubt wird. In einigen der Gliedstaaten hatte sich eine „Tyrannei der Mehrheit“ breit gemacht, und diese suchten die Schopfer der Verfassung einzuschranken. Die Befugnis der Gerichte, die Verfassung auszulegen, entwickelte sich in engem Zusammenhang mit der Lehre von der Gewaltenteilung, ohne das sie ursprunglich in dieser Lehre enthalten war.
Taxonomic and evolutionary pattern revisions resulting from geometric morphometric analysis of Pennsylvanian Neognathodus conodonts, Illinois Basin

Conodont fossils are highly valuable for Paleozoic biostratigraphy and for interpreting evolutionary change, but identifying and describing conodont morphologies, and characterizing gradual shape variation remain challenging. We used geometric morphometric (GM) analysis to conduct the first landmark-based morphometric analysis of the biostratigraphically useful conodont genus Neognathodus. Our objective is to assess whether previously defined morphotype groups are reliably distinct from one another. As such, we reevaluate patterns of morphologic change in Neognathodus P1elements, perform maximum-likelihood tests of evolutionary modes, and construct novel, GM-based biozonations through a Desmoinesian (Middle Pennsylvanian) section in the Illinois Basin. Our GM results record the entire spectrum of shape variability among Neognathodus morphotypes, thus alleviating the problem of documenting and classifying gradual morphologic transitions between morphotypes. Statistically distinct GM groups support previously established classifications of N. bassleri, N. bothrops, and N. roundyi. Statistically indistinct pairs of GM groups do not support literature designations of N. medadultimus and N. medexultimus, and N. dilatus and N. metanodosus, and we synonymize each pair. Maximum-likelihood tests of evolutionary modes provide the first statistical assessment of Neognathodus evolutionary models in the Desmoinesian. The most likely evolutionary models are an unbiased random walk or a general random walk. We name four distinct biozones through the Desmoinesian using GM results, and these align with previous biozonation structure based on the Neognathodus Index (NI), illustrating that Neognathodus-based biostratigraphic correlations would not change between GM or NI methods. The structural similarity between both biozonations showcases that determining GM-based biozones is not redundant, as this comparison validates using landmark-based GM work to construct viable biozonations for subsequent stratigraphic correlations. Although this study is limited to the Illinois Basin, our quantitative methodology can be applied broadly to test taxonomic designations of additional genera, interpret statistically robust evolutionary patterns, and construct valid biozones for this significant chordate group.
Restoring Los Angeles's Landscapes of Resistance

The urban unrest following the Rodney King verdict was a turning point for the city of Los Angeles, which became the physical stage for violent expressions of protest. Specific “flashpoints” trigge...
Respirable coal mine dust in underground mines, United States, 1982-2017.

Background This study summarized the mass concentration and quartz mass percent of respirable coal mine dust samples (annually, by district, and by occupation) from underground coal mines during 1982-2017. Methods Respirable dust and quartz data collected and analyzed by Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) were summarized by year, coal mining occupation, and geographical area. The older (before August 2016) 2.0 mg/m 3 respirable dust MSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) was used across all years for comparative purposes. For respirable dust and quartz, geometric mean and percent of samples exceeding the respirable dust PEL (2.0 mg/m 3 or a reduced standard for samples with >5% quartz content) were calculated. For quartz samples, the average percent quartz content was also calculated. Results The overall geometric mean concentration for 681 497 respirable dust samples was 0.55 mg/m 3 and 5.5% of the samples exceeded the 2.0 mg/m 3 PEL. The overall respirable quartz geometric mean concentration for 210 944 samples was 0.038 mg/m 3 and 18.7% of these samples exceeded the applicable standard. There was a decline over time in the percent of respirable dust samples exceeding 2.0 mg/m 3 . The respirable dust geometric mean concentration was lower in central Appalachia compared to the rest of the United States. However, the respirable quartz geometric mean concentration and the mean percent quartz content were higher in central Appalachia. Conclusion This study summarizes respirable dust and quartz concentrations from coal mine inspector samples and may provide an insight into differences in the prevalence of pneumoconiosis by region and occupation.
71 Impact of myoglobin oxygenation state at freezing on color stability of frozen and thawed beef

