cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The multiplexity of political conspiracy: illegal networks and the collapse of Watergate

Using historical data from the United State's Watergate criminal conspiracy case, we construct five sociomatrices representing the multiplex social relations of political conspiracy. Sociomatrices representing (1) the social relations of the illegal relations among the conspirators, (2) fractious relations between the conspirators during the working period of the conspiracy, (3) fractious relations between the conspirators during the crisis stage of the conspiracy, (4) the flow of money among the conspirators and (5) the relations of which specific conspirators testified against specific other co-conspirators. The quadratic assignment procedure (QAP analysis) is used to determine the extent to which these five sociomatrices are inter-related. QAP analysis shows that the structure of the five sociomatrices are related to each other, implying that political conspiracies are composed of multiplex relations of working acts of deviance, relations of dyadic fractiousness, conduits of illegal financing and the b...
STIS and GHRS Observations of Warm and Hot Gas Overlying the Scutum Supershell (GS 018–04+44)*

We present Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) and Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) observations of interstellar UV absorption toward HD 177989, a B0 III star at 4.9 kpc in the direction l = 178, b = -119. The line of sight passes through the high-latitude ejecta of the Scutum supershell (GS 018-06+44), which is ~5° in diameter extending ~7° below the Galactic plane at a kinematic distance of ~3.5 kpc in the Scutum spiral arm. The observations with the STIS E140H and GHRS echelle B gratings provide far- and middle-UV spectra at resolutions (FWHM) of ~3 km s-1 and a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of ~20:1 to 50:1. The observations reveal strong and broad absorption in the lines of Si IV and C IV centered on LSR velocities of +18 and +42 km s-1 and weaker absorption from these ions near -50 and -13 km s-1. Weak absorption by N V extends over the full velocity range traced by Si IV and C IV. The +18 km s-1 high-ionization absorption likely occurs in gas ~400 pc below the Sagittarius spiral arm, while the extremely strong +42 km s-1 absorption occurs in highly ionized gas in the Scutum supershell at a distance of ~700 pc below the Galactic plane. The properties of the highly ionized gas associated with the Scutum supershell are similar to the gas found in radio loops I and IV; in both cases there is a strong enhancement in the column density of C IV without a corresponding increase in the column density of N V, which causes N(C IV)/N(N V) to be among the largest measured in the interstellar medium. The low-ionization absorption lines of N I, S II, Si II, and Fe II produce narrow absorption features at +37, +40 km s-1 and +55, +60 km s-1. The strength and kinematic properties of these absorption features bear no resemblance to those expected for the high-latitude neutral cloud seen in the H I 21 cm line. This may be due to the relatively low angular resolution (FWHM ~21') of the 21 cm observations. The kinematic relationships among the high-ionization and low-ionization absorption lines observed in the UV suggest a related origin in a hot-warm gas interface region. We are possibly seeing the warm gas in the swept-up shell surrounding a region where hot gas is being vented into the halo. In the warm gas, N(N I)/N(S II) ~0.01 solar, which implies a similar value for N(H0)/[N(H0) + N(H+)]. The warm neutral and ionized gas in the matter overlying the Scutum supershell has values of Si /S and Fe /S roughly similar to those found in the warm neutral medium of the Galactic disk in the vicinity of the Sun. While there has been grain processing in the ejecta of the Scutum supershell, the processing has not been complete. Based on observations of interstellar C IV and Si IV at high S/N and high resolution toward four very distant stars, we determine that highly ionized gas absorption components occur at a frequency of ~1 component kpc-1. The strongest components are associated with lines of sight that pass over or under spiral arms or that pass though Galactic supershells.
The Myth of Imperiled Whiteness and Ethan Frome

Blanketed in whiteness—bleak, frozen, snowed in—the widely read and taught Ethan Frome has a little-recognized racist subtext. Expressing early-twentieth-century nativist anxieties about immigrants of color, Wharton warns that old, white, Yankee New England is disappearing, its farms withering, as swarthy foreigners increasingly dominate the newly industrialized landscape.
Gain in the gas-loaded FEL

Abstract In a gas-loaded free electron laser, multiple scattering causes considerable degradation in electron beam quality as the beam propagates through the gas-filled wiggler chamber. To determine the effect on small-signal gain, the conventional gain derivation is revised to include a non-uniform optical mode area, finite electron beam energy spread and finite beam emittance and current density, which both vary with propagation. The results show that gain can result from FEL designs with interaction lengths longer than the conventional maximum given by the criterion of accumulated phase shift equal to π. This makes possible a gas-loaded FEL which utilizes a long wiggler and a asymmetic optical mode to enhance the electron-optical field interaction. This design allows substantial gain at wavelengths down to the ultraviolet.
Expression of clpX, an ATPase Subunit of the Clp Protease, Is Heat and Cold Shock Inducible in Lactococcus lactis

