cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of error control schemes for wireless data networks

The paper addresses the problem of designing a "virtual error free channel" for communication over unreliable wireless packet channels using hybrid error control schemes. For hybrid error control to be effective it is essential that an appropriate amount of forward error correction and automatic repeat requests be used. Optimal design methodologies for performance metrics of interest are developed. We also investigate the trade-offs involved when using interleaving to reduce the effect of burst errors. Asymptotic results are developed that can be used to develop simple design rules. In addition, several numerical examples are presented.
The Early Evolution of the Inner Solar System: A Meteoritic Perspective

Formation of the solar system may have been triggered by a stellar wind. From then on, the solar system would have followed a conventional evolutionary path, including the formation of a disk and bipolar jets. The now extinct short-lived radionuclides beryllium-10 and, possibly, manganese-53 that were present in meteorites probably resulted from energetic particle irradiation within the solar system. Calcium-aluminum–rich inclusions (the oldest known solar system solids) and chondrules could have been produced by the bipolar jets, but it is more likely that they formed during localized events in the asteroid belt. The chondritic meteorites formed within the temperature range (100 to 400 kelvin) inferred for the midplane of classical T Tauri disks at 2 to 3 astronomical units from their central stars. However, these meteorites may retain a chemical memory of earlier times when midplane temperatures were much higher. Dissipation of the solar nebula occurred within a few million years of solar system formation, whereas differentiation of asteroidal-sized bodies occurred within 5 to 15 million years. The terrestrial planets took ∼100 million years to form. Consequently, they would have accreted already differentiated bodies, and their final assembly was not completed until after the solar nebula had dispersed. This implies that water-bearing asteroids and/or icy planetesimals that formed near Jupiter are the likely sources of Earth9s water.
Morphological systems for character image processing and recognition

Min/max signal operations, common in morphological image analysis were applied to both feature extraction and classification of character images. A system is proposed that computes an improved version of the morphological shape-size histogram. It reduces sensitivity to stroke thickness, size, and rotation. For pattern classification, the class of min-max classifier, which generalizes Boolean DNF functions for real-valued inputs, is introduced. A least mean square (LMS) algorithm was used for practical training of min-max classifiers. Experimental results show that min-max classifiers were able to achieve error rates comparable with those of neural networks trained using backpropagation. The main advantages of the min-max/LMS algorithm are its simplicity and faster speed of convergence. >
Stereospecific styrene polymerization and ethylene–styrene copolymerization with titanocenes containing a pendant amine donor

A series of monocyclopentadienyl titanium complexes containing a pendant amine donor on a Cp group (A = CpTiCl3, B = CpNTiCl3, C = CpNTiCl2TEMPO, for Cp = C5H5, CpN = C5H4CH2CH2N(CH3)2, and TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) are investigated for styrene homopolymerization and ethylene–styrene (ES) copolymerization. When activated by methylaluminoxane at 70 °C, complexes with the amine group (B and C) are active for styrene homopolymerization and afford syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS). The copolymerizations of ethylene and styrene with B and C yield high-molecular weight ES copolymer, whereas complex A yields mixtures of sPS and polyethylene, revealing the critical role that the pendant amine has on the polymerization behavior of the complexes. Fractionation, NMR, and DSC analyses of the ES copolymers generated from B and C suggest that they contain sPS. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1579–1585, 2010
Leadership: a matter of perception

Purpose – Discusses the criteria for contemporary leadership as perceived by 200 working business and management students.Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains the multiple, sometimes contradicting perspectives that exist about leadership, after which it presents the findings from a collection of assessment feedback from 200 working business and management students on what leadership should entail, what is indispensable for leaders, and what the main differences are between leaders and managers.Findings – Leadership is an evolving phenomenon: not only as a research subject, but even more as an experience in our own lives.Research limitations/implications – The findings are presented as a viewpoint in this article, even though the data were gathered over the course of three years (nine course sessions). The fact that the study participants were all residing and working in the Los Angeles area should be considered in reviewing the findings.Practical implications – Leadership is no longer a charac...
Cytogenetic Findings in Untreated Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic myeloid disorder that is characterized by persistent thrombocytosis, thrombohemorrhagic symptoms and a low risk of transformation to leukemia. Chromosomal abnormalities in ET are very rare and most of the patients studied were either in leukemic transformation or they had received treatment with cytotoxic agents. The number of cases studied at the time of diagnosis is very limited. In the present study, 67 cases with ET, at the time of diagnosis, were cytogenetically studied by a G-banding technique. Among them, only four presented chromosomal abnormalities. In two cases, a del(5)(q13q33) was identified, accompanied by trisomy 20 in one case, while, in the other case, monosomy 17 and a small marker chromosome were additionally found. In each of the remaining two abnormal cases, clonal isolated trisomy 13 or monosomy 14 were found, respectively. Since these chromosomal abnormalities were found at the time of diagnosis, they might be related to the neoplastic process. The documentation of more cases of chromosomal abnormalities in ET at the time of diagnosis may facilitate the identification of candidate genes involved in the neoplastic process.
Benchmarking Heterogeneous Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Objective evaluation of the activity of electrocatalysts for water oxidation is of fundamental importance for the development of promising energy conversion technologies including integrated solar water-splitting devices, water electrolyzers, and Li-air batteries. However, current methods employed to evaluate oxygen-evolving catalysts are not standardized, making it difficult to compare the activity and stability of these materials. We report a protocol for evaluating the activity, stability, and Faradaic efficiency of electrodeposited oxygen-evolving electrocatalysts. In particular, we focus on methods for determining electrochemically active surface area and measuring electrocatalytic activity and stability under conditions relevant to an integrated solar water-splitting device. Our primary figure of merit is the overpotential required to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm–2 per geometric area, approximately the current density expected for a 10% efficient solar-to-fuels conversion device. Utilizing ...
Framing effects: An analytic–holistic perspective ☆