Myoglobin, when oxygenated, is bright red. The deoxygenated form (purple color) is unstable and can be oxidized to metmyoglobin (brown color). This research was conducted to determine if meat frozen in the oxygenated state could retain bright red color during frozen storage, and after thawing, during retail display. Steaks from 18 USDA Choice strip loins were randomly assigned to a myoglobin state [deoxymyoglobin (DeOxy; immediately packaged), low oxygenation (LoOxy; oxygenated for 30 minutes), and high oxygenation (HiOxy; packaged for 24 h in 80% O2)], frozen storage packaging method (vacuum packaged in oxygen permeable or impermeable film), and retail display after two months of frozen storage [0 d (frozen) and 1–7 d (thawed)]. Following storage, frozen steaks were analyzed for objective color (L*, a*, b*), subjective discoloration, and percent oxymyoglobin (via spectrometer). After thawing, steaks were evaluated throughout 7 d of retail display in oxygen-permeable film. For frozen steaks, there were no differences in discoloration (P>.05). The HiOxy steaks retained the highest percentage oxymyoglobin and highest (reddest) a* values after storage, regardless of packaging film. The lowest percent oxymyoglobin (PPPPP < .05). These data suggest that steaks frozen for two months in the high oxygenation state retain superior color appearance while frozen and during the first part of retail display. It is unknown if this advantage would be retained during longer frozen storage.
Pharmacological and chemogenetic orexin/hypocretin intervention ameliorates Hipp-dependent memory impairment in the A53T mice model of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson's disease (PD), classically defined as a progressive motor disorder accompanied with dopaminergic neuron loss and presence of Lewy bodies, is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. PD also has various non-classical symptoms, including cognitive impairments. In addition, inflammation and astrogliosis are recognized as an integral part of PD pathology. The hippocampus (Hipp) is a brain region involved in cognition and memory, and the neuropeptide orexin has been shown to enhance learning and memory. Previous studies show impairments in Hipp-dependent memory in a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease (A53T mice), and we hypothesized that increasing orexin tone will reverse this. To test this, we subjected 3, 5, and 7-month old A53T mice to a Barnes maze and a contextual object recognition test to determine Hipp dependent memory. Inflammation and astrogliosis markers in the Hipp were assessed by immuno-fluorescence densitometry. The data show that early cognitive impairment is coupled with an increase in expression of inflammatory and astrogliosis markers. Next, in two separate experiments, mice were given intra-hippocampal injections of orexin or chemogenetic viral injections of an orexin neuron specific Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drug (DREADD). For the pharmacological approach mice were intracranially treated with orexin A, whereas the chemogenetic approach utilized clozapine N-oxide (CNO). Both pharmacological orexin A intervention as well as chemogenetic activation of orexin neurons ameliorated Hipp-dependent early memory impairment observed in A53T mice. This study implicates orexin in PD-associated cognitive impairment and suggests that exogenous orexin treatment and/or manipulation of endogenous orexin levels may be a potential strategy for addressing early cognitive loss in PD.
Effects of Skip-Logic on the Validity of Dimensional Clinical Scores: A Simulation Study

Structured assessment of clinical phenotypes is a burdensome procedure, largely due to the time required. One method to alleviate this is "skip-logic," which allows for portions of an interview to be skipped if initial ("screen") items are not endorsed. The bias that skip-logic introduces to resultant continuous scores is unknown and can be explored using Item Response Theory. Interview response data were simulated while varying 5 characteristics of the measures: number of screen items, difficulty (clinical severity) of the screens, difficulty of non-screen items, shape of the trait distribution, and range of discrimination parameters. The number of simulations and examinees were held constant at 2,000 and 10,000, respectively. A criterion variable correlating 0.80 with the measured trait was also simulated, and the outcome of interest was the difference between the correlations of the criterion variable and the two estimated scores (with and without skip-logic). Effects of the simulation conditions on this outcome were explored using ANOVA. All main effects and interactions were significant. The largest 2-way interaction was between number of screen items and average item discrimination, such that the number of screen items had a large effect on bias only when discrimination parameters were low. This, among other interactions explored here, suggests that skip-logic can bias results using continuous scores; however, the effects of this bias are usually inconsequential. Skip-logic in clinical assessments can introduce bias in continuous sum scores, but this bias can usually be ignored.
Improved deep-red phosphorescence in cyclometalated iridium complexes via ancillary ligand modification

