cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Interactions of Id Proteins with Basic-Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors

Dimerization of three Id proteins (Id1, Id2, and Id3) with the four class A E proteins (E12, E47, E2-2, and HEB) and two groups of class B proteins, the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs: MyoD, myogenin, Myf-5 and MRF4/Myf-6), and the hematopoietic factors (Scl/Tal-1, Tal-2, and Lyl-1) were tested in a quantitative yeast 2-hybrid assay. All three Ids bound with high affinity to E proteins, but a much broader range of interactions was observed between Ids and the class B factors. Id1 and Id2 interacted strongly with MyoD and Myf-5 and weakly with myogenin and MRF4/Myf-6, whereas Id3 interacted weakly with all four MRFs. Similar specificities were observed in co-immunoprecipitation and mammalian 2-hybrid analyses. No interactions were found between the Ids and any of the hematopoietic factors. Each Id was able to disrupt the ability of E protein-MyoD complexes to transactivate from a muscle creatine kinase reporter construct in vivo. Finally, mutagenesis experiments showed that the differences between Id1 and Id3 binding map to three amino acids in the first helix and to a small cluster of upstream residues. The Id proteins thus display a signature range of interactions with all of their potential dimerization partners and may play a role in myogenesis which is distinct from that in hematopoiesis.
CGX: An expert support system for credit granting

Abstract Computer and information technologies have made significant strides in the last two decades. Adaptation of these advances to support decision making has manifested itself in two classes of systems: decision support systems and expert systems. In this paper, we describe CGX, an expert support system for credit granting in nonfinancial firms. CGX is now undergoing extensive validation in several Fortune 500 corporations.
Benzyl isothiocyanate: an effective inhibitor of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon tumorigenesis in A/J mouse lung.

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are an important group of carcinogens that are likely to be involved as one of the causes of lung cancer in smokers and occupationally exposed individuals. Previous studies have shown that benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), administered by gavage, is a good inhibitor of lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice induced by benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP), a typical PAH carcinogen. In this study, we evaluated the effects of BITC on lung tumor induction in A/J mice by two other carcinogenic PAH in cigarette smoke – 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC) and dibenz[ a , h ]anthracene (DBahA). We also compared the effects of BITC with two other well known chemopreventive agents – butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and sulforaphane. In experiment 1, groups of A/J mice were treated by gavage once weekly for 8 weeks with BaP (3 μmol) or 5-MeC (2 μmol) or DBahA (1 μmol) in 0.1 ml cottonseed oil. Fifteen minutes before each treatment, the mice were gavaged with 0.1 ml cottonseed oil or 0.1 ml cottonseed oil containing 13.4 μmol or 6.7 μmol of BITC. The experiment was terminated 19 weeks after the final carcinogen treatment. BITC significantly reduced lung tumor multiplicity in all PAH-treated groups by 63.5–90.6%. In experiment 2, groups of A/J mice were treated with BaP or BITC and BaP as in experiment 1, or with BHA or sulforaphane at doses equimolar to those of BITC. BITC was significantly more effective as an inhibitor of lung tumor induction than either BHA or sulforaphane. These results firmly establish gavaged BITC as a strong inhibitor of lung tumorigenesis induced in A/J mice by PAH, and support its further development for chemoprevention of smoking-induced lung cancer.
The Quantitative Evaluation of a Granulation Milling Process III. Prediction of Output Particle Size

AbstractRegression analysis was performed using comminution data from the previously presented Comil®G/aspirin granulation characterization study. Polynomial models were constructed using mill speed, output screen size and impeller shape as independent variables. The models were used to predict the mean particle size (µd) and geometric standard deviation (σd) of particle size distributions resulting from the comminution of aspirin using the Comil®G. The predictions were found to compare well with observed values.
Raman scattering and collective excitations in doped tunneling semiconductor superlattices.

We present a theoretical study of the electronic excitations in doped tunneling semiconductor superlattices of finite size. Raman scattering yields are obtained from the density-density response function, providing mode dispersion relations and relative intensities. We find that as the intraminiband and interminiband plasma modes carry most of the oscillator strength, other single-particle-like excitations have nonvanishing intensities as well. Strong surface-related modes, associated with charge depletion near the surface layers, are shown for finite wavelengths. The intraminiband plasma mode exhibits a two-dimensional-like behavior for long wavelengths, and carries most of the oscillator strength for short ones, while one of the surface modes shows a nearly linear dispersion relation. A novel tunneling mode has nonzero frequency and strength as the wave vector approaches zero.
High Performance Amorphous Metallated π-Conjugated Polymers for Field-Effect Transistors and Polymer Solar Cells

Both high charge carrier mobility in OFETs and high power conversion efficiency in solar cells were demonstrated in a series of amorphous metallated π-conjugated polymers. The best solar cell performance is based on a high field-effect mobility (μh = 1.0 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1) polymer blended with PC71BM leading to a power conversion efficiency of PCE = 4.13%.
Characterization of intrathecal vasopressin-induced antinociception, scratching behavior, and motor suppression.

