cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Challenges of the Unseen World: A Laboratory Course in Microbiology

Solving real-world health challenges in a learning environment You are at an exciting gateway into the world of microorganisms. With nothing more than basic lab equipment such as microscopes, Petri dishes, media, and a handful of reagents, you will learn to isolate, grow, and identify bacteria that live all around us. This is no ordinary microbiology laboratory course; not only will you learn how to streak plates, use a microscope, perform a Gram stain, and prepare serial dilutions and spread plates—fundamental skills found in every microbiologist’s toolkit—you will solve a series of public health–related challenges that many professional microbiologists encounter in their work. By the end of this course, you will: Determine the origin of a nosocomial infection. Using foundational and molecular methods, you will determine whether the infections occurring in hospitalized patients are the result of contaminated medical items. Select the antibiotic to treat a patient with Crohn’s disease. You will find minimum inhibitory concentrations of various antibiotics for a Pseudomonas strain associated with Crohn’s disease. Pinpoint the source of lettuce contaminated with E. coli. Using molecular tools you will investigate a common food safety challenge, antibiotic-resistant E. coli and the potential for spread of this resistance in the environment. Find the farm releasing pathogens into a stream used for drinking water. Using bacteriophage load in water samples, you will locate the source of fecal contamination in the water supply of a village in an underdeveloped country. Evaluate the potential of bacteria to cause a urinary tract infection. You will test for biofilms, quorum sensing behavior, and chemotaxis and assess which disinfectants would be most effective for sanitizing contaminated surfaces. Microbiology educators and researchers Richard Meyer and Stacie Brown have created this hands-on, engaging introduction to the essential laboratory skills in the microbial sciences that is sure to change the way you view the world around you. Paperback, 200 pages, full-color illustrations, index. Interested in purchasing the digital version of this title? Click here to buy the book via RedShelf! Click here to buy the book via VitalSource!
Qualitative analysis of mode transitions in bottle-shaped resonators with waterfall plots

A closed bottle-shaped resonator consists of the coupled neck and cavity. Such a system yields avoided crossings where the resonance of the neck matches that of the cavity when one bottle dimension is varied. Self-sustained oscillations within the bottle are generated thermoacoustically. Mode transitions were previously observed to occur at the same position within a few millimeters when a piston controlled with a translation stage was moved with a manual control to adjust the cavity length. The dominant mode was recorded using a power spectrum of the signal measured with a pressure sensor. In this study, the piston motion is automated and eight neck/cavity combinations were tested at three different piston speeds and at various input powers. The input powers were adjusted to just above thermoacoustic onset and not to exceed thermal limits of the materials used. Waterfall plots allow the visualization of the time evolution of the power spectrum where intensity is plotted both as a function of time and fre...
Weather-Ready Nation or Ready-Weather Agency? Emphatic Accuracy and Sociotechnical Resilience in the National Weather Service

In the United States, the National Weather Service has begun to “evolve” their agency through strategies of sociotechnical resilience. This chapter critiques the agency’s recent strategic plan, Weather-Ready Nation Roadmap, through normative inquiry about the sociotechnical resilience of what, for whom, and at what cost. It identifies internal and external inflections of this resilience meant to maintain the value of the government forecaster in society but that may disappear the public from agency anticipatory activities. The Roadmap likewise opens opportunities for scaling up forecaster values that transform their science through a commitment to keeping their publics safe. This ethic, what I call empathetic accuracy, performs the interconnectedness of accuracy, care, and relationality already present in, and important to, the sociotechnical resilience of forecaster work.
Expression analysis of vitellogenins in the workers of the red imported fire ant ( Solenopsis invicta ).

Vitellogenin has been proposed to regulate division of labor and social organization in social insects. The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) harbors four distinct, adjacent vitellogenin genes (Vg1, Vg2, Vg3, and Vg4). Contrary to honey bees that have a single Vg ortholog as well as potentially fertile nurses, and to other ant species that lay trophic eggs, S. invicta workers completely lack ovaries or the ability to lay eggs. This provides a unique model to investigate whether Vg duplication in S. invicta was followed by subfunctionalization to acquire non-reproductive functions and whether Vg was co-opted to regulate behavior within the worker caste. To investigate these questions, we compared the expression patterns of S. invicta Vg genes among workers from different morphological subcastes or performing different tasks. RT-qPCRs revealed higher relative expression of Vg1 in major workers compared to both medium and minor workers, and of Vg2 in major workers when compared to minor workers. Relative expression of Vg1 was also higher in carbohydrate foragers when compared to nurses and protein foragers. By contrast, the level of expression of Vg2, Vg3, and Vg4 were not significantly different among the workers performing the specific tasks. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between the expression of the Vg genes and S-hydroprene, a juvenile hormone analog. No changes in Vg expression were recorded in workers 12 h after application of the analog. Our results suggest that in S. invicta the Vg gene underwent subfunctionalization after duplication to new functions based on the expression bias observed in these data. This may suggest an alternative and still unknown function for Vg in the workers that needs to be investigated further.
Invited Review Article: Metal-additive manufacturing — Modeling strategies for application-optimized designs