In this study, the clpX gene and surrounding sequences were cloned and sequenced from Lactococcus lactis. The putative clpX gene encodes a 411 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular weight of 45.8 kDa. Analysis of the relative levels of clpX transcript revealed that in addition to a role in proteolysis of heat damaged proteins, ClpX may also be involved in cryoprotection.
Alterations in Lung Function and Anatomy in Heart Failure with Particular Reference to Mitral Stenosis

The effects of cardiac disease on the lung have been discussed with particular references to the congestive failure state. In addition, those factors peculiar to rheumatic heart disease, when it is the cause of this failure, have been emphasized. The sequence of events starts with elevation of the left atrial pressure, leading in turn to changes in the pulmonary hemodynamics and pulmonary blood volume. These in turn produce changes in the pulmonary ventilation perfusion relationships which have been described. The complicating anatomical alterations which are secondary to the pressure alterations have also been discussed.
Influenza HA Subtypes Demonstrate Divergent Phenotypes for Cleavage Activation and pH of Fusion: Implications for Host Range and Adaptation

The influenza A virus (IAV) HA protein must be activated by host cells proteases in order to prime the molecule for fusion. Consequently, the availability of activating proteases and the susceptibility of HA to protease activity represents key factors in facilitating virus infection. As such, understanding the intricacies of HA cleavage by various proteases is necessary to derive insights into the emergence of pandemic viruses. To examine these properties, we generated a panel of HAs that are representative of the 16 HA subtypes that circulate in aquatic birds, as well as HAs representative of the subtypes that have infected the human population over the last century. We examined the susceptibility of the panel of HA proteins to trypsin, as well as human airway trypsin-like protease (HAT) and transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Additionally, we examined the pH at which these HAs mediated membrane fusion, as this property is related to the stability of the HA molecule and influences the capacity of influenza viruses to remain infectious in natural environments. Our results show that cleavage efficiency can vary significantly for individual HAs, depending on the protease, and that some HA subtypes display stringent selectivity for specific proteases as activators of fusion function. Additionally, we found that the pH of fusion varies by 0.7 pH units among the subtypes, and notably, we observed that the pH of fusion for most HAs from human isolates was lower than that observed from avian isolates of the same subtype. Overall, these data provide the first broad-spectrum analysis of cleavage-activation and membrane fusion characteristics for all of the IAV HA subtypes, and also show that there are substantial differences between the subtypes that may influence transmission among hosts and establishment in new species.
Ototoxicity in developing mammals.

Abstract Developing mammals are more sensitive to noise, chemical and drug-induced ototoxicity than adults, with maximum sensitivity occurring during periods of anatomical and functional maturation of the cochlea. Normal physiological development of resting potentials (the endocochlear potential) and sound-evoked potentials including cochlear microphonics, summating potentials, compound action potentials, auditory brainstem responses and more recently distortion-product otoacoustic emissions have been characterized in several species including rats, mice, kittens, gerbils and guinea pigs. All of these responses are significantly impaired following acoustic trauma and/or exposure to a variety of ototoxic agents including aminoglycoside antibiotics, loop diuretics, antithyroid and antitumor drugs (α-difluoromethylornithine) and excitatory amino acids. Coupled with physiological and anatomical development is the maturation of specific biochemical pathways, which may be vulnerable targets of environmental noise and chemicals, excitatory amino acids and therapeutic drugs with ototoxic potentials.
An implantable CMOS analog signal processor for multiplexed microelectrode recording arrays

A second-generation multichannel probe designed for measuring single-unit activity in neural structures is described. The probe includes CMOS circuitry for amplifying and multiplexing the recorded signals and for electronically positioning the recording sites with respect to the active neurons. The probe offers a typical AC gain of 150 (50 Hz to 10 kHz), a DC gain of 0.3, and an equivalent input noise of 13 mu V rms. Eight active recording sites are selected from among 32 on the probe shank using a static input channel selector. The probe implements channel selection, self-tuning data output, and initialization using a three-lead connection to the outside world. The probe is realized using 12 masks in a high-yield single-sided dissolved wafer process with a 3- mu m feature size for the circuitry and a 3- mu m pitch on the electrode shanks. >
Fluorescent derivatives of polyribonucleotides containing ε-adenosine

Abstract Polyriboadenylic acid may be converted to a fluorescent derivative by treatment with chloroacetaldehyde, which leads to the introduction of e-adenylate groups. The properties of such fluorescent derivatives, and of their complexes with polyribouridylic acid, have been examined. The emission properties, including the intensity and polarization of fluorescence, respond to helix → coil transitions involving the polyriboadenylate chain. The conversion of the labeled polyriboadenylic acid to a more rigid bi- or trihelical species is reflected by an increase in apparent rotational relaxation time.
Characteristics, drug combinations and dosages of primary care patients with uncontrolled ambulatory blood pressure and high medication adherence

