cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring phylogeny to find the function of sleep

During sleep, animals do not eat, reproduce or forage. Sleeping animals are vulnerable to predation. Yet, the persistence of sleep despite evolutionary pressures, and the deleterious effects of sleep deprivation, indicate that sleep serves a function or functions that cannot easily be bypassed. Recent research demonstrates sleep to be phylogenetically far more pervasive than previously appreciated; it is possible that the very first animals slept. Here, we give an overview of sleep across various species, with the aim of determining its original purpose. Sleep exists in animals without cephalized nervous systems and can be influenced by non-neuronal signals, including those associated with metabolic rhythms. Together, these observations support the notion that sleep serves metabolic functions in neural and non-neural tissues.
Impact of the gut microbiome on the genome and epigenome of colon epithelial cells: contributions to colorectal cancer development

In recent years, the number of studies investigating the impact of the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer (CRC) has risen sharply. As a result, we now know that various microbes (and microbial communities) are found more frequently in the stool and mucosa of individuals with CRC than healthy controls, including in the primary tumors themselves, and even in distant metastases. We also know that these microbes induce tumors in various mouse models, but we know little about how they impact colon epithelial cells (CECs) directly, or about how these interactions might lead to modifications at the genetic and epigenetic levels that trigger and propagate tumor growth. Rates of CRC are increasing in younger individuals, and CRC remains the second most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Hence, a more in-depth understanding of the role that gut microbes play in CRC is needed. Here, we review recent advances in understanding the impact of gut microbes on the genome and epigenome of CECs, as it relates to CRC. Overall, numerous studies in the past few years have definitively shown that gut microbes exert distinct impacts on DNA damage, DNA methylation, chromatin structure and non-coding RNA expression in CECs. Some of the genes and pathways that are altered by gut microbes relate to CRC development, particularly those involved in cell proliferation and WNT signaling. We need to implement more standardized analysis strategies, collate data from multiple studies, and utilize CRC mouse models to better assess these effects, understand their functional relevance, and leverage this information to improve patient care.
Deconstructing perfectionism in college students: Patterns of behavior, emotion, and cognition

Abstract Perfectionism is a complex, multidimensional personality construct that has been linked to both adaptive and maladaptive behavioral and mental health outcomes, particularly for college students. Based on the premise that personality reflects patterns of affect, cognition, and behavior, we deconstructed perfectionism into these constituent parts, with the goal of examining how they contribute to disparate expressions of the trait. We hypothesized that distinct profiles of perfectionism would be identified, and that these profiles would be differently associated with indices of mental health and well-being. Participants (N = 410; M = 18.9 years of age) were recruited from a voluntary online pool of undergraduate students. Data was collected through administration of several self-report measures. Six underlying factors of perfectionism were identified by submitting measures of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive correlates to a principal components analysis. These factor scores were submitted to cluster analysis, which identified four distinct profiles: constructive, motivated, obsessive, and non-perfectionist. The data indicated that these profiles were associated with differences in well-being. Among college students, constructive and motivated expressions of perfectionism may allow individuals to pursue high standards without suffering the mental health consequences that can result from inevitable challenges and setbacks experienced in a demanding environment.
Hyaline fibrous involution of breast lobules: a histologic finding associated with germline BRCA mutation.

We describe the histology and the frequency of a histologic entity that we term "hyaline fibrous involution", which is characterized by symmetric and regular deposition of basal lamina-like periacinar hyaline material in association with atrophic epithelium, in breast samples from patients with either benign breast disease or germline BRCA mutation. Women with germline BRCA mutation (n = 93) who underwent prophylactic mastectomy (BRCA group) were compared to an age-matched sample of women who underwent biopsy for benign breast disease (n = 93). Median age was 45 years (range, 25-72 years). A single HE >55 years, 15%; p = 0.05 and p = 0.02, respectively). Increased presence of hyaline fibrous involution in the setting of BRCA mutation suggests that it may represent a pathologic entity, possibly reflecting abnormal involution or an abnormal response to DNA damage.
The effects of physical education on student fitness, achievement, and behavior

