cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A specific sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitor attenuates airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a mast cell–dependent murine model of allergic asthma

Background Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which is produced by 2 sphingosine kinase (SphK) isoenzymes, SphK1 and SphK2, has been implicated in IgE-mediated mast cell responses. However, studies of allergic inflammation in isotype-specific SphK knockout mice have not clarified their contribution, and the role that S1P plays in vivo in a mast cell– and IgE-dependent murine model of allergic asthma has not yet been examined. Objective We used an isoenzyme-specific SphK1 inhibitor, SK1-I, to investigate the contributions of S1P and SphK1 to mast cell–dependent airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation in mice. Methods Allergic airway inflammation and AHR were examined in a mast cell–dependent murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)–induced asthma. C57BL/6 mice received intranasal delivery of SK1-I before sensitization and challenge with OVA or only before challenge. Results SK1-I inhibited antigen-dependent activation of human and murine mast cells and suppressed activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), a master transcription factor that regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. SK1-I treatment of mice sensitized to OVA in the absence of adjuvant, in which mast cell–dependent allergic inflammation develops, significantly reduced OVA-induced AHR to methacholine; decreased numbers of eosinophils and levels of the cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, IFN-γ, and TNF-α and the chemokines eotaxin and CCL2 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; and decreased pulmonary inflammation, as well as activation of NF-κB in the lungs. Conclusion S1P and SphK1 play important roles in mast cell–dependent, OVA-induced allergic inflammation and AHR, in part by regulating the NF-κB pathway.
Resolution of crossing fibers with constrained compressed sensing using traditional diffusion tensor MRI

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is widely used to characterize tissue micro-architecture and brain connectivity. Yet DTI suffers serious limitations in regions of crossing fibers because traditional tensor techniques cannot represent multiple, independent intra-voxel orientations. Compressed sensing has been proposed to resolve crossing fibers using a tensor mixture model (e.g., Crossing Fiber Angular Resolution of Intra-voxel structure, CFARI). Although similar in spirit to deconvolution approaches, CFARI uses sparsity to stabilize estimation with limited data rather than spatial consistency or limited model order. Here, we extend the CFARI approach to resolve crossing fibers through a strictly positive, parsimonious mixture model. Together with an optimized preconditioned conjugate gradient solver, estimation error and computational burden are greatly reduced over the initial presentation. Reliable estimates of intra-voxel orientations are demonstrated in simulation and in vivo using data representative of typical, low b-value (30 directions, 700 s/mm2) clinical DTI protocols. These sequences are achievable in 5 minutes at 3 T, and the whole brain CFARI analysis is tractable for routine analysis. With these improvements, CFARI provides a robust framework for identifying intra-voxel structure with conventional DTI protocols and shows great promise in helping to resolve the crossing fiber problem in current clinical imaging studies.
Simulated annealing: A review of the thermodynamic approach

Abstract Recent results using thermodynamic properties of a simulated annealing problem are reviewed. The results include an efficient schedule, a runtime implementation, a criterion for optimizing ensemble size and information theoretic bounds on the performance of the algorithm.
Multidetector CT in identification of an anomalous left main coronary artery and a small septal branch

Abstract Anomalous origin of the coronary arteries is a rare congenital abnormality that can be associated with increased risk of sudden death. Multidetector CT is now becoming a useful tool in defining coronary anatomy. We present a case of a 41-year-old male with an anomalous left main coronary artery and a small septal branch further identified using multidetector CT.
Optimal switching for partial differential equations II

Abstract Optimal switching problem for systems governed by abstract semilinear evolution equations is considered. The generator of semigroups is allowed to depend on the decision parameter and the nonlinear term in the evolution equation and the integral in the index are allowed to be unbounded. Under some mild conditions we prove that the value function of the optimal switching problem is the limit of the value functions of approximation problems. We also discuss the finite horizontal case and the problem of approximating continuous controls by switching.
An Application of Statistical Decision Theory to Cattle Feedlot Marketing

The commercial cattle feeder is continually faced with the decision of whether to market a particular lot of cattle at their current weight or to continue feeding them. Uncertainty about future price changes is an important factor in this decision. The study uses statistical decision theory to combine a priori information about the historical pattern of month‐to‐month price changes with information provided by a price forecasting model to develop monthly feed or sell decision criteria. These criteria specify the minimum predicted price change required to generate positive expected returns from feeding an additional 30 days.
A review of LU factorisation in the simplex algorithm