Next generation, additively-manufactured metallic parts will be designed with application-optimized geometry, composition, and functionality. Manufacturers and researchers have investigated various techniques for increasing the reliability of the metal-AM process to create these components, however, understanding and manipulating the complex phenomena that occurs within the printed component during processing remains a formidable challenge-limiting the use of these unique design capabilities. Among various approaches, thermomechanical modeling has emerged as a technique for increasing the reliability of metal-AM processes, however, most literature is specialized and challenging to interpret for users unfamiliar with numerical modeling techniques. This review article highlights fundamental modeling strategies, considerations, and results, as well as validation techniques using experimental data. A discussion of emerging research areas where simulation will enhance the metal-AM optimization process is presented, as well as a potential modeling workflow for process optimization. This review is envisioned to provide an essential framework on modeling techniques to supplement the experimental optimization process.
Estimating endocardial potentials from a noncontact probe

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews three inverse algorithms:zero-order Tikhonov, first-order Tikhonov, and first-order generalized Eigen-system regularization—for their ability to estimate the endocardial potentials from measured probe potentials and known geometric data. For each method, the composite residual error and smoothing operator (CRESO) technique is used to estimate the regularization parameter. For the preliminary data examined, higher-order regularization produced higher correlation coefficients between the estimated and measured endocardial electro-grams. The inverse problem is far more difficult as it is extremely ill conditioned, and consequently small errors in the measurements cause enormous (hundreds of times larger) errors in the estimated epicardial potentials. No electrical data is available on the heart. The estimation of endocardial (interior heart surface) potentials from a probe placed in the heart chamber is one of the most promising applications of minimally invasive inverse techniques. The inverse estimates generated by higher-order approaches for both
Band Structure and Theory of Magnetic Interactions in Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors

These lecture notes attempt to summarize the current state of understanding of the electronic structure and magnetic interactions in diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) as derived within an “effective” one-electron framework. The major portion of these notes focuses on the prototypical case of A 1-x II MnxBVI DMS in which the magnetic element Mn is substituted for the group II element in a tetrahedral II–VI semiconductor. Several brief reviews of the microscopic theory of these materials have already been published.1–4 The present survey is intended to be more pedagogical and comprehensive. Emphasis is placed on the development of a consistent picture based on first-principles spin-polarized band calculations, semi-empirical tight-binding calculations and experiment. Unresolved issues related to A 1-x II MnxBVI DMS are also addressed. The notes conclude with a few comments on other DMS materials for which additional theoretical and experimental challenges remain.
Effects of soil fumigation and N source on soil inorganic N and tomato growth

Soil fumigation, commonly used in vegetable production, may alter the rate of nitrification, affecting availability of N for crop use. The objective of this research was to examine effects of soil fumigation and N fertilizer source on tomato growth and soil NO3–N and NH4–N in field production. Experiments 1 and 2 included application of methyl bromide at 420 kg ha-1 to a Norfolk sandy loam (fine loamy siliceous thermic Typic Kandiudult) in combination with preplant applications of calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate at 144 kg N ha-1. An additional fumigant, metam-sodium, was included in the second experiment at 703 L ha-1 (268 kg sodium methyldithiocarbamate ha-1). Experiment 3 included methyl bromide and metam-sodium, with ammonium sulfate as the sole source of N applied at 144 kg N ha-1. In the first two studies, fumigants had little or no effect on soil NH4–N or NO3–N concentration. Tomato plants were larger and fruit yield was greater in fumigated plots, but there were few growth or yield responses to N source. In the third experiment, fumigants increased concentration of soil NO3–N and NH4–N at 16 days after fumigation (DAF), however, there was no effect on nitrification owing to fumigants. It appears that N source selection to overcome inhibition of nitrification is not necessary in plant production systems that involve fumigation
Comprehensive Local Community Development via Collaborative Quality of Life Planning: Best Practices from Two San Diego Neighborhoods

This study presents best practices in the quality of life planning process in two low-income, multiethnic urban neighborhoods in San Diego, California. We focus on the planning process since community engagement is frequently identified as a critical factor in successful quality of life planning, but the processes through which this occurs require further investigation. We analyze case studies from the Neighborhoods First initiative, a quality of life planning process launched in 2008 by San Diego LISC, a community development intermediary. Based on the Neighborhoods First experience, we found that the quality of life planning process in low-income urban neighborhoods benefits from five critical factors: (1) stakeholder participation that combines recognized neighborhood leaders and emerging leaders; (2) planning processes paired with immediate outcomes; (3) facilitators who ensure timely completion of the process; (4) transparency in the process; and (5) early acknowledgment and incorporation of each neighborhood’s unique history.
Characterization of Surfaces and Coatings Using Laser-Generated Ultrasonic Surface Waves