Under what conditions, why, and for whom are framing effects most likely? In this paper, we build on the existing literature (e.g., Chaiken, 1987; Epstein, Lipson, Holstein, & Huh, 1992; Evans & Over, 1996; Fiske & Neuberg, 1990; Payne, Bettman, & Johnson, 1988; Simon, 1956; Sloman, 1996; Stanovich & West, 2000), in providing answers to these questions. We hypothesized that individuals who engage a decision task with an analytic/systematic versus holistic/heuristic processing style are especially insensitive to the influence of framing effects. Therefore, we predicted that the way in which a decision is framed should have a relatively weak influence on those who were either induced (Experiment 1) or predisposed (Experiment 2) to adopt a predominantly analytic/systematic versus holistic/heuristic processing style. The results of both experiments supported this position.
Distributed control for unit-compressible robots: goal-recognition, locomotion, and splitting

We present a distributed self-reconfiguring robot system with unit-compressible modules called the Crystal robot. A new design for the Crystal is presented that decouples the x axis and y axis actuation, has on-board sensing and has neighbor-to-neighbor communication. We also describe a suite of distributed control algorithms for this type of robot and associated experiments for each algorithm. Several of the algorithms presented are instantiations of generic distributed algorithms for self-reconfiguring robots. Specifically, we present an algorithm for distributed goal recognition, two new distributed locomotion algorithms designed for unit-compressible actuation and a new generic-division algorithm. We also present the integration of a locomotion algorithm with distributed goal recognition, allowing the robot to reconfigure and recognize the achievement of its goal, all without the use of a central controller. For all of these algorithms, we describe the implementation, sketch correctness analysis and present experimental data. Our experiments empirically verify the usefulness of our distributed algorithms on a self-reconfiguring system.
The networked physical world: an automated identification architecture

We have developed an open and scalable network-oriented architecture that integrates the physical world with the virtual world and admits the efficient storage and retrieval of data and information. The architecture works with existing and future network and Automated Identification (Auto-ID) technologies and requires the use of Globally Unique IDentifiers (GUIDes). An Auto-ID tag affixed to a physical object stores the GUIDe for that object. Networked tag readers wirelessly communicate with the Auto-ID tags, thereby connecting the physical objects to the network. An object's GUIDe acts as a pointer to storage locations for data and information about that object, operating in a similar manner to pointers in programming languages. Given a GUIDe, the Object Name Service (ONS), a facility similar to the Domain Name Service (DNS), is queried to identify these storage locations on the local network and over the Internet. Storing an object's data and information in a standardized XML-based language such as PML allows the use of Internet friendly query languages such as XQL and Quilt and enables the automated storage and retrieval of data and information at remote locations. Our architecture efficiently networks the physical world, allowing effective and truly automated information search, information retrieval, and functionality.
Reduced complexity models for probabilistic forecasting of infiltration rates

Soil heterogeneity and data sparsity combine to render estimates of infiltration rates uncertain. We develop reduced complexity models for the probabilistic forecasting of infiltration rates in heterogeneous soils during surface runoff and/or flooding events. These models yield closed-form semi-analytical expressions for the single- and multi-point infiltration-rate PDFs (probability density functions), which quantify predictive uncertainty stemming from uncertainty in soil properties. These solutions enable us to investigate the relative importance of uncertainty in various hydraulic parameters and the effects of their cross-correlation. At early times, the infiltration-rate PDFs computed with the reduced complexity models are in close agreement with their counterparts obtained from a full infiltration model based on the Richards equation. At all times, the reduced complexity models provide conservative estimates of predictive uncertainty.
Scaling of elliptic flow, recombination, and sequential freeze-out of hadrons in heavy-ion collisions