This paper reviews the computational aspects of the LU factorisation of large-scale linear optimisation bases. In the simplex algorithm, the solution of two linear systems, involving a square basis matrix and its transpose, accounts for a large portion of the computation time. The most widely used solution technique is LU factorisation and accompanying update routines. The utilisation of a column replacement update procedure means that a given factorisation may be kept over a large number of simplex iterations. Therefore, a significant emphasis is placed on the sparsity of the LU factors. This emphasis means that a suitable factorisation routine must be chosen with care. A review of LU factorisation is offered, including stability monitoring and analysis, sparsity analysis, error analysis, algorithmic aspects, and state-of-the-art LU factorisation routines.
Expression and function of members of a divergent nuclear receptor family in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a large class of ligand-regulated transcriptional modulators that have been shown to play roles in many developmental processes. The Caenorhabditis elegans genome is predicted to encode a large and divergent family of NR proteins. The functions of most of these genes are unknown. As a first step toward defining their roles, we have initiated an expression and functional survey of a subset of these genes. In this study, we demonstrate expression of 21 of 28 NR genes examined, indicating that a large fraction of the predicted genes likely encode functional gene products. We show that five genes are expressed predominantly in neuronal cells, while others are expressed in multiple cell types. Interestingly, we find that eight genes are expressed exclusively in the lateral hypodermal (seam) cells. These eight genes share a high degree of overall homology and cluster in a neighbor-joining tree derived from sequence analysis of the NRs, suggesting that they arose by gene duplication from a common ancestor. We show that overexpression of each of three members of this subfamily results in similar developmental defects, consistent with a redundant role for these genes in the function of the lateral hypodermal cells.
Capture and characterization of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine-treated C3H/10T1/2 cells prior to transformation

Abstract A model system was developed to capture phenotypically normal cells committed to transformation to address two fundamental questions in cancer biology: (i) what are the earliest events in transformation; and (ii) what is the role of DNA methylation in carcinogenesis? Individual C3H/10T1/2 cells were treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, which causes hypomethylation of DNA. Cells were grown to subconfluence, and individual microcolonies were trypsinized into two fractions. One fraction was cryopreserved, and the other was replated and maintained in culture. Ten percent of these replated colonies became morphologically transformed after 4-6 weeks. The cryopreserved ancestral cells of both transformed and nontransformed microcolonies were then cultured and compared to each other and to the transformants for phenotypic properties of cellular transformation. Pretransformed and nonpretransformed ancestral cells were initially morphologically indistinguishable, their early growth curves did not differ significantly, and they did not form colonies in soft agar. On continued growth in culture, however, the pretransformants displayed all of the phenotypic characteristics of transformation. Furthermore, transformation occurred in a given pretransformant in most or all of the cells of that clone. Thus, cells committed to transformation could be isolated in this way prior to phenotypic transformation. Studies of these pretransformed cells will permit examination of the earliest events in carcinogenesis and the role of DNA methylation in transformation.
Comparison of an automated most-probable-number technique with traditional plating methods for estimating populations of total aerobes, coliforms, and Escherichia coli associated with freshly processed broiler chickens.

An instrument (TEMPO) has been developed to automate the most-probable-number (MPN) technique and reduce the effort required to estimate some bacterial populations. We compared the automated MPN technique with traditional microbiological plating methods and Petrifilm methods for estimating the total viable count of aerobic microorganisms (TVC), total coliforms (CC), and Escherichia coli populations (EC) on freshly processed broiler chicken carcasses (postchill whole carcass rinse [WCR] samples) and cumulative drip-line samples from a commercial broiler processing facility. Overall, 120 broiler carcasses, 36 prechill drip-line samples, and 40 postchill drip-line samples were collected over 5 days (representing five individual flocks) and analyzed by the automated MPN and direct agar plating and Petrifilm methods. The TVC correlation coefficient between the automated MPN and traditional methods was very high (0.972) for the prechill drip samples, which had mean log-transformed values of 3.09 and 3.02, respe...
Using spatial statistics to characterise pavement properties

This paper provides an overview of the statistical models available to characterise spatial variability, and some applications of these models to pavements. It is intended as an introduction for pavement engineers, because these methods are not widely known in the pavements community, and as a guide for conducting simple spatial analysis. Spatial statistics offer a number of insights into the nature of variability in pavement materials and structure, such as the range over which one can expect to see correlation between measurements, and provide a statistically sound procedure for estimating properties between samples. These models have been used recently to gain insights into variability in pavement performance, which could lead to them being incorporated into mechanistic-empirical design methods, although more works still need to be done in this area.
A generalized quantile estimator

An alternative to the conventional sample quantlle Is proposed as a nonparametrlc estimator of a continuous population quantlle.The alternative estimator Is a "generalized sample quantlle" obtained by averaging an appropriate subsample quantlle over all subsamples of .a fixed size.Since the resulting statistic is a U-statistic with representation also as a linear combination of order statistics, known results are employed then to establish asymptotic normality.The alternative estimator is shown to be asymptotically efficient in the class of nonparametrlc models specified by Pfanzagl (1975).Analytic results and Monte Carlo studies with a moderate sample size for a variety of distributions Indicate that the proposed estimator usually provides mean square error of estimation less than that of the conventional sample quantile.
Innate immune recognition: mechanisms and pathways