Metallic coatings are produced for various purposes, and methods employed for testing their quality vary accordingly. Many tests have been developed in the past to determine the various properties of the coatings. Wear-resistance tests are commonly carried out on metallic deposits, plated specifically as a protection for the metal substrate against wear and erosion. A typical example is chromium plated on steel substrates.
Assessment and Retrieval of Aspirated Tracheoesophageal Prosthesis in the Ambulatory Setting

Tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP) is the most common voice restoration method following total laryngectomy. Prosthesis extrusion and aspiration occurs in 3.9% to 6.7% and causes dyspnea. Emergency centers are unfamiliar with management of the aspirated TEP. Prior studies report removal of aspirated TEP prostheses under general anesthesia. Laryngectomees commonly have poor pulmonary function, posing increased risks for complications of general anesthesia. We present a straightforward approach to three cases of aspirated TEP prosthesis removed in the ambulatory setting. In each case, aspirated TEP was diagnosed with flexible bronchoscopy under local anesthesia at the time of consultation, and all prostheses were retrieved atraumatically using a biopsy grasper forceps inserted via the side channel of the bronchoscope. The aspirated TEP prosthesis can be safely and efficiently removed via bedside bronchoscopy.
1010. Effectiveness of Oral Antibiotics for Definitive Therapy of Gram-Positive Bloodstream Infections

Background Transition from intravenous (IV) to oral (PO) antibiotics is common practice in patients with Gram-positive bloodstream infections (GP-BSI); however, clinical data evaluating IV to PO switch options are lacking. The objective of this study was to examine effectiveness of PO antibiotics for definitive treatment GP-BSI, with a focus on bioavailability (BA).
Development of an alternative test approach for binder blending charts with fine aggregate matrix mix testing

Binder blending charts are used to determine the selection of virgin binder grade of asphalt mixes containing more than 25% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) as part of the Superpave volumetric mix ...
Like Ripples Across a Pond: Catalyzing Heritage Programs Through Radical Openness

Heritage adds value to a wide range of endeavors, with heritage tourism and historic designations presented as opportunities for economic development. Other values for heritage include increasing social capital, using places, heirlooms, and stories to pass on traditions and increase the understanding of locales and history. Public archaeologists and other heritage professions have been using heritage to engage, partner, and contribute to communities. Community-based and transparent heritage practices, whether archaeological investigations or creating new representations of the past for a location, offer positive and continuing opportunities for heritage as positive social actions. An example from the Florida Gulf Coast will illustrate how radical openness for a project facilitated archaeological outreach moving beyond specific research goals to catalyze new endeavors based on the history uncovered. From public archaeology that revealed a previously unknown nineteenth-century maroon community, the freely shared information and insights led to creative expression, innovative uses of newly revealed histories, and more research that went far beyond what the research team might have produced. Such heritage activism allows interest in, and support for, heritage in a manner that can compete with market-driven concerns and expand knowledge and appreciation of the past.
Firm performance in dynamic environments: The role of operational slack and operational scope

Abstract This study examines the effects of operational scope (breadth of product offering, extent of geographical diversification, and extent to which production processes can effectively meet varying demand) and operational slack (resources in excess of what is required to fulfill expected demand) on firm performance, contingent on two components of a firm's dynamic environment, unpredictability and instability. We collate quarterly data on 3857 publicly traded firms in 19 industries from the years 1991 to 2013 (representing 99,559 firm-quarter observations). Using panel data analysis, we find that narrow product offerings, low geographical diversification, low levels of excess capacity, and low inventory slack are each positively associated with firm performance. More importantly though, we find that operational scope is associated with improved performance in unpredictable environments, whereas operational slack is associated with improved performance in unstable environments. These findings contribute to the research on operations strategy by identifying the industry-specific environmental conditions under which operational slack and operational scope are associated with firm performance.
Wearable self-powered biosensors