Most studies on the prevalence and determinants of resistant hypertension (RH) do not account for white coat hypertension, medication non-adherence, or use of suboptimal treatment dosages. We studied the characteristics, drug combinations, and dosages of patients on at least three antihypertensives of different classes who had uncontrolled blood pressure on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and high medication adherence measured by electronic monitoring. The data were collected as part of the baseline measures of a hypertension control trial. Of 140 monitored primary care patients, all with uncontrolled office blood pressure, 69 (49%) were on at least three antihypertensives of different classes. Of these 69, 15 (22%) were controlled on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 20 (29%) were uncontrolled and non-adherent, leaving only 34 (49%) adherent to their medications and having uncontrolled ambulatory hypertension (uncontrolled RH). Thirty-one (91%) of the 34 uncontrolled RH patients were prescribed a diuretic, of which 24 were on hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg. Less than half of the patients on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, or calcium channel blocker were prescribed maximal doses of these agents. Half of the RH can be attributed to white coat effect and poor medication adherence, and all of the remaining patients were on apparently suboptimal drug combinations and/or dosages. Primary care physicians need to be educated regarding the optimal treatment of RH.
2013 Dade W. Moeller lecture: Medical countermeasures against radiological terrorism

Soon after the 9-11 attacks, politicians and scientists began to question our ability to cope with a large-scale radiological terrorism incident. The outline of what was needed was fairly obvious: the ability to prevent such an attack, methods to cope with the medical consequences, the ability to clean up afterward, and the tools to figure out who perpetrated the attack and bring them to justice. The medical response needed three components: the technology to determine rapidly the radiation doses received by a large number of people, methods for alleviating acute hematological radiation injuries, and therapies for mitigation and treatment of chronic radiation injuries. Research done to date has shown that a realistic medical response plan is scientifically possible, but the regulatory and financial barriers to achieving this may currently be insurmountable.
Welcome to Medical Sciences: A New Open Access Platform for Research on Basic Medicines

The scientific world is filled with both challenges and opportunities across disciplines. Around the world, all look for opportunities to improve the economy by investing in biomedical research, as well as in biotechnology. Within biotechnology, drug discovery and therapeutics remain the mainstays of biomedical research. [...]
Oct4 RNA interference induces trophectoderm differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Summary: We examined whether suppression of Oct4 via RNA interference (RNAi) would affect embryonic stem (ES) cell lineage choice. Cells were transfected with plasmids containing an independently expressed reporter gene and an RNA polymerase type III promoter to constitutively express small stem-loop RNA transcripts corresponding to Oct4 mRNA. Cells transfected with Oct4 RNAi constructs demonstrated reduced levels of Oct4 mRNA and exhibited characteristics of trophectodermal differentiation. These findings support the critical role of Oct4 in regulating stem cell identity and suggest that future experiments using RNAi in ES cells can elucidate the roles of other genes affecting lineage specification during differentiation. genesis 37:18–24, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Rebuilding the Park: The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on a Black Middle-Class Neighborhood

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina unveiled the legacy of racial and class stratification in New Orleans, Louisiana. Much of the Katrina-related research has focused primarily on how poor Black neighborhoods were disproportionately affected by the disaster. While this body of research makes valid claims, there has been very little research that examines how Black middle-class residents in New Orleans were impacted by Hurricane Katrina. This study examines how residents in Pontchartrain Park, a Black middle-class neighborhood, are responding to the disaster. The author uses in-depth interviews, ethnographic observations, and archival data to examine the barriers that residents are facing in the recovery process. She argues that the experiences of the Black middle class also have implications for the connectedness of race and class. The challenges discussed within the article are linked to a history of racial stratification.
Enhancement of mitogen response and surface marker analysis of lymphocytes from yuong and old donors after preliminary incubation in vitro

