cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On beyond Zebra: The relation of linguistic and visual information ☆

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of how the forms of information derived by the visual system can be translated into forms useable by the language capacity, so that it is possible to talk about what one sees. The hypothesis explored here is that there is a translation between the 3D model of Marr's (1982) visual theory and the semantic/conceptual structure of Jackendoff's (1983) theory of natural language semantics. It is shown that there are substantial points of correspondence through which the encoding of physical objects and their locations and motions can be coordinated between these two levels of representation, and that both of these levels are deeply involved in visual as well as linguistic understanding.
Volatility, autocorrelations, and trading activity after stock splits ☆

Abstract We examine the relation between trading activity, return volatility, and autocorrelations around stock splits. Prior research shows substantial increases in volatility and number of small trades after splits. We show that these two effects are significantly positively related, and find evidence of bi-directional Granger causality. We also show that first-order serial autocorrelations decline significantly after splits. The decline in autocorrelations is significantly related to the change in the number of small trades. In contrast, for control samples of non-splitting firms, changes in volatility and autocorrelations are not associated with changes in small trades.
Dynamic tether force measurements of the outer hair cells plasma membrane with optical tweezers

The mechanical characteristics of the outer hair cells (OHCs) plasma membrane was studied by forming tethers with optical tweezers. The average force to and from a plasma membrane tether at the lateral wall of the OHC was about 3.5 times greater than that at the basal end of the cell, consistent with the presence of a more extensive cytoskeleton support beneath the PM at the site of the lateral wall. The apparent viscosity of the PM was measured by pulling tethers at different rates while continuously recording the tether force, and was estimated in the range of 13-33 pN*s/micrometers .
On the importance of understanding the strategies that developers use

Understanding the strategies that developers use during coding activities is an important way to identify challenges developers face and the corresponding opportunities for tools, languages, or processes to better address the challenges and more effectively support the strategies. After creating a design, evaluation studies often measure task success, time, and bugs to argue that the design improves programmer productivity. Considering the strategies that developers use while conducting these studies increases the likelihood of a successful test and makes the results easier to generalize. Therefore, we believe that identifying strategies developers use is an important goal. Beyond identifying strategies, there are also research opportunities in better understanding how developers choose strategies.
Neuropsychological Testing for Sports-related Concussion: How Athletes Can Sandbag their Baseline Testing Without Detection

Neuropsychological baseline testing is commonplace in the assessment of concussion; however, claims of “sandbagging” the baseline have led neuropsychologists to ask to what extent athletes can perform intentionally poorly on baseline testing without reaching threshold on the test validity indicators. Seventy-five undergraduate athletes were re-administered the ImPACT neurocognitive battery, which they had previously taken to establish baseline functioning, but were instructed to perform more poorly than their baseline without reaching threshold on the test validity indicators. Eight participants were able to successfully fake significantly lower scores without detection by validity indicators. Concussion history was not related to performance. Successful fakers did not perform significantly worse on the Reaction Time Composite and Three Letters Total Letters Correct, questioning the utility of these measures for detecting “sandbagging.” Successful fakers reported using less purposeful faking strategies which naturally facilitated errors. The data suggest that “sandbagging” the baseline, even under conditions involving motivation, instruction, and experience with the test, is difficult to accomplish without being detected.
BROKERS AND THE INSURANCE OF NON-VERIFIABLE LOSSES

How do insurance markets spread the risk when events are unknown or even unknowable? We argue that the insurance market is organized to write incomplete contracts such that these risks can be spread, even though complete contracts cannot be written. Both policyholders and insurers hostage their reputations when they engage in trade. The force of these reputation investments leads the parties to negotiate for a settlement when an event that is not covered by the insurance contract occurs. By choice of brokers, the parties can leverage the reputation stakes and thus influence the payoffs for un-contracted events. Thus, we see the role of ex post negotiation as helping to complete markets where otherwise insurance would not have been available. This view contrasts with other recent analyses in which ex post negotiation is seen as a degradation of the insurance market. ∗Doherty and Muermann: Department of Insurance and Risk Management, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6218, USA, email: doherty@wharton.upenn.edu muermann@wharton.upenn.edu. We wish to thank Christian Laux and Soenje Reiche for valuable comments.
Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors During Male Germ Cell Differentiation in the Mouse

Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the testis of transgenic mice induces infertility, suggesting a potential role for VEGF in the process of spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis occurs within the confines of the seminiferous tubules, and the seminiferous epithelium lining these tubules consists of Sertoli cells and germ cells in various stages of maturation. We investigated the source of VEGF and VEGF-target cells within the seminiferous tubules of the normal mouse testis. Sections of testes fixed in Bouin solution and embedded in paraffin were subjected to immunofluorescent staining with specific antibodies against VEGF, and its receptors, VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (Flk-1). Total RNA was extracted from isolated populations of Sertoli cells, type A spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes, and spermatids. Primer pairs specific for VEGF and its receptors were designed and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed. Immunofluorescent studies indicated that VEGF is strongly expressed in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells. VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 were not expressed by the Sertoli cell. In contrast, a differential expression of VEGF receptors was observed in germ cells. Although VEGFR-2 was expressed in the cytoplasm of type A spermatogonia, VEGFR-1 was expressed in the acrosomal region of spermatids and spermatozoa. Pachytene spermatocytes did not exhibit any staining. Further, we examined the transcription of VEGF and its receptors by RT-PCR. VEGF was actively transcribed only in Sertoli cells. The transcription of VEGFR-2 was confined to type A spermatogonia. Interestingly, VEGFR-1 was transcribed both in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. The mRNA expression of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in germ cells was inversely correlated during postnatal development of the mouse testis. Thus, VEGF may play a potential role in regulating the initial stages of the process of spermatogonial proliferation through VEGFR-2 and spermiogenesis through VEGFR-1.
A Turbine-Meter Evaluation Model for Two-Phase Transients

This work involves the development of an analytical model to calculate the transient two-phase mass flux in a conduit instrumented with a free-field turbind flow meter. The effects of rotor inertia, velocity and void profiles in the conduit, slip ratio, imperfect guidance of the flow by the rotor blades, bearing friction and windage losses have been incorporated into the model. The analytical Turbine-meter Evaluation Model for Two-Phase Transients (TEMPT) was programed and was used for numerical calculations. For a typical blowdown transient, the effects of velocity and void profiles, and rotor inertia were found to be the most significant parameters.
Beamforming and Rate Allocation in MISO Cognitive Radio Networks

We consider decentralized multiantenna cognitive radio networks where the secondary (cognitive) users are granted simultaneous spectrum access along with the license-holding (primary) users. We treat the problem of distributed beamforming and rate allocation for the secondary users such that the minimum weighted secondary rate is maximized. Such an optimization is subject to (1) a limited weighted sum-power budget for the secondary users and (2) guaranteed protection for the primary users in the sense that the interference level imposed on each primary receiver does not exceed a specified level. Based on the decoding method deployed by the secondary receivers, we consider three scenarios for solving this problem. In the first scenario, each secondary receiver decodes only its designated transmitter while suppressing the rest as Gaussian interferers (single-user decoding). In the second case, each secondary receiver employs the maximum likelihood decoder (MLD) to jointly decode all secondary transmissions. In the third one, each secondary receiver uses the unconstrained group decoder (UGD). By deploying the UGD, each secondary user is allowed to decode any arbitrary subset of users (which contains its designated user) after suppressing or canceling the remaining users. We offer an optimal distributed algorithm for designing the beamformers and allocating rates in the first scenario (i.e., with single-user decoding). We also provide explicit formulations of the optimization problems for the latter two scenarios (with the MLD and the UGD, respectively), which, however are nonconvex. While we provide a suboptimal centralized algorithm for the case with MLD, neither of the two scenarios can be solved efficiently in a decentralized setup. As a remedy, we offer two-stage suboptimal distributed algorithms for solving the problem for the MLD and UGD scenarios. In the first stage, the beamformers and rates are determined in a distributed fashion after assuming single user decoding at each secondary receiver. By using these beamformer designs, MLD often and UGD always allow for supporting rates higher than those achieved in the first stage. Based on this observation, we construct the second stage by offering optimal distributed low-complexity algorithms to allocate excess rates to the secondary users such that a notion of fairness is maintained. Analytical and empirical results demonstrate the gains yielded by the proposed rate allocation and the beamformer design algorithms.
Towards NEMS Fluid Sensors Based on Suspended Nanomaterials

Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) based on nanomaterials, especially NEMS resonators made of suspended nanowires, nanotubes or nanosheets have emerged as promising devices for many sensing applications. However, operation of such NEMS resonators in liquids is usually difficult due to strong viscous damping. Here we present our progress in developing NEMS devices based on suspended nanomaterials that can operate in liquids. We present our measurements performed on suspended metallic nanowires driven by AC currents in a magnetic field in liquids.
Convergence Analysis of Fractional Time-Stepping Techniques for Incompressible Fluids with Microstructure

