cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid methods to evaluate the bacteriological quality of frozen crabmeat.

The standard methods plate count (SMPC) of frozen crabmeat samples was compared with counts of two alternative aerobic plate count methods (Redigel, Petrifilm). The differences in counts were compared after incubation at two temperatures (35°C and room temperature; RT) and three intervals of time (24, 48, and 72 h). No statistical differences were found when the time of analysis or the method of analysis was compared. However, differences were observed within SMPC values and within Petrifilm plate count values when RT was compared to 35°C, Redigel plate counts at RT and 35°C were not significantly different. The results suggest that seafood plants could use the Redigel media, incubate samples at room temperature for 48 h, and furnish data comparable to SMPC.
The Effects of Information Technology and Distance on Economic Education

This paper evaluates the effect on student performance of using a new IT enhancement in the teaching of economics. The enhancement permits students to participate in the recording of lectures that can be downloaded later from the Internet. Two sections of the same Intermediate Microeconomics class were compared. Students exposed to the IT enhancement performed about four percentage points better, but this effect decreases for students residing further away from campus. Because they're more likely to substitute video for live lectures, the relatively lower performance for "further away students" is attributed to the benefits from direct student-teacher interactions that occur in live classes. The implication is that Internet-delivered video is a useful complement to live classroom participation but may be less effective as a substitute.
The High-Affinity (Ca 2 +-Mg 2 +)ATPase of Rat Liver Plasma Membrane Hydrolyzes Extracellular ATP

The intracellular free Ca2+ concentration is very low (in the region of 0.1µM) in contrast to extracellular [Ca2+ ], which is usually in the millimolar range. An energy-dependent Ca2+ transporter in the plasma membrane is therefore important in maintaining the concentration gradient. Studies on the biochemical properties of a Ca2+ pump were first carried out with sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane that is enriched with a Ca2+ pump (for review, see Tadaet al., 1978). These studies established several properties of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump: (1) The Ca2+ pump utilizes both Ca2+ -and Mg2+ -ATP as substrates. (2) It exhibits a high affinity for Ca2+ (in the submicromolar range). (3) It has a Ca2+ -stimulated ATPase activity. When the enzyme is incorporated into phospholipid vesicles, a coupled Ca2+ -stimulated ATP hydrolysis and Ca2+ transport can be demonstrated. (4) The mechanism of Ca2+ -stimulated ATP hydrolysis involves an enzyme phosphate intermediate. As a result of such a property, both the Ca2+ -stimulated ATP hydrolysis and Ca2+ transport can be inhibited by vanadate, a transition state analog of phosphate.
Performance Evaluation in Transmission Neutron Tomography using Geant4

Thermal neutron tomography is a non-destructive technique used for the investigation of the internal structure of objects. This technique provides complementary information to X-ray tomography for a wide range of applications in science and engineering. High spatial resolution of a neutron tomography system can be achieved with a thinner scintillator and a well collimated neutron beam. In this work, Geant4 is used to model and study the performance of a thermal neutron tomography system which includes a thermal neutron source, a scintillation screen and a pixilated imaging detector. The thermal neutron source is assumed to be a beam extracted from the PULSTAR research reactor at North Carolina State University (NCSU). The $^{6}$LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator is modelled along with the pixelated detector to record the projection data. The projection data is obtained by simulating $25 {\mu} \mathrm{m}, 50 {\mu} \mathrm{m}$ and $250 {\mu} \mathrm{m}$ thick scintillators at two positions from the beam aperture yielding different L/D ratio. The filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm is used for the reconstruction of the projection data. Several FBP filters are evaluated with the Hanning filter giving the best reconstruction performance. Further simulations are carried out for the measurement of the spatial resolution of the radiographs and the scintillator screen separately. The results show that as the scintillator screen thickness decreases and/or as the object and detector distance from the beam aperture increases, the spatial resolution improves. Estimation of the contribution of tomographic image reconstruction is performed and found to be of similar magnitude to other components.
The Influence of Mimicry on Wing Shape Evolution in the Butterfly Papilio dardanus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

Throughout its range in Africa, Papilio dardanus Brown, 1776 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) displays femalelimited mimicry of multiple model species, and the absence of hind wing tails is an important component of their mimetic convergence. Nonmimetic P. dardanus females have a narrow, disjunct distribution (Ethiopia, Madagascar, Comoros), and resemble males in color and by possessing hind wing tails. We used elliptical Fourier analysis to investigate whether mimetic P. dardanus female forms converged on the wing shape of their unpalatable models in the tribes Acraeini and Danaini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Models varied in forewing and hind wing shapes, and separated in shape space according to phylogenetic affinities. Forewing and hind wing shapes of mimics did not closely match those of models. Nonetheless, we found that mimetic P. dardanus female hind wings differed from conspecific males that had their tails photographically removed to allow standardized comparisons. Four nonmimetic Papilio Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) species did not show significant wing shape dimorphism between sexes, supporting the idea that in P. dardanus females, the evolution of mimicry led to changes in hind wing shape beyond the loss of tails.
Food Gastrology: A Voyage Through Our Guts