The innate immune system is an evolutionarily ancient form of host defense found in most multicellular organisms. Inducible responses of the innate immune system are triggered upon pathogen recognition by a set of pattern recognition receptors. These receptors recognize conserved molecular patterns shared by large groups of microorganisms. Recognition of these patterns allows the innate immune system not only to detect the presence of an infectious microbe, but also to determine the type of the infecting pathogen. Pattern recognition receptors activate conserved host defense signaling pathways that control the expression of a variety of immune response genes.
Quantum chaos and nuclear physics

Many-body quantum chaos results from interparticle interactions in mesoscopic systems at sufficiently high level density. A short review shows that, going beyond generic properties of local spectral statistics, the ideas of many-body quantum chaos serve as a rich source of new theoretical approaches, computational and experimental tools. Chosen examples include the enhancement of weak perturbations, thermalization in finite systems, exponential convergence of large Hamiltonian matrices and correlations between the states of different symmetry.
Xenin-25 delays gastric emptying and reduces postprandial glucose levels in humans with and without type 2 diabetes.

Xenin-25 (Xen) is a neurotensin-related peptide secreted by a subset of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)-producing enteroendocrine cells. In animals, Xen regulates gastrointestina...
Property tax revaluation and tax levy growth

Abstract Jurisdiction-wide property revaluation, like many administrative reforms, may have unintended consequences. This paper examines one such potential consequence. By pooling 18-year time series for each of 39 Massachusetts cities (17 of which revalued) and 270 Massachusetts towns (202 of which revalued), we examine the hypothesis that politicians take advantage of the confusion generated by revaluation and raise property taxes by more than they otherwise would have. We observe such a response in cities but not in towns and attribute this difference to differences in their governmental structures.
The temporal relationship between recall and subjective organization

Subjects were presented with a list of unrelated words in a multitrial free-recall paradigm. Items were correctly recalled significantly earlier in the sequence of trials than they were first entered into units of intertrial repetition (ITR). These findings corroborate Carterette and Coleman’s (1963) conclusion and imply that subjective organization has little to do with making items initially accessible for recall. However, other findings suggest that subjective organization may be important in making items more reliably accessible. Additional analyses showed that, unlike “forward” ITR units, “reverse” ITR units remained significantly below chance across all trials. Implications of this for the use of the bidirectional ITR measure are discussed.
Role of Electrostatics in the Mechanochemical Rotary Mechanism of F1-ATPase

F1-ATPase is a remarkable motor consisting of a rotating stalk and a stator crown undergoing catalysis. The enzyme synthesizes or hydrolyzes ATP depending on the clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the stalk respectively. Innovative AFM and single molecule spectroscopy have led to the direct observation of intermediate events during the hydrolysis cycle (1), although a consistent theoretical understanding is still missing that successfully bridges the gap between modeling and observed facts. Here we use a coarse grained (CG) model with a realistic electrostatic treatment (2) to dissect the rotary mechanism of the complete F1-ATPase motor. The structure-based free energy landscape of the enzyme generated by our CG model reproduced the energetics of the mechanochemical process (3), thus providing a theoretical understanding of the tight coupling between the key chemical and conformational events. It is found that the landscape along the observed rotary path are consistent with the single molecule experiments and also support the baffling experimental finding that the stalk rotates in the right direction even in the absence of most of the part embedded within the crown cavity (4). These results not only highlight the importance of electrostatics in guiding the action of F1-ATPase, but also provide valuable means to discriminate between different theoretical models like steric mechanism, elastic strain based mechanism or stochastic Brownian motor underlying the action of biological rotary motors.(1) Adachi K, et al. Cell, 130, 309–321 (2007).(2) B. M. Messer, M. Roca,Z. T. Chu, S.Vicatos, A. V. Kilshtain and A. Warshel, PROTEINS,78, 1212–1227 (2010).(3) S. Mukherjee and A. Warshel, PNAS submitted (2011).(4) Furuike S, et al. Science, 319, 955–958 (2008).
The dissociation energy of SrO

Abstract Ab initio calculations using a large STO basis set yield a dissociation energy estimate for SrO of Do = 4.36 ± 0.10 eV. A reinterpretation of Engelke, Sander and Zare's crossed-beam chemiluminescent study corroborates this result giving Do ⩾ 4.27 ± 0.15 eV.
Cycles in random k -ary maps and the poor performance of random number generation