Abstract Intrathecal (IT) administration of vasopressin produces antinociception, scratching behavior, and motor suppression. The present experiments characterized these effects with regards to the following: 1) VP receptor specificity, 2) possible involvement of endogenous opiates, 3) possible involvement of seizure activity, and 4) whether the antinociception is due to direct actions of VP at the spinal cord. These studies showed that IT administration of a V1-specific vasopressin antagonist completely blocked the antinociception, scratching behavior, and motor suppression produced by 25 ng IT vasopressin. Furthermore, IT administration of the vasopressin metabolite, [pGlu 4 ,Cyt 6 ]AVP(4–9), produced none of the effects produced by vasopressin. Systemic administration of the opiate antagonists naloxone (1 mg/kg IP) and naltrexone (10 mg/kg IP) had no significant effect on the antinociception produced by IT vasopressin, whereas naltrexone potentiated the scratching behavior. Neither the IT vasopressin-induced antinociception nor scratching behavior was affected by pretreatment with the anticonvulsant sodium valproate. In addition, IT vasopressin inhibited the tail flick reflex in rats with transected spinal cords, demonstrating direct spinal effects of vasopressin. In conclusion, IT administration of vasopressin produces antinociception, scratching behavior, and motor suppression via activation of VP-specific receptors in the spinal cord.
Eimeria bateri Bhatia, Pandey and Pande, 1965 from the Hungarian Quail Coturnix c. coturnix in the United States and Its Attempted Transmission to the Chicken**

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria bateri Bhatia, Pandey, Pande, 1965 is described from the Hungarian quail Coturnix c. coturnix for the first time in the U.S. Its oocysts are either ellipsoidal or ovoid, 14–28 by 12–19 μ with a mean of 20.5 by 15.3 μ. Its sporocysts are elongate ovoid, with a Stieda body, 8–12 by 6–9 μ with a mean of 10.3 by 7.5 μ. Two coccidia-free chicks 8 days old were inoculated with 50,000 oocysts each of E. bateri, but patent infections did not occur. This coccidium is therefore presumably host-specific.
Enhanced Wettability Alteration by Surfactants with Multiple Hydrophilic Moieties

The main production mechanism during water flooding of naturally fractured oil reservoirs is the spontaneous imbibition of water into matrix blocks and resultant displacement of oil into the fracture system. This is an efficient recovery process when the matrix is strongly water-wet. However, in mixed- to oil-wet reservoirs, secondary recovery from water flooding is often poor. Oil production can be improved by dissolving low concentrations of surfactants in the injected water. The surfactant alters the wettability of the reservoir rock, enhancing the spontaneous imbibition process. Our previous study revealed that the two main mechanisms responsible for the wettability alteration are ion-pair formation and adsorption of surfactant molecules through interactions with the adsorbed crude oil components on the rock surface. Based on the superior performance of surfactin, an anionic biosurfactant with two charged groups on the hydrophilic head, it was hypothesized that the wettability alteration process might be further improved through the use of dimeric or gemini surfactants, which have two hydrophilic head groups and two hydrophobic tails. We believe that when ion-pair formation is the dominant wettability alteration mechanism, wettability alteration in oil-wet cores can be improved by increasing the charge density on the head group(s) of the surfactant molecule since the ion-pair formation is driven by electrostatic interactions. At a concentration of 1.0 mmol L−1 a representative anionic gemini surfactant showed oil recoveries of up to 49% original oil-in-place (OOIP) from oil-wet sandstone cores, compared to 6 and 27% for sodium laureth sulfate and surfactin, respectively. These observations are consistent with our hypothesis.
Identification of Active Sites of Biomolecules. 1. Methyl-α-mannopyranoside and FeIII

Car−Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) simulations, DFT chemical reactivity index calculations, and mass spectrometric measurements are combined in an integrated effort to elucidate the details of the coordination of a transition-metal ion to a carbohydrate. The impact of the interaction with the FeIII ion on the glycosidic linkage conformation of methyl-α-d-mannopyranoside is studied by classical molecular dynamics (MD) and CPMD simulations. This study shows that FeIII interacts with specific hydroxyl oxygen atoms of the carbohydrate, affecting the ground state carbohydrate conformation. These conformational details are discussed in terms of a set of supporting experiments involving electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and CPMD simulations clearly indicate that the specific conformational preference is due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Classical MD simulations proved insensitive to these important chemical properties. Thus, we demonstrate the importance of chemical reactivity calculations a...
EFFECT OF BILE SALTS AND OF FUSIDIC ACID ON HIV-1 INFECTION OF CULTURED CELLS

Bile salts completely inactivated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vitro and, unexpectedly, completely destroyed all the cultured persistently HIV-1 infected T cells. Fusidic acid, which likewise possesses the properties of an anionic surfactant, inactivated HIV-1 only at concentrations toxic to uninfected cultured cells. Bile salts or their derivatives, and other anionic surfactants, could be of therapeutic value in HIV-1 infections.
Photosynthetic production of 2-methyl-1-butanol from CO2 in cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 and characterization of the native acetohydroxyacid synthase