This chapter begins by discussing the evolution of the human gut from a cluster of primordial cells to a complex organ that plays a critical role in our health and wellness. It then describes the dynamic processes occurring inside our guts when we eat foods, including the dissolution, assimilation, and distribution of the essential nutrients we need to grow and survive. The passage of foods through the soft chambers and tunnels of our mouths, stomachs, intestines, and colons is followed. Recent advances in poop, pee, and fart science are assessed. The importance of the food-brain-gut axis on our food decisions is highlighted, particularly the relationship between food and mood. The modern rise of the food gastrologist is discussed and their role in designing foods that dissemble inside our bodies in specific ways that improve our health is given.
Cartoon-based e-cigarette marketing: Associations with susceptibility to use and perceived expectations of use

Abstract Background Manufacturers of e-cigarette-related products are using cartoons as a marketing strategy, despite restrictions on cartoon marketing for combustible cigarettes. Here, we examined associations between exposure to e-liquid packaging with cartoons (operationally defined as recognition of actual marketing images) and e-cigarette use, susceptibility to use, and expectations of benefits and risks of use. Methods U.S. adults completed online surveys assessing e-cigarette use. In Study 1, participants (N = 778; Mean age = 23.5 years; 62% women) completed a questionnaire assessing expectations about benefits and risks of use. Then they were presented with 22 e-liquid package images (with and without cartoons) and were asked to endorse whether they recognized the products. In Study 2, participants (N = 522; Mean age = 30.4; 55% women) were presented with 24 e-liquid images (with and without cartoons) and asked to rate product appeal. Results For Study 1, among never users, cartoon recognition was associated with greater likelihood of being susceptible to use e-cigarettes, and with expectations of taste enjoyment and social facilitation. For Study 2, there was no significant difference between cartoon and non-cartoon images on appeal ratings. Conclusions Cartoon-based marketing exposure – as measured by recognition of e-liquid package images – was associated with susceptibility to use e-cigarettes, which is consistent with previous research on the use of cartoons to promote combustible cigarettes. These data suggest that restrictions on the use of cartoon-based marketing strategies for e-cigarettes should be similar to those for cigarettes, to reduce susceptibility and perceived benefits among non-users.
Virtual and Cyber-Physical STEM Labs

Due to the rapid development of Internet-related technologies and the practical needs in education, virtual laboratories have caught attention of many researchers and educational practitioners. These virtual laboratories have been built to assimilate laboratory experiments in a realistic fashion with primary purpose of providing new and unique learning opportunities for students. Among these laboratories, the cyber-physical laboratory is one that offers web-based access to students with capabilities to manipulate objects in the physical laboratory (e.g., robots or 3D printer). This chapter synthesizes relevant literature findings for designing and developing cyber-physical laboratories and surveys the current uses of cyber-physical systems for STEM education. Through this effort, it is hoped to seek input and suggestions for ongoing development and usage of cyber-physical labs.
Binary Code Extraction and Interface Identification for Security Applications

Abstract : Binary code reutilization is the process of automatically identifying the interface and extracting the instructions and data dependencies of a code fragment from an executable program, so that it is self-contained and can be reused by external code. Binary code reutilization is useful for a number of security applications, including reusing the proprietary cryptographic or unpacking functions from a malware sample and for rewriting a network dialog. In this paper we conduct the first systematic study of automated binary code reutilization and its security applications. The main challenge in binary code reutilization is understanding the code fragment's interface. We propose a novel technique to identify the prototype of an undocumented code fragment directly from the program's binary, without access to source code or symbol information. Further, we must also extract the code itself from the binary so that it is self-contained and can be easily reused in another program. We design and implement a tool that uses a combination of dynamic and static analysis to automatically identify the prototype and extract the instructions of an assembly function into a form that can be reused by other C code. The extracted function can be run independently of the rest of the program's functionality and shared with other users. We apply our approach to scenarios that include extracting the encryption and decryption routines from malware samples, and show that these routines can be reused by a network proxy to decrypt encrypted traffic on the network. This allows the network proxy to rewrite the malware's encrypted traffic by combining the extracted encryption and decryption functions with the session keys and the protocol grammar.
Resistance among selected wild soybean and associated soybean accessions against two virulent colonies of Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) is an important pest of soybean (Glycine max). Wild soybean (Glycine soja; also known as ‘soja’) has many useful traits, including some accessions with aphid resistance that may be incorporated into modern soybean cultivars. The objective of this work was to evaluate 76 selected soja accessions and 14 associated soybean accessions for resistance against two virulent colonies of soybean aphid in environmental-chamber experiments. In free-choice tests, soja accessions PI 407175, PI 407190, PI 407206, PI 407240, PI 507624 and PI 562558 were resistant against the Accrue colony, and PI 407191wf and PI 597458 C were resistant against the Volga16 colony. None of the soybean test accessions except the resistant check, PI 437696, showed resistance against either colony in free-choice tests. In no-choice tests, soja accession PI 507624 showed strong resistance against the Accrue colony; whereas PI 407240 and PI 407190 had intermediate aphid levels; PI 597458 C showed strong resistance to Volga16 aphids, and PI 407191wf had an intermediate level of resistance. Based on results from both sets of tests, soja accessions PI 507624 and PI 597458 C may be strong candidates in breeding programs to develop aphid-resistant soybean cultivars.
Now the Tube Is In: Post-Intubation Sedation