Abstract Despite the mounting evidence that physical education (PE) has health and education benefits for elementary-aged children, much less is known on the effectiveness of such programs for older children. To study the effects of PE on adolescents, we analyze the impact of Texas Fitness Now (TFN), a four-year $37 million grant program that mandated daily PE for middle-school students in low-income schools. Using a regression discontinuity approach to exploit the cutoff in school eligibility, we find that daily PE mandates do not lead to overall improvements in student fitness, including cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility. Although we show that the program was ineffective at changing average student body composition, estimates indicate a reduction in the proportion of obese students. Using individual-level school records data, we find that PE does not lead to positive spillover effects in the classroom, including improvements in standardized test scores, or increases in attendance for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Instead, we provide some evidence to suggest that PE reduces attendance rates and increases disciplinary incidents for middle-school students.
Cyber Mutual Assured Destruction as a System of Systems and the Implications for System Design

Mutual assured destruction is a Cold War era principle of deterrence through causing your enemy to fear that you can destroy them to at least the same extent that they can destroy you. It is based on the threat of retaliation and requires systems that can either be triggered after an enemy attack is launched and before the destructive capability is destroyed or systems that can survive an initial attack and be launched in response. During the Cold War, the weapons of mutual assured destructions were nuclear. However, with the incredible reliance on computers for everything from power generation control to banking to agriculture logistics, a cyber attack mutual assured destruction scenario is plausible. This paper presents this concept and considers the deterrent need, to prevent such a crippling attack from ever being launched, from a system of systems perspective.
An Approach to Addressing Multiple Imputation Model Uncertainty Using Bayesian Model Averaging

This paper considers the problem of imputation model uncertainty in the context of missing data problems. We argue that so-called "Bayesianly proper" approaches to multiple imputation, although correctly accounting for uncertainty in imputation model parameters, ignore the uncertainty in the imputation model itself. We address imputation model uncertainty by implementing Bayesian model averaging as part of the imputation process. Bayesian model averaging accounts for both model and parameter uncertainty, and thus we argue is fully Bayesianly proper. We apply Bayesian model averaging to multiple imputation under the fully conditional specification approach. An extensive simulation study is conducted comparing our Bayesian model averaging approach against normal theory-based Bayesian imputation not accounting for model uncertainty. Across almost all conditions of the simulation study, the results reveal the extent of model uncertainty in multiple imputation and a consistent advantage to our Bayesian model averaging approach over normal-theory multiple imputation under missing-at-random and missing-completely-at random in terms of Kullback-Liebler divergence and mean squared prediction error. A small case study is also presented. Directions for future research are discussed.
Metatheory and dialetheism

Given a formal language, a metalanguage is a language which can express — amongst other things — statements about it and its properties. And a metatheory is a theory couched in that language concerning how some of those notions behave. Two such notions that have been of particular interest to modern logicians — for obvious reasons — are truth and validity. These notions are, however, notoriously deeply entangled in paradox. A standard move is to take the metalanguage to be distinct from the language in question, and so avoid the paradoxes. One of the attractions of a dialetheic approach to the paradoxes of self-reference is that this move may be avoided. One may have a language with the expressive power to talk about — among other things — itself, and a theory in that language about how notions such as truth and validity for that language behave. The contradictions delivered by these notions are forthcoming, but they are quarantined by the use of a paraconsistent logic. The point of this paper is to discuss this project, the extent to which it has been successful, and the places where issues still remain.
Digital Innovations in European Archaeology