Direct conversion of CO2 to bio-based fuels and chemicals has emerged as a significant thrust to address the energy and environmental concerns caused by over-reliance on fossil fuels and the increasing level of atmospheric CO2. Here we report the first photosynthetic production of 2-methyl-1-butanol (2MB), an energy-dense fuel molecule, from CO2 in the genetically engineered cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942. 2MB is synthesized through the isoleucine pathway by decarboxylation of 2-keto-3-methylvalerate followed by reduction and has been produced from glucose by recombinant Escherichia coli with 1-propanol and isobutanol as the major by-products. However, direct photosynthetic production of 2MB from CO2 has not been reported. In this work, introduction of a ketoacid decarboxylase (Kivd), an alcohol dehydrogenase (YqhD), and the citramalate pathway, which produces the isoleucine precursor 2-ketobutyrate (2KB), in S. elongatus PCC7942 successfully redirected the flux to 2MB biosynthesis with significant productivity (an average of 20 mg per L per day). Interestingly, the native isoleucine pathway activity was able to compete with the overexpressed Kivd activity for the same substrate 2KB, such that 1-propanol formation was minimal. Kinetic analysis of the key enzyme in the isoleucine pathway, acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) from S. elongatus PCC7942, yielded a Vmax(2KB) of 1.21 ± 0.03 U mg−1 and a Km(2KB) of 1.9 ± 0.3 mM using the purified protein and demonstrated preferential selectivity towards 2KB. The final titer of 2MB reached 200 mg L−1 in 12 days with minor accumulation of other alcohols. The high in vivo activity of the native S. elongatus PCC7942 AHAS suggests the advantage of utilizing branched-chain amino acid pathways in this organism for the production of fuels and chemicals.
Communities of port Jews and their contacts in the Dutch Atlantic World

In the late 16th century, Jews and conversos created a trading network that tied together ports in Portugal, Brazil and the Netherlands. This network became the chief Dutch commercial circuit in the first quarter of the 17th century and offered benefits to Jews and conversos that were not solely economic ones. This circuit made it possible for Brazilian New Christians to return to Judaism in Amsterdam and Amsterdam Jews to establish a community in Brazil. In the process, the port Jews of Recife (Brazil) and Amsterdam became closely connected, especially after warfare closed off access to Portuguese ports in the network. Amsterdam Jews arrived in force in Recife during the 1630s, but traveled back to Amsterdam during the years 1645–54, since the Dutch colony in Brazil was shrinking and, eventually, was captured by Portuguese troops. Jews contributed commercially, financially, and militarily to this short-lived colony and were rewarded with privileges, which, for this time, were remarkable.
Kinetic, Spectroscopic, and Structural Investigations of the Soybean Lipoxygenase-1 First-Coordination Sphere Mutant, Asn694Gly†,‡

ABSTRACT : In wild-type soybean LO-1 (WT sLO-1), Asn694 is a weak sixth ligand that is thought to becritical for enzymatic catalysis. In this investigation, N694G sLO-1 was studied to probe its contributionat this sixth ligand position to the kinetic and spectroscopic properties. The k cat value of N694G is ˘230times lower than that of WT sLO-1 at 25°C, which can be partially explained by a lowered reductionpotential of the iron as seen as a shift in the visible ligand-to-metal charge-transfer band ( i max ) 410 nmfor N694G and i max ) 425 nm for WT sLO-1). This conclusion was supported by a faster rate of oxidationof N694G by the product than that of WT sLO-1 (k 2 ) 606 s -1 for N694G and k 2 ) 349 s -1 for WTsLO-1). These results suggest a stronger ligand at the active site iron than the native Asn694, which isconfirmed to be a water bound to the Fe(II) in the crystal structure. This produces a six-coordinate circulardichroism/magnetic circular dichroism (CD/MCD) spectra for ferrous N694G and an intermediate rhombicelectron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal for ferric N694G. The EPR spectrum and its pH dependencesuggest that the coordination environment of ferric N694G contains one hydroxide and one water. On thebasis of both kinetic and structural factors, we propose that the Asn694 water-derived ligand would likelybe a hydroxide and the active site, water-derived ligand a water in the ferric state, hence lowering thereaction rate of N694G more than would be expected from the lowered reduction potential alone.Lipoxygenase (LO) is a mononuclear, non-heme irondioxygenase that catalyzes the incorporation of molecularoxygen into a 1,4-cis,cis-pentadiene fatty acid to formhydroperoxide products. In plants, soybean LO isoform-1(sLO-1)
Seriation of Anthropological Data: A Computer Program for Matrix‐Ordering