Intubation and mechanical ventilation are procedures done regularly in the emergency department and ICU. Despite the routine nature of these procedures, care must be taken to make certain post-intubation support is managed with the utmost diligence. Essential components in caring for the intubated patient include providing adequate analgesia and sedation (Wood and Winters. J Em Med 40(4):419–427, 2011). An analgesia-first-based approach, along with use of validated tools to assess pain and sedation, is recommended by The Society of Critical Care Medicine (Barr et al. Crit Care Med 41:263–306, 2013). Ensuring your patient is safe and comfortable after intubation is a vital, and often overlooked, part of the airway process.
Taking Advantage of Employer Tax Incentives for Workplace Diversity

Increasing workplace diversity is a key component of the social pillar of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities. In this study, we use financial statement disclosures to identify firms that claim the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), a federal tax program that incentivizes businesses to hire underrepresented workers, thereby increasing workplace diversity. Consistent with companies claiming the WOTC when the economic benefits outweigh the costs, we find participation is more likely for companies that rely on lower-wage labor, are profitable, and are headquartered in states with WOTC-type tax incentives. Next, motivated by increased demand for corporate-level ESG activities, we examine the outcomes of WOTC disclosure. Relative to a matched control sample, firms disclosing WOTC participation receive higher ESG ratings on social issues and are more likely to be owned by socially responsible investment funds. Consistent with increased investor demand for firms engaged in ESG activities, we find WOTC disclosure is positively associated with stock liquidity. However, we find no association with firm value. Our findings provide relevant insights to legislators as they modify the WOTC and to companies evaluating the potential ESG benefits of WOTC participation and disclosure.
Applications of cybernetics to psychological theory: Historical and conceptual explorations:

This article outlines links between cybernetics and psychology through the black box metaphor using a tripartite narrative. The first part explores first-order cybernetic approaches to opening the ...
The Interpretation of Drug Action through Linear Free Energy Relationships

Students of the evaluation of the effects of chemical agents on biological systems have often hoped to be able to predict the biological effect of a given substance from its chemical constitution, or to have methods for the analysis of biological activities, which would provide insight into the mechanism of action of a given drug. In some respects, this possibility might be thought capable of being realised, at least partially, by the application of the same quantum chemical and linear free energy methods which are powerful predictive and analytical tools for the study of chemical reactions. The application of these methods to biological systems, however, must be recognised at the outset to lack, at present, the rigour to which one is accustomed in dealing with chemical systems. With drugs, what is observed in vivo is some biological effect such as an alleviation of pain, a relaxation of muscular or psychological tension, or a reduction in inflammation. Quantification of a drug effect observed in vivo ordinarily provides little information about the details of the processes responsible for the effect. Usually the drug response in vivo is a manifestation of the influence of non-pharmacological events such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and accumulation or binding, on the processes generating a pharmacological response. Only seldom, and most commonly with in vivo systems, does a drug effect appear to reflect the outcome of a direct combination of the drug with a pharmacological receptor, and even in these instances the characteristics of the drug as to penetration through membranes are not without influence. The events following the combination of drug and receptor, which constitute the pharmacological mechanism leading to the observed biological response, are largely unknown.
Translating into Morphologically Rich Languages with Synthetic Phrases