In this work, we describe bis-cyclometalated iridium complexes with efficient deep-red luminescence. Two different cyclometalating (C^N) ligands-1-phenylisoquinoline (piq) and 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiophene (btp)-are used with five strong π-donating ancillary ligands (L^X) to furnish a suite of nine new complexes with the general formula Ir(C^N)2(L^X). Improvements in deep-red photoluminescence quantum yields were accomplished by the incorporation of sterically encumbering substituents onto the ancillary ligand, which can enhance the radiative rate constant (kr) and/or reduce the non-radiative rate constant (knr). Five of the complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, and all of them were investigated by in-depth spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements.
Peptide Hormone Regulation of DNA Damage Responses

DNA damage response (DDR) and DNA repair pathways determine neoplastic cell transformation and therapeutic responses, as well as the aging process. Altered DDR functioning results in accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage, increased frequency of tumorigenic mutations, and premature aging. Recent evidence suggests that polypeptide hormones play a role in modulating DDR and DNA damage repair, while DNA damage accumulation may also affect hormonal status. We review the available reports elucidating involvement of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), growth hormone (GH), α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/gonadotropins in DDR and DNA repair as well as the current understanding of pathways enabling these actions. We discuss effects of DNA damage pathway mutations, including Fanconi anemia, on endocrine function and consider mechanisms underlying these phenotypes. (Endocrine Reviews 41: 1 - 19, 2020).
Cloaking in two-dimensional elastic solids (Conference Presentation)

The way in which objects interact with various fields often allows us to detect their presence. Thus, imaging techniques based on reflections, echoes and shadows, as well as any form of scattering and localization more generally, inform us on the location, shape and composition of an object even if buried deep under thick layers of materials. Conversely, to hide an object, we say to “cloak” it, we must suppress any interaction it might have with probing fields. Care must of course be taken so that the cloaking device itself is cloaked as well. In this talk, we show how to cloak solids against stress waves.
Social behavior competencies of self-identified bullies from a U.S. nationally representative sample of 8–18 year old students

Abstract This secondary data analysis examined the social behavior competencies of a sample of students from the U.S. ages 8 to 18 who identified themselves as either bullies or non-bullies based on ratings of items on the Social Skills Improvement System – Student Rating Scale (SSIS-S). Specifically, from the nationally representative standardization sample (N = 1375) of the SSIS, 12.1% (n = 167) of the students, 4.9% (n = 67) of females, and 7.3% (n = 100) of males self-identified as displaying high frequencies of bullying behaviors. The social behavior ratings for these self-identified bullies were then compared with all other students in the national sample and analyzed to determine differences among various domains of social skills and problem behaviors. The findings support the assumption that children who bully others are not a homogeneous group. Within the entire self-identified bully group, males showed higher average bullying ratings than females did. Self-reported rating of bullying decreased with age from 8 to 18. Race/Ethnicity was significant for females where the odds of self-identifying as a bully were more than four times greater for Black females as opposed to White females. Interestingly, increases in assertion and self-control ratings were associated with an increased likelihood of self-identifying as a bully for males, but not females. These findings are discussed in terms of existing research and theories regarding children and youths’ bullying behavior. Limitations and recommendations for future research conclude the report.
Optimization of process parameters for the electrochemical oxidation treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater using porous graphite anode