Knuth [The Art of Computer Programming, vol. 2: Semi-Numerical Algorithms, 3rd ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1997] shows that iterations of a random function perform poorly on average as a random number generator. He proposes a generalization in which the next value depends on two or more previous values. This note demonstrates, via an analysis of the cycle length of a random k-ary map, the equally poor performance of a random instance in Knuth's more general model.
Calculation of solar radiation using a methodology with worldwide potential

Surface meteorological observations from the DATSAV2 database provide the capability to use the METSTAT (meteorological/statistical) model to calculate hourly values of direct normal, diffuse horizontal, and global horizontal solar radiation for locations throughout the world. Opaque cloud cover, a key input parameter to the METSTAT model, is derived from the DATSAV2 layered cloud cover information. Resulting multiyear data sets include solar radiation and other meteorological data such as dry bulb temperature, dew point temperature, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. Data filling procedures ensure that the multiyear data sets are serially complete. A minor revision to METSTAT improved solar radiation estimates for conditions of high cloud amounts and low ceiling heights. The methodology was applied to regions of Southern Africa and Saudi Arabia.
Predicting modes of spatial change from state-and-transition models

State-and-transition models (STMs) can represent many different types of landscape change, from simple gradient-driven transitions to complex, (pseudo-) random patterns. While previous applications of STMs have focused on individual states and transitions, this study addresses broader-scale modes of spatial change based on the entire network of states and transitions. STMs are treated as mathematical graphs, and several metrics from algebraic graph theory are applied—spectral radius, algebraic connectivity, and the S-metric. These indicate, respectively, the amplification of environmental change by state transitions, the relative rate of propagation of state changes through the landscape, and the degree of system structural constraints on the spatial propagation of state transitions. The analysis is illustrated by application to the Gualalupe/San Antonio River delta, Texas, with soil types as representations of system states. Concepts of change in deltaic environments are typically based on successional patterns in response to forcings such as sea level change or river inflows. However, results indicate more complex modes of change associated with amplification of changes in system states, relatively rapid spatial propagation of state transitions, and some structural constraints within the system. The implications are that complex, spatially variable state transitions are likely, constrained by local (within-delta) environmental gradients and initial conditions. As in most applications, the STM used in this study is a representation of observed state transitions. While the usual predictive application of STMs is identification of local state changes associated with, e.g., management strategies, the methods presented here show how STMs can be used at a broader scale to identify landscape scale modes of spatial change.
Taking a second look at Germany's motivation to establish economic and monetary union: A critique of ‘economic interests’ claims

One of the most widespread explanations of Germany's willingness to create European monetary union is that business or economic interest groups supported and lobbied for it, believing it would be good for them. This article refutes the argument that economic interests were actively involved in the process or that they had a causal impact on the German government's acceptance of EMU. Empirical evidence shows that economic interest groups in Germany were hesitant and sceptical about monetary union, especially since the EMS was working well. Economic interests belatedly mimicked the demands of the Bundesbank that EMU be insulated from political pressure and that price stability be enshrined in the charter, but they did not urge the government to join. Moreover, the members of peak business organisations were themselves divided on the merits of EMU. Thus, this article falsifies the claim that business or economic interests were the driving force behind Kohl's willingness to give up the DM.
Lithium-induced psoriasis of the fingernails.

cases. As yet, it has not been reported in any English-language literature. Therefore we provisionally termed it follicular keratosis ofthe chin. It can be misdiagnosed as a nevoid condition! because of its appearance and lack of inflammation. This condition may be related to mechanical comedones in atopic children, as reported by Honda,2 and to keratosis pilaris3, 4 and acne mechanica. 5 Follicular keratosis is of the chin does not respond to treatment with corticosteroid or keratolytic ointments but clears in 1 to 3 months after avoidance of habitual trauma.
Comparison of LII derived soot temperature measurements with LII model predictions for soot in a laminar diffusion flame

Laser-induced incandescence (LII) was used to derive temperatures of pulsed laser heated soot particles from their thermal emission intensities detected at two wavelengths in a laminar ethylene/air co-annular diffusion flame. The results are compared to those of a numerical nanoscale heat and mass transfer model. Both aggregate and primary particle soot size distributions were measured using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The model predictions were numerically averaged over these experimentally derived size distributions. The excitation laser wavelength was 532 nm, and the LII signal was detected at 445 nm and 780 nm. A wide range of laser fluence from very low to moderate (0.13 to 1.56 mJ/mm2) was used in the experiments. A large part of the temporal decay curve, beginning 12–15 nsec after the peak of the laser excitation pulse, is successfully described by the model, resulting in the determination of accommodation coefficients, which varies somewhat with soot temperature and is in the range of 0.36 to 0.46. However, in the soot evaporative regime, the model greatly overpredicts the cooling rate shortly after the laser pulse. At lower fluences, where evaporation is negligible, the initial experimental cooling rates, immediately following the laser pulse, are anomalously high. Potential physical processes that could account for these effects are discussed. From the present data the soot absorption function, E(m), of 0.4 at 532 nm is obtained. A procedure for correcting the measured signals for the flame radiation is presented. It is further shown that accounting for the local gas temperature increase due to heat transfer from soot particles to the gas significantly improves the agreement in the temperature dependence of soot cooling rates between model and experiments over a large range of laser fluences.
An inositol phosphate glycan derived from a Trypanosoma brucei glycosyl phosphatidylinositol promotes protein dephosphorylation in rat epididymal adipocytes.