Abstract We have examined the detailed kinetics of PHA induced proliferation of freshly isolated mononuclear cells from young and old human donors. Our studies confirm that donors over the age of 60 years may have a decreased number of PHA responsive cells and that these cells have a significantly diminished rate of entry into the first cell cycle. Age of the donor does not affect the time at which significant numbers of cells appear in first S-phase, the duration of first S-phase, the doubling time in exponential growth, and thymidine uptake per cell. Cells from young and old donors were also cultured in medium supplemented with pooled human serum for 1 or 2 days prior to the PHA response assay. After 2 days of preliminary culture, the PHA response in both young and old is significantly enhanced, with a greater enhancement in the old. The basis of this enhancement appears to be a significant increase in rate of entry into the first cell cycle. None of the other kinetic parameters were significantly altered. The magnitude of the rate enhancement in old donors' cells eliminated the difference in entry rate betwee young and old after 2 days of preliminary culture. The same rate enhancing effects were seen in the presence of serum pooled from young or old donors. There is no statistically significant change in the number of responding cells after preliminary culture. We had previously suggested, based on lactate dehydrogenase (LD) subunit ratio and patterns of T cell associated surface markers, that less differentiated subpopulations of T cells exist in elderly donors. After preliminary culture, no significant change was seen in the proportions of cells positive for T3, T4, T8, T10 and Ia surface antigens and the unusual pattern of surface marker distribution was still present on the old donors' cells. It appears that the greater rate enhancement in old donors' cells after preliminary culture may not be due to induced maturation of the possibly less differentiated T cell populations described previously. The results do suggest that these subpopulations may be non-responsive to PHA.
The influence of metal oxide properties on the oxidation of organics

Abstract The ‘anodic oxidation’ of p -benzoquinone has been studied using a range of anode materials. The influence of the applied current density on the removal rate of p -benzoquinone has also been studied. An increase in the applied current density was found to increase the removal rate of p -benzoquinone only slightly, thus resulting in an actual decrease of the current efficiency of this process. The removal rate for p -benzoquinone was found to be influenced by several properties of the anode material. In fact, a relationship between properties of the anode such as its electroactive surface area and the removal rate of organics appears to exist.
A Virtual Global Magnetic Observatory Network: VGMO.NET

Since the mid-1990s, many geomagnetic datasets began appearing on the World Wide Web. Often these data were not submitted to the World Data Centers as recommended since the International Geophysical Year (1957- 58). As a result, existing data become naturally distributed creating an urgent need for more sophisticated search engines capable of identifying and retrieving the data from Web for scientific analyses. We introduce a Virtual Global Magnetic Observatory concept for “pulling” geomagnetic data distributed worldwide. The VGMO moves information exchange from simple file transfers to a higher level of abstraction, forming the distributed databases through establishment of self-organizing data nodes. We present the first working VGMO prototype: an “on-demand” objects-building Internet application that is transparent in its internal data management to the external users/clients. The VGMO server continuously builds data-objects only from client requests by going through a pre-set list of Web-based data nodes (including WDCs). As the retrieved data are added to the server (or node) database, future requests of the same interval would not force a new Web search. Furthermore, new nodes can be made available to others through the VGMO network, building the worldwide geomagnetic data “fabric” in a platform-independent and location-neutral environment of newly “webbed“ digital data. Application is on a server at http://mist.engin.umich.edu.
Supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children with a note on the surgical correction of late cubitus varus

Abstract A new classification of supracondylar fractures is proposed in the light of experience gained in treating a large series of these fractures in children. This classification has proved useful as a guide to the clinical management of these injuries and helpful in predicting the likelihood of complications both early and late.
Migration and dispersal by the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci

Abstract Research on short-range dispersal (less than 10 km) by supposedly weakly flying insects, e.g., whiteflies, has not enjoyed the attention paid to dispersal by strong flying insects that are capable of migrating more than 100 km, such as some leafhoppers. Possible exceptions are studies concerning dispersal by the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci . We wanted to determine to what extent whitefly flight is truly weak and if it meets some of the criteria historically used to define migration. In a flight chamber the majority of whiteflies landed quickly. A portion (6%) flew for more than 15 min (some more than 2 h). In doing so whiteflies ignored vegetative cues and focused on artificial skylight. This was against a downwardly directed airstream exceeding 4.0 cm/s. Attempts to associate wing morphological characteristics with their flight were mostly successful. The shapes of the wings of whiteflies that flew for some time in the chamber, or for some distance in the field, were different than those that did not. In the field B. tabaci was found dispersing more than 5 km. In these experiments whiteflies in a cantaloupe field were marked with fluorescent dust. Large portions of the marked population landed in close proximity to the field and another large group was trapped at 2.2 km. We hypothesized that this conformed to flight behavior observed in the laboratory, i.e., individuals captured near the field quickly responded to vegetative cues and landed, while others dispersed down range, initially ignoring these plant cues. This behavior was thought to be persistent. Additionally, flight in the field was not entirely wind-directed. Whiteflies were sometimes captured in areas away from prevailing winds. These are indicative of strong flight and migration. We found, however, that whiteflies did not possess all the characteristics commonly associated with stronger flyers. Whiteflies do not increase wingbeat frequency to compensate for high wing loading. Whiteflies do not possess an oogenesis-flight syndrome. In spite of these findings, whitefly flight cannot be characterized as weak. Whiteflies flew in a flight chamber against a strong airstream. They also dispersed in field experiments for a considerable distance. There is also information that whiteflies have a migratory form, in the manner of some strong flying insects. Whitefly flight seems to meet many criteria associated with migration in insects. As a final note, although most whitefly flight occurs over short distances, it is no less important biologically and cannot be ignored when developing pest management programs.
Supervised learning of classifiers via level set segmentation