A new digital computer program has been developed for the seriation of anthropological data. The program facilitates and refines procedures in the application of certain matrix-ordering approaches, such as the Brainerd-Robinson technique. The new program has special advantages for obtaining the best ordering of a case that is inherent in the data, together with special provisions for experimentation. Some of the innovations consist of working with the whole matrix pattern from start to finish, more exhaustive row-column comparisons, provision for specifying different ordering criteria, consistent utilization of a chosen criterion for matrix evaluation as well as for row-column placement, and a means of lessening the effect of input-order bias. The program is designed to produce a close approximation of an ideal model in order to place data collections as accurately as possible on a continuum of similarity for purposes such as chronological ordering and the expression of intercultural relationships.
Conclusions about differences in linear growth between Bangladeshi boys and girls depend on the growth reference used

OBJECTIVE: To examine sex differences in height-for-age z-scores and the percentage stunting among Bangladeshi children estimated using three growth references. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Data collected between 1990 and 1999 by Helen Keller International's nutritional surveillance system in rural Bangladesh were analyzed for 504 358 children aged 6-59 months. Height-for-age z-scores were estimated using the 1977 NCHS, 2000 CDC and 1990 British growth references. RESULTS: The shape of the growth curves for Bangladeshi boys and girls, and their positions relative to one another, depend on which of the three growth references is used. At 6 months of age the British reference showed no sex difference whereas the NCHS and CDC showed girls to have higher average z-scores than boys by 0.14 and 0.28 s.d., respectively. While all references showed a faster deterioration of girls' z-scores from 6 to 24 months, the magnitude and direction of the sex differences, and how they changed with age, were different. There was greater disagreement about girls' z-scores than boys. Discontinuities at 24 months in the NCHS and CDC produced jagged curves whereas the British curves were smooth. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of sex differences in linear growth depends on the growth reference used. Reasons for the different results need to be determined and may aid the final development of the new WHO international growth reference and the guidelines for its use. The findings suggest that anthropometry as a tool to explore the effects of societal gender inequality must be used with caution.
Micronutrients and exercise: anti-oxidants and minerals

Exercise has been shown to increase indirect measures of lipid peroxidation. However, exercise and training appear to augment the body's anti-oxidant defence system. Whether this augmented defence system can keep up with the increase in lipid peroxidation with exercise is not known. Iron depletion is experienced by many athletes, especially female endurance athletes and adolescents, but iron deficiency anaemia is rare. Iron depletion could affect the ability to train and recover from strenuous exercise, but this has not been examined. There is a concern that female athletes, especially adolescents, are not ingesting sufficient calcium, and this may affect the development of peak bone mass and increase the risk of bone fractures. Further research is needed on mineral and trace mineral intake and loss in athletes. It appears that most athletes have adequate status of chromium, zinc, phosphate and magnesium. Athletes who are restricting energy intake to achieve a low body mass (for example, endurance runners), may not have adequate vitamin or mineral status. More data are needed on vitamin/mineral status of athletes from underdeveloped countries. The general recommendation for athletes is that foods rich in anti-oxidants and minerals should be ingested rather than supplements.
Impact of Variable-Resolution Meshes on Midlatitude Baroclinic Eddies Using CAM-MPAS-A

AbstractThe effects of a variable-resolution mesh on simulated midlatitude baroclinic eddies in idealized settings are examined. Both aquaplanet and Held–Suarez experiments are performed using the Model for Prediction Across Scales-Atmosphere (MPAS-A) hydrostatic dynamical core implemented within the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy (NSF–DOE) Community Atmosphere Model (CAM-MPAS-A). In the real world, midlatitude eddy activity is organized by orography, land–sea contrasts, and sea surface temperature anomalies. In these zonally symmetric idealized settings, transients should have an equal probability of occurring at any longitude. However, the use of a variable-resolution mesh with a circular high-resolution region centered at 30°N results in a maximum in eddy kinetic energy on the eastern side and downstream of this high-resolution region in both aquaplanet and Held–Suarez CAM-MPAS-A simulations. The presence of a geographically confined maximum in both simulations suggests this response ...
Slant Perception and Shape Constancy in Infants

Three experiments investigated shape constancy in human infants between 50 and 60 days of age. The first showed that such infants possess some capacity for shape constancy. The second confirmed this finding and showed that the capacity is not attained by correlation of perceived projective shape with perceived orientation.
How behavioral scientists can help business

T HE people Of every society must organize their work. They must decide what is to be done and how; then, they must decide who is going to do it and for what rewards. When all these matters have been decided, people must be trained and motivated to carry out the work tasks. Their will to work becomes more significant in productivity and costing than any other single factor within a given technical situation. The behavioral sciences are concerned with all of the psychological and social factors that influence individual and group behavior. When the focus is upon work behavior, the behavioral sciences organize their fields of knowledge and research under specialized areas called industa'ial sociology, industrial psychology, and applied anthropology or human organization. (A newcomer is administrative science, which purports to bring together all organized knowledge about goal-directed behavior and
The Alarming and Rising Costs of Diabetes and Prediabetes: A Call for Action!