We present and analyze fully discrete fractional time stepping techniques for the solution of the micropolar Navier Stokes equations, which is a system of equations that describes the evolution of an incompressible fluid whose material particles possess both translational and rotational degrees of freedom. The proposed schemes uncouple the computation of the linear and angular velocity and the pressure. We develop a first order scheme which is unconditionally stable and delivers optimal convergence rates, and an almost unconditionally stable second order scheme.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Children and adolescents with GAD suffer from excessive, pervasive worries that interfere with social, academic, and family functioning. The comorbidity rate with other anxiety disorders and major depression is high. The course tends to be chronic, and evidence shows continuity between anxiety disorders in youth and adulthood. Individual and group CBT and the incorporation of family anxiety management training have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of childhood GAD. No double-blind, placebo-controlled, pharmacotherapy trials with adequate sample sizes for children and adolescents with GAD have been published. Preliminary data support the potential efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, buspirone, and high-potency benzodiazepines. Adequately powered, controlled, pharmacologic treatment trials are necessary. Future research should be directed toward comparing the relative efficacy of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and both in the treatment of GAD in youth.
Treatment of the clinically negative neck in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To define the most effect treatment plan of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with clinically negative (N0) neck staging. Study Design: Retrospective review of 54 patients with N0 neck staging who underwent resection of an oral cavity primary tumor with or without elective neck dissection between January 1982 and December 1992 and with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. Methods: The records of 54 patients with previously untreated oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and N0 neck staging were retrospectively reviewed to determine the impact of elective neck dissection on patient outcomes including regional recurrence and overall survival. Results: All patients underwent surgical resection of their oral cavity tumors, with 33 patients undergoing “watchful waiting” observation for the development of neck disease while 21 patients had elective neck dissections. The most controversial group of patients were those with intermediate-sized (T2 and T3) primary tumors. Eighteen of these patients underwent elective neck dissection, with two patients developing recurrent neck disease and an ultimate prognosis of 72%. Twelve patients had observation of their necks, with five of these patients subsequently requiring neck dissection. An additional seven patients did not undergo neck dissection, and this group had four survivors free of disease. The prognosis was 42% in patients not having elective neck dissections. Conclusions: Tl tumors do well with neck treatment other than careful observation. The data suggest that patients with T2 and T3 oral squamous cell carcinoma should undergo surgical resection of their primary tumor site and elective neck dissection. Patients with T4 oral cavity lesions should routinely undergo neck dissection.
BRAF V600E-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with metastases to the brain responding to treatment with vemurafenib

Somatic BRAF mutations have been reported in 1-4% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), primarily in adenocarcinomas with the BRAF (V600E) mutation in about 50% of the cases. The role of BRAF mutation in NSCLC and the treatment for tumors with such mutations is still evolving. Our patient had metastatic NSCLC with metastases to her brain. Due to the BRAF (V600E) mutation in her tumor and her poor functional status, we offered her off-label treatment with vemurafenib, a BRAF inhibitor approved for use in metastatic melanoma. Our patient's visceral disease improved supporting vemurafenib's efficacy in the treatment of metastatic BRAF-mutated NSCLC. The regression of intracranial disease indicated vemurafenib was able to cross the blood-brain barrier and was efficacious in treating brain metastases in this patient with lung cancer.
The Three-dimensional Structure of 4-Hydroxybenzoyl-CoA Thioesterase from Pseudomonas sp. Strain CBS-3*

The soil-dwelling microbe, Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS-3, has attracted recent attention due to its ability to survive on 4-chlorobenzoate as its sole carbon source. The biochemical pathway by which this organism converts 4-chlorobenzoate to 4-hydroxybenzoate consists of three enzymes: 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA ligase, 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA dehalogenase, and 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase. Here we describe the three-dimensional structure of the thioesterase determined to 2.0-A resolution. Each subunit of the homotetramer is characterized by a five-stranded anti-parallel beta-sheet and three major alpha-helices. While previous amino acid sequence analyses failed to reveal any similarity between this thioesterase and other known proteins, the results from this study clearly demonstrate that the molecular architecture of 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase is topologically equivalent to that observed for beta-hydroxydecanoyl thiol ester dehydrase from Escherichia coli. On the basis of the structural similarity between these two enzymes, the active site of the thioesterase has been identified and a catalytic mechanism proposed.
Foundational issues concerning the analysis of censored data.

The common approach to analyzing censored data utilizes “competing risk” models; a class of distributions is first chosen and then the sufficient statistics are identified! An “operational Bayesian” approach (Barlow (1994)) for analyzing censored data would require a somewhat different methodology. In this approach, we first determine potentially observable parameters of interest. We then determine the data summaries (sufficient statistics) for these parameters. Tsai (1994) suggests that the observed sample frequency is sufficient for predicting the population frequency. Invariant probability measures (likelihoods), conditional on the parameters of interest, are then derived based on the principle of sufficiency and the principle of insufficient reason.
Histology Atlas of the Developing Mouse Heart With Emphasis on e11.5 to e18.5