Abstract Wearable self-powered biosensors are devices that operate without an external electronic power source or onboard battery and that use a biorecognition detection element to relay sensing information. Such devices are becoming more widespread following the larger trend of more ubiquitous wearable devices in general. Self-powering can be a particularly important characteristic in situations where replacing/recharging a battery is either impossible or impractical. Most wearable self-powered biosensors rely primarily on enzymatic reactions to supply the energy required for operation, but there are also other innovative approaches that combine multiple signal transduction techniques to simultaneously provide power and produce a detection signal. Areas of needed research include developing higher power energy harvesting techniques and more wearable self-powered biosensor devices that have integrated low-power wireless electronics.
Prevalence and Biobehavioral Predictors of Early and Long-Term Fatigue Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Fatigue is a commonly reported quality of life concern after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Fatigue severity, duration, and interference with daily activities were evaluated at post-transplant milestones during acute recovery and through 6 years post-HSCT. We also investigated whether disease and treatment factors (allogeneic or autologous graft, diagnosis, treatment regimen), inflammation, and psychological symptoms during the peri-transplant period predicted early and long-term fatigue. Participants were 433 (191 allogeneic, 242 autologous) HSCT recipients who completed measures of fatigue (FSI), depression and anxiety (IDAS) pre-HSCT, and 1, 3, and 6 months, and 1, 3, and 6 years post-HSCT. A subset (n = 210) provided blood samples during the first 6 months post-HSCT for determination of circulating cytokine levels (IL-6, TNFα, IL-10). The majority of participants reported clinically significant fatigue at 1 (83.9%), 3 (68.4%), and 6 months (64.7%) post-HSCT. Mixed effects regression models evaluated predictors of fatigue during early recovery. Allogeneic HSCT recipients showed a slower recovery, reporting more fatigue than autologous HSCT recipients at 3 and 6 months post-HSCT, but comparable fatigue at other points (interaction z=2.99, p=0.003). No other disease or treatment factors predicted fatigue. After covarying for transplant type and patient age, higher IL-6, TNFα and IL-10 levels (all p
Meds to Beds: A Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase Filling of Antimicrobial Prescriptions Prior to Discharge

Background: Poor medication compliance correlates with increased health care utilization in children. Delivery of medications to the bedside prior to discharge allows opportunities for patients to ask medication-related questions, avoidance of potential dosing or compounding issues at community pharmacies, identification of financial barriers, and eliminates an additional task to be performed after discharge. This study aims to increase the percentage of patients discharged from the Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) service with an antimicrobial prescription who fill the prescription prior to discharge from 11.3% to 80% by October 2018. Methods: We assembled a multidisciplinary team comprised of pharmacists, nurses, social workers, care managers, electronic medical record (EMR) analysts, …
Ultrasound-Guided Iliopsoas Tendon Release: A Cadaveric Investigation.

Background The iliopsoas is a common source of anterior hip pain. Refractory cases may require surgical intervention, with reported complication rates ranging from 3% to 50%. Development of a minimally invasive, outpatient method of iliopsoas tendon release is desirable and may reduce costs, lower complications, and improve recovery time. Objective To describe and evaluate the safety and reproducibility of an ultrasound-guided (USG) iliopsoas tendon release using a spinal needle in a cadaveric model. Design Prospective, cadaveric laboratory investigation. Setting Academic Institution Procedural Skills Laboratory. Participants Five unembalmed cadaveric specimens (three female, two male), 69 to 93 years of age (mean 83.2 years), with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.5 kg/m2 (range 19.2 to 30.3 kg/m2 ). Interventions Two operators each performed five USG iliopsoas tendon releases. Three additional investigators dissected the pelves to assess completeness of tendon release and damage to adjacent structures. Main outcome measures Successful transection, completeness (%) of the tendon transection, damage to adjacent structures, and procedural time. Results Nine of 10 releases achieved the target release of ≥75% tendon transection. One procedure achieved 50% tendon release. No injury to adjacent structures was identified. The mean duration of the procedure was 6.19 minutes. Conclusions USG iliopsoas tendon release can be performed in a cadaveric model, consistently achieve the desired percentage of tendon release, does not result in injury to adjacent neurovascular structures, and takes approximately 6 minutes to perform. Although results cannot be generalized to a clinical setting, due to the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, it is likely that this procedure can be performed safely in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia, will cost less, and will facilitate a more rapid recovery when compared to standard surgical procedures. Further research is warranted for clinical application.
Protocol for Biochemical Analysis and Structure Determination of the ZZ Domain of the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase HERC2.

Summary Since its discovery, several ligands of the ZZ domain have been identified; however, molecular and structural information underlying binding of these ligands remains limited. Here, we describe a protocol for biochemical and structural analysis of the ZZ domain of human E3 ubiquitin ligase HERC2 (HERC2ZZ) and its interaction with its ligands: the N-terminal tails of histone H3 and SUMO1. This methodology could be applied for characterization of binding activities of other histone readers. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Liu et al. (2020) .
History of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation

The goal of this report is to recount the history of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML) and how its members contributed to the science of human milk (HM) and lactation (LT). The ISRHML was formed in 1988 by a group of young scientists who were intrigued with the mysteries of HM and LT and the effects of HM upon recipient human infants. The inception of the ISRHML by those scientists with many different types of interests and expertise led over the next 3 decades to a wealth of new information concerning the biology of the mammary gland and the exceptionally complex composition of HM. Those findings helped to explain why HM is by far the superior nutrition for human infants.
The Impact of Commutes, Work Schedules, and Sleep on Near-Crashes during Nurses’ Post Shift-Work Commutes: A Naturalistic Driving Study