To the person with diabetes or to the provider caring for this individual, the personal costs associated with the disease are many and apparent on a daily basis: the monitoring of diet and glucose, the daily adjustments in medications, and the fear of, or the presence of, both acute and debilitating chronic complications. Thus, increasing awareness of the epidemic of diabetes has been accompanied in recent years by an even greater public awareness of the enormous increase in health care costs in the U.S. (which, like diabetes prevalence, may be slowing but continues to increase). The lost productivity, mortality, and morbidity as a result of the disease continue to be always in the conversation. In this regard, it has become axiomatic that there is an epidemic of diabetes across the world in general, and in the U.S. in particular. Indeed, the prevalence of diabetes has risen steadily for decades. Even a recent report that diabetes incidence may have plateaued (1) does not mean that the diabetes epidemic is abating—the same report estimates that prevalence will continue to rise because of changing demographics and increasing longevity in the U.S. population. As the public, policy makers, and payers struggle with how to contain the rising costs of health care, they inevitably look for the underlying factors driving those costs. Many of the costs are related to inefficient systems of care and changing demographics, particularly …
Estrogen receptor-β mediates male-female differences in the development of pressure overload hypertrophy

The goal of this study was to determine the role of estrogen receptor subtypes in the development of pressure overload hypertrophy in mice. Epidemiological studies have suggested gender differences...
p-toluenesulphonic acid as a fixative

Summary ^-toluenesulphonic acid in aqueous solution is introduced to histologists and recommended for fixation of the central nervous system by a three-step procedure: flushing the blood-vessels with a saline solution, filling the vessels with the fixative, and delaying the autopsy. With rats and guinea-pigs as test objects, a solution of at least 05 M gave excellent results, as evidenced by the minimum of cellular shrinkage, the absence of perivascular and perineuronal spaces, and the clarity of cellular membranes and basiphil material. The neurones, neuroglia, microglia, and blood-vessels were well defined when stained by conventional histological techniques. Cytological details became more prominent because the tissue had shrunk less than in routine preparations. The acid is non-volatile, colourless, pleasant to handle, and low in price.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Expression in Aortic Tissues of Hypertensive Rats

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a potent monocyte chemoattractant synthesized by vascular cells and monocytes, has been proposed to be an important mediator of inflammatory responses in the arterial vasculature. It was recently demonstrated that hypertension is associated with an inflammatory response in the arterial wall. To determine the effect of hypertension on arterial MCP-1 expression, we induced hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats by infusing angiotensin II (0.75 mg x kg[-1] x d[-1] SC) for 7 days. Using Northern blot analysis, we detected a 3.6-fold increase in MCP-1 mRNA in the aortas of hypertensive rats. When we normalized blood pressure in angiotensin II-treated rats through oral administration of the nonspecific vasodilator hydralazine (15 mg x kg[-1] x d[-1]), aortic MCP-1 mRNA expression was significantly reduced. Similar results were obtained with a norepinephrine model of hypertension. Taken together, these data suggest that mechanical factors may be responsible in part for the upregulation of expression. Consistent with this interpretation, we found that cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells exposed to mechanical strain (20% peak deformation at 1 Hz) exhibited a marked increase in MCP-1 expression, suggesting the hemodynamic strain imparted onto arterial cells in hypertension is an important stimulus underlying this phenomenon. These results provide important insights into the in vivo regulation of MCP-1 and have potential implications for understanding the influence of hypertension on atherosclerosis.
Adaptive reconstruction of multiple source intensities for parabolic PDEs

The paper treats an inverse problem of source identification in systems modeled by partial differential equations (PDEs) of parabolic type. Assuming the locations of all sources are known, regularization procedures and recursive estimation algorithms are developed to estimate the intensity of each of the multiple sources.
The Zero Gradient Synchrotron Closed Orbit Position Monitoring System

Four segment induction electrodes are being installed in each of the eight Zero Gradient Synchrotron (ZGS) straight sections. Due to the presence of other equipment, these electrodes can only be 10-in long in the direction of beam travel. The small length-to-width ratio of these electrodes creates special problems. Five pieces of information are transmitted from each electrode to give detailed data on the beam orbits. Four of these consist of varying dc signals representing the beam envelope on the segments. These signals are remotely processed to simultaneously give radial and vertical position of the beam. The fifth signal is an unfiltered bunch signal which is locally processed to give a fast radial, vertical, or sum signal at the bunch frequency.
Rip Currents and Beach Safety Education

Rip currents are the most serious hazard that threatens bather safety on most of the world’s surf beaches. Due to unreliable and inconsistent data collection methods, the number of rip drownings in the U.S. and worldwide is not known. However in the U.S., it is estimated that between 100 and 150, mostly inexperienced bathers drown annually in rip currents. Statistics from the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) and the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs reports show that approximately 80 percent of all lifeguard rescues and assists are the result of rip currents. Put into perspective, rip currents are responsible for more deaths than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes (Figure 1). Despite efforts from various organizations to educate the public about rip currents, there is little empirical evidence that these efforts are effective and the number of rip drownings is declining. We believe that one of the reasons for this situation is related to the disconnect between rip current research and public education. Beach safety programs are currently being promoted on many of the world’s beaches through signage, which require bathers to look for rip currents before entering the water. They recommend looking for a discoloration in the water that takes the form of a ‘‘neck’’ near the shore and terminating in a mushroom shaped ‘‘head’’ further offshore (Figure 2). ‘‘Excited’’ water and flotsam swiftly moving away from the beach are often cited as other ways of visually determining if rip currents are present. Over the past three decades we have observed hundreds of rips and recently filmed rip currents using tracer dye. In reality, rip currents seldom conform to the classic descriptions being promoted in beach safety programs and on warning signs (Figures 3. 4 and 5). Consequently, the attributes being used in
Parameterized Logarithmic Framework for Image Enhancement