The scaling properties of elliptic flow of hadrons produced in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions are investigated at low transverse momenta, ${p}_{T}\ensuremath{\lesssim}2$ GeV. Utilizing empirical parametrizations of a thermalized fireball with collective-flow fields, the resonance recombination model (RRM) is employed to describe hadronization via quark coalescence at the hadronization transition. We reconfirm that RRM converts equilibrium quark distribution functions into equilibrated hadron spectra including the effects of space-momentum correlations on elliptic flow. This provides the basis for a controlled extraction of quark distributions of the bulk matter at hadronization from spectra of multistrange hadrons which are beligeved to decouple close to the critical temperature. The resulting elliptic flow from empirical fits at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider exhibits transverse kinetic-energy and valence-quark scaling. Utilizing the well-established concept of sequential freeze-out, the scaling at low momenta extends to bulk hadrons ($\ensuremath{\pi}$, $K$, $p$) at thermal freeze-out, albeit with different source parameters compared to chemical freeze-out. Elliptic-flow scaling is thus compatible with both equilibrium hydrodynamics and quark recombination.
Decode-based differential modulation for wireless relay networks

In this paper, we develop a differential binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation scheme for wireless relay networks composed of one source, one relay and one destination node. The proposed scheme, referred to as the differential decode-and-forward (DDF), utilizes the relay to assist data transmission from the source to the destination. We derive a maximum likelihood (ML) detector and a piece-wise linear (PL) detector for the proposed DDF scheme. A closed-form bit error rate (BER) expression is presented for the proposed PL detector. Both analytical and simulation results show that the proposed DDF scheme is capable of providing diversity gain at the destination node over Rayleigh fading channels.
Anxiolytic profile of pregabalin on elicited hippocampal theta oscillation

Previous published work with the novel anticonvulsant, analgesic and anti-anxiety medication, pregabalin (Lyrica®), has shown that it has anxiolytic-like actions in several animal behavioral models. However, pregabalin is structurally and pharmacologically different from other classes of known anxiolytic drugs, and the mechanisms that alter brain activity to produce anxiolytic-like actions are not well understood. In an effort to determine more about the cellular mechanisms of pregabalin, we studied its effects on hippocampal theta activity of urethane-anesthetized rats that was elicited by electrical stimulation of the nucleus pontis oralis (nPO) in the brainstem. We found that systemic administration of pregabalin significantly reduced the frequency of stimulation-induced hippocampal theta activity similarly to the effects of diazepam. In addition, pregabalin (but not diazepam) significantly altered the stimulus intensity/frequency relationship, and increased slow delta oscillation (<3.0 Hz) in spontaneous hippocampal EEG in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that pregabalin may alter evoked theta frequency activity in the hippocampus by reducing neurotransmitter-mediated activation of either the septal nucleus or the hippocampus, and that its actions are unlikely to be mediated by direct activation of GABA neurotransmitter systems. These observations provide further insight to the action of pregabalin, and support the utilization of stimulation-induced theta model in discovery of novel anxiolytic drugs.
A Resource-Based Framework for Assessing the Strategic Advantages of Family Firms

The Resource-Based View (RBV) of competitive advantage provides a theoretical framework from the field of strategic management for assessing the competitive advantages of family firms. The RBV isolates idiosyncratic resources that are complex, intangible, and dynamic within a particular firm. The bundle of resources that are distinctive to a firm as a result of family involvement are identified as the “familiness” of the firm. This approach provides a research and practice method for assessing the specific behavioral and social phenomena within a firm that provide an advantage. Using a familiness model for assessing competitive advantage overcomes many of the problems associated with the generic claim that family companies have an advantage over nonfamily companies. It also provides a unified systems perspective of family firm performance.
On parallelization of static scheduling algorithms

Most static algorithms that schedule parallel programs represented by macro dataflow graphs are sequential. This paper discusses the essential issues pertaining to parallelization of static scheduling and presents two efficient parallel scheduling algorithms. The proposed algorithms have been implemented on an Intel Paragon machine and their performances have been evaluated. These algorithms produce high-quality scheduling and are much faster than existing sequential and parallel algorithms.
Isozyme analysis of Hemisarcoptes and its beetle associate Chilocorus