In humans, congenital heart diseases are common. Since the rapid progression of transgenic technologies, the mouse has become the major animal model of defective cardiovascular development. Moreover, genetically modified mice frequently die in utero, commonly due to abnormal cardiovascular development. A variety of publications address specific developmental stages or structures of the mouse heart, but a single reference reviewing and describing the anatomy and histology of cardiac developmental events, stage by stage, has not been available. The aim of this color atlas, which demonstrates embryonic/fetal heart development, is to provide a tool for pathologists and biomedical scientists to use for detailed histological evaluation of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections of the developing mouse heart with emphasis on embryonic days (E) 11.5-18.5. The selected images illustrate the main structures and developmental events at each stage and serve as reference material for the confirmation of the chronological age of the embryo/early fetus and assist in the identification of any abnormalities. An extensive review of the literature covering cardiac development pre-E11.5 is summarized in the introduction. Although the focus of this atlas is on the descriptive anatomic and histological development of the normal mouse heart from E11.5 to E18.5, potential embryonic cardiac lesions are discussed with a list of the most common transgenic pre- and perinatal heart defects. Representative images of hearts at E11.5-15.5 and E18.5 are provided in Figures 2-4, 6, 8, and 9. A complete set of labeled images (Figures E11.5-18.5) is available on the CD enclosed in this issue of Toxicologic Pathology. All digital images can be viewed online at https://niehsimages.epl-inc.com with the username "ToxPath" and the password "embryohearts."
Residual Link Lifetime Prediction with Limited Information Input in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

We study the problem of predicting the residual link lifetime (RLL) in MANETs, where the nodes are able to measure the relative distances between them (e.g., by using the UWB technology). We propose a mobile-projected trajectory (MPT) algorithm, whose input is periodically sampled, noisy range measurements between the two nodes of a link. It estimates a projected trajectory, which is then used to compute the predicted RLL. An enhancement technique, which we call incremental sampling, is proposed where the estimated trajectory is further refined to improve the accuracy of the RLL prediction. We have evaluated the performance of the MPT algorithm with two different mobility models and for different parameters, and have shown that MPT yields robust performance; i.e., the main strength of the MPT algorithm lies in its capability to accurately predict the RLL with limited range input data. For example, after a measurement-acquisition time equal to 25% of the link lifetime, the algorithm yields 90% prediction accuracy; 80% accuracy is achieved after 20% of the link lifetime. After only 15% of link lifetime, the algorithm still achieves 60% prediction accuracy.
Prenatal nicotine affects catecholamine gene expression in newborn rat carotid body and petrosal ganglion

Nicotine exposure modifies the expression of catecholamine and opioid neurotransmitter systems involved in attenuation of hypoxic chemosensitivity. We used in situ hybridization histochemistry to d...
Evolutionary Theory's Increasing Role in Personality and Social Psychology

Has the emergence of evolutionary psychology had an increasing impact on personality and social psychological research published over the past two decades? If so, is its growing influence substantially different from that of other emerging psychological areas? These questions were addressed in the present study by conducting a content analysis of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP) from 1985 to 2004 using the PsycINFO online abstract database. Specifically, keyword searches for “evol*” or “Darwin*” revealed that the percentage of JPSP articles drawing on evolutionary theory was modest, but increased significantly between 1985 and 2004. To compare the growing impact of evolutionary psychology with other psychological areas, similar keywords searches were performed in JPSP for emotion and motivation, judgment and decision making, neuroscience and psychophysiology, stereotyping and prejudice, and terror management theory. The increase in evolutionary theory in JPSP over time was practical...
High definition cytogenetics and oligonucleotide aCGH analyses of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 2961 Genome-wide profiling with array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) has been used to investigate drug resistance in cancer genomes. However, many genomic aberrations including complex derivative chromosomes, aneuploidies, inversions and balanced translocations cannot be detected by aCGH. We have applied comprehensive molecular cytogenetic analyses including Spectral Karyotyping (SKY), multicolor banding (mBAND), and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH), together with prototype 95k 60mer oligonucleotide aCGH arrays to provide an integrated genomic investigation of the basis of acquired cisplatin resistance in A2780 ovarian cancer cells. This cell line is a well-established model of chemotherapeutic resistance with distinct karyotypic abnormalities in the parent and cisplatin resistant cells. Our aCGH analyses detected acquisition of imbalances affecting 10.59% of the genome (5.79% gains, 4.80% losses) in the cisplatin-resistant cells when compared to the parental line. The aberrations included a homozygous deletion (380 kb) at 1p21.3 in the SNX7 region and a focal (<1Mb) duplication at 13q12.12. Cytogenetic analyses showed that two unbalanced translocations [der(8)t(1;8); and der(X)t(X;1)] and loss of chromosome 13 contributed to cisplatin-specific DNA copy changes including deletions at 1p10-p22.1, 8p23.3 and Xq12.2-pter, and a duplication of 8q11.22-qter, detected by aCGH. Furthermore, breakpoints for each derivative chromosome were mapped at the single gene resolution. Expression analyses with 44k feature microarrays identified genes within and adjacent to each aberrant genomic interval with corresponding increases or decreases in expression. Our results highlight the integration of comprehensive profiling using high-definition molecular cytogenetics, aCGH, and gene expression, to determine precise relationships of genomic aberrations and genes associated with drug resistance in ovarian cancer.
Derivation of Residual Noise of Filtered Poisson and Gaussian Series