European archaeologists in the last two decades have worked to integrate a wide range of emerging digital tools to enhance the recording, analysis, and dissemination of archaeological data. These techniques have expanded and altered the data collected by archaeologists as well as their interpretations. At the same time archaeologists have expanded the capabilities of using these data on a large scale, across platforms, regions, and time periods, utilising new and existing digital research infrastructures to enhance the scale of data used for archaeological interpretations. This Element discusses some of the most recent, innovative uses of these techniques in European archaeology at different stages of archaeological work. In addition to providing an overview of some of these techniques, it critically assesses these approaches and outlines the recent challenges to the discipline posed by self-reflexive use of these tools and advocacy for their open use in cultural heritage preservation and public engagement.
Comment Letter on Fincen's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Anti-Money Laundering Program Effectiveness

We submitted these comments in response to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's advance notice of proposed rulemaking on the definition of an "effective and reasonably designed" anti-money laundering program applicable broadly to financial institutions. Our comments highlight industry-specific obligations of brokers and dealers in securities to have reasonably designed anti-money-laundering programs. We argue that in undertaking future rulemaking, FinCEN should account for industry-specific statutory requirements, and how these bear on regulators’ experiences implementing AML program obligations analogous to those the advance notice of proposed rulemaking contemplates. Regulators’ experience enforcing compliance with FINRA's informal guidance under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, for instance, raises questions about whether FinCEN’s proposals to elaborate on AML obligations through periodic guidance would impose obligations enforceable at all. In particular, FinCEN should carefully consider whether essential enforcement regimes will require additional rulemaking because simply issuing official guidance may not create fully enforceable obligations in all regulatory frameworks. For self-regulatory organizations overseen by the SEC, guidance alone may not suffice to create an enforceable obligation. In instances where the SEC reviews SRO enforcement actions, it considers whether conduct violated the SRO's “rules,” meaning rules approved by the SEC. As explained in greater detail below, official guidance may not meet this standard, creating doubt, enforcement challenges, and likely inhibiting FinCEN’s compliance objectives.
Multi-resolution hyperspectral collection for analysis of panchromatic sharpening algorithms

Assessment of panchromatic sharpening algorithms typically starts with a high resolution Hyperspectral Image (HSI), which is then spatially degraded so that after the sharpening process, the result can be compared to the original and analyzed for accuracy. This leads to questions about quantitative assessments based solely on simulated low resolution data. To address this problem, a multi-resolution hyperspectral data set was collected by researchers from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Henrietta, NY on July 24th 2020. Imagery of 48 felt targets, ranging in size from 5 cm to 30 cm and in six different colors, was collected using RIT's MX-1 UAS imaging system, which is designed to collect 272 spectral bands from approximately 400nm to 1000nm. Three flights were performed and images of the target scene were collected at flight altitudes of 30m, 60m, and 120m. The resulting imagery possesses ratios of 2:1 and 4:1 spatial resolution relative to the lowest altitude flight. The goal of this imaging campaign was to create a data set that will be used to test hyperspectral pansharpening algorithms currently under development at RIT. The radiometric accuracy of sharpening algorithms can be better ascertained through quantitative analysis of their results after being applied to this non-simulated multiresolution hyperspectral data set. This presentation will summarize the process of planning, creating, collecting and packaging the dataset which will be provided to RIT researchers and will also available for download online through RIT.
Measuring how two proteins affect each other's net charge in a crowded environment

Theory predicts that the net charge (Z) of a protein can be altered by the net charge of a neighboring protein as the two approach one another below the Debye length. This type of charge regulation suggests that a protein's charge and perhaps function might be affected by neighboring proteins without direct binding. Charge regulation during protein crowding has never been directly measured due to analytical challenges. Here, we show that lysine specific protein crosslinkers (NHS ester-Staudinger pairs) can be used to mimic crowding by linking two non-interacting proteins at a maximal distance of ~7.9 A. The net charge of the regioisomeric dimers and preceding monomers can then be determined with lysine-acyl "protein charge ladders" and capillary electrophoresis. As a proof of concept, we covalently linked myoglobin (Zmonomer = -0.43 ± 0.01) and α-lactalbumin (Zmonomer = -4.63 ± 0.05). Amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange and circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated that crosslinking did not significantly alter the structure of either protein or result in direct binding (thus mimicking crowding). Ultimately, capillary electrophoretic analysis of the dimeric charge ladder detected a change in charge of ΔZ = -0.04 ± 0.09 upon crowding by this pair (Zdimer = -5.10 ± 0.07). These small values of ΔZ are not necessarily general to protein crowding (qualitatively or quantitatively) but will vary per protein size, charge, and solvent conditions.
The New General Facility Report