Mites of the genus Hemisarcoptes (Acari: Hemisarcoptidae) are cosmopolitan predators of diaspidid scale insects (Coccoidea: Diaspididae). Heteromorphic deutonymphs (= hypopi) are phoretic on beetles of the genus Chilocorus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Isozyme analysis was performed on H. malus Shimer and H. cooremani Thomas and two species of Chilocorus (C. cacti (L.) and C. nigritus (F.) using starch gel electrophoresis. Of the 28 enzymes screened, four banding patterns were completely resolvable for differences in the two mite species. Thirteen were resolvable for the beetles species tested. Hemisarcoptes cooremani adults and deutonymphs have the same banding pattern for resolved systems. In analysis of combined H. cooremani and C. cacti extracts, two enzyme systems produced unambiguous bands for the mites which were distinguishable from banding patterns of the beetles. Results are discussed in reference to a research program emphasizing the species radiations and coevolution of phoretic interactions of this mite-beetle complex. Resume Analyse des isozymes de l'acarien, Hemisarcoptes et de la coccinelle, Chilocorus, qui est son hote phoretique Hemisarcoptes est un petit acarien astigmate. Son ontogenese comprend une deutonymphe (hypopus) phoretique des coccinelles du genre Chilocorus. Aux USA, il y a deux especes d'Hemisarcoptes: H. malus Shimer et H. cooremani Thomas aux differences peu apparentes, mais une analyse discriminante des caracteristiques de la femelle permet une distinction complete. Des techniques d'electrophorese horizontale sur gel d'amidon ont permis de placer les adultes et les hypopi dans un contexte ontogenique indiscutable et de relier les especes d'acariens et de coccinelles en termes de relations coevolutives. 28 combinaisons enzyme-tampon ont ete examinees. Les enzymes PEP-GL, GPI, MDH/C et MDH/S-4 separent totalement les deux especes d'acariens. Les enzymes GAM, TPI, SOD, FUM, PEP-GL, MDH/S-4, IDH, GR, PGD, G3P, DIA, ACP et LDH separent les coccinelles C. cacti et C. nigritus. En combinant les extraits de H. cooremani et de C. cacti, PEP-GL et MDH/S-4 donnent de bandes separant nettement les acariens des coccinelles. Les donnees elecrophoretiques montrent: 1) une confirmation par analyse des isozymes des arguments morphologiques de separation en especes differentes de H. malus et H. cooremani; 2) la presence des memes bandes quelles que soient les differences morphologiques entre les hypopi et les stades predateurs de H. cooremani; 3) que pour les coccinelles recoltees avec leurs acariens phoretiques, les echantillons d'elytres sont les meilleurs elements pour identifier efficacement en parallele l'hote et l'acarien et pour determiner les limites geographiques de l'association phoretique; 4) la presence de differences pour de nombreux systemes enzymatiques chez la coccinelle. Les resultats de cet examen genetique de la variabilite intra et inter populations de Hemisarcoptes et de Chilocorus apportent des elements encourageant l'utilisation de ces methodes dans l'etude de leur coevolution.
Uracil misincorporation, DNA strand breaks, and gene amplification are associated with tumorigenic cell transformation in folate deficient/repleted Chinese hamster ovary cells

Clinical and experimental evidence has linked nutritional folic acid status to both anti- and procarcinogenic activity. Folate supplementation of normal cells appears to have a protective effect; however, folate supplementation of initiated cells may promote neoplastic progression. Given these considerations, the present series of experiments examines alterations in DNA metabolism and cumulative DNA lesions using an in vitro model of folate deprivation and repletion. DNA repair-deficient CHO-UV5 cells were cultured in Ham's F-12 medium or in custom-prepared Ham's F-12 medium lacking in folic acid, thymidine and hypoxanthine for a period of 18 days without cell passage. The results indicated that progressive folate and nucleotide depletion leads to a significant increase in the ratio of dUTP/dTTP and to the misincorporation of uracil into DNA. These alterations were accompanied by growth inhibition, DNA strand breaks, abasic sites and phenotypic abnormalities. After 14 days in culture, there was significant increase in gene amplification potential in the chronically folate-deficient cells, but no significant increase in anchorage-independent growth or in neoplastic transformation. Acute folate repletion of the deficient cells was used as a proliferative stimulus under conditions of dNTP pool imbalance and multiple lesions in DNA. A further increase in gene amplification was accompanied by anchorage-independent growth and neoplastic cell transformation as evidenced by aggressive tumor growth in Balb/c nu/nu mice. Using a sensitive in vitro model system, these results emphasize the essentiality of folic acid for de novo nucleotide synthesis and the integrity of the DNA. However, the in vivo relevance, especially in terms of tumorigenic potential, is not clear.
Work in progress - implementation of Second Life in electromagnetic theory course

As an abstract course, students struggle with core concepts in electromagnetic theory which negatively impact their ability to meet the expected competencies of the course. An out of class activity using the Second Life platform developed by Linden Labs, will be used to (1) implement instructional methods designed to improve conceptual understanding of introductory principles in an electromagnetic theory course, (2) encourage knowledge transfer with a problem solving experience, (3) explore ways to use the Second Life platform to encourage communication through engagement and interactivity amongst people in groups and (4) evaluate the Second Life virtual platform as an effective tool for instruction on introductory principles in an electromagnetism course. The Second Life platform was selected for its attractive animation that rivals video games that generation Y students use for recreation and for its ability to facilitate visualization of concepts in electromagnetism. Constructivist learning theory is applied in the design of the activities and is purposed so that the students will take more responsibility toward their own learning experience. Additionally, the activities are intended to assist students in more complex problems later in the course.
Primary Chemotherapy and Radiation as a Treatment Strategy for HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer

The incidence of human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV/OPSCC) is rapidly increasing, which will represent a major public health burden for decades to come. Although HPV/OPSCC is generally associated with a better prognosis than HPV-negative OPSCC, the survival rate of individuals with higher-risk clinical and pathologic features remains unchanged. Emerging evidence suggests that HPV/OPSCC is pathologically and molecularly distinct from HPV-negative OPSCC. This review focuses on summarizing treatment strategies for HPV/OPSCC by reviewing the peer-reviewed literature and noting ongoing and planned clinical trials in this disease. We also discuss the potential of designing targeted therapy based on the recent genomic findings of HPV/OPSCC.
Abortion Patients' Experience and Perceptions of Waiting Periods: Survey Evidence before Arizona's Two-visit 24-hour Mandatory Waiting Period Law

Abstract Background More than one-half of U.S. states now have laws requiring women to wait at least 24 hours between receiving information about abortion and the actual abortion procedure, with a few requiring longer waits, and one-fourth requiring that women receive this information in person. Although public discussions of waiting periods focus on how they affect women, we know little about abortion patients' perceptions of these requirements. Methods We collected data from 379 women seeking abortion care at an abortion facility in Arizona before Arizona's 24-hour waiting period two-visit requirement went into effect. Surveys focused on patients' experiences receiving abortion care before the waiting period and perceptions about how the additional clinic visit would affect them. Results Most women reported one or more financial or logistical challenges in obtaining abortion care. More than two-thirds reported difficulty paying abortion appointment–related expenses. These expenses prevented or delayed almost one-half from paying other expenses, such as rent, bills, and food, with lower income women more affected. The majority expected that the additional visit would result in additional financial and logistical hardships and delay them in having an abortion, with 90% reporting that the waiting period would lead to at least one hardship. Eight percent reported that the waiting period would have a positive effect on emotional well-being, and more than one-half reported that it would have a negative effect on emotional well-being. Conclusion Only a small minority of women seeking abortion care view a two-visit waiting period law as benefiting them; the overwhelming majority expect a waiting period to have adverse consequences.
Near-miss events, risk messages, and decision making

Decades of research have sought to understand how disaster preparedness decisions are made. We believe one understudied factor is the impact of near-miss events. A near-miss occurs when an event (such as a hurricane or terrorist attack) has some non-trivial probability of ending in disaster (loss of life, property damage), but the negative outcome is avoided largely by chance (e.g., at the last minute, the storm dissipates or the bomb fails to detonate). In the first of two experiments, we study reactions to a hurricane threat when participants are told about prior near-miss events. We find that people with information about a prior near-miss event that has no negative consequences are less likely to take protective measures than those with either no information or information about a prior near-miss event that has salient negative information. Similar results have been shown in prior research, but we seek to understand people’s reasoning for the different reactions. We examine the role of an individual’s risk propensity and general level of optimism as possible explanatory variables for the “near-miss” effect. We find risk propensity to be stable across conditions, whereas general optimism is influenced by the type of prior near-miss information, so that optimism mediates how near-miss information impacts protective decisions. People who experience a potentially hazardous near-miss but escape without obvious cues of damage will feel more optimistic and take less protective action. In the second study, we test messages about the hazard’s risk and examine the impact of these messages to offset the influence of near-misses. We end by discussing the implications of near-misses for risk communication.
Oxidative stress, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the red cell.

The red blood cell is highly specialized for the transport of oxygen to tissues and the removal of carbon dioxide. Lacking a nucleus, mitochondria and a ribosomal protein synthetic mechanism, and hence the capacity for “self-renewal”, the mammalian red cell has a fixed life span of 50-60 days in rats and about 120 days in humans. However, the apparent structural simplicity is misleading; the red cell is well designed for its purpose, consisting of a highly viscous hemoglobin “liquid crystal” surrounded by a skeletal protein meshwork underlying, and attached to, a lipid bilayer. During its lifetime, the human red cell will travel approximately 250 km and undergo continual transition between the biconcave disc of the large blood vessels and the sheer-stress elongated forms of the microcirculation. Restoration of biconcave discoidosity is an incompletely understood ATP-requiring active process, dependent in turn on the presence of a fully functional glycolytic pathway. Additional ATP production is required to support the various pumps essential to maintain the electrolyte milieu of the red cell.
An optimized surgical approach for obtaining stable extracellular single-unit recordings from the cerebellum of head-fixed behaving mice.

Abstract Background Electrophysiological recording approaches are essential for understanding brain function. Among these approaches are various methods of performing single-unit recordings. However, a major hurdle to overcome when recording single units in vivo is stability. Poor stability results in a low signal-to-noise ratio, which makes it challenging to isolate neuronal signals. Proper isolation is needed for differentiating a signal from neighboring cells or the noise inherent to electrophysiology. Insufficient isolation makes it impossible to analyze full action potential waveforms. A common source of instability is an inadequate surgery. Problems during surgery cause blood loss, tissue damage and poor healing of the surrounding tissue, limited access to the target brain region, and, importantly, unreliable fixation points for holding the mouse's head. New method We describe an optimized surgical procedure that ensures limited tissue damage and delineate a method for implanting head plates to hold the animal firmly in place. Results Using the cerebellum as a model, we implement an extracellular recording technique to acquire single units from Purkinje cells and cerebellar nuclear neurons in behaving mice. We validate the stability of our method by holding single units after injecting the powerful tremorgenic drug harmaline. We performed multiple structural analyses after recording. Comparison with existing methods Our approach is ideal for studying neuronal function in active mice and valuable for recording single-neuron activity when considerable motion is unavoidable. Conclusions The surgical principles we present for accessing the cerebellum can be easily adapted to examine the function of neurons in other brain regions.
Monitoring the Organization, Dynamics, and Interactions of Early B Cell Receptor Signaling Proteins using Live Cell Super-Resolution Microscopy