Some of the acute actions of insulin may be mediated by an enzyme-modulating inositol phosphate glycan, produced by the insulin-sensitive hydrolysis of a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol that is structurally similar to a membrane protein anchor. An inositol glycan fragment from the structurally characterized Trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor inhibits isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis in intact rat epididymal adipocytes in a manner mechanistically similar to that of insulin. To explore these effects in more detail, we evaluated the effects of this glycan on protein phosphorylation. Isoproterenol stimulates the phosphorylation of a 70-kilodalton (kDa) protein in these cells. Like insulin, the glycan fragment specifically attenuates the phosphorylation state of the phosphoprotein. In purified adipocyte cytosol, the glycan stimulates the dephosphorylation on serine residues of a 70-kDa protein in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The glycan-dependent dephosph...
Distribution and metabolism of norepinephrine after its administration into the cerebroventricular system of the cat.

Abstract Five μc of dl - 3 H-norepinephrine was injected into the cerebroventricular system of cat brain by means of stereotaxically implanted cannulae in the third or lateral ventricles. At various times after its administration various brain regions were examined for content of 3 H-norepinephrine, 3 H-normetanephrine, 3 H-deaminated catechol metabolites and 3 H-deaminated O -methylated metabolites. After the injection into the left lateral ventricle, 3 H-norepinephrine was concentrated in the left caudate nucleus and hypothalamus. Lesser amounts were found in the left hippocampus, the wall of the left lateral ventricle, brain stem and cerebellum. After injection into the third ventricle, 3 H-norepinephrine was retained primarily by areas caudal to the third ventricle (hypothalamus and brain stem). Thus, the regional distribution of 3 H-norepinephrine depends upon the site of injection and the ability of various areas lining the ventricular system to accumulate norepinephrine. The major metabolite in each area was 3 H-normetanephrine. Much smaller amounts of deaminated metabolites were detected. The pattern of metabolites was not affected by various anesthetic agents and remained relatively constant over a 24-hr period after injection of 3 H-norepinephrine. Pretreatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor did not alter the brain content of endogenous or 3 H-norepinephrine but did increase the percentage of 3 H-normetanephrine. Pretreat- ment with reserpine reduced endogenous levels of norepinephrine and 3 H-norepinephrine but increased the percentage of 3 H-normetanephrine and 3 H-deaminated metabolites in all brain regions.
Evolution of alpha-fetoprotein: sequence comparisons among AFP species and with albumin species.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin are related proteins, which contain about 585 amino acid residues that are organized in a characteristic structure of 3 homologous domains of about 195 amino acid r
Policy Alternatives to Improve Demand for Water-Related Ecosystem Services in the Panama Canal Watershed

Summary The Panama Canal plays a prominent role in Panama's economy. The functioning of the Canal is dependent on the Canal Watershed (PCW), which provides over two billion gallons of fresh water on a daily basis. Furthermore, the PCW supplies potable water for the major urban centers of the country, including Panama City and Colon. While demand for fresh water is high, by all accounts the provision of water supply is taken for granted in Panama. Although the deforestation of the PCW affects both water quality and quantity, there is little institutional will or social pressure to address these concerns. The result is an absence of formal demand for watershed services, either through direct regulation of land use in the PCW or indirectly through financial inducements offered by the government or water users to land managers. We conclude that the most effective policy alternatives to stimulate demand for such services will complement or address politically salient concerns of the Government of Panama, such ...
Comic strategies and the American covenant

This article examines the speeches of John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon regarding the “religious” issue at the 1960 Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner. It argues that both men used comic strategies to create a more inclusive American covenant and emphasizes the importance of examining both the pragmatic and cultural implications of presidential campaign rhetoric.
Gaining a Geostatistical Advantage In Near-surface Modeling

The near-surface geology of Saudi Arabia is very complex and challenging. To resolve the near surface issues, several methods have been developed which reduce the uncertainty of static corrections. Two layer models correct for vertical time to base of weathering and the sub-weathering to datum. The refractor depth and velocity is initially derived from the intercept-time analysis of source gathers (Bridle et al., 2003).
Signal duration and suppression of operant responding by free reinforcement