A variational approach based on level set methods popular in image segmentation is presented for learning discriminative classifiers in general feature spaces. Nonlinear, nonparametric decision boundaries are obtained by minimizing an energy functional that incorporates a margin-based loss function. The class of level set contour decision boundaries is discussed in terms of the structural risk minimization principle. A variation on lscr1 feature subset selection is developed. Use of level set classifiers as base learners for boosting is discussed.
Transforming growth factor-β regulates normal human pre-B cell differentiation

Light chain gene rearrangement during mammalian pre-B differentiation generally occurs in an orderly manner, beginning with kappa genes and proceeding through lambda genes. We have previously shown that human pre-B cell differentiation in vitro leads to a skewing toward lambda expression, resulting in a higher percentage of lambda+ cells than kappa+ cells. We now report that the multifunctional polypeptide transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) exerts a selective inhibitory effect on the acquisition of cell surface lambda light chains during in vitro differentiation of normal human pre-B cells, giving rise to a balanced ratio (approximately 1:1) of kappa+ to lambda+ cells that resembles what normally exists in vivo. The TGF-beta effect was ablated using a neutralizing anti-TGF-beta antiserum and TGF-beta had no significant effect on the acquisition of kappa or surrogate light chains. Experiments using highly enriched pre-B cells (90-95% cytoplasmic mu+) suggested that the TGF-beta effect was directly on the pre-B cell or the pre-B cell to mu+/lambda+ immature B cell transition. The following peptides, cytokines, and antibodies had no effect on light chain acquisition or expression: substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, leu/met enkephalin, IL-1, IL-4, IL-7, anti-class II MHC, anti-CD24, anti-CD40, and the CD10 inhibitor phosphoramidon. A selective regulatory role for TGF-beta on normal human B cell development in the bone marrow microenvironment is suggested by these results.
Objectification Theory: Toward Understanding Women's Lived Experiences and Mental Health Risks:

This article offers objectification theory as a framework for understanding the experiential consequences of being female in a culture that sexually objectifies the female body. Objectification the...
Hidden Logic: Reproduction and Resistance In Adult Literacy And Adult Basic Education:

Nonparticipation in literacy/ABE programs is a critical issue that can be illuminated by reproduction and resistance theory. This study attempts to do this by first analyzing the resistance to scho...
Glial cell biology in Drosophila and vertebrates

Glia are the most abundant cell type in the mammalian nervous system and they have vital roles in neural development, function and health. However our understanding of the biology of glia is in its infancy. How do glia develop and interact with neurons? How diverse are glial populations? What are the primary functions of glia in the mature nervous system? These questions can be addressed incisively in the Drosophila nervous system – this contains relatively few glia, which are well-defined histologically and amenable to powerful molecular–genetic analyses. Here, we highlight several developmental, morphological and functional similarities between Drosophila and vertebrate glia. The striking parallels that emerge from this comparison argue that invertebrate model organisms such as Drosophila have excellent potential to add to our understanding of fundamental aspects of glial biology.
Remote supervision for intelligent circuit breakers and gas insulated substations

The advancement of asset management techniques was significantly improved by the development of processes controlled by microprocessors. Using reliable and expert monitoring systems that are now available, utilities can further increase the availability of their transmission grid, in optimizing maintenance practice and to extend the useful life of the transmission network equipment. This paper describes the hardware architecture of the state-of-the-art monitoring equipment from the simplest to the most elaborate, including UHF partial discharge detection system for gas insulated switchgear (GIS). This last piece of equipment is considered as the best way to ensure that dielectric integrity of GIS equipment is respected during its lifetime. Strategies to implement these tools in the substation, both on-line and off-line, are also discussed. The impact of last-generation devices, adding protection and control to monitoring, coupled with the introduction of long awaited substation communication protocol IEC 61850 is detailed. Substations are not always controlled locally. Maintenance teams are sometimes located in areas far away from the substations. In such cases, it is important to facilitate remote access to the data recorded on the monitoring system and get a quick status of the GIS installation. Such facility is permitted with modern digital monitoring systems. Customers can get access to the same type of information as provided locally using a remote HMI. This is possible via intranet, internet or telephone network. The information can also be accessed remotely from manufacturer facilities upon customer request, and first hand remote diagnosis or maintenance recommendations can be provided by factory experts.
Functional glycosylation in the human and mammalian uterus