The present paper deals with the electrochemical treatment of wastewaters generated from Al-Diwaniyah petroleum refinery plant in a batch electrochemical reactor using stainless steel cathode and porous graphite anode. Effects of operating parameters such as current density (5-25mA/cm2), pH (3-9), addition of NaCl (0-2g/l), and time (20–60min) on the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) were investigated. The results revealed that both pH and NaCl addition have the main effect on the COD removal efficiency confirming that the system was governed by reaction conditions in the bulk of solution not upon the electro oxidation of chloride ion on the surface of the electrode. Parametric optimization was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) combined with Box–Behnken Design (BBD) to maximize the removal of COD. Under optimized operating conditions of initial pH: 3, current density = 25 mA/cm2, NaCl conc. = 2g/l, and time = 60 min, the removal efficiency of COD was found to be 98.16% with energy consumption of 9.85 kWh/kgCOD which is relatively lower than the previous works.
Improving primary frequency response in networked microgrid operations using multilayer perceptron-driven reinforcement learning

Individual microgrids can improve the reliability of power systems during extreme events, and networked microgrids can further improve efficiency through resource sharing and increase the resilience of critical end-use loads. However, networked microgrid operations can be subject to large transients due to switching and end-use loads, which can cause dynamic instability and lead to system collapse. These transients are especially prevalent in microgrids with high penetrations of grid-following inverter-connected renewable energy resources, which do not provide the system inertia or fast frequency response needed to mitigate the transients. One potential mitigation is to engage the existing generator controls to reduce system voltage in response to a frequency deviation, thereby reducing load and improving primary frequency response. This study investigates the use of a reinforcement-learning-based controller trained over several switching transient scenarios to modify generator controls during large frequency deviations. Compared to previously used proportional–integral controllers, the proposed controller can improve primary frequency response while adapting to changes in system topologies and conditions.
Trials and tribulations: Clinical trials and the future

Abstract There have been many barriers to progress in systemic treatment for head and neck cancer. This is in part due to the pathobiology and heterogeneity of the disease, lack of funding for and poor accrual of studies, dearth of adequate risk stratification tools to properly select candidates for trials, and lack of enough dedicated head and neck specialists. Despite the barriers, there have been recent exciting advances in the field. We discuss historical and more recent landmark trials that have established the current standard of care. We also explore deescalation trials in HPV-associated HNSCC and posit why these studies have largely been unable to show a benefit to deescalation in this setting. We discuss clinical trials that have looked at the role of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in locally advanced and recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer. We finish with ongoing promising clinical trials.
Free energy of hydrophilic and hydrophobic pores in lipid bilayers by free energy perturbation of a restraint

The free energy of pore formation in lipid bilayers has been previously calculated using a variety of reaction coordinates. Here, we use free energy perturbation of a cylindrical lipid exclusion restraint to compute the free energy profile as a function of pore radius in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayers. Additionally restraining the headgroups to lie on the membrane surface allows us to also calculate the free energy profile of hydrophobic pores, i.e., cylindrical pores lined by acyl chains. For certain pore radii, the free energy of wetting of hydrophobic pores is calculated using the density bias method. It is found that wetting of hydrophobic pores becomes thermodynamically favorable at 5.0 A for DMPC and 6.5 A for DOPC, although significant barriers prevent spontaneous wetting of the latter on a nanosecond time scale. The free energy of transformation of hydrophilic pores to hydrophobic ones is also calculated using free energy perturbation of headgroup restraints along the bilayer normal. This quantity, along with wetting and pore growth free energies, provides complete free energy profiles as a function of radius. Pore line tension values for the hydrophilic pores obtained from the slope of the free energy profiles are 37.6 pN for DMPC and 53.7 pN for DOPC. The free energy profiles for the hydrophobic pores are analyzed in terms of elementary interfacial tensions. It is found that a positive three-phase line tension is required to explain the results. The estimated value for this three-phase line tension (51.2 pN) lies within the expected range.
Reducing the Relative Error Between the Experimental and Numerical Results of a Pipeline Leak Flowrate Using a Lean Six-Sigma Based Approach