Translation into morphologically rich languages is an important but recalcitrant problem in MT. We present a simple and effective approach that deals with the problem in two phases. First, a discriminative model is learned to predict inflections of target words from rich source-side annotations. Then, this model is used to create additional sentencespecific word- and phrase-level translations that are added to a standard translation model as “synthetic” phrases. Our approach relies on morphological analysis of the target language, but we show that an unsupervised Bayesian model of morphology can successfully be used in place of a supervised analyzer. We report significant improvements in translation quality when translating from English to Russian, Hebrew and Swahili.
Machine learning in burn care and research: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract Background To date, there are no reviews on machine learning (ML) in burn care. Considering the growth of ML in medicine and the complexities and challenges of burn care, this review specializes on ML applications in burn care. The objective was to examine the features and impact of applications in targeting various aspects of burn care and research. Methods MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ScienceDirect, and citation review of relevant primary and review articles were searched for studies involving burn care/research and machine learning. Data were abstracted on study design, study size, year, population, application of burn care/research, ML technique(s), and algorithm performance. Results 15 retrospective observational studies involving burn patients met inclusion criteria. In total 5105 patients with acute thermal injury, 171 clinical burn wounds, 180 9-mer peptides, and 424 12-mer peptides were included in the studies. Studies focused on burn diagnosis (n = 5), aminoglycoside response (n = 3), hospital length of stay (n = 2), survival/mortality (n = 4), burn healing time (n = 1), and antimicrobial peptides in burn patients (n = 1). Of these 15 studies, 11 used artificial neural networks. Importantly, all studies demonstrated the benefits of ML in burn care/research and superior performance over traditional statistical methods. However, algorithm performance was assessed differently by different authors. Feature selection varied among studies, but studies with similar applications shared specific features including age, gender, presence of inhalation injury, total body surface area burned, and when available, various degrees of burns, infections, and previous histories/conditions of burn patients. Conclusion A common feature base may be determined for ML in burn care/research, but the impact of ML will require further validation in prospective observational studies and randomized clinical trials, establishment of common performance metrics, and high quality evidence about clinical and economic impacts. Only then can ML applications be advanced and accepted widely in burn care/research.
Earth Systems, Human Agency, and the Anthropocene: Planet Earth in the Human Age

A proposal to designate a new geological epoch of our own making—the Anthropocene—is being considered by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), part of the International Union of Geological Sciences. Based on a set of formal criteria, there is growing consensus for a Holocene–Anthropocene boundary set at some point in the last 200 years. A number of scientists have questioned the utility of such a designation because it overlooks the millennia-long history of human impacts on the planet and fails to focus on the causes of human domination of the Earth in favor of the effects. I review these debates and synthesize a variety of proposals for an Anthropocene beginning 10,000 years ago to as little as 50. I then review a number of parallel debates focused less on the geosciences and more on the political, social, and institutional implications of the Anthropocene. I demonstrate how and why formal ICS criteria for the designation of geological time units may be inadequate for effectively meeting the underlying rationale for designating a human-induced geological epoch and the role it is currently and, potentially, will continue to play in the court of public opinion.
DNA, Evolution, and the Moral Law

The Language of God . A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. By Francis S. Collins . Free Press (Simon and Schuster), New York, 2006. 303 pp. $26, C$32.95. ISBN 0-7432-8639-1. Holding that the principles of faith are complementary with those of science, the author presents his case for the existence of God and of miracles.
The calcifying odontogenic cyst. Report of a case.

Abstract A case involving a lesion which has been called calcifying odontogenic cyst, in agreement with Gorlin and associates, has been presented, and the clinical and histologic characteristics of the lesion have been discussed.
American literary realism, critical theory, and intellectual prestige, 1880-1995

Acknowledgements Introduction 1. William Dean Howells and the roots of realist taste 2. The 'facts of physical suffering', the literary intellectual and The Wings of the Dove 3. The 'genuine article': credit and ethnicity in The Rise of David Levinsky 4. What Nona knows 5. From reality, to materiality, to the real (and back again): the dynamics of distinction on the recent critical scene Notes Bibliography Index.
A Historical Perspective on Cancer

It is proposed that cancer results from the breakdown of universal control mechanisms which developed in mutual association as part of the historical process that brought individual cells together into multi-cellular communities. By systematically comparing the genomes of uni-celled with multi-celled organisms, one might be able to identify the most promising sites for intervention aimed at restoring the damaged control mechanisms and thereby arresting the cancer.
Long-term nicotine exposure elevates the expression of alpha7-nicotinic receptors (α7-nAChRs) in human squamous cell lung cancer cells via Sp1/GATA proteins (405.4)

Smoking has a strong association with the development of squamous cell carcinomas of the lung (SCC-L). Nicotine, the addictive component of cigarettes, promotes the proliferation of SCC-Ls via the ...
Prolonged grief symptoms related to loss of physical functioning: examining unique associations with medical service utilization

AbstractPurpose: Prolonged grief, a severe and chronic form of grieving most commonly studied in the context of bereavement, may have relevance to losses associated with chronic illness (e.g. grief related to loss of functioning or loss of a planned future). The purpose of the present study is to examine the unique associations between prolonged grief symptoms and service utilization patterns. Methods: An online self-report assessment battery was administered among a sample of 275 older adults with at least one chronic illness that caused significant physical impairment. Results: Even after statistically controlling for relevant physical health (e.g. severity of physical limitations, somatic symptoms, number of chronic illnesses) and psychosocial variables (e.g. social support, depression/anxiety), more severe prolonged grief symptoms were associated with a greater number of emergency room visits, overnight stays in the hospital and total nights in the hospital. Conclusions: These findings highlight the i...
Preferred crystal orientations due to melt convection during directional solidification