Glycosylation is the most common and structurally diverse of all the post-translational modifications of proteins. Lipids and extracellular matrices are also often glycosylated. The mammalian uterus is highly enriched in glycoconjugates that are associated with the apical surfaces of epithelial cells and the secretions released by both epithelial and stromal cells. These glycoconjugates interact primarily with sperm, the implanting embryo, the fetus, and any pathogen that happens to gain entry into the uterus. Secretions of the endometrial glands increase substantially during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. These secretions are highly enriched in glycoproteins and mucins that promote specific uterine functions. Lectins and antibodies have been employed in the majority of the studies focused on uterine glycosylation have employed to define the expression of carbohydrate sequences. However, while these studies provide insight about potential glycosylation, precise information about glycan structure is lacking. Direct sequencing studies that employ biochemical or mass spectrometric methods are far more definitive, but have rarely been employed with uterine glycoproteins. Both lectin/antibody binding and direct carbohydrate sequencing studies that have been focused on the mammalian uterus are reviewed. The primary functional role of the eutherian uterus is to facilitate fertilization and nurture the developing embryo/fetus. Trophoblasts are the primary cells that mediate the binding of the embryo and placenta to the uterine lining. In mammals that utilize hemochorial placentation, they invade the decidua, the specialized endometrial lining that forms during pregnancy. Trophoblasts have also been analyzed for their lectin/antibody binding as a complement to the analysis of the uterine cells and tissues. They will also be reviewed here. The functional roles of the glycans linked to uterine and trophoblast glycoconjugates remain enigmatic. Another major question in the human is whether defects in placental or uterine glycosylation play a role in the development the Great Obstetrical Syndromes. More recent findings indicate that changes in glycosylation occur in trophoblasts obtained from patients that develop preeclampsia and preterm birth. The functional significance of these changes remain to be defined. Whether such shifts happen during the development of other types of obstetrical syndromes remains to be determined.
Testing of computations by polynomial checks

A simple analytical unified approach is described for error detection and correction in numerical computations. The computation process may be implemented by a computer program. This approach does not depend on the form of representation or on the specific features of the implementation of a program or a device computing the given function, but it is based on algebraic concepts, such as transcendental degree of field extensions. The described approach results in a substantial reduction of the hardware overhead required for multiple error detection and correction, as compared to the checksum approach and other previously known methods. >
Observations of needle-tissue interactions

Needles with asymmetric bevel tips naturally bend when they are inserted into soft tissue. In this study, we present an analytical model for the loads developed at the bevel tip during needle-tissue interaction. The model calculates the loads based on the geometry of the bevel edge and gel material properties. The modeled transverse force developed at the tip is compared to forces measured experimentally. The analytical model explains the trends observed in the experiments. In addition to macroscopic studies, we also present microscopic observations of needle-tissue interactions. These results contribute to a mechanics-based model of robotic needle steering, extending previous work on kinematic models.
PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION, SKILL DISTRIBUTION, AND SYSTEMS OF CITIES IN A NORTH-SOUTH TRADE MODEL: Abdel-Rahman, Product Differentiation, Skill Distribution, and Systems of Cities

The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of free trade on the structure of urban systems, skill distribution, income disparities, and welfare. The paper proposes a model that integrates international trade theory and the theory of urban systems. This is done in a two/three sector, spatial, general equilibrium model of a North-South trade. Each country is populated with a continuum of unskilled workers with heterogeneous potential ability. Workers can acquire skill by investing in training. Thus, skill distribution in both countries is determined endogenously in the model through self-selection. The economy produces a final good with the use of differentiated intermediate inputs and unskilled workers. The differentiated inputs are produced by skilled workers. Cities are formed in this model as a result of investment in public infrastructures and knowledge spillover among diverse skilled workers. I characterize two different types of spatial equilibria: a closed-economy equilibrium, in which each country consists of a system of cities without trade, and a free-trade equilibrium, in which we allow for trade between cities and countries. One of the main findings of the model is that free trade induces further productivity due to the agglomeration of diverse skilled workers. Thus, the model demonstrates a channel through which international trade interacts with the agglomeration economy through urban labor markets. Furthermore, free trade affects the structure of cities within the system.
Updates to Indiana Fuel Tax and Registration Revenue Projections