Image processing technologies such as image enhancement generally utilize linear arithmetic operations to manipulate images. Recently, Jourlin and Pinoli successfully used the logarithmic image processing (LIP) model for several applications of image processing such as image enhancement and segmentation. In this paper, we introduce a parameterized LIP (PLIP) model that spans both the linear arithmetic and LIP operations and all scenarios in between within a single unified model. We also introduce both frequency- and spatial-domain PLIP-based image enhancement methods, including the PLIP Lee's algorithm, PLIP bihistogram equalization, and the PLIP alpha rooting. Computer simulations and comparisons demonstrate that the new PLIP model allows the user to obtain improved enhancement performance by changing only the PLIP parameters, to yield better image fusion results by utilizing the PLIP addition or image multiplication, to represent a larger span of cases than the LIP and linear arithmetic cases by changing parameters, and to utilize and illustrate the logarithmic exponential operation for image fusion and enhancement.
SOAP-binQ: high-performance SOAP with continuous quality management

There is substantial interest in using SOAP (simple object access protocol) in distributed applications' interprocess communications due to its promise of universal interoperability. The utility of SOAP is limited, however, by its inefficient implementation. Our research aims to make SOAP useful for high end or resource-constrained applications. The resulting SOAP-bin communication protocol exhibits substantially improved performance compared to regular SOAP communications. Gains are particularly evident when the same types of parameters are exchanged repeatedly, examples including transactional applications, remote graphics or visualization, and distributed scientific codes. A further improvement to SOAP-bin, termed SOAP-binQ, addresses resource-constrained applications like distributed media codes, where scarce communication bandwidth, for example, may prevent end users from interacting in real-time. SOAP-binQ offers quality management functions that permit SOAP to reduce parameter sizes dynamically, as and when needed. The methods used in size reduction are provided by end users and/or by applications, thereby enabling domain-specific tradeoffs in quality vs. performance. An adaptive use of SOAP-binQ's quality management techniques presented significantly reduces the jitter experienced in two sample applications like remote sensing and remote visualization.
Identify Online Store Review Spammers via Social Review Graph

Online shopping reviews provide valuable information for customers to compare the quality of products, store services, and many other aspects of future purchases. However, spammers are joining this community trying to mislead consumers by writing fake or unfair reviews to confuse the consumers. Previous attempts have used reviewers’ behaviors such as text similarity and rating patterns, to detect spammers. These studies are able to identify certain types of spammers, for instance, those who post many similar reviews about one target. However, in reality, there are other kinds of spammers who can manipulate their behaviors to act just like normal reviewers, and thus cannot be detected by the available techniques.In this article, we propose a novel concept of review graph to capture the relationships among all reviewers, reviews and stores that the reviewers have reviewed as a heterogeneous graph. We explore how interactions between nodes in this graph could reveal the cause of spam and propose an iterative computation model to identify suspicious reviewers. In the review graph, we have three kinds of nodes, namely, reviewer, review, and store. We capture their relationships by introducing three fundamental concepts, the trustiness of reviewers, the honesty of reviews, and the reliability of stores, and identifying their interrelationships: a reviewer is more trustworthy if the person has written more honesty reviews; a store is more reliable if it has more positive reviews from trustworthy reviewers; and a review is more honest if many other honest reviews support it. This is the first time such intricate relationships have been identified for spam detection and captured in a graph model. We further develop an effective computation method based on the proposed graph model. Different from any existing approaches, we do not use an review text information. Our model is thus complementary to existing approaches and able to find more difficult and subtle spamming activities, which are agreed upon by human judges after they evaluate our results.
Water-soluble copolymers VIII. Synthesis and dilute solution rheological studies of dextran-g-poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylates)

Dextran-g-poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylates) were prepared by partial hydrolysis of dextran-g-poly(acrylamides) with controlled numbers and lengths of grafted chains. This hydrolysis route proved to be more effective than Ce(IV)-induced cografting of acrylamide and sodium acrylate comonomers onto dextran in producing the desired graft-copolymer structures. The resulting copolymers were characterized and the effects of composition, temperature, ionic strength, and shear rate on dilute solution rheological properties were studied.
Papel da gastroplastia no tratamento da apnéia obstrutiva durante o sono