The General Facility Report is an oft-used and important document in the museum field. Institutions across the country and across the planet use it primarily to conduct loans between museums. Origi...
Obesity is not a contraindication to veno-arterial extracorporeal life support.

OBJECTIVES Obesity may complicate the peripheral cannulation and delivery of veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (ECLS). With rising global body mass indices (BMI), obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent in severe cardiogenic shock yet its impact on outcomes is not well described. This study sought to examine the relationship between BMI and veno-arterial ECLS outcomes to better inform clinical decision-making. METHODS All cardiogenic shock patients undergoing peripheral veno-arterial ECLS at our institution from March 2008 to January 2019 were retrospectively analysed (n = 431). Patients were divided into 4 groups, BMI 17.5-24.9, 25-29.9, 30-34.9 and ≥35 kg/m2, and compared on clinical outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify variables associated with survival to discharge, the primary outcome of interest. RESULTS The median BMI was 28.3 kg/m2 (interquartile range 24.8-32.6) with a range of 17.0-69.1 kg/m2. Obese patients achieved significantly lower percentages of predicted flow rates compared with BMI < 25 kg/m2 patients though did not differ in their lactate clearances. Patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m2 had similar complication rates to the other cohorts but were more likely to require continuous veno-venous haemodialysis (51% vs 25-40% in other cohorts, P = 0.002). Overall survival to discharge was 48% (n = 207/431) with no differences between the cohorts (P = 0.92). Patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m2 had considerably lower survival (10%) in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared with the other groups (P = 0.17). On multivariable logistic regression, BMI was not significantly associated with failure to survive to discharge. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, with the rising global prevalence of obesity, the results of our study suggest that clinicians need not treat obesity as a negative prognostic factor in cardiogenic shock requiring ECLS.
Impact of water stress under ambient and elevated carbon dioxide across three temperature regimes on soybean canopy gas exchange and productivity

The present study investigated the interactive effects of three environmental stress factors elevated CO2, temperature, and drought stress on soybean growth and yield. Experiments were conducted in the sunlit, controlled environment Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research chambers under two-level of irrigation (WW-well water and WS-water stress-35%WW) and CO2 (aCO2-ambient 400 µmol mol-1 and eCO2-elevated 800 µmol mol-1) and each at the three day/night temperature regimes of 24/18 °C (MLT-moderately low), 28/22 °C (OT-optimum), and 32/26 °C (MHT-moderately high). Results showed the greatest negative impact of WS on plant traits such as canopy photosynthesis (PCnet), total dry weight (TDwt), and seed yield. The decreases in these traits under WS ranged between 40 and 70% averaged across temperature regimes with a greater detrimental impact in plants grown under aCO2 than eCO2. The MHT had an increased PCnet, TDwt, and seed yield primarily under eCO2, with a greater increase under WW than WS conditions. The eCO2 stimulated PCnet, TDwt, and seed yield more under WS than WW. For instance, on average across T regimes, eCO2 stimulated around 25% and 90% dry mass under WW and WS, respectively, relative to aCO2. Overall, eCO2 appears to benefit soybean productivity, at least partially, under WS and the moderately warmer temperature of this study.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive neoplasm that rapidly spreads within the confines of the abdominal cavity to involve most accessible peritoneal and omental surfaces. Current treatment options are unsatisfactory, and new approaches are needed. Recent publications have reported improved survival with an intensive loco-regional treatment strategy including cytoreductive surgery (CRS) along with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). We have noted at our institution prolonged survival in selected patients after intensive multimodality treatment. Our most recently reported trial included initial laparatomy with omentectomy, resection of peritoneal implants, and placement of bilateral peritoneal Portacath; repeated courses of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with doxorubicin, cisplatin, and interferon gamma; second-look laparotomy; and intraoperative hyperthermic perfusion with mitomycin and cisplatin, followed by whole abdominal radiation. To date there have been no universally accepted treatments for MPM. Unless referred to a specialty center, patients are routinely treated with pemetrexed and cisplatin which has been shown to increase survival in pleural mesothelioma.
African Art, Interviews, Narratives: Bodies of Knowledge at Work