Highway revenues both at the federal and state levels have failed to keep up with expected investments required for infrastructure preservation and improvement. The reasons for this trend include the increasing fuel efficiency of vehicles, slowing of the growth in vehicle‐miles of travel, and the erosion of the purchasing power of the dollar due to inflation. Past studies on the issue of highway revenue forecasting for Indiana highways were conducted under different economic conditions than what exists today. The present study updates the revenue projections of particularly with the recognition of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards. The present study also updates the equations for estimating vehicle miles of travel. Impacts of alternative options for changing the fuel tax rate structure are also investigated. The present study predicted fuel tax revenues from 2012 to 2025 under the existing fuel tax rate structure and also considered possible options for changes in fuel tax rates. Fuel tax revenue from existing rate structure indicated a continuous annual decrease from 2012 to 2025 by 2.96% to 3.49% in real terms. Adopting one of the four fuel tax rate modifications would provide additional short‐ term revenue for a variable number of years. A 1‐cent increase would offset the decline in the total fuel tax revenue only for a year after which it will continually decline every year. A 3‐cent increase would provide a substantial increase in revenue in the short term but will continually decline, however, the 2025 revenue from 3‐cent increase would be a little higher than the 2012 revenue level. Both inflation indexing and an ad valorem tax would also provide substantial increase in fuel tax revenue.
Distributed Channel Allocation Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks

Interference between concurrent transmissions can cause severe performance degradation in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). While multiple channels available in WSN technology such as IEEE 802.15.4 can be exploited to mitigate interference, channel allocation can have a significant impact on the performance of multi-channel communication. This paper proposes a set of distributed protocols for channel allocation in WSNs with theoretical bounds. We first consider the problem of minimizing the number of channels needed to remove interference in a WSN, and propose both receiver-based and link-based distributed channel allocation protocols. Then, for WSNs with an insufficient number of channels, we formulate a fair channel allocation problem whose objective is to minimize the maximum interference (MinMax) experienced by any transmission link in the network. We prove that MinMax channel allocation is NP-hard, and propose a distributed link-based MinMax channel allocation protocol. Finally, we propose a distributed protocol for link scheduling based on MinMax channel allocation that creates a conflict-free schedule for transmissions. The proposed decentralized protocols are efficient, scalable, and adaptive to channel condition and network dynamics. Simulations based on the topologies and data traces collected from a WSN testbed of 74 TelosB motes have shown that our channel allocation protocols significantly outperform a state-of-the-art channel allocation protocol.
Polysaccharides of Winged Beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus [L.] DC), Variety TPT-2

Variety TPT-2 contains little or no starch. Hot water extraction of defatted and partially deproteinized flour yielded soluble and insoluble polysaccharide fractions in yields of 11 and 28%, respectively. Fractional precipitation of the soluble polysaccharides yielded a predominant Fraction I and a minor Fraction II. Fraction I contained 96% polysaccharide. Fraction II and the insoluble fraction contained 81 and 72% polysaccharide, respectively, the remainder being protein, ash and lignin. Fraction I polysaccharide is predominantly (76%) galactan, but it also contains 18% uranic acid. The Fraction II polysaccharide appears to be predominantly arabinogalactan, but contains 15% uranic acid. Cellulose (41%), galactan (25%), xylan (14%) and acidic polysaccharides (15%) predominate in the insoluble polysaccharides.
Defining Safety Performance Measures of Driver-Assistance Systems for Intersection Left-Turn Conflicts

Vehicular safety research and development activities have been active in recent years with the implementation of driver assistance systems. Intersection collision is a primary category of roadway safety concerns that can benefit from vehicle-based as well as infrastructure-based solutions. This paper describes the definition of safety performance measures for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of driver-assistance systems for intersection left-turn conflicts. The safety measures allow a comparison of performances in the design and development stages as well as the evaluation in the field testing and deployment stages. The availability of surrogate measures in the absence of the ultimate measures of crash reductions provides a realistic indication of plausible effects from safety improvements. The methodology of calculating the suggested safety measures is based on field observation data, thus lending strong support to the validity and applicability of the suggested approach.
Reprogramming the response to stroke by preconditioning.

Stroke causes neuronal injury and death because of deprivation of oxygen and nutrients that are essential for cell survival. In addition, inflammatory mediators are released that trigger a cascade of responses that exacerbate injury. Although these injurious pathways are well defined, it has been a major challenge to identify ways to mitigate these pathways to reduce ischemic damage. One approach to the management of stroke injury under development in the research laboratory involves tapping into powerful endogenous mechanisms of protection through a process known as preconditioning. Preconditioning is a well-defined phenomenon whereby a small dose of an otherwise-harmful stimulus confers tolerance to a subsequent injurious event. Preconditioning stimuli that provide significant protection against ischemic brain injury include exposure to brief ischemia, small seizures, immune activation, exposure to hypo- and hyperthermia, and inhalation of volatile anesthetics.1 Although distinct, these preconditioning stimuli initiate a cascade of endogenous neuroprotective pathways that produce tolerance to ischemic injury.2–7 Preconditioning with the immune activators Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands has shown exceptional efficacy in the induction of ischemic tolerance. Systemic administration of ligands for TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, or TLR9 before focal cerebral ischemia profoundly reduces ischemic injury in rodent models of stroke.8–12 TLR preconditioning has also been shown to be effective in a neonatal ischemia model, demonstrating significant cerebral protection against hypothermic circulatory arrest in neonatal pigs.13 In addition, the TLR9 ligand has shown significant efficacy in a clinically relevant nonhuman primate model of experimental stroke.14 Many TLR ligands have been approved for clinical use in other indications,15 making them ideal candidates for translation of pharmacological preconditioning from the laboratory to the clinic. Preconditioning is being developed as a prophylactic treatment for cerebral ischemia and is being investigated at …
Consistency conditions and linear reconstruction methods in diffraction tomography