Signaling through the B cell receptor (BCR) is initiated when BCR on the plasma membrane is clustered through binding to multivalent antigen and is required for key memory functions of the adaptive immune system. Amplification and regulation of the antigen-stimulated signaling cascade involve dynamic rearrangement of membrane-resident signaling molecules relative to clustered BCR. BCR clusters are tens of nanometers in diameter, posing a challenge for direct imaging of interactions with signaling molecules that are short-lived or driven by processes with low interaction energies, such as lipid compositional heterogeneity. These challenges are compounded for live cell measurements by the mobility of membrane components and limitations in signal sampling density that restrict time resolution. We have turned to live-cell super-resolution localization microscopy to simultaneously image BCR and other membrane species during antigen-induced cell activation. We quantify stimulation-dependent co-localization using time-resolved pair cross-correlation analysis. We measure the association of minimal membrane-anchored photoactivatable probes with BCR and find that anchors that partition into ordered domains of model membranes co-localize with BCR clusters, while anchors that partition into disordered domains are excluded from clusters. This suggests that BCR clusters can nucleate local enrichment of a relatively ordered lipid composition, which could participate in recruitment or exclusion of regulatory signaling molecules. In ongoing experiments, we are applying this approach to dissect the contribution of the local lipid environment surrounding clustered BCR to its interactions with signaling partners that enhance or inhibit the response, e.g. adapter proteins and co-receptors. Our ability to measure subtle lipid-mediated effects on the co-distributions of BCR with other membrane species in living cells is enabled by the sensitivity of our quantitative approach and will provide insight on the forces driving regulation of BCR signaling.
A New Moldmade Bowl from Athens

A recently found Hellenistic moldmade bowl from the Athenian Agora displays a number of unusual features, but is most likely an Athenian product of the Workshop of Bion, a potter who produced moldmade bowls from the last quarter of the 3rd century until at least 175 BC. One of its stamps, a bull’s head, is closely paralleled on bowls made in Argos, and adds to previous evidence for a close relationship between the two producers.
A Clinical Study of Congenital Hearing Loss Following Maternal Rubella in Recent Years

母体の風疹感染が原因と思われた難聴例20例につき報告した。 患児は1982年から1997年に出生しており, 風疹流行に伴い1987年前後に集中していた。 母体は妊娠2ヵ月から7ヵ月に風疹に罹患していた。 三主徴については, 3例は白内障, 動脈管開存症を合併しており, その他の17例は難聴のみであった。 難聴の程度は, 妊娠初期の感染ほど高度であり, 妊娠4ヵ月以降の罹患例では聴力に左右差がみられ, 一側性難聴も3例あった。 患児の難聴の程度を確実に診断するためには, 正確な聴力検査の可能となる学齢期までは経過観察を行う必要があると思われる。 先天性風疹症候群の予防には, 風疹ワクチン接種の徹底と, 妊娠前の抗体検査が重要と思われる。
Therapeutic advances in pediatric cardiology.

Information is presented concerning advances in the management of heart failure, digitalis dosage in infancy, and interpretation of results of serum radioimmunoassay for the diagnosis of digoxin intoxication. The status of therapeutic trials in pharmacologic manipulation of the ductus arteriosus is also evaluated.
Performance predictors of brain-computer interfaces in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective. Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may benefit from brain–computer interfaces (BCI), but the utility of such devices likely will have to account for the functional, cognitive, and behavioral heterogeneity of this neurodegenerative disorder. Approach. In this study, a heterogeneous group of patients with ALS participated in a study on BCI based on the P300 event related potential and motor-imagery. Results. The presence of cognitive impairment in these patients significantly reduced the quality of the control signals required to use these communication systems, subsequently impairing performance, regardless of progression of physical symptoms. Loss in performance among the cognitively impaired was accompanied by a decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio of task-relevant EEG band power. There was also evidence that behavioral dysfunction negatively affects P300 speller performance. Finally, older participants achieved better performance on the P300 system than the motor-imagery system, indicating a preference of BCI paradigm with age. Significance. These findings highlight the importance of considering the heterogeneity of disease when designing BCI augmentative and alternative communication devices for clinical applications.
Parallel Scarp Retreat and Drainage Evolution, Pachmarhi Area, Madhya Pradesh, Central India