[1] Directional solidification of salt water results in a preferred crystallographic orientation, with ice platelets growing with their short dimension (the c axis of the hexagonal close packed (hcp) ice crystal) transverse to the growth direction. In the absence of a mean saltwater flow parallel to the solidification interface, the ice platelets, and hence the c axes, are arbitrarily oriented in the plane transverse to growth. Here we report on laboratory experiments on salt water solidifying horizontally from a vertical chill plate. This geometry yields a convectively driven, organized fluid flow parallel to the solidification interface, which we found causes the platelets to trend parallel to the flow direction. This contrasts with previous field and laboratory observations of ice solidifying vertically from salt water in the presence of an externally forced flow, such as an ocean current, where the c axes lie parallel to the flow direction. The results support the hypothesis that transverse textures result from a hydrodynamic interaction with hcp dendritic platelets but highlight the difference between flow driven internally versus externally to the dendritic mushy layer. They also suggest that convective fluid flow may be the cause for the fabric observed in resolidified cracks in sea ice sheets and perhaps that fluid motion in the Earth's outer core may play a role in the seismic anisotropy of the hcp iron inner core.
Serum albumin and bone mineral density in healthy older men and women: the Rancho Bernardo Study.

Serum albumin has been found to be positively correlated with bone mass in small studies of ambulatory men or women with diagnosed osteoporosis. In this study the relation between serum albumin and bone mineral density (BMD) was examined in 1593 white, community-dwelling men and women aged 50-95 years. BMD was determined using single-photon absorptiometry (SPA) at the ultradistal radius and the midshaft radius, and using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the hip and spine. Albumin was measured from a fasting blood sample using the Technicon SMA 12 autoanalyzer. Mean albumin levels in both men and women decreased significantly with increasing age. All but four values were within the normal range (3.5-5.0 g/dl). BMD decreased with increasing age at all sites. In both sexes there was weak positive correlation between serum albumin and BMD in the unadjusted model (Pearson's r values 0.18). Men and women were divided into three sex-specific categories--osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal--based on World Health Organization criteria in relation to young adult means (normal, BMD > -1 SD; osteopenia, BMD between -1 SD and -2.5 SD; osteoporosis, BMD < -2.5 SD). Mean albumin values did not differ significantly across the three BMD categories in men or women. BMD levels stratified for albumin levels and calcium supplement status (a marker for osteoporosis awareness) also did not differ. Albumin levels were also not associated with a history of low-trauma fractures. In summary, there was no age-independent association between serum albumin within the normal range and low BMD or fractures in community-dwelling healthy older adults. We conclude that previously reported associations most likely reflect inadequate adjustment for the age-related decrease in albumin levels and the selection of very frail osteoporotic subjects.
A family study of the hemoglobin polymorphism in Macaca fascicularis

Phenotypes for the major hemoglobin polymorphism resulting from the α-locus components Hb-Ami, Hb-Qmi and Hb-Pmi were determined for a sample of Macaca fascicularis. Family data employed to confirm the mode of inheritance of six phenotypes support the genetic hypothesis of three codominant alleles: (1) Hb-Ami, (2) Hb-Pmi and (3) Hb-AQmi, and α-locus duplication of Hb-Ami. The hypothesis that malaria imposes differential selective pressure upon the resulting phenotypes is discussed.
A Simple Valuation Model and Growth Expectations

A simple valuation model is presented in which a firm can invest in projects with positive net present values for a limited number of years. Although prior models have made this assumption, this model can be simplified to a concise, easy-to-use form. The model can facilitate a broad understanding of the expectations implied by a firm's stock price—for example, growth patterns consistent with a firm's P/E—which can guide in-depth analysis of prices.
Compression of the left atrium by the thoracic aorta in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation procedure for atrial fibrillation

With the increasing use of pre-procedural imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their integration with electroanatomic mapping systems in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), atypical anatomy of the pulmonary veins (PV), left atrium (LA) and their relationship to the thoracic aorta is increasingly recognized. To characterize atypical LA-PV anatomies revealed by pre-procedural MRI and their impact on the safety and efficacy of AF ablation procedures. We reported four patients who underwent AF ablation in our electrophysiology laboratory within the last year who had atypical LA-PV anatomy due to aorta compression recognized by pre-procedural three-dimensional (3D) MRI and anatomic segmentation. Twelve matched control cases without aorta compression were selected for comparison of LA-PV measurements. All four patients in this study had a normal-sized descending thoracic aorta that compressed the left atrium, and all patients had evidence of left inferior PV narrowing secondary to external compression. Two patients also had anterior LA compression leading to posteriorly displaced interatrial septum. Isolation was not achieved in some PVs due to anatomic restraints, concern regarding risks of aortic injury and worsening pulmonary vein stenosis. There were no immediate or short-term complications. Extrinsic compression by the descending aorta on the LA and PV leading to LA compression and/or preexisting PV stenosis is uncommon but has potentially important implications on the overall safety and efficacy of AF ablation procedures. Pre-procedural imaging plays an important role in assessing such anatomic variations and planning of the procedures in order to minimize the risk of PV stenosis and aortic injury.
Prolonged fasting activates hypoxia inducible factors-1α, -2α and -3α in a tissue-specific manner in northern elephant seal pups

Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are important regulators of energy homeostasis and cellular adaptation to low oxygen conditions. Northern elephant seals are naturally adapted to prolonged periods (1-2 months) of food deprivation (fasting) which result in metabolic changes that may activate HIF-1. However, the effects of prolonged fasting on HIFs are not well defined. We obtained the full-length cDNAs of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, and partial cDNA of HIF-3α in northern elephant seal pups. We also measured mRNA and nuclear protein content of HIF-1α, -2α, -3α in muscle and adipose during prolonged fasting (1, 3, 5 & 7 weeks), along with mRNA expression of HIF-mediated genes, LDH and VEGF. HIF-1α, -2α and -3α are 2595, 2852 and 1842 bp and encode proteins of 823, 864 and 586 amino acid residues with conserved domains needed for their function (bHLH and PAS) and regulation (ODD and TAD). HIF-1α and -2α mRNA expression increased 3- to 5-fold after 7 weeks of fasting in adipose and muscle, whereas HIF-3α increased 5-fold after 7 weeks of fasting in adipose. HIF-2α protein expression was detected in nuclear fractions from adipose and muscle, increasing approximately 2-fold, respectively with fasting. Expression of VEGF increased 3-fold after 7 weeks in adipose and muscle, whereas LDH mRNA expression increased 12-fold after 7 weeks in adipose. While the 3 HIFα genes are expressed in muscle and adipose, only HIF-2α protein was detectable in the nucleus suggesting that HIF-2α may contribute more significantly in the up-regulation of genes involved in the metabolic adaptation during fasting in the elephant seal.
Regarding ethics in forensic neuropsychological consultation: A comment on guilmette and hagan

Abstract Guilmette and Hagan present an issue that is important to neuropsychologists who engage in forensic practice: the applicability of the APA Ethics Code to situations where neuropsychologists consult with attorneys but do not testify or otherwise reveal their identity to opposing attorneys or consultants. The resulting anonymity could encourage the misuse of neuropsychological knowledge, according to Guilmette and Hagan. A review of the APA Ethics Code reveals that deliberate use of neuropsychological knowledge to assist attorneys in misleading juries and others is clearly not consistent with the spirit or the letter of the Code. Neuropsychologists are advised to behave in a manner consistent with the Code, even when seemingly protected by a cloak of anonymity.
Triggering the grande array

Abstract A brief description of the Gamma Ray And Neutrino Detector Experiment (GRANDE) is presented. The detector elements and electronics are described. The trigger logic for the array is then examined. The triggers for the Gamma Ray and the Neutrino portions of the array are treated separately.
Direct measurement of myocardial free radical generation in an in vivo model: Effects of postischemic reperfusion and treatment with human recombinant superoxide dismutase

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether postischemic reperfusion of the heart in living rabbits induces a burst of oxygen free radical generation that can be attenuated by recombinant human superoxide dismutase administered at the moment of reflow. Background. This phenomenon was previously demonstrated in crystalloid perfused, globally ischemic rabbit hearts. Methods. Thirty-two open chest rabbits were assigned to one of four groups of eight animals each: Group I (control animals), no coronary artery occlusion; Group II, 30 min of circumflex marginal coronary artery occlusion without reperfusion; Group III, 30 min of coronary occlusion followed by 60 s of reperfusion, and Group IV, 30 min of coronary occlusion followed by treatment with recombinant human superoxide dismutase (a 20-mg/kg body weight bolus 90 s before reperfusion and a 0.17-mg/kg infusion during 60 s of reperfusion). Full thickness biopsy specimens taken from the ischemic region were then rapidly freeze clamped and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed at 77 °K. Results. Three radical signals similar to those previously identified in the isolated, crystalloid perfused rabbit heart were observed: an isotropic signal with g = 2.004 suggestive of a semiquinone, an anisotropic signal with gI= 2.033 and gI= 2.005 suggestive of an oxygen-centered alkyl peroxy radical, and a triplet with g = 2.000 and aN= 24 G suggestive of a nitrogencentered radical. In addition, a fourth signal consistent with an iron-sulfur center was seen. The oxygen-centered free radical concentration during normal perfusion (Group I) was 1.8 ± 0.8 μmol compared with 4.4 ± 0.9 μmol after 30 min of regional ischemia without reperfusion (Group II) and 13.0 ± 2.5 μmol after 60 s of reperfusion (Group III) (p < 0.05 among all three groups). In contrast, superoxide dismutase treated-rabbits (Group IV) demonstrated a peak oxygen radical concentration of only 5.9 ± 1.2 μmol (p < 0.05 vs. Group III). Conclusions. This study demonstrates that reperfusion after regional myocardial ischemia in the intact rabbit is associated with a burst of oxygen-centered free radicals. The magnitude of this burst is greater than that seen after a comparable duration of global ischemia in the isolated, buffer-perfused rabbit heart preparation and is significantly reduced by superoxide dismutase administration begun just before reflow.
Hue difference contours can be used in processing orientation information