Because an image can be reconstructed from knowledge of its Radon transform (RT), the task of reconstructing an image is tantamount to that of estimating its RT. Based upon the Fourier diffraction projection (FDP) theorem, from the statistical perspective of unbiased reduction of image variance, the author previously proposed an infinite family of estimation methods for obtaining the RT from the scattered data in diffraction tomography (DT). In this work, using the FDP theorem, the authors define the diffraction Radon transform (DRT), which can be treated as the data function in DT. Subsequently, using strategies similar to those that analyze the consistency conditions on the exponential Radon transform in two-dimensional (2-D) single-photon emission computed tomography with uniform attenuation, the author studied the consistency condition on the DRT and the author shows that there is a hierarchy of estimation methods that actually project the noisy data function onto its consistency space in different ways. In terms of a weighted inner product of the consistency and inconsistency parts of a noisy data function, the author further demonstrates that a subset of the family of estimation methods can be interpreted as orthogonal projections onto the consistency space of the DRT. In particular, the statistically suboptimal estimation method in the family corresponds to an orthogonal projection associated with an ordinary inner product of the consistency and inconsistency parts of a noisy data function.
K-Cuts: A Variation of Gomory Mixed Integer Cuts from the LP Tableau

For an integer program, ak-cut is a cutting plane generated by the Gomory mixed integer procedure from a row of the LP tableau after multiplying it by a positive integerk. With this terminology, Gomory mixed integer cuts are just 1-cuts. In this paper, we compare thek-cuts ( k = 2) with Gomory mixed integer cuts. In particular, we prove in the pure case that with exactly 50% probability thek-cuts perform better variable-wise than the Gomory mixed integer cuts. Some computational experiments on knapsack problems are reported to illustrate this property.
JOPI: a Java object-passing interface

Recently there has been an increasing interest in developing parallel programming capabilities in Java to harness the vast resources available in clusters, grids and heterogeneous networked systems. In this paper, we introduce a Java object-passing interface (JOPI) library. JOPI provides Java programmers with the necessary functionality to write object-passing parallel programs in distributed heterogeneous systems. JOPI provides an MPI-like interface that can be used to exchange objects among processes. In addition to the well-known benefits of the object-oriented development model, using objects to exchange information in JOPI is advantageous because it facilitates passing complex structures and enables the programmer to isolate the problem space from the parallelization problem. The run-time environment for JOPI is portable, efficient and provides the necessary functionality to deploy and execute parallel Java programs. Experiments were conducted on a cluster system and a collection of heterogeneous platforms to measure JOPI's performance and compare it with MPI. The results show good performance gains using JOPI.
Electrostatic Repulsion during Ferritin Assembly and Its Screening by Ions

Escherichia coli non-heme-binding ferritin A (EcFtnA) is a spherical cagelike protein that is composed of 24 identical subunits. EcFtnA dissociates into 2-mers under acidic conditions and can reassemble into the native structure when the pH is increased. To understand how electrostatic interactions influence the assembly reaction, the dependence of the process on ionic strength and pH was investigated. The assembly reaction was initiated by stopped-flow mixing of the acid-dissociated EcFtnA solution and high-pH buffer solutions and monitored by time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering. The rate of assembly increased with increasing ionic strength and decreased with increasing pH from 6 to 8. These dependences were thought to originate from repulsion between assembly units (2-mer in the case of EcFtnA) with the same net charge sign; therefore, to test this assumption, mutants with different net charges (net-charge mutants) were prepared. In buffers with a low ionic strength, the rate of assembly increased with a decreasing net charge. Thus, repulsion between the assembly unit net charges was demonstrated to be an important factor determining the rate of assembly. However, the difference in the assembly rate among net-charge mutants was not significant in buffers with an ionic strength of >0.1. Notably, under such high-ionic strength conditions, the assembly rate increased with an increasing ionic strength, suggesting that local electrostatic interactions are also responsible for the ionic strength dependence of the rate of assembly and are repulsive on average.