One of the limitations of pipelines performance and structural integrity assessment is the continuous inspection of possible leaks due to corrosion or other types of failure mechanisms. Efforts to develop new technologies started several decades ago where different inspection techniques were used to enhance pipelines structural integrity. A research project has started with the goal of monitoring the pipeline health and detecting leaks and their location and size once they occur. One of the steps of the research project is to conduct an experimental study mimicking a leaking pipeline and develop correlations between leaks and their location and size. The goal of the experiment is to validate the simulation model by comparing the measured data with the simulation results. If the difference is negligible and the model is verified, the rest of the tests where the leak location and size are varied will be conducted only in the simulation software to avoid additional experimental cost and time. However, after running the first experiment, the recorded data did not match the simulation results. This paper aims at reducing the relative error between the experimental and numerical results using a lean six-sigma based approach in order to proceed with the next steps of the research project.
A Comprehensive Explanation Framework for Biomedical Time Series Classification

In this study, we propose a post-hoc explainability framework for deep learning models applied to quasi-periodic biomedical time-series classification. As a case study, we focus on the problem of atrial fibrillation (AF) detection from electrocardiography signals, which has strong clinical relevance. Starting from a state-of-the-art pretrained model, we tackle the problem from two different perspectives: global and local explanation. With global explanation, we analyze the model behavior by looking at entire classes of data, showing which regions of the input repetitive patterns have the most influence for a specific outcome of the model. Our explanation results align with the expectations of clinical experts, showing that features crucial for AF detection contribute heavily to the final decision. These features include R-R interval regularity, absence of the P-wave or presence of electrical activity in the isoelectric period. On the other hand, with local explanation, we analyze specific input signals and model outcomes. We present a comprehensive analysis of the network facing different conditions, whether the model has correctly classified the input signal or not. This enables a deeper understanding of the network's behavior, showing the most informative regions that trigger the classification decision and highlighting possible causes of misbehavior.
The crisis of the meritocracy: Britain’s transition to mass education since the Second World War, by Peter Mandler: by Peter Mandler, New York, Oxford University Press, 2020, xvi + 361 pp., £25.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-19-884014-5

The Crisis of the Meritocracy explores the rise of mass secondary and higher education in post-war Britain as a phenomenon driven by parental and student demand. Politicians and policy-makers acros...
Robust tests for time series comparison based on Laplace periodograms

Abstract Statistical comparison of time series is useful for the detection of mechanical damage and many other real-world applications. New methods have been proposed to check whether two semi-stationary time series have the same normalized dynamics. The proposed methods differ from traditional methods in that they are based on the Laplace periodogram, which is a robust tool to analyze the serial dependence of time series. Via the method of estimating equations, a generalized score statistic and an order selected statistic are developed for the comparison. Their asymptotic distributions under the null are obtained. The proposed methods are applicable to compare two semi-stationary time series which may be dependent on each other. They also can be used to compare two time series whose traditional spectral densities or autocovariance structures may not exist. A Monte Carlo simulation study illustrates the validity of the asymptotic results and the finite sample performance. The proposed methods have been applied to an analysis of non-stationary vibration signals for mechanical damage detection.
Serum from pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy patients promotes dysregulation of cardiolipin biosynthesis and mitochondrial dysfunction

Introduction Pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a devastating and poorly understood disease with most clinical treatment paradigms extrapolated from the adult population. Our studies showed that aspects of metabolism and mitochondria function are dysregulated in pediatric hearts. Cardiolipin (CL), a unique phospholipid in the inner mitochondrial membrane, is essential for optimal mitochondrial function and was shown to be dysregulated in failing adult hearts. Objective We investigate if serum circulating factors from pediatric DCM patients can remodel CL resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction similar to what is observed in the failing pediatric heart. Method Using a novel in vitro model that consists of treating neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) with serum from pediatric DCM patients or from non-failing (NF) healthy controls, mitochondrial respiration was assessed using Seahorse assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Expression of enzymes involved in CL biosynthesis and remodeling were analyzed using RT-qPCR and relative mtDNA copy number determined by qPCR. Mass spectroscopy was used to quantitate total and specific CL species and to investigate the metabolite composition of NRVMs treated with NF or DCM serum. Results While mitochondrial ROS and copy number were not significantly altered, we showed that DCM serum decreases mitochondrial function, which is associated with alterations in CL content and composition and gene expression of enzymes implicated in CL biosynthesis and remodeling. Analysis of metabolite content showed an alteration of pathways involved in fatty acid metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis and regulation of β-oxidation by PPARα. Conclusion Pediatric DCM serum circulating factors can promote CL remodeling resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes. These findings suggest that CL could be a therapeutic target for this particular population.
Bazaars for Bullets: Fundraising for the Revolution