Abstract Pigeons were trained on a VI (variable interval) schedule of food presentation with a superimposed schedule of response-independent food. Substantial suppression of the operant response rate occurred when the free food was presented without a signal. When the free food was preceded by a short (4 sec) signal, the degree of suppression was similar to that with unsignaled free food. But when the signal was lengthened to 12 sec, the degree of suppression was substantially reduced. Experiment 3 assessed the effect of signal duration using a baseline schedule of delayed reinforcement, in which contingent reinforcers were themselves preceded by a signal. The signal preceding the free reinforcers was then either the same as or different from this contingent signal. Signal duration effects occurred only when the two types of signals were different. These differences as a function of signal duration have implications for both “context-blocking” and “comparator” interpretations of the effects of noncontingent reinforcement in both Pavlovian and operant procedures.
Computer Forensics And Electronic Evidence - Failure of Competent Computer Forensic Analysis And Other Computer-Related Acts As Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel

American defendants have the right to the effective assistance of counsel in criminal prosecutions pursuant to the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. We examine how the effective assistance of counsel addresses competence and expertise with computer and digital forensics and electronic evidence. There is a floor of competence in modern litigation requiring competence as to the use of computer forensic services, at least in cases where electronic evidence is used. This is an area that is only now developing and which will continue to evolve. Examination of reported United States cases show a significant increase in the referenced use of computer forensics from 2004 through 2010, indicating significant growth in the use of digital forensics. Digital forensics has also been referenced by the courts, thought to a lesser degree. There are also the first reported cases to appear that assert defense counsel was ineffective for not using such counsel, asserting that counsel was not competent in that failure. The numbers of such cases, though, are too small to indicate anything other than the appearance of this concern as a matter required of competent counsel. Nonetheless, it may indicate a growing use and expectation of competence in the use of computer and digital forensic expertise in the analysis of electronic evidence.
Sensitivity of an automatic external defibrillator for ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients undergoing electrophysiologic studies.

Abstract An automatic advisory external defibrillator (AED) was activated during all arrhythmias occurring at the time of 77 electrophysiologic studies in 45 patients. Sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred during 55 studies in 31 patients and nonsustained VT was induced during 10 studies in 9 patients. Ventricular fibrillation was induced 5 times in 5 patients and atrial arrhythmias with a rapid ventricular response occurred during 7 studies in 4 patients. The AED detection algorithm advised “shock” during 36 of 55 (65%) episodes of sustained VT and all 5 episodes of ventricular fibrillation. The device correctly advised “shock” for all 6 episodes of nonsustained VT that spontaneously terminated after analysis was complete. Thus, the sensitivity of the device for all ventricular arrhythmias analyzed was 47 of 66 (71%). The device recommended “shock” for all 31 episodes of rapid VT and 1 of 2 episodes of atrial fibrillation associated with systemic hypotension (32 of 33, 97%). The 19 episodes of VT for which “no shock” was advised were comparatively slow and were hemodynamically well tolerated. The device recommended “no shock” during all 21 episodes of normal sinus rhythm and all 20 episodes of rapid atrial pacing (cycle length 400 ms) analyzed. “No shock” was advised during 4 episodes of sustained narrow QRS complex supraventricular tachycardia and 4 brief episodes of nonsustained VT that terminated before analysis was complete. Thus, in this study the specificity of the AED for wide complex tachycardias was 100%.
Stochastic seismic response analysis of soft soil sites

A well-known equivalent linearization technique is proposed for the stochastic response analysis in the time-domain of horizontally layered soil deposits under vertically propagating random shear waves. The Bouc-Wen smooth hysteretic model is used and properly extended to better represent the nonlinear-hysteretic shearing stress-strain relation of soils observed under cyclic loading with fixed and variable limits. The earthquake ground motions are modeled as nonstationary Gaussian processes and the soil response is obtained in terms of its response statistics from which the statistics of the surface ground accelerations and site-specific response spectra can be obtained.
Temporal filtering for restoration of wavelet-compressed motion imagery

Temporal filtering of motion imagery can alleviate the effects of noise and artifacts in the data by incorporating observations of the imagery data from several distinct frames. If the noise that is expected to occur in the data is well-modeled by independent and identically distributed (IID) Gaussian noise, then straightforward algorithms can be designed that filter along motion trajectories in an optimal fashion. This paper addresses the restoration of motion imagery that have been compressed by scalar quantization of the data's discrete wavelet transform coefficients. Noise due to compression in such situations is neither independent nor identically distributed, and thus straightforward filters designed for the IID case are suboptimal. This paper provides a statistical characterization of the quantization error and shows how the improved noise modeling can be used in temporal filtering to improve visual quality of the decompressed motion imagery. Example restoration results include the cases where the data have been compressed by quantization of two- and three-dimensional wavelet transform coefficients. Although not developed in this work, the noise model is also directly applicable to other restoration algorithms that incorporate information from other time instants, such as super-resolution.
Multiscaffold DNA Origami Nanoparticle Waveguides