Acknowledgements Introduction: The Work of Interviews Carol Magee and Joanna Grabski 1. Talking to People about Art Patrick McNaughton 2. Ghostly Stories: Interviews with Artists in Dakar and the Productive Space around Absence Joanna Grabski 3. Can the Artist Speak? Hamid Kachmar's Subversive Redemptive Art of Resistance Joseph Jordan 4. Photography, Narrative Interventions, and (Cross) Cultural Representations Carol Magee 5. Narrating the Artist: Seyni Camara and the Multiple Constructions of the Artistic Persona Silvia Forni 6. Interview--Akinbode Akinbiyi Akinbode Akinbiyi 7. Inter-Weaving Narratives of Art and Activism: Sandra Kriel's Heroic Women Kim Miller 8. Politics of Narrative at the African Burial Ground in NYC: The Final Monument Andrea E. Frohne 9. Who Owns the Past: Constructing an Art History of a Malian Masquerade Mary Jo Arnoldi 10. Framing Practices: Artists' Voices and the Power of Self-Representation Christine Mullen Kreamer 11. Undisciplined Knowledge Allan deSouza and Allyson Purpura Appendix: Interlocutors Contributors Index
Literacy and Information Content of Magazine Advertising: USA Versus Saudi Arabia

The impact of literacy on the information content of magazine advertisements from Saudi Arabia is examined and compared with those from the USA. The information content is measured according to its complexity. Complexity was determined by frequency and number of informative categories, size of the advertisements and type of product. The major findings are that (1) the American magazine advertisements are more informative than those of the Saudis, and (2) the lower literacy rate for the Saudis decreases the number of informative categories presented in magazine advertisements.
The non‐relapse mortality rate for patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma is greater than relapse mortality 8 years after autologous stem cell transplantation and is significantly higher than mortality rates of population controls

High dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the preferred treatment modality for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). To assess long-term outcomes of these patients, we retrospectively analysed data from 309 consecutive patients who underwent ASCT for DLBCL between 1994 and 2006. We found that non-relapse mortality (NRM) became the major cause of death beginning approximately 8 years after ASCT. The most common causes of NRM during the study period were respiratory failure (31%), infection (13%), cardiac toxicity (15%) and secondary malignancy (15%). The strongest predictor of relapse mortality (RM) was disease status at transplant: patients who were in second or greater complete or partial remission had a higher risk of RM than those in first complete or partial remission [hazard ratio (HR) 3·7, P<0·001], as did those who were relapsed or refractory (HR 4·9, P<0·001). We describe the longest reported follow-up of a large cohort of DLBCL patients uniformly-treated with ASCT. Although relapse was initially the more likely cause of death, NRM exceeded RM after 8 years. After ASCT, surviving patients have significantly increased risk mortality rates relative to the general population and this excess risk persists over time.
Effect of Alkaline Electrolyzed Water as an Inhibitor of Enzymatic Browning in Red Delicious Apples