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSDriving and survey data were collected from nurses following the night-shift and analyzed with logistic regression and frequency analysis. The analyses showed that prior near-crashes and drive length contributed significantly to near-crashes. The frequency analysis showed that most near-crashes occurred on major roadways, including principal arterials, major collectors, and interstates, within the first 15 minutes of the drive. These results highlight the urgent need for countermeasures to prevent drowsy driving incidents among night-shift nurses. Specifically, nurses and hospital systems should focus on countermeasures that encourage taking a break on the post work commute and those that can intervene during the drive. This may include the use of educational programs to teach nurses the importance of adequate rest or taking a break to sleep during their drive home, or technology that can recognize drowsiness and alert nurses of their drowsiness levels, prompting them to take a break.
Freedom of Speech.

Of the many functions delegated to the human nervous system, perhaps none is more essentially human than the ability to express one’s thoughts. For persons with severe speech and motor impairments,...
Self-reported exercise capacity among current smokers eligible for lung cancer screening: Distribution and association with key comorbidities.

Abstract One concern as lung cancer screening (LCS) is implemented is that patients will be screened who are too ill to benefit. Poor exercise capacity (EC) predicts adverse outcomes following lung resection. Objective Describe the distribution of EC among smokers eligible for LCS and examine associations with comorbidities. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of tobacco treatment in the context of LCS. Participants responded regarding limitations in moderate activities, ability to climb stairs, and frequency of dyspnea on a scale from never/almost never to all or most of the time. Responses were assigned a numeric score and summed to categorize exercise limitation. Associations between poor EC and key comorbidities were examined using adjusted logistic regression. Results 660 participants completed a survey with the following characteristics: 64.4% male, 89.5% white, mean age 64.5. Overall EC categories were: good 39.0%, intermediate 41.6%, and poor 19.4%. Prevalence of poor EC was higher among patients with COPD (OR 4.62 95%CI 3.05–7.02), heart failure (OR 3.07 95%CI 1.62–5.82) and cardiovascular disease (OR 2.24, 95%CI 1.45–3.47), and was highest among patients with multimorbidity. Among patients with COPD and heart failure, 57% had poor and 0% had good EC. In adjusted logistic regression, only COPD and Charlson comorbidity index remained significantly associated with poor EC. Conclusions Many patients eligible for LCS reported poor EC, with increased odds of poor EC among patients with comorbidities. More research is needed to determine how to best integrate EC and comorbidity into eligibility and shared decision-making conversations.
Intrinsic magnon Nernst effect in pyrochlore iridate thin films

We theoretically study the magnon spin thermal transport using a strong-coupling approach in pyrochlore iridate trilayer thin films grown along the [111] direction. As a result of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, the spin configuration of the ground state is an all-in/all-out ordering on neighboring tetrahedra of the pyrochlore lattice. In such a state, the system has an inversion symmetry and a Nernst-type thermal spin current response is well defined. We calculate the temperature dependence of the magnon Nernst response with respect to the magnon band topology controlled by the spin-orbit coupling parameters and observe topologically protected chiral edge modes over a range of parameters. Our study complements prior work on the magnon thermal Hall effect in thin-film pyrochlore iridates and suggests that the [111] grown thin-film pyrochlore iridates are a promising candidate for thermal spin transport and spin caloritronic devices.
Experimental Bridge Girder of Reinforced Plastic

A girder suitable for a primary load-bearing component in a bridge structure and composed entirely of glass-reinforced polyester resin was designed, fabricated, and tested to failure under short-term static loads. The girder was designed with a solid flange and open web by classical procedures based on a pinned-end truss configuration. Reasonably close agreement was achieved between theoretical and experimental measurements. The web and lower chord elements were fabricated by "winding" continuous glass roving impregnated with polyester around preformed web stiffeners. Measured strains and deflections varied linearly with load. Structural failures usually occurred in joints formed with adhesives. An ultimate live load of 93 times the dead weight of the member was achieved for one of the specimens.
Response: Choice Versus Equal Opportunity: On What Toleration Requires in the Case of the Hijab in French Schools