This chapter traces British-Italian women’s philanthropic support of the Risorgimento from the 1850s through the mid-1860s. The first section introduces the general culture of volunteerism in mid-nineteenth-century Britain and women’s role within it, before discussing Mazzinian women’s use of fundraising techniques to support nationalist revolutions in the 1850s. The following section examines the changes brought about by Garibaldi’s successes in southern Italy and the increased number of politically moderate supporters, while the third section discusses women’s competing radical and moderate fundraising campaigns throughout the early and mid-1860s. To conclude, the chapter reveals the triumph of more moderate politics in women’s fundraising efforts to support the 1866 Third War of Italian Independence. Throughout, it shows how these women balanced their desire for radical politics with the language of humanitarianism and the Protestant civilizing mission and put themselves in positions of power and accountability.
ABIOTIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF JUVENILE FISH IN PAMLICO SOUND, NORTH CAROLINA

Abstract We have examined the relationship between the abundance of juvenile spot {Leiostomas xanthurus) in the nursery areas along the western boundary of Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, and the circulation patterns in the Sound. Juvenile fish abundance data are related to wind measurements taken two to three weeks prior to the fish sampling program. When the wind has a significant eastward component, i.e., from the nursery areas toward the inlets during the period preceding the sampling program, juvenile spot are relatively abundant compared with periods when the wind is not in that direction. Our numerical model of circulation in Pamlico Sound indicates that this wind field produces surface currents towards the east, and near-bottom currents towards the nursery areas, i.e., towards the west. The near-bottom currents are driven by the pressure-gradient forces associated with the set up of sealevel in the down-wind direction. It is postulated that the bottom-seeking juvenile spot ride these favorable bottom currents across the sound from the inlets to the nursery areas.
Chapter 11 Ecology of Diadema

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the ecology of Diadema . Sea urchins in the genus Diadema are among the dominant grazers and forces of erosion of the substratum in shallow tropical reef environments. They compete with other herbivores and also influence the interactions between algae and coral. They play an important role in the ecology of tropical reefs, and the factors that influence their population dynamics and coexistence with other species are of significance to reef ecology and fisheries management. Six species of Diadema have been recognized: Diadema antillarum ( D. antillarum ), Diadema mexicanum ( D. mexicanum ), Diadema savignyi ( D. savignyi ), Diadema setosum ( D. setosum ), Diadema palmeri ( D. palmeri ), and Diadema paucispinum ( D. paucispinum ). The reproductive cycles of Diadema species can be continuous or restricted and can vary from one geographic location to another, indicating that several factors influence reproduction. While they are considered pests as they dominate benthic primary productivity and exclude other herbivores, they are also important in maintaining and restoring coral populations.
Biosynthesis of bacterial glycogen: Kinetic studies of a glucose-1-P adenylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.27) from a glycogen-excess mutant of Escherichia coli B

Abstract An Escherichia coli B mutant, CL1136 accumulates glycogen at 3.4 to 4 times the rate observed for the parent E. coli B strain. The glycogen accumulated in the mutant is similar to the glycogen isolated from the parent strain with respect to α- and β-amylolysis, chain length determination and I2-complex absorption spectra. The CL1136 mutant contains normal glycogen synthase and branching enzyme activity but has an ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase with altered kinetic and allosteric properties. The mutant enzyme has been partially purified and in contrast to the present strain enzyme studied previously, is highly active in the absence of the allosteric activator. The response of the CL1136 enzyme to energy charge has been determined and this enzyme shows appreciable activity at low energy charge values where the E. coli B enzyme is inactive. The response to energy charge for the CL1136 and E. coli B enzymes are correlated with the rates of glycogen accumulation observed in the microorganisms. The regulation of glycogen synthesis in E. coli is to a great extent at the level of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase; varying concentrations of fructose-P2 and energy charge determine the rate of ADPglucose and glycogen synthesis. Both the allosteric regulation of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase as well as the genetic regulations of the synthesis of glycogen biosynthetic enzymes (glycogen synthase and ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase) are involved in the regulation of glycogen accumulation in E. coli B.
Purification, gene cloning, and sequence analysis of an L-isoaspartyl protein carboxyl methyltransferase from Escherichia coli