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, hue angle, chroma and browning index (BI) of alkaline electrolyzed (EO) water-treated apples were compared with apples treated with other anti-browning agents (ascorbic acid, citric acid and sodium metabisulfite). Alkaline EO water was shown to reduce PPO activity by about 66%. Apples treated in alkaline EO water for 5 min had less reduction on hue angle (97.0–91.1) after 24-h storage than apples treated with deionized water (93.4–83.7) and hence less brown. Apples treated in alkaline EO water also had lower BI (40.8) after 24 h than ascorbic acid-treated apples (47.6). Alkaline EO water when combined with other anti-browning agents to treat apple was more effective on preventing browning than with the individual anti-browning agents alone. This study demonstrated that alkaline EO water can be a promising treatment solution to prevent browning and thereby enhance the quality of fresh-cut apples. Practical Applications The prevention of browning in fresh-cut produce is important for maintaining the quality of minimally processed products. A lot of anti-browning agents were used to prevent the enzymatic browning. However, some anti-browning compounds are associated with potential health hazards. Therefore, the use of natural anti-browning agents is still needed to produce healthy products with high quality. The anti-browning properties observed in alkaline electrolyzed (EO) water suggested that it can be a promising treatment solution to prevent browning and thereby enhance the quality of fresh-cut apples. Alkaline EO water is environment friendly, safe for human contact and can be produced on site when needed.
Markov-Chain Monte Carlo

There are various things named after Monte Carlo, almost all of which originated from the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco. In the mid-1940s, mathematicians John von Neumann and Stanislaw Ulam were working on a secret (nuclear) project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The project involved such calculations as the amount of energy that a neutron is likely to give off following a collision with an atomic nucleus. It turned out that the calculations could not be carried out analytically, so the two scientists suggested to solve the problem by using a random number-generating computer. Due to the secrecy of their project, they code-named their method Monte Carlo, referring to the Monaco casino, where Ulam’s uncle would borrow money to gamble (Ulam was born in Europe).
Many Body Calculations of Photoionization

There has been great interest in photoionization during the past decade, both experimentally1 and theoretically.2 Many interesting properties of photoionization have been measured by laser spectroscopy and particularly by synchrotron radiation3,4. During this same period theoretical techniques which can account for electron correlations have been developed and refined. Many calculations have been carried out using many-body perturbation theory (MBPT)5, R-matrix theory,6 the random phase approximation with exchange (RPAE),8 and other related techniques. This article will focus on nonrelativistic calculations since relativistic calculations such as the RRPA will be covered in the article by W. Johnson in this volume.
Prediction of an intrinsic hysteresis atHc1 for type-II/1 superconductors

It is shown that the attractive interactions between flux lines which are responsible for the first-order phase transition of type-II/1 superconductors atHc1, also imply the existence of a phenomenon of hysteresis atHc1, which depends only on the properties of the flux lines. The calculated magnitude of the width of this hysteresis is of the same order of magnitude as the width of the irreversibility observed recently by Auer and Ullmaier, suggesting that those experiments were done under conditions close to the ideal conditions under which the intrinsic hysteresis would dominate. It is also shown that a careful measurement of the hysteresis would yield a lot of information on the structure of the flux lines.
Assessing Michigan State University’s Efforts to Embed Engagement across the Institution: Findings and ChallengesAssessing Michigan State University’s Efforts to Embed Engagement across the Institution: Findings and Challenges

This article describes how Michigan State Universitydeveloped and implemented an institutional framework thatidentifies outreach and engagement as a scholarly, crosscuttingfunction. These efforts sought to elevate the valuation ofoutreach and engagement across the institution and to ensurethat outreach and engagement complemented the otherprofessional responsibilities of faculty. The article alsodescribes how the institution is beginning to assess the impactof those efforts on faculty attitudes and behavior. Preliminaryfindings suggest that while institution-level support isnecessary, outreach and engagement will not flourish atresearch universities until academic units interpret and alignthe institutional framework with faculty efforts in waysappropriate to their disciplines. Efforts also must be taken toensure that the faculty reward system encourages outreach andengagement.
Children of the closet: a measurement of the anxiety and self-esteem of children raised by a non-disclosed homosexual or bisexual parent.