Four male obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea were evaluated by polysomnography, both prior and 3-4 months following gastroplasty. The surgery was performed as an alternative weight loss treatment. These patients were selected for gastroplasty because they had severe obesity, obstructive sleep apnea with cardiopulmonary impairment and noncompliance on a weight loss diet. Tracheostomy was performed concomitantly in three cases. Preoperative recording demonstrated 21.2 to 100.3 apneas per hour of sleep; stage 3 was decreased in three and absent in one case; stage 4 was absent in every patient; stage REM was decreased in three cases; arterial oxygen saturation (Sa02) was below 80% in every case during apenas. Follow-up recordings with occluded tracheostomy were obtained 3-4 months after surgery. The weight reduction varied from 16.3 to 41.4% of the initial weight. The recording documented normal sleep apnea indices in three cases and partial recovery in the remainder; increase in stages 3, 4 and REM; normal Sa02 in three out of 4 cases. These findings suggest that gastroplasty may be used as an alternative treatment for weight reduction in selected OSA patients.
Blood and Coagulation Support in Trauma Care

Injuries are common and account for almost 15% of all blood use in the U.S. The historic view that the coagulopathy associated with severe injury was largely dilutional is being replaced by epidemiologic and molecular evidence for a distinct syndrome of trauma-associated coagulopathy. This coagulopathy of trauma is the sum of the effects of blood loss and dilution, coagulation factor and platelet consumption, hypothermic platelet dysfunction and acidosis-induced decreases in coagulation factor activity, and fibrinolysis. Preventing the coagulopathy of trauma is best accomplished by preventing injury and hypothermia. Treating the coagulopathy of trauma requires its early recognition, prompt control of hemorrhage with local and systemic treatments, including in some patients the use of plasma instead of crystalloid solutions, and the prompt treatment of acidosis and hypothermia. The planned early use of allogenic plasma to treat many tens of thousands of massively transfused patients each year creates new demands for the immediate availability and improved safety of plasma products.
Imports versus Domestic Production: A Demand System Analysis of the U.S. Red Wine Market

The U.S. wine market experienced rapid growth in all facets—production, consumption, exports, and imports—over the past decade. Red wine imports more than tripled while consumption of domestically produced red wines doubled. This research estimates demand elasticities of U.S. red wine imports from five countries accounting for over 90% of imports—Italy, France, Spain, Australia, and Chile—using the first-difference version of the almost ideal demand system (AIDS). These elasticities are compared with those for domestically produced red wine. Results for conditional expenditure elasticities indicate that the U.S. red wine industry gains over imports when U.S. consumers’ total expenditures on red wine increase. However, comparing own- and cross-price elasticities reveals an increase in the price of U.S. red wine results in a decline in quantity demanded six times greater than for French and Italian red wines and over 20 times greater than other import countries, thus harming the U.S. red wine industry. Empirical results suggest that U.S. red-wine producers could increase their total revenue by decreasing prices, while Italian and French producers can increase total revenues by increasing them.
Decision Making After BRCA Genetic Testing

The purpose of this study was to evaluate women who have completed hereditary cancer risk assessment and BRCA genetic testing to determine if they considered themselves prepared to proceed with decision making regarding cancer screening and prevention options. Levels of decisional conflict were explored, as was their preference for information delivery. The prospective, descriptive survey was conducted at a breast and clinical genetics clinic at a comprehensive cancer center in the northeastern United States. Twenty-seven female participants completed the Preparation for Decision Making scale, Decisional Conflict Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Scores were consistent with high levels of preparation for decision making and low decisional conflict. The face-to-face approach was the preferred method for information delivery. Subgroup analysis demonstrated a difference in the measured objectives based on cancer status but not based on BRCA status. The current information delivery approach is meeting the decision-making needs of women considered to be at increased risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
The Maastricht Judgment, the Democracy Principle, and US Participation in Western Hemispheric Integration

The Maastricht Judgment of the German Constitutional Court has caused a considerable stir within the German legal community. The Judgment is perceived by some as a step backward in the European integration process, or at least as a halt, because it implies significant residual national constitutional constraints on the exercise of authority by Union institutions. Others view the Judgment as more or less in line with prior German jurisprudence regarding the process of integration in Europe. The Maastricht Judgment is of great interest from an American perspective because it addresses fundamental constitutional questions prompted by a level of regional integration far deeper than that to which the United States is, or might ever be, a party.This article will concentrate on the principal question addressed by the German Constitutional Court in the Maastricht Judgment. That is, the extent to which the "democracy principle" may limit Germany's participation in the European Union. It will ask whether there is an analogy to the democracy principle in the US constitutional framework, and what the implications of the principle may be for US participation in Western Hemispheric integration. The German Constitutional Court's Judgment contains much that will be important and relevant to the "Constitutional Future" of US participation in the Western Hemispheric integration process.
The Value of Building Codes