Mammalian tissues contain protein carboxyl methyltransferases that catalyze the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine to the free carboxyl groups of D-aspartyl or L-isoaspartyl residues (EC 2.1.1.77). These enzymes have been postulated to play a role in the repair and/or degradation of spontaneously damaged proteins. We have now characterized a similar activity from Escherichia coli that recognizes L-isoaspartyl-containing peptides as well as protein substrates such as ovalbumin. The enzyme was purified by DEAE-cellulose, hydroxylapatite, Sephadex G-100, polyaspartate, and reversed-phase chromatography and was shown to consist of a single 24-kDa polypeptide chain. The sequence determined for the N-terminal 39 residues was used to design an oligonucleotide probe that allowed the precise localization of its structural gene (pcm) on the physical map of the E. coli chromosome at 59 min. Transformation of E. coli cells with a plasmid containing DNA from this region results in a 3-4-fold overproduction of enzyme activity. The nucleotide sequence determined for the pcm gene and its flanking regions was used to deduce a mature amino acid sequence of 207 residues with a calculated molecular weight of 23,128. This sequence shows 30.8% sequence identity with the human L-isoaspartyl/D-aspartyl methyltransferase and suggests that this enzyme catalyzes a fundamental reaction in both procaryotic and eucaryotic cells.
The Triptych of Liberal Education

A LITTLE BEFORE DAYBREAK “Socrates, are you awake or sleep?” Our story commences a little before daybreak with the sound of violent knocking on Socrates’s door followed by this petulant cry (Protagoras 310b2). A young Athenian nobleman bursts into Socrates’s chamber, not being able to contain his excitement that he might finally be able to receive true education from the genuine master. The teacher he has in mind, however, is not the one we do. The youngster reveals, while feeling his way to Socrates’s bed in the still dark room, that it is not Socrates, but the “beautiful stranger” (Protagoras 309c1–10) Protagoras who has inspired his excitement. This is the second visit of the famous foreigner I n Athens encouraged most probably by Pericles, a patron of the sophist movement of which Protagoras is the leading figure. Socrates claims that Protagoras is the first who admits to being a sophist, a professional teacher of wisdom, and the first who makes teaching philosophy an economic activity by charging tuition fee. Protagoras is most commonly known for his homomensura argument that is paraphrased as “man is the measure of all things.” Socrates himself refers to him as “the wisest man now living” (Protagoras 309d1).
End expiratory oxygen concentrations to predict central venous oxygen saturation: an observational pilot study

A non-invasive surrogate measurement for central venous oxygen saturation (ScVO2) would be useful in the ED for assessing therapeutic interventions in critically ill patients. We hypothesized that either linear or nonlinear mathematical manipulation of the partial pressure of oxygen in breath at end expiration (EtO2) would accurately predict ScVO2. Prospective observational study of a convenience sample of hemodialysis patients age > 17 years with existing upper extremity central venous catheters were enrolled. Using a portable respiratory device, we collected both tidal breathing and end expiratory oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, volume and flow on each patient. Simultaneous ScVO2 measurements were obtained via blood samples collected from the hemodialysis catheter. Two models were used to predict ScVO2: 1) Best-fit multivariate linear regression equation incorporating all respiratory variables; 2) MathCAD to model the decay curve of EtO2 versus expiratory volume using the least squares method to estimate the pO2 that would occur at <20% of total lung capacity. From 21 patients, the correlation between EtO2 and measured ScVO2 yielded R2 = 0.11. The best fit multivariate equation included EtCO2 and EtO2 and when solved for ScVO2, the equation yielded a mean absolute difference from the measured ScVO2 of 8 ± 6% (range -18 to +17%). The predicted ScVO2 value was within 10% of the actual value for 57% of the patients. Modeling of the EtO2 curve did not accurately predict ScVO2 at any lung volume. We found no significant correlation between EtO2 and ScVO2. A linear equation incorporating EtCO2 and EtO2 had at best modest predictive accuracy for ScVO2.
Families of L -Functions and Their Symmetry