In his essay, “Egregiously Conflated Concepts: An Examination of ‘Tolerance as Recognition,’” Josh Corngold argues that while toleration should not be equated with recognition, it nonetheless requires the French government to “put up with” Muslim girls wearing headscarves (the hijab) in public schools. Otherwise, the French government “invites divisiveness, civil unrest, and chaos,” by infringing upon individuals’ civil rights. While I agree with Corngold that tolerance might be the more useful concept to apply to this case, I am somewhat less certain that toleration requires the French state to allow the hijab in public schools. As Corngold points out, toleration is practiced in response to the perception that the coercion of those involved in dubious beliefs or practices would be ineffective and irrationally harmful. If we put aside the instrumental value the hijab may hold for some Muslims as members of minority cultural communities in France (as Corngold has), we find that toleration in this case disallows the irrational subversion of the activities of Muslim girls. In considering what social policy would result in the least coercion of this group, three questions must be addressed. First, who must practice toleration? Second, whose voices must we consider in this debate? Third, what rights and what future rights must be granted to school-aged people?
Scale space based grammar for hand detection

For detecting difficult objects, like hands, we present an algorithm that uses tokens and a grammar. Tokens are found by employing a new scale space edge detector that finds scale invariant features at object boundaries. We begin by constructing the scale space. Then we find edges at each scale and flatten the scale space to one edge image. To detect a hand we define a hand pattern grammar using curve tokens for finger tips and wedges, and line tokens. We identify a hand pattern by parsing these tokens using a graph based algorithm. We show and discuss the results of this algorithm on a database of hand images.
Loading and recovery behavior of the human lumbar spine under static flexion.

Objective: In this study, the effect of prolonged forward flexion on the recovery process of the reflexive muscle activity of the lumbar musculature to its original state is studied us ing human participants. Methods: The behavior of the lower back erector spinae muscle during 20 minutes of forward bending and three hours of recovery was evaluated experimentally using electromyography (EMG) and mathematical modeling. Participants: Ten healthy males participated in this study. The EMG of erector-spinae muscle from two different lumbar levels was recorded and expressed as normalized integrated EMG (NIEMG). Results: In general, the average NIEMG values of the erector spinae muscles demonstrated an exponential decrease during the 20-minute loading period. The biexoponential structure, derived from the animal model, did not completely explain the muscle behavior during recovery period. Inclusion of the "intrins ic loading factor" to the biexoponential structure improved the fit of the recovery model to 100%. Conclusions: Most of the recovery (almost 50%) of the reflexive activity o f erector spinae muscle was observed in the initial 30 minutes; yet by the end of three hours, complete recovery was not observed.
A Signal Jamming Theory of Resale Price Maintenance

This paper contains a theoretical analysis demonstrating that a retail price floor can increase the expected profits of an upstream firm when it is asymmetrically informed about the state of product demand. The retail price floor serves to eliminate the incentives of the upstream firm to misrepresent its private information and, thus, reduces the transaction costs associated with the strategic use of information. The wholesale and retail prices (and profits) that emerge in the equilibrium with the asymmetrically informed upstream firm given a retail price floor are identical to those that obtain when prices reflect only common prior knowledge about the state of demand. In this way, the retail price floor serves to jam or block the transmission of the upstream firm's private knowledge and increase, for some parameter values, its profits. When used for this purpose, the retail price floor reduces social welfare and lowers the expected retail margin, an observed empirical regularity.
FOXP3 is an X-linked breast cancer suppressor gene and an important repressor of the HER-2/ErbB2 oncogene

The X-linked Foxp3 is a member of the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor family. Germline mutations cause lethal autoimmune diseases in males. Serendipitously, we observed that female mice heterozygous for the "scurfin" mutation of the Foxp3 gene (Foxp3(sf/+)) developed cancer at a high rate. The majority of the cancers were mammary carcinomas in which the wild-type Foxp3 allele was inactivated and HER-2/ErbB2 was overexpressed. Foxp3 bound and repressed the HER-2/ErbB2 promoter. Deletion, functionally significant somatic mutations, and downregulation of the FOXP3 gene were commonly found in human breast cancer samples and correlated significantly with HER-2/ErbB2 overexpression, regardless of the status of HER-2 amplification. Our data demonstrate that FOXP3 is an X-linked breast cancer suppressor gene and an important regulator of the HER-2/ErbB2 oncogene.
Catalytic cracking of benzene on iron oxide-silica: catalyst activity and reaction mechanism

Abstract Catalytic cracking of benzene was investigated on an iron oxide-silica material, originally developed as a sorbent for high temperature H 2 S removal. Experiments were conducted in a packed-bed microreactor at 500–650°C in the presence of hydrogen. The catalyst, in the reduced form, showed high activity toward benzene cracking and selectivity to methane formation. Hydrogen was found to play a critical role in the overall reaction and in suppressing catalyst deactivation. Based on the experimental observations a reaction mechanism has been postulated, which includes a mechanism for catalyst deactivation.
Erratum to: Assessing the Impact of Cue Exposure on Craving to Gamble in University Students

Erratum to: J Gambl StudDOI 10.1007/s10899-011-9262-0In the original publication under the ‘‘Results section’’, the correlation between post-cueexposure GUS scores and Gambling Refusal Self-Efﬁcacy should read (r =-.59,P B .001).That is, the corrected sentence should read ‘‘Speciﬁcally, post-cue exposure GUS scoreswere correlated with GBQ-Perceived Luck/Gambling Perseverance (r = .63, P B .001),with GBQ-Illusion of Control (r = .46, P B .001), with overall Gambling Refusal Self-Efﬁcacy (r =-.59, P B .001), with the SOGS-RA (r = .60, P B .001), with the numberof days one gambled per week (r = .52, P B .001), and with the BSSS (r = .46,P B .001)’’.
A novel, calcium-induced triphasic current response in silent, non-bursting Aplysia neurons.