cise of police power, although the codes themselves may bebased on a regional or national model. Codes can be classified as either prescriptive or performancein nature. Performance codes state a technical objective whileprescriptive codes specify a method for achieving an objec-tive. Prescriptive standards offer the advantages of lowerenforcement costs and reduced liability for code officials, whileperformance standards may more readily accommodate tech-nological innovation. Unfortunately, neither type of standardnecessarily allows the least-cost method of producing thedesired level of safety.Two theoretical justifications exist for residential construc-tion codes: information asymmetries and externalities. Theinformation asymmetries argument is that homebuyers areunlikely to possess the technical expertise to be able to assessthe structural integrity of a housing unit. The externality argu-ment is that codes are required to prevent market participantsfrom developing land in a manner that endangers adjacentproperty. However, private market mechanisms such as inspec-tion services, home warranties, and liability can address thoseproblems. Citing those mechanisms, opponents of govern-ment-administrated building codes assert that under the cur-rent system, “innovation is stymied and codes are increasing-ly rigorous and costly.”
Counting chlamydial particles by negative staining with Congo red.

Several procedures, varying in complexity and the requirement of special equipment, have been reported for counting of chlamydial particles. In one procedure, the number of particles is computed from direct counts on an aliquot of suspension spread over a specified area [1]. In others, the number is computed from the observed ratio of chlamydial to reference particles in a mixture where the concentration of reference particles is known (e.g. latex [2, 3], bacteria [4, 5], or erythrocytes [6]). Various types of microscopy have been used for observation, including electron [2], fluorescence [6], phase [3], ultraviolet [4], darkfield [1], and light [5]. Staining is a prerequisite for observation in most procedures, with the attendant possibility of the loss of some particles during the process. Use of Congo red negative staining for counting leptospirae [7] suggested its similar use in chlamydial counts. The use and advantages of the method that has been developed are described herein.
Asymmetric total synthesis of apratoxin D.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of the marine natural product apratoxin D, a highly potent inhibitor of H-460 human lung cancer cell growth (IC50 value of 2.6 nM), is described. Asymmetric N-amino cyclic carbamate (ACC) α,α-bisalkylation was utilized to establish the isolated C-37 methyl group with excellent selectivity. Other key asymmetric transformations employed were an Evans syn-aldol and a Paterson anti-aldol, both of which also proceeded with excellent stereoselectivity.
Ligand substitution of the redox-active diphosphine 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione (bpcd) in the alkynyl-bridged cluster Ru3(CO)9(μ2-H)(μ3-ν2-CCtBu). Synthesis, X-ray structure and electrochemical properties of Ru3(CO)7(μ2-H)(μ3-ν2-CCtBu) (bpcd)

Abstract The alkynyl-bridged triruthenium cluster Ru 3 (CO) 9 9 μ 2 -H( μ 3 - ν 2 -C t Bu) ( 1 ) reacts with the redox-active diphosphine ligand 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3,-dione (bpcd) in the presence of Me 3 NO to afford the new cluster Ru 3 (CO) 7 ( μ 2 -H)( μ 3 - ν 2 -CC t Bu)(bpcd) ( 2 ) in 76% yield. The diphosphine ligand in 2 is bound at the unique ruthenium atom in a chelating fashion, and is the first example of a cluster-coordinated bpcd ligand. Cluster 2 has been characterized in solution by IR and NMR ( 1 H and 31 P) spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray diffraction analysis. Ru 3 (CO) 7 ( μ 3 - ν 2 -CC t Bu)(bpcd), as the CH 2 Cl 2 solvate, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 /c: α = 21.190(1), b = 12.345(1) A , c = 17.272(1) A , β = 95.075(5)°, V = 4500.5(5) A , 3 , Z = 4, d calc = 1.667 g cm −3 ; R = 0.399, R w = 0.0432 for 3255 observed reflections. The redox properties of 2 were explored by cyclic voltammetry, which revealed the presence of a reversible one-electron reduction process (bpcd based) and an irreversible oxidation (metal based). The nature of the HOMO and LUMO in 2 has been examined by carrying out extended Huckel MO calculations on the model cluster Ru 3 (CO) 7 ( μ 2 -H)( μ 3 - ν 2 -CCHH 4 -bpcd), and the results are discussed with respect to the observed electrochemistry. The propensity of cluster 2 to undergo P-C bond cleavage is discussed in the light of other diphosphine ligand work.
Increased Susceptibility of Laboratory-Reared vs. Wild Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), Larvae to Toxic Citrus Allelochemics

Selected citrus peel oils and oil constituents were tested for toxicity to eggs and larvae of laboratory-reared and wild Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew). In general, the responses of both laboratory-reared and wild fly eggs to these agents were quite similar. In contrast, laboratory-reared larvae were more susceptible than wild larvae to all test agents. Possible explanations for the observed difference in larval susceptibility are presented.
On Ending Nationalism

ationalism must be ended. It is a creed that has come to burden the expansion of globalism (as evident for instance in the demonstrations against WTO); hobbles the growth of the European Community (as seen in the votes against the Euro in Denmark); stands in the way of resolving violent conflicts (for instance, over the fate of Jerusalem); complicates the resolution of differences within existing nation-states (for example, in Corsica); and turns refu