DNA origami templated self-assembly has shown its potential in creating rationally designed nanophotonic devices in a parallel and repeatable manner. In this investigation, we employ a multiscaffold DNA origami approach to fabricate linear waveguides of 10 nm diameter gold nanoparticles. This approach provides independent control over nanoparticle separation and spatial arrangement. The waveguides were characterized using atomic force microscopy and far-field polarization spectroscopy. This work provides a path toward large-scale plasmonic circuitry.
Source and Magnitude of Censure in Predictions of Unethical Behavior

This study investigated the relationship of the prediction of ethical risk raking and the severity and agency of censure—self, family, peer group, and society. A significant interaction between agency and magnitude of censure was noted. With high censure, societal censure reduced risk taking most effectively; however, with low censure self-censure was most effective in inhibiting risk taking.
The Attitudinal Impact of Training in Gerontology/Geriatrics in Medical School: A Review of the Literature and Perspective

The authors review the literature regarding the effect of education on medical student attitudes toward patient care and toward geriatric patient care in particular. The ability of gerontologic/geriatric programs to foster positive attitudes toward the elderly has been modest. Empathically oriented programs that stress the establishment of contact with healthy, functioning older persons, however, may be twice as effective as cognitively oriented programs that stress the acquisition of technical knowledge. The societal, institutional, and intra/interpersonal forces that work to facilitate or limit the impact of such programs are discussed, and the potential for educational intervention is assessed.
Anti-Intellectual Attitudes and Academic Self-Efficacy Among Business Students

Anti-intellectualism refers to a student's lack of interest in and disrespect for intellectual pursuits and critical thinking and a preference for an education experience that is practical and requires only memorization. Academic self-efficacy refers to a student's confidence in his or her ability to succeed in challenging academic tasks. The author investigated the extent of anti-intellectual attitudes and academic selfefficacy among 666 business students in 3 universities. The results showed an average attitude of anti-intellectualism and only a moderate level of self-efficacy among these anti-intellectual students. Students with high academic self-efficacy had low anti-intellectualism attitudes. Demographic differences also emerged that have consequences for educators.
Near-infrared spectroscopy of above the barrier to linearity

Since the Royal Society Discussion Meeting on in 2000, the laboratory spectroscopy of has entered a new regime. For the first time, transitions of above the barrier to linearity have been observed. A highly sensitive near-infrared spectrometer based on a titanium:sapphire laser and incorporating a dual-beam, double-modulation technique with bidirectional optical multi-passing has been developed in order to detect these transitions, which are more than 4600 times weaker than the fundamental band. We discuss our recent work on the , , , and combination bands and the , , and overtone bands. Experimentally determined energy levels provide a critical test of ab initio calculations in this challenging energy regime (greater than 10 000 cm −1 ). By comparing the experimental energy levels and theoretical energy levels from ab initio calculations in which the adiabatic and relativistic corrections are incorporated, the extent of higher-order effects such as non-adiabatic and radiative corrections is revealed.
A Bayesian stochastic programming approach to an employee scheduling problem

Bayesian forecasting models provide distributional estimates for random parameters, and relative to classical schemes, have the advantage that they can rapidly capture changes in nonstationary systems using limited historical data. Unlike deterministic optimization, stochastic programs explicitly incorporate distributions for random parameters in the model formulation, and thus have the advantage that the resulting solutions more fully hedge against future contingencies. In this paper, we exploit the strengths of Bayesian prediction and stochastic programming in a rolling-horizon approach that can be applied to solve real-world problems. We illustrate the methodology on an employee production scheduling problem with uncertain up-times of manufacturing equipment and uncertain production rates. Computational results indicate the value of our approach.
Monitoring granule traffic in megakaryocytes

Heritable granule deficiencies have enabled the identification of proteins involved in dense granule biogenesis. Yet how these proteins are organized into pathways to create dense granules has remained unknown due to a lack of adequate cellular models to study platelet granule trafficking. Ambrosio
The raincore distributed session service for networking elements