This study is the outcome of field and topographic map interpretations to evaluate the relationship between scarp retreat and associated drainage pattern evolution. The area under study is composed of gently north-dipping series of Gondwana (Triassic) sediments overlam by Deccan Trap basalts (Cenozoic). These sediments have been exhumed within an elliptical iniler, the Central India Gondwana Basin, due to domal uplift parallel with the Narmada river rift valley which lies to the north of the study area. The near east-west trending Pachmarhi Scarp developed within the Pachmarhi Sandstones is about 160 kilometers long and as much as 280 meters 10 height along the north-south minor axis of the dome. Outliers of the Pachmarhi Plateau (Upland Landscape) aligned parallel to the present scarp and some distance from it suggests parallel scarp retreat to the north. Numerous drainage lines on the Lowland Landscape south of the Pachmarhi Plateau are aligned parallel to the Pachmarhi Scarp and are interspaced with sandstone outilers astride the interfluves. The resulting rectangular drainage pattern also suggests former scarp positions. Continuing scarp retreat exhumes the underlying Bijori Shales on which evolves the Lowland Landscape. Scarp recession is believed to have been initiated by strike-streams developed along the feather edge of the northerly-tilted Pachmarhi Sandstones. Post-Deccan Trap uplift parallel to the Narmada rift valley lead to the entrenchment of major drainage lines that maintained their course across the axis of uplift and are hence considered antecedent. Minor streams that were defeated by the uplift occupied litho-tectonicc 'weak zones' both parallel to the scarp and at large angles with it, creating the rectangular and barbed drainage patterns. The Narmada river rift valley has acted as a recurrently active local base level at least since the post-Deccan Trap uplift and has had a major influence on 'stepped landform' evolution in the study area.
How well do degree days over the growing season capture the effect of climate on farmland values

Abstract Farmland values have traditionally been valued using seasonal temperature and precipitation but degree days over the growing season offer a more compact alternative. We find that degree days and daily temperature are interchangeable over the growing season. However, the impact of degree days in spring and summer is quite different. Climate effects outside the growing season are also significant. Cross sectional evidence suggests seasonal temperature and precipitation are very important whereas temperature extremes have relatively small effects.
Obiezione di coscienza e relativismo morale / Conscientious objection and moral relativism

Il lavoro passa brevemente in rassegna i cambiamenti relativi all’attuale comprensione della coscienza e analizza la probabilita che l’obiezione di coscienza sia accettata nel contesto delle nuove percezioni del ruolo della coscienza e del relativismo individualistico o culturale supportato dall’individualismo espressivo contemporaneo. Le critiche e le conclusioni di Husserl sullo scetticismo vengono utilizzate come riferimento per la discussione di tali prospettive. Le incoerenze logiche individuate in entrambe le teorie relativiste mostrano i principali problemi insiti nella loro formulazione e applicazione. Se ne conclude che in una societa basata sul relativismo morale sarebbe possibile respingere le ragioni dei singoli per l’obiezione di coscienza, invalidando i loro sforzi per salvaguardare la loro coscienza. Le revisioni della nozione di coscienza spesso invocano il rispetto per l’autonomia personale come salvaguardia dell’autogoverno da parte degli individui. Esaminando l’interpretazione prevalente del concetto di autonomia ne emergono la vaghezza e i limiti, ma ciononostante tale concetto e impiegato per mettere in discussione l’obiezione di coscienza. Dal momento che la possibilita di considerare molti punti di vista diversi e cio che caratterizza la proposta dei relativisti contemporanei a sostegno delle loro opinioni, lo studio che presentiamo affronta anche il problema di come sia veramente relativo il relativismo contemporaneo. Il risultato di questa analisi intende fornire un approfondimento sui problemi incontrati dal rifiuto della coscienza in un contesto sociale relativistico. ---------- This work reviewed briefly changes in the current understanding of conscience and analysed the likelihood of conscientious objections being accepted in the context of these new perceptions of the role of conscience and of the individual or cultural relativism supported by contemporary expressive individualism. Husserl’s critiques and conclusions about skepticism were used as models to discuss these prospects. Logical inconsistencies identified in both relativistic theories exposed fundamental problems in their formulation and application. It was concluded that in a society based on moral relativism, it would be possible to rebut the reasons of individuals to object in conscience, rendering void their efforts to safeguard their conscience. Revisions of the notion of conscience often invoke respect for personal autonomy as a safeguard of self-government by individuals. An examination of a prevailing concept of autonomy showed it riddled with imprecisions and limitations, but nonetheless employed to question the validity of objections in conscience. Since the ability to accommodate many different perspectives is a characteristic proposed by contemporary relativists in support of their views, the study addressed also the question of how truly relative is, in fact, contemporary relativism. The result of these analyses provided added insights into the problems faced by conscientious refusals in a relativistic social context.
Political incentives for rent creation

Rent-seeking is often depicted as a contest in which rent-seekers compete for a prize—the rent. In the process of rent-seeking, much or perhaps all of the rent is dissipated through the costs the contestants incur to compete. Rent dissipation is inconsistent with the incentives of both the rent-seekers and those who create the rents. Policymakers have an incentive to create rents only if they gain from the process, and their gain comes from sharing any surplus that goes to those who obtain the rents. A surplus can be created through a barrier to entry into rent-seeking. When institutions that generate barriers to entry into rent-seeking break down, rent-seeking competitions can occur in which all rents are dissipated, but this should be a special case rather than the general rule in rent-seeking.
Estimating apparent maximum muscle stress of trunk extensor muscles in older adults using subject-specific musculoskeletal models.