Abstract The inotophoretic injection of Ca 2+ iions into voltage-clamped, silent neurons of Aplysia californica results in a prolonged, triphasic current response. This response consists of: (1) a tetraethylammonium-sensitive outward current during the injection; followed by (2) an inward current 10–30s after the end of the injection; and finally (3) a long, slowly increasing outward current that lasts for several minutes before returning to baseline.
Flagellar Biosynthesis In Silico: Building Quantitative Models of Regulatory Networks

In this issue of Cell, describe the construction of an in silico model for the regulatory network responsible for the control of flagellar biosynthesis in E. coli based on quantitative gene expression data. They show how the model can be used as a quantitative blueprint to design genetic modifications with predictable influence on the dynamics of the system. The work by provides a general approach for building detailed models of transcriptional regulatory networks.
A Novel Ubiquitin-like Domain in IκB Kinase β Is Required for Functional Activity of the Kinase

Activation of NF-kappaB requires two highly related kinases named IKKalpha and IKKbeta that share identity in the nature and positioning of their structural domains. Despite their similarity, the kinases are functionally divergent, and we therefore sought to identify any structural features specific for IKKalpha or IKKbeta. We performed bioinformatics analysis, and we identified a region resembling a ubiquitin-like domain (UBL) that exists only in IKKbeta and that we named the UBL-like domain (ULD). Deletion of the ULD rendered IKKbeta catalytically inactive and unable to induce NF-kappaB activity, and overexpression of only the ULD dose-dependently inhibited tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activity. The ULD could not be functionally replaced within IKKbeta by ubiquitin or the corresponding region of IKKalpha, whereas deletion of the equivalent section of IKKalpha did not affect its catalytic activity against IkappaBalpha or its activation by NF-kappaB-inducing kinase. We identified five residues conserved among the larger family of UBL-containing proteins and IKKbeta, and alanine scanning revealed that the leucine at position 353 (Leu(353)) is absolutely critical for IKKbeta-induced NF-kappaB activation. Most intriguingly, the L353A mutant was catalytically active but, unlike wild-type IKKbeta, formed a stable complex with the NF-kappaB p65 subunit. Our findings therefore establish the ULD as a critical functional domain specific for IKKbeta that might play a role in dissociating IKKbeta from p65.
Room temperature nano- and microstructure photon detectors

The development of room temperature infrared (IR) detectors for wavelengths beyond NIR will open up many applications that are currently limited due to cooling requirements. Three approaches are discussed, which show promise for room temperature IR detection. Tunneling quantum dot (QD) detector, utilizes a tunneling barrier in order to block the dark current while permitting the photocurrent to pass through due to resonance effects, has shown room temperature response for a detector operating at 6 and 17μm. The PbS QDs in a dielectric medium utilizes electronic polarizability of QDs, sensing only the variations of the radiation intensity, operating at ambient temperature. This method allows narrow multiple response bands. A GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction detector, utilizing light, heavy and split-off hole transition in a p-doped semiconductor, shows a threshold of 3.4μm operating up to 330K.
Biosynthesis of formic acid by the poison glands of formicine ants

The biosynthesis of formic acid in the poison glands of formicine ants is closely related to the C-1 metabolism of the glandular cells. Experiments utilizing radiolabeled amino acids revealed that serine is a major precursor, contributing both its alpha and beta carbons to formic acids. 5,10[14C]methylene H4folate and 5,10[14C]methenyl H4folate also serve as precursors of formic acid in the poison gland, suggesting that they are intermediates in the pathway. Furthermore, these H4folate derivates were isolated from poison glands following incubation with [3-14C]serine and proved radioactive. The glandular cells are also exceptionally rich in the enzymes responsible for these reactions, supporting the proposed pathway. Although this pathway has been established in various organisms, the uniqueness of the poison gland system is that it accumulates formic acid to large extent, yet avoids its cytotoxicity. This is made possible by a combination of the biochemical characteristics of the pathway and the special morphological features of the poison gland.
Dynamic analysis of a water-soil-pore water coupling system