A few years ago the first-named author proposed a working definition of a family of automorphic L-functions. Then the work by the second and third-named authors on the Sato–Tate equidistribution for families made it possible to give a conjectural answer for the universality class introduced by Katz and the first-named author for the distribution of the zeros near s = 1/2. In this article we develop these ideas fully after introducing some structural invariants associated to the arithmetic statistics of a family.
Ocean-atmosphere forcing of centennial hydroclimate variability in the Pacific Northwest

Reconstructing centennial timescale hydroclimate variability during the late Holocene is critically important for understanding large-scale patterns of drought and their relationship with climate dynamics. We present sediment oxygen isotope records spanning the last two millennia from 10 lakes, as well as climate model simulations, indicating that the Little Ice Age was dry relative to the Medieval Climate Anomaly in much of the Pacific Northwest of North America. This pattern is consistent with observed associations between the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Northern Annular Mode, and drought as well as with proxy-based reconstructions of Pacific and Atlantic ocean-atmosphere variations over the past 1000 years. The large amplitude of centennial variability indicated by the lake data suggests that regional hydroclimate is characterized by longer-term shifts in ENSO-like dynamics and that an improved understanding of the centennial timescale relationship between external forcing and drought is necessary for projecting future hydroclimatic conditions in western North America.
Bing dialog model: intent, knowledge and user interaction

The decade-old Internet search outcomes, manifested in the form of "ten blue links," are no longer sufficient for Internet users. Many studies have shown that when users are ushered off the conventional search result pages through blue links, their needs are often partially met at best in a "hit-or-miss" fashion. To tackle this challenge, we have designed Bing, Microsoft's decision engine, to not just navigate users to a landing page through a blue link but to continue engaging with users to clarify intent and facilitate task completion. Underlying this new paradigm is the Bing Dialog Model that consists of three building blocks: an indexing system that comprehensively collects information from the web and systematically harvests knowledge, an intent model that statistically infers user intent and predicts next action, and an interaction model that elicits user intent through mathematically optimized presentations of web information and domain knowledge that matches user needs. In this talk, I'll describe Bing Dialog Model in details and demonstrate it in action through some innovative features since the launch of www.Bing.com.
Guest Editor's Introduction: iSERVO-The International Solid Earth Research Virtual Observatory

The international Solid Earth Virtual Observatory (iSERVO; www.iservo.edu.au) is a planned partnership of primarily Asia Pacific economies interested in studying, forecasting, and mitigating the damaging effects of large and great earthquakes as well as the tsunamis they produce. The iSERVO concept is founded on the use of modern information technology to simulate the nonlinear dynamical earthquake and tsunami processes at all relevant scales, and to organize, collate, and interpret the massive new data sets that will be available in the partner countries beginning within the next three years.
Scopolamine-produced changes in activity and in the startle response: implications for behavioral activation.

Experiment 1 involved protracted determinations of activity in a sensitive stabilimeter-like chamber both preceding and following injections of scopolamine. This activity also was obtained over two strains of rats. While an initial scopolamine injection markedly increased activity, such returned to near-baseline level following repeated daily administrations of the drug. A Strain effect was suggested from the graphic representation of the data, but was not statistically reliable.
Analytical Ability and Perceived Similarity to Parents

Previous research has indicated that analytical ability is a masculine characteristic, in that males score higher than females on such measures and, within sex groups, those who are classified as more masculine on measures of sex typing tend to have greater analytical ability. The present study focuses primarily on field independence as one aspect of analytical ability and was designed to test within one sample some of the relationships found in prior research in which diverse samples and measures were used. Although some of the data confirm earlier findings, especially within sex groups, the most intriguing result is that females in this sample were more field-independent than the males. Serious questions about both the measures used and the nature of the sample can be raised, making any generalization unwise, but the finding is unprecedented in published research.