Residual noise analysis is useful in designing optimal filters for noise reduction. To begin we derive the variance of residual noise \(\sigma^2_r\), from Poisson and Gaussian series after filtered by a Gaussian filter. For Poisson series, we have \(\sigma^2_r\) = \(\sqrt{2\pi}I*/(4\sigma_0)\), and for Gaussian series \(\sigma^2_r\) = \(\sqrt{2\pi}\sigma^2/(4\sigma_0)\), where I* is the noiseless signal in the Poisson series, σ and σ 0 are the standard deviations of the Gaussian series and the Gaussian filter, respectively. Then by utilizing these results, we design an optimal filter with aim to minimizing the local noise-to-signal ratio in a Poisson series with I* = 40 + A sin(kx) , which can represent the change of contrast and resolution of an image with A and k, respectively.
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Communication to the UN Human Rights Committee Concerning the Philippines’ Violation of the Human Rights of Children Prisoners under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

The Philippine state has been violating the non-derogable right to equality and non-discrimination of child prisoners, a peremptory principle of international law, on the ground of “sex… social origin, property, birth, or other status” as laid down under Article 2, Article 24, and Article 26 of the Covenant. Virtually all child prisoners come from the poorest of the poor as well. Child prisoners detained by police officers in the company of adult crime suspects include prostituted girls, children hooked on substance abuse, street urchins, child scavengers, and children with mental disabilities.With the conspiratorial acquiescence, tacit consent, and implicit authority of the President and her top officials, and in violation of the principle of equality under Paragraphs 7, 10, and 12 of Committee General Comment 18, police officers commit the crime of jailing the children of the poorest of the poor on account of their being poor, sex (with respect to girls), poor social origins, and lack of property. The President down to the police officers know that these prisoners come from the economically marginalized and politically powerless sectors of society and therefore could not stand up to defend their human rights in the face of such onslaughts from the state. This reveals the discriminatory nature of the crime of jailing children with adult crime suspects, which the President and top officials refuse to officially acknowledge and stop until now, in violation of Articles 2(1), 24, and 26.The Philippine state has been committing a form of unlawful discrimination based on the status of the child prisoners as children of the poorest of the poor, on account of their being poor, their sex (as far as girl prisoners are concerned), and of their tender age which render them defenseless and powerless to rise up in defense of their dignity and human rights in the face of the systematic, organized, and widespread onslaught by law enforcers acting under color of official authority and title from the President who is their commander-in-chief. This violates Article 26 as elucidated in Committee General Comment 28 (Paragraphs 3, 4, and 15).These state functionaries know and/or are in a position to know that these child prisoners are mostly unlettered, economically marginalized, and politically powerless; thus, enabling them to commit this institutionalized discrimination against child prisoners with impunity. The President, et. al., know and/or are in a position to know that these children are incapable of defending and protecting their rights amid the onslaughts from the law enforcers who tacitly and indirectly receive their orders from the Philippine President, who is their Commander-in-Chief.
Endogenous information acquisition in Bayesian games with strategic complementarities

Abstract This paper studies covert (or hidden) information acquisition in common value Bayesian games of strategic complementarities. Using the supermodular stochastic order to arrange the structures of information increasingly in terms of preferences, we provide novel, easily interpretable and verifiable, though restrictive conditions under which the value of information is increasing and convex, and study the implications in terms of the equilibrium configuration. Increasing marginal returns to information leads to extreme behavior in that agents opt either for the highest or the lowest quality signal, so that the final analysis of this complex game simplifies greatly into that of a two-action game. This result can rationalize the complete information game as an endogenous outcome. Finally, we also establish that higher-quality information leads players to select more dispersed actions in the Bayesian game.
Relative Prey Weight Influences Handling Time and Biomass Extraction in Sinea confusa and Zelus renardii (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