In most studies of orientation processing, chromatic information and achromatic information have been combined or confounded. The present experiments investigated the relative sizes of tilt aftereffect induced by these two types of information. In these experiments, the tilt aftereffect is the error in adjusting a test contour to vertical, following the scanning of an inspection contour. For inspection and test contours identical except for orientation, the tilt aftereffects varied with inspection contour orientation but not with chromatic or achromatic condition. Smaller tilt aftereffects were obtained when the inspection contour was produced by a hue difference (chromatic information) and the test contour was produced by a luminance difference (achromatic information), or vice versa. These results indicate that achromatic and chromatic information is processed in a similar manner with respect to orientation. Furthermore, there is substantial, but incomplete, pooling of chromatic and achromatic orientation information.
Time-course of recovery of 5-HT1A receptors and changes in 5-HT1A receptor mRNA after irreversible inactivation with EEDQ

In this study, the relationship between the expression of 5-HT1A receptors and level of receptor mRNA in discrete regions of rat brain was examined by inactivation of 5-HT1A receptors with the alkylating agent N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ; i.p., 10 mg/kg) and measurement of the time-course of receptor recovery and changes in receptor mRNA levels. Inactivation of 5-HT1A receptors ranged from 84% in the dorsal raphe to 97% in the cortex 12 h after administration of EEDQ. Receptor levels returned to 62-100% of control levels by day 7 and the rate of recovery was uniform across all regions examined. The rate of recovery of 5-HT1A receptors labeled by the agonist [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT) and by the putative antagonist [125I]4-(2'-methoxy)phenyl-1-[2'-(N-2"-pyridinyl)-p-iodobenzamido] ethylpiperazine ([125I]p-MPPI) did not differ across regions, suggesting that the ratio of high versus low affinity states of the 5-HT1A receptor remains relatively constant during receptor recovery. However, there did appear to be a short lag in the recovery of sites labeled with the agonist. Significant increases in 5-HT1A receptor mRNA levels were observed as early as 12 h after treatment in all regions but the magnitude of these increases varied. The time-courses of recovery of 5-HT1A receptors and changes in mRNA levels were not parallel in individual regions. Moreover, inactivation of low (8-26%) to moderate (29-57%) levels of 5-HT1A receptors produced no change in mRNA levels, whereas inactivation of greater than 90% elicited a robust increase in mRNA levels. Thus, changes in 5-HT1A receptor expression are not mediated exclusively by changes in mRNA levels and extensive receptor inactivation is required to trigger transcriptional regulation.
The effects of selective decontrol in the NYC rental housing market

During the past decade, over 200 cities in the United States have imposed rent control [Baird, t980, pp. 54-7]. Although most likely a response to the accelerating inflation of the 1970's, this second generation of rent control has been justified on the grounds of the existence of a housing crisis. In different locales the crises are described variously as arising from a housing shortage, low vacancy rates, rent increases, tenant hardship, housing deterioration, lack of new construction, or environmental necessity [Baar and Keating, 1975, p. 490]. Invariably, newly enacted rent control ordinances are presented as temporary measures. Presumably, policymakers view the imposition of rent control and its concomitant effects as reversible after the housing crisis, however defined, has passed. But is this assumption correct? Does decontrol restore market rents, maintenance levels, optimal crowding, and tenant mobility? Or are housing units permanently altered by virtue of their having been under rent controls? These are important issues in evaluating rent control as a feature of local housing policy. Surprisingly little empirical work has been done on the relationship between rent control and housing quality, crowding, and tenant turnover. Furthermore, the authors have found no empirical studies dealing with decontrol. The purpose of this paper is to make a modest contribution to understanding the efficacy of decontrol by exploring the effects of selective decontrol in New York City (NYC). The data used in this study are taken from the 1968 Special NYC Housing
Rapid and brief communication: Why direct LDA is not equivalent to LDA