Maximum muscle stress (MMS) is a critical parameter in musculoskeletal modeling, defining the maximum force that a muscle of given size can produce. However, a wide range of MMS values have been reported in literature, and few studies have estimated MMS in trunk muscles. Due to widespread use of musculoskeletal models in studies of the spine and trunk, there is a need to determine reasonable magnitude and range of trunk MMS. We measured trunk extension strength in 49 participants over 65 years of age, surveyed participants about low back pain, and acquired quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scans of their lumbar spines. Trunk muscle morphology was assessed from QCT scans and used to create a subject-specific musculoskeletal model for each participant. Model-predicted extension strength was computed using a trunk muscle MMS of 100 N/cm2. The MMS of each subject-specific model was then adjusted until the measured strength matched the model-predicted strength (± 20 N). We found that measured trunk extension strength was significantly higher in men. With the initial constant MMS value, the musculoskeletal model generally over-predicted trunk extension strength. By adjusting MMS on a subject-specific basis, we found apparent MMS values ranging from 40-130 N/cm2, with an average of 75.5 N/cm2 for both men and women. Subjects with low back pain had lower apparent MMS than subjects with no back pain. This work incorporates a unique approach to estimate subject-specific trunk MMS values via musculoskeletal modeling and provides a useful insight into MMS variation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Perspectives on In Vitro to In Vivo Extrapolations.

Abstract Quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE) is broadly considered a prerequisite bridge from in vitro findings to a dose paradigm. Quality and relevance of cell systems are the first prerequisite for QIVIVE. Information-rich and mechanistic endpoints (biomarkers) improve extrapolations, but a sophisticated endpoint does not make a bad cell model a good one. The next need is reverse toxicokinetics (TK), which estimates the dose necessary to reach a tissue concentration that is active in vitro. The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) has created a roadmap for animal-free systemic toxicity testing, in which the needs and opportunities for TK are elaborated, in the context of different systemic toxicities. The report was discussed at two stakeholder forums in Brussels in 2012 and in Washington in 2013; the key recommendations are summarized herein. Contrary to common belief and the Paracelsus paradigm of everything is toxic, the majority of industrial chemicals ...
Nuclear TRIM25 Specifically Targets Influenza Virus Ribonucleoproteins to Block the Onset of RNA Chain Elongation

TRIM25 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that activates RIG-I to promote the antiviral interferon response. The NS1 protein from all strains of influenza A virus binds TRIM25, although not all virus strains block the interferon response, suggesting alternative mechanisms for TRIM25 action. Here we present a nuclear role for TRIM25 in specifically restricting influenza A virus replication. TRIM25 inhibits viral RNA synthesis through a direct mechanism that is independent of its ubiquitin ligase activity and the interferon pathway. This activity can be inhibited by the viral NS1 protein. TRIM25 inhibition of viral RNA synthesis results from its binding to viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs), the structures containing individual viral RNA segments, the viral polymerase, and multiple viral nucleoproteins. TRIM25 binding does not inhibit initiation of capped-RNA-primed viral mRNA synthesis by the viral polymerase. Rather, the onset of RNA chain elongation is inhibited because TRIM25 prohibits the movement of RNA into the polymerase complex.
Large-scale adaptive mesh simulations through non-volatile byte-addressable memory

Octree-based mesh adaptation has enabled simulations of complex physical phenomena. Existing meshing algorithms were proposed with the assumption that computer memory is volatile. Consequently, for failure recovery, the in-core algorithms need to save memory states as snapshots with slow file I/Os. The out-of-core algorithms store octants on disks for persistence. However, neither of them was designed to leverage unique characteristics of non-volatile byte-addressable memory (NVBM). In this paper, we propose a novel data structure Persistent Merged octree (PM-octree) for both meshing and in-memory storage of persistent octrees using NVBM. It is a multi-version data structure and can recover from failures using its earlier persistent version stored in NVBM. In addition, we design a feature-directed sampling approach to help dynamically transform the PM-octree layout for reducing NVBM-induced memory write latency. PM-octree has been successfully integrated with Gerris software for simulation of fluid dynamics. Our experimental results with real-world scientific workloads show that PM-octree scales up to 1.1 billion mesh elements with 1000 processors on the Titan supercomputer.