The influence of relative predator–prey weight ratios in feeding behavior was investigated in females of 2 species of reduviids, Sinea confusa Caudell and Zelus renardii Kolenati. Using 10–140 mg moth larvae, Heliothis virescens (F.) as prey (presented in 7 weight groups), we measured handling time and extracted biomass of prey over a wide range of predator–prey weight ratios (0.3–4.5:1). Handling time decreased exponentially and extracted biomass increased linearly as predator–prey weight ratios increased. At predator–prey ratios that were ≍1:1, handling time was ≍100 min for both species. Extracted biomass increased linearly with increases in prey weight, but these increases were not proportional to either increases in prey weights or handling times concomitant with increasing prey weights. Rate of consumption averaged ≍110 μ g/min for both species. Relative consumption rate was significantly higher for S. confusa than it was for Z. renardii . We propose the concept of the major investor strategy for predators that can use extra-oral digestion to utilize relatively large prey. Major investors, as seen here, invest large amounts of time and materials in each large prey item, and they must, in turn, extract a substantial nutrient reward from each prey before abandoning it to attack a new prey. Therefore, with large prey, major investors would not conform to functional response kinetics.
Is Itamaraty a total institution? The applicability of a sociological concept in a bureaucracy

Sociological concepts are essential to understand organizations. Few concepts are as popular as "total institutions". In this article, I present the concept, showing first its limitations to explain the life of Brazilian diplomats at the Minister of External Relations (Itamaraty). Then I explain the reason why such concept is used, despite its inadequacy.
Phenylboronic Acid-Installed Polycarbonates for the pH-Dependent Release of Diol-Containing Molecules

Environmental responsiveness is an appealing trait of emerging polymeric materials, as shown for a variety of pH-responsive drug delivery systems. The chemical versatility of the conjugation site and conjugate lability to physiologically relevant changes in pH will largely determine their applicability. Herein, we report on the use of a drug–polymer complex based on boronic acid-functionalized polycarbonates (PPBC) as the substrate for the pH-sensitive delivery of a diol-containing drug, capecitabine (CAPE). Complexation of CAPE with a PEGylated-PPBC block copolymer, via boronic ester formation, resulted in amphiphiles capable of self-assembling into spherical nanoparticles. We examined nanoparticle stability and release kinetics in neutral and acidic media and relate differences in release profiles and particle stability with changes to polymer chemistry. Comparison of complexed nanoparticles with their noncomplex analogues revealed striking differences in release rate and particle stability. Illustrated...
Miniature probe for mechanical properties of vascular lesions using acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography(Conference Presentation)

Changes in tissue biomechanical properties often signify the onset and progression of diseases, such as in determining the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques. Acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography (ARF-OCE) has been used in the detection of tissue elasticity to obtain high-resolution elasticity maps. We have developed a probe-based ARF-OCE technology that utilizes a miniature 10 MHz ring ultrasonic transducer for excitation and Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT) for detection. The transducer has a small hole in the center for the OCT light to propagate through. This allows for a confocal stress field and light detection within a small region for high sensitivity and localized excitation. This device is a front-facing probe that is only 3.5 mm in diameter and it is the smallest ARF-OCE catheter to the best of our knowledge. We have tested the feasibility of the probe by measuring the point displacement of an agarose tissue-mimicking phantom using different ARF excitation voltages. Small displacement values ranging from 30 nm to 90 nm have been detected and are shown to be directly proportional to the excitation voltage as expected. We are currently working on obtaining 2D images using a scanning mechanism. We will be testing to capture 2D elastograms of phantoms to further verify feasibility, and eventually characterize the mechanical properties of cardiovascular tissue. With its high portability and sensitivity, this novel technology can be applied to the diagnosis and characterization of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
Study on Star-Earth Link High Rate Data System

A high-performance,high spectrum efficiency satellite data transmission system based on cluster OFDM(orthogonal frequency division multiplexing)scheme is proposed.With the analysis of highly dynamic channel characteristics,the cluster OFDM transmission model is applied to increase system bandwidth and lower the PAPR.A wide range carrier capture method is presented,and the technical solutions for T/R system and amplifier pre-distortion correction system are proposed.Simulation results show that data can be traced and demodulated at 900KHz Doppler shift channel,and that the dynamic performance of the system has only 1dB loss compared with the ideal system in QPSK mode.
The effect of drugs on oligodendrocyte proliferation and myelin regeneration.

Publisher Summary Remyelination is an important aspect of repair processes in the central nervous system (CNS) because regenerating axons and axons demyelinated as a result of injury must remyelinate to function effectively. This process of myelin regeneration is sensitive to a variety of commonly used drugs that can inhibit or enhance the process. In particular, steroids, which interfere in the processes of demyelination and inflammation, also can inhibit remyelination. On the other hand, the antimitotic, immunosuppressive drugs—azathioprine and cyclophosphamide—in moderate doses can significantly enhance remyelination in experimental animals. The mechanisms by which this is accomplished are yet undefined and very high doses can probably inhibit or delay myelin regeneration. The normal relationship between axonal diameter and myelin thickness is absent in regenerated myelin, which has a relatively uniform thickness with no apparent relationship to fiber diameter. Internodes are much shorter than normal and there is good evidence that remyelination with short internodes at plaque margins is important in the restoration of conduction in demyelinated fibers.
Case 60: A New Equipment