In this paper, we present counter arguments against the direct LDA algorithm (D-LDA), which was previously claimed to be equivalent to Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). We show from Bayesian decision theory that D-LDA is actually a special case of LDA by directly taking the linear space of class means as the LDA solution. The pooled covariance estimate is completely ignored. Furthermore, we demonstrate that D-LDA is not equivalent to traditional subspace-based LDA in dealing with the Small Sample Size problem. As a result, D-LDA may impose a significant performance limitation in general applications.
Reimagining responsibility in synthetic biology

With the promise to address societal challenges by engineering life, synthetic biology claims the authority to declare what technological futures are possible, desirable, and good. This represents a reimagination and reordering of responsibilities of governance that demands public assessment and deliberation. Yet dominant approaches to assessing social and ethical issues in the biosciences generally neglect the role of scientific authority in configuring responsibilities of governance. This essay offers a diagnosis of this failure and suggestions to address it.
Thermodynamic Performance Optimization of Reciprocating Internal Combustion (IC) Engines

Reciprocating IC engines are traditionally modeled as operating on air standard cycles that approximate indicator diagrams obtained in experiments on real engines. These indicator diagrams can best be approximated by the dual cycle for both gasoline and diesel engines. Analysis of air standard cycles unfortunately fails to capture second law effects such as exergy destruction due to the irreversibility of combustion. Indeed, a complete thermodynamic study of any process requires application of both the first and second laws of thermodynamics. This article gives a combined first and second law analysis of reciprocating IC engines in general with optimization of performance as primary goal. A practical dual-like cycle is assumed for the operation of a typical reciprocating IC engine and process efficiencies are assigned to allow for irreversibilities in the compression and expansion processes. The combustion process is modeled instead of being replaced simply by a heat input process to air as is common in air standard cycle analysis. The study shows that performance of the engine can indeed be optimized on the basis of geometrical design parameters such as the compression ratio as well as the air-fuel ratio used for the combustion.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Mass anisotropy and planetary motion

The consequences of mass anisotropy for planetary motion are investigated. A precession of the perihelion in the plane of the orbit is predicted. Application of the theory to Mercury establishes an upper limit for the mass anisotropy ratio of 1.57.10-10 for planetary systems.
Judgments of remembering: The revelation effect in children and adults

Abstract When items on a recognition test are presented as a series of increasingly complete fragments rather than being presented initially in their fully intact form, adults’ judgments of recognition exhibit an increased tendency to judge items as “old,” an illusion of recognition referred to as the revelation effect. The present study used pictorial stimuli to test for a revelation effect with 4-year-olds, 8-year-olds, and adults ( N =76). A reliable revelation effect was found at all ages tested, indicating that the complex fluency-of-processing discrepancy detection and attribution mechanisms thought to be responsible for the effect function similarly across an age range from 4-years-of-age through adulthood. It was also found that the recognition decisions of the 8-year-olds and the adults were affected by how quickly they were able to identify a picture during the revelation phase of the recognition test. This effect was not found with the 4-year-olds, suggesting an age difference in the awareness and strategic use of an implicit memory effect when making explicit judgments of recognition.
Design Features in Vertebrate Sensory Systems

Synopsis. All vertebrates face the problem of analyzing events in their environments. In spite of environmental differences, there are, however, aspects of the problems of analyzing external events that are common. It can be expected that sensory systems thus have certain common design features that reflect the functional constraints placed on sensory systems as information processing networks. This article surveys the organization of vertebrate sensory systems and identifies several major design features. The nature of design features and the assumptions underlying their definition are then discussed.
Ringing: Frugal Subdivision of Curves and Surfaces

Ringing reduces the working memory needed during the rendering of subdivision curves, surfaces, and animations. For example, it only stores 4D vertices when rendering the dth level of subdivision of a polygon using four-point, cubic, or quintic B-spline subdivision masks. Ringing can be used on CPUs and GPUs.
Meltblown nanofiber media for enhanced quality factor

Nanofibers definitely hold great advantage and promise in filtration as they have very high specific surface area, which ensures greater probability of capturing the particles and hence, the filtration efficiency of the nanofiber filter media is high. Electrospun nanofibers are prohibitively expensive due to extremely low production rate. With recent advances in melt blowing technology, nanofibers could be produced at production rate few orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional single syringe electrospinning and hence, quite cost effective. Influence of air pressure and die to collector distance (DCD) were studied on the number average fiber diameter for the nanofibers as well as the performance properties of the nonwoven webs, each factor at three discrete levels. The nanofibers were as fine as 260 nm. A very encouraging observation of the study is very high values of quality factor observed for nanofiber nonwoven filter media. In order to compare the filtration efficiency of different nanofiber nonwoven media samples with different basis weight, a novel term of specific filtration efficiency is proposed and was found that the specific filtration efficiency with the increase in DCD or air pressure.