Motivated by the explosive growth of the Internet, we study efficient and fault-tolerant distributed session layer protocols for networking elements. These protocols are designed to enable a network cluster to share the state information necessary for balancing network traffic and computation load among a group of networking elements. In addition, in the presence of failures, they allow network traffic to fail-over from failed networking elements to healthy ones. To maximize the overall network throughput of the networking cluster, we assume a unicast communication medium for these protocols. The Raincore Distributed Session Service is based on a fault-tolerant token protocol, and provides group membership, reliable multicast and mutual exclusion services in a networking environment. We show that this service provides atomic reliable multicast with consistent ordering. We also show that Raincore token protocol consumes less overhead than a broadcast-based protocol in this environment in terms of CPU task-switching. The Raincore technology was transferred to Rainfinity, a startup company that is focusing on software for Internet reliability and performance. Rainwall, Rainfinity’s first product, was developed using the Raincore Distributed Session Service. We present initial performance results of the Rainwall product that validates our design assumptions and goals.
Modeling Topic Diffusion in Multi-Relational Bibliographic Information Networks

Information diffusion has been widely studied in networks, aiming to model the spread of information among objects when they are connected with each other. Most of the current research assumes the underlying network is homogeneous, i.e., objects are of the same type and they are connected by links with the same semantic meanings. However, in the real word, objects are connected via different types of relationships, forming multi-relational heterogeneous information networks. In this paper, we propose to model information diffusion in such multi-relational networks, by distinguishing the power in passing information around for different types of relationships. We propose two variations of the linear threshold model for multi-relational networks, by considering the aggregation of information at either the model level or the relation level. In addition, we use real diffusion action logs to learn the parameters in these models, which will benefit diffusion prediction in real networks. We apply our diffusion models in two real bibliographic information networks, DBLP network and APS network, and experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of our models compared with single-relational diffusion models. Moreover, our models can determine the diffusion power of each relation type, which helps us understand the diffusion process better in the multi-relational bibliographic network scenario.
Information secrecy from multiple eavesdroppers in orthogonal relay channels

The secrecy capacity of relay channels with orthogonal components is studied in the presence of additional passive eavesdropper nodes. The relay and destination receive signals from the source on two orthogonal channels such that the destination also receives transmissions from the relay on its channel. The eavesdropper(s) can overhear either one or both of the orthogonal channels. For a single eavesdropper node, the secrecy capacity is shown to be achieved by a partial decode-and-forward (PDF) scheme when the eavesdropper can overhear only one of the two orthogonal channels. For the case of two eavesdropper nodes, secrecy capacity is shown to be achieved by PDF for a sub-class of channels.
Glutamate Release Monitored with Astrocyte Transporter Currents during LTP

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission in the CA1 region of the hippocampus is thought to result from either increased transmitter release, heightened postsynaptic sensitivity, or a combination of the two. We have measured evoked glutamate release from Schaffer collateral/commissural fiber terminals in CA1 by recording synaptically activated glutamate transporter currents in hippocampal astrocytes located in stratum radiatum. Although several manipulations of release probability caused parallel changes in extracellular field potentials and synaptically activated transporter current amplitudes, induction of LTP failed to alter transporter-mediated responses, suggesting that LTP does not alter the amount of glutamate released upon synaptic stimulation.
Pseudovertical Temperature Profiles in a Broad Valley from Lines of Temperature Sensors on Sidewalls

AbstractPseudovertical temperature “soundings” from lines of inexpensive temperature sensors on the sidewalls of Utah’s Salt Lake valley are compared with contemporaneous radiosonde soundings from the north, open end of the valley. Morning [0415 mountain standard time (MST)] soundings are colder, and afternoon (1615 MST) soundings are warmer than radiosonde soundings because of warm and cold boundary layers that form over the slopes. Cross-valley temperature differences occur between east- and west-facing sidewalls because of differing insolation. Differences in vertically averaged pseudovertical and radiosonde temperatures are generally within 1°C, with a standard deviation of 2°–3°C. The pseudovertical soundings are especially good proxies for radiosondes in winter. The sounding comparisons identified along-valley differences in temperature, inversion depth, and lapse rate that have led to hypotheses concerning their causes, to be evaluated with future research. The low cost and much better time resolut...
The impact of eye movements and cognitive workload on lateral position variability in driving

Objective:The objective of this work was to understand the relationship between eye movements and cognitive workload in maintaining lane position while driving.Background:Recent findings in driving research have found that, paradoxically, increases in cognitive workload decrease lateral position variability. If people drive where they look and drivers look more centrally with increased cognitive workload, then one could explain the decreases in lateral position variability as a result of changes in lateral eye movements. In contrast, it is also possible that cognitive workload brings about these patterns regardless of changes in eye movements.Method:We conducted three experiments involving a fixed-base driving simulator to independently manipulate eye movements and cognitive workload.Results:Results indicated that eye movements played a modest role in lateral position variability, whereas cognitive workload played a much more substantial role.Conclusions:Increases in cognitive workload decrease lane posit...