A young resident shows you (an attending surgeon) a FDA-approved medical equipment which he has slightly altered so it can have a different function. Initially the resident wants to study it in volunteer. You decide that the altered equipment has a potentially beneficial function and should be totally harmless to the subjects.
ESTIMATION OF SEQUENCES AND SERIES

This chapter describes the ways to estimate the limit of a sequence and infinite series. The chapter presents a sequence of numbers by means of a formula A(N) = 1/N or A(N) = (-1)↑N or A(N) = (1 + l/N)↑N and discusses what happens to the sequence as N gets very large. In the first example, as N gets big, 1/N gets small; therefore, that sequence should tend to 0. The limit of the sequence, as N goes to infinity, is 0. In the second case, as the sequence consists of alternating plus and minus ones, there will be no limit.
Control Beliefs and Faith as Stress Moderators for Korean American Versus Caucasian American Protestants

Examined relationships among negative life events, four locus of control attributions (Internality, Powerful Others, Chance, and God Control), and psychological distress for Korean American versus Caucasian American Protestants. Negative events and Powerful Others beliefs were positively related to distress, whereas Internality was negatively related to distress. Ethnicity and God Control interacted: The relationship between God Control beliefs and anxiety was negative for Caucasians but positive for Koreans. Three-way interactions (Ethnicity × Locus of Control × Negative Events) also emerged. As Caucasians' Powerful Others beliefs increased, the positive relationship between negative events and depression became stronger; Koreans' Powerful Others beliefs had no such effect. As Caucasians' God Control beliefs increased, the negative event–depression relationship changed from positive to negative; the reverse was true for Koreans. Findings support the value of assessing ethnoculture and religiousness in stressful life events research.
The new universe around the next corner.

The 20th century has been a period of scientific revolution, unmatched in scope by anything that has come before, save perhaps the Copernican revolution in the 16th century. Ever since Newtonian physics was overthrown at the beginning of this century we have been living through a period of transition, during which the new theory that will replace Newtonian physics as a unified framework for the description of everything in nature has been steadily coming into focus. Big pieces of this theory have been discovered, such as relativity quantum theory the Standard Model of particle physics, and the standard big-bang cosmology But it is very clear that we do not yet have the full theory, because that must be based on a single theoretical framework, and such a framework is still lacking. Thus, as humanity emerges into a new century, the completion of the new theory that will finally replace Newtonian physics remains the primary goal of theoretical physics.
The HB22.7-vcMMAE antibody-drug conjugate has efficacy against non-Hodgkin lymphoma mouse xenografts with minimal systemic toxicity.

In this study, HB22.7, an anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody, was used for specific, targeted delivery of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). MMAE was covalently coupled to HB22.7 through a valine–citrulline peptide linker (vc). Maleimide-functionalized vcMMAE (mal-vcMMAE) was reacted with thiols of the partially reduced mAb. Approximately 4 molecules of MMAE were conjugated to HB22.7 as determined by residual thiol measurement and hydrophobic interaction chromatography–HPLC (HIC-HPLC). HB22.7–vcMMAE antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) retained its binding to Ramos NHL cells and also exhibited potent and specific in vitro cytotoxicity on a panel of B cell NHL cell lines with IC50s of 20–284 ng/ml. HB22.7–vcMMAE also showed potent efficacy in vivo against established NHL xenografts using the DoHH2 and Granta 519 cell lines. One dose of the ADC induced complete and persistent response in all DoHH2 xenografts and 90 % of Granta xenografts. Minimal toxicity was observed. In summary, HB22.7–vcMMAE is an effective ADC that should be evaluated for clinical translation.
Spectral-temporal EEG dynamics of speech discrimination processing in infants during sleep