This paper explores the possible integration of the dynamic analyses of interaction of pore fluid flow and porous structure. The generalized fluid-structure interaction (FSI) algorithm in ADINA is applied for seismic analysis of a reservoir-earth dam-foundation system. In the given numerical example, water in the reservoir interacts with the earth dam on the upstream slope of the dam, and the foundation at the reservoir bottom. Pore water couples with soil particles throughout the earth dam and foundation. The reservoir water is modeled using both the Navier-Stokes equation based fluid element and the subsonic potential based fluid element. In the coupled analysis, hydrodynamic pressures and velocities are presented in the reservoir zone, while displacements, pore pressures and stresses are given for the earth dam and foundation domains at any earthquake time. The generalized FSI model is of great significance in performing soil liquefaction analysis if an appropriate soil plasticity model is employed in accounting for cyclic behavior of soils.
Aquatic Sediment Pre-Extraction Preparations and the Effects on Aroclor 1248 Concentrations

Although there is extensive information regarding analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments, a standardized procedure for preparation of stream sediments prior to extractions has no...
Hearing loss in a family affected by Fabry disease

Fabry disease is an inborn error of metabolism due to deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A. The enzyme defect leads to the systemic accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids in tissues. Otological manifestations consist of hearing loss and mild vestibular disorders. In this report we describe a family of five members affected by Fabry disease with four subjects showing inner ear involvement.
Button-Pressing for a Time-Off Reward during Sensory Deprivation: IV. Relation to Change in Ratings of Well-Being

Summasy.-Fifteen Ss were given the opportunity to button-press for a promised time-off reward during a 3-hr. sensory deprivation (S-D) session. Before entering S-D, Ss rated their srate of well-being by means of a semantic differential scale. Immediately after leaving S-D, Ss used a copy of the same scale to rate their state of well-being while in S-D. Comparison of self ratings of Ss who button-pressed with those who did not suggested that, while there were no significant differences in well-being between groups before S-D, the button-pressers experienced a significantly greater decrement in well-being during S-D. A significant rho of .69 was found between button-pressing and a discomfort quotient derived from the self-ratings. This scudy was carried out as part of a program to identify the variables associated with button-pressing for a promised time-off reward during sensory deprivation (SD) (Rossi & Solomon, 1964 a, b). The ultimate goal of the program is to develop a technique that will yield an objective and quantified index of Ss' sense of discomfort in S-D. In a previous study in this program, it was found that Ss who produced the largest amounts of button-presses for a promised time-off reward also used the greatest proportion of adjectives descriptive of unpleasant subjective states to describe their S-D experience (Rossi & Solomon, 1964 a). The results of that study left unanswered the question of whether the unpleasant subjective states reported by high button-pressers preceded or followed exposure to S-D. The former case would be an indication that high and low button-pressers are from different populations independent of reactions to S-D. The latter case would be an indication that the reported unpleasant subjective states, and by association, the button-pressing, are more directly related to reactions to S-D. The present study was carried out to provide data relative to this question as well as to investigate further the relationship between button-pressing and Ss' reports of discomfort.
Format and scoring variations in behavioral expectation evaluations

Abstract Three formats (I, behavioral expectation scales; II, checklist; and III, graphic rating), each with an underlying behavioral expectation frame of reference, were compared for their variations in performance evaluation results. In addition, the effect of different scoring systems, for the same set of data, on the evaluation results were examined. Students (I, N = 50; II, N = 48; and III, N = 43) evaluated an instructor on forms which were developed by utilizing data generated in the Harari and Zedeck (1973) study. Results indicated that conclusions with respect to performance evaluation can be a function of response format or scoring system. Implications of these results with respect to their effect on the traditional response biases of halo and leniency are offered along with methods, for their assessment.
The Psychiatric Diagnosis of Alcohol Abuse and the Medical Diagnosis of Alcoholic Related Liver Disease: Effects on Liver Transplant Survival

The present study investigated whether differing diagnostic criteria for alcoholism used by mental health professionals versus hepatologists lead to different outcomes in predicting liver transplant survival as determined by the medical record and without a priori judgments. This was in contrast to past studies, particularly in the liver transplant literature, demonstrating comparable survival rates between alcoholics and non-alcoholics that have typically employed a diagnosis of Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD), which does not capture the salient maladaptive behavioral and interpersonal features associated with DSM-IV-TR diagnoses of Alcohol Abuse (AA) and Alcohol Dependence (AD). A series of survival analyses were conducted using data culled from the psychological and medical records of 358 first-time liver transplant recipients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. The primary outcome investigated was liver graft survival following transplant surgery. Follow-up times varied from 0 days to 13 years, depending on the time of transplant and length of graft survival, with a median follow-up time of 6.2 years. Diagnoses of AA and AD predicted significantly poorer survival rates, while diagnoses of ALD did not. DSM-IV-TR alcoholism criteria appear to have greater utility for predicting survival differences beyond pathophysiologically defined alcoholic liver failure.