Oddball paradigms are frequently used to study auditory discrimination by comparing event-related potential (ERP) responses from a standard, high probability sound and to a deviant, low probability sound. Previous research has established that such paradigms, such as the mismatch response or mismatch negativity, are useful for examining auditory processes in young children and infants across various sleep and attention states. The extent to which oddball ERP responses may reflect subtle discrimination effects, such as speech discrimination, is largely unknown, especially in infants that have not yet acquired speech and language. Mismatch responses for three contrasts (non-speech, vowel, and consonant) were computed as a spectral-temporal probability function in 24 infants, and analyzed at the group level by a modified multidimensional scaling. Immediately following an onset gamma response (30–50 Hz), the emergence of a beta oscillation (12–30 Hz) was temporally coupled with a lower frequency theta oscillation (2–8 Hz). The spectral-temporal probability of this coupling effect relative to a subsequent theta modulation corresponds with discrimination difficulty for non-speech, vowel, and consonant contrast features. The theta modulation effect suggests that unexpected sounds are encoded as a probabilistic measure of surprise. These results support the notion that auditory discrimination is driven by the development of brain networks for predictive processing, and can be measured in infants during sleep. The results presented here have implications for the interpretation of discrimination as a probabilistic process, and may provide a basis for the development of single-subject and single-trial classification in a clinically useful context. An infant’s brain is processing information about the environment and performing computations, even during sleep. These computations reflect subtle differences in acoustic feature processing that are necessary for language-learning. Results from this study suggest that brain responses to deviant sounds in an oddball paradigm follow a cascade of oscillatory modulations. This cascade begins with a gamma response that later emerges as a beta synchronization, which is temporally coupled with a theta modulation, and followed by a second, subsequent theta modulation. The difference in frequency and timing of the theta modulations appears to reflect a measure of surprise. These insights into the neurophysiological mechanisms of auditory discrimination provide a basis for exploring the clinically utility of the MMR TF and other auditory oddball responses.
The Code of Ethics Quiz Show

This session is intended as a fun and highly interactive way for college and high school teachers to increase their familiarity with the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Using a quiz show format, participants will be asked to provide solutions to knotty (and sometimes humorous) ethical challenges. This will be followed by think-pair-share (so that everyone gets involved), and then a presentation of the relevant sections of the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Members of the ACM's Committee on Professional Ethics will be on hand to collect feedback and questions about the Code, for use by the Code 2018 task force, and for the "Ask an Ethicist" feature at http://ethics.acm.org.
Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation in Pediatric Epilepsy: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Uses

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders in childhood and carries a high burden of morbidity and economic and healthcare costs. The varied pathophysiologies of epilepsy result in common mechanisms impairing inhibitory and/or excitatory neuronal network function in cerebral cortex. Non-invasive brain stimulation methods, primarily transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct-current stimulation (TDCS), are increasingly used in diagnostic, therapeutic, and research applications in children. This chapter discusses current and future clinical and research applications of non-invasive brain stimulation to pediatric epilepsy. These include biomarker/pathophysiology studies to understand diseases and pharmacological or dietary interventions, presurgical motor and language functional mapping, and experimental therapeutics for acute seizure suppression and seizure prevention.
The Globalization Aspect of Urban Development

In writing about city performance in the context of globalization Daniel Kaufmann and two co-authors (2006) observed that there is a virtual absence of data and empirically based treatment on the subject of globalization of cities. After reviewing the existing literature they took the theoretical underpinnings of a definition from the work of Doel and Hubbard (2002) to define the concept of “globalized city as a place”.
The Audio Desktop

The phrase desktop no longer conjures up the image of a polished high-quality wooden surface. The pervasiveness of computing in the workplace during the last decade has led to the concept of a virtual electronic desktop — a logical workspace made up of the documents one works with and the applications used to operate on these documents. Progressive innovations in the Graphical User Interface (GUI) have helped strengthen this metaphor — today, the typical desktop enables the user to organize the tools of his trade by dragging and dropping graphical icons into a visual two dimensional workspace represented on the computer monitor. Given this tight association between visual interaction and today’s electronic desktop, the phrase audio desktop is likely to raise a few eyebrows (Or should it be earlobes)!
A review of micronutrients in sepsis: the role of thiamine, l-carnitine, vitamin C, selenium and vitamin D

Sepsis is defined as the dysregulated host response to an infection resulting in life-threatening organ dysfunction. The metabolic demand from inefficiencies in anaerobic metabolism, mitochondrial and cellular dysfunction, increased cellular turnover, and free-radical damage result in the increased focus of micronutrients in sepsis as they play a pivotal role in these processes. In the present review, we will evaluate the potential role of micronutrients in sepsis, specifically, thiamine, l-carnitine, vitamin C, Se and vitamin D. Each micronutrient will be reviewed in a similar fashion, discussing its major role in normal physiology, suspected role in sepsis, use as a biomarker, discussion of the major basic science and human studies, and conclusion statement. Based on the current available data, we conclude that thiamine may be considered in all septic patients at risk for thiamine deficiency and l-carnitine and vitamin C to those in septic shock. Clinical trials are currently underway which may provide greater insight into the role of micronutrients in sepsis and validate standard utilisation.
The Cohomology of Complex Tori

Let L be a lattice in a real vector space W. Then the quotient W/L is a real torus. Using a basis l1,..., l2 of L we have an isomorphism \( \varphi :{(\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z})^{n}} = \mathbb{R}/{\mathbb{Z}^{n}}\mathop{ \to }\limits^{ \approx } W/L \) which sends a real n-vector (λ1,..., λ n ) to the L-coset ∑λ j l j . Thus a real torus is topologically isomorphic to a product of circles. Consequently the algebraic topology of V/L is obvious.