ABSTRACT This research examined whether a parent's non-disclosure of his or her homosexual or bisexual orientation within the family unit negatively affects self-esteem and anxiety in children, as measured in adulthood. Thirty-six subjects indicated that they had not known of their parent's sexual orientation until an average age of sixteen for the children of lesbian or bisexual mothers, and twenty-two for the children of gay or bisexual fathers. This group's scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirabilty Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Scale were compared to scores obtained by sixty-three participants who did not have a homosexual/bisexual parent. The number of years a secretive environment surrounded the child was measured, as were participants' attitudes about the secret sexual identity. Although the study did not find that adults previously raised with a closeted parent had significantly higher levels of anxiety or lower levels of self-esteem, results indicated tha...
Investigations of static properties of two-dimensional bulk polymer systems

The static properties of two dimensional excluded volume continuum multichain systems are investigated by a ’’reptation’’ Monte Carlo algorithm. All beads interact via a repulsive (shifted) Lennard‐Jones potential. In addition, nearest neighbors along chains are linked by a quasiharmonic potential which permits limited pair extensions. Chain lengths of 5, 10, 20, 32, 50, and 70 beads have been studied. Studies at densities of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 demonstrate that chain dimensions are compressed as the concentration is increased. Both the mean square end‐to‐end distance <R≳, and the mean square radius of gyration <S2≳ have a power law dependence upon l‐1, the number of bonds, with exponent approximately 1.44 for ρ = 0.1, 1.33 for ρ = 0.3, and 1.20 for ρ = 0.5. The asphericity ratios indicate the extent of compression as the density is increased. In addition, nonexcluded volume chains are studied via straightforward Monte Carlo integration. <R2≳ and <S2≳ have a power law dependence upon l‐1 with exponent 1.00.
Automatic registration and mosaicking of technical images of Old Master paintings

The registration of technical art conservation images of Old Master paintings presents unique challenges. Specifically, X-radiographs and reflective infrared (1000–2500 nm) images reveal shifted, or new, compositional elements not visible on the surface of artworks. Here, we describe a new multimodal registration and mosaicking algorithm that is capable of providing accurate alignment of a variety of types of images, such as the registration of multispectral reflective infrared images, X-radiographs, hyperspectral image cubes, and X-ray fluorescence image cubes to reference color images taken at high spatial sampling (300–500 pixels per inch), even when content differences are present, and a validation study has been performed to quantify the algorithm’s accuracy. Key to the algorithm’s success is the use of subsets of wavelet images to select control points and a novel method for filtering candidate control-point pairs. The algorithm has been used to register more than 100 paintings at the National Gallery of Art, D.C. and The Art Institute of Chicago. Many of the resulting registered datasets have been published in online catalogues, providing scholars additional information to further their understanding of the paintings and the working methods of the artists who painted them.
Preparation and characterization of dielectric glass-ceramics in Na2O–PbO–Nb2O5–SiO2 system

Abstract Glass-ceramics in the Na 2 O–PbO–Nb 2 O 5 –SiO 2 system have been synthesized to produce bulk materials with nanometer-sized crystals grown in a glass phase via roll-quenching followed by controlled crystallization. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that Pb 2 Nb 2 O 7 , NaNbO 3 and PbNb 2 O 6 phases are formed from the as-quenched glass in temperature range from 750 to 900 °C. Pb 2 Nb 2 O 7 crystallizes at 750 °C and disappears at 850 °C, NaNbO 3 is the primary phase at 850 °C, while PbNb 2 O 6 is formed at a higher temperature of 900 °C. The dielectric properties of the glass-ceramics formed through controlled crystallization have a strong dependence on the phase assemblages that are developed during heat treatment. The highest dielectric constants (> 600) were found in samples annealed at 850 °C for 3 h. Microstructural observation shows that randomly oriented, nanometer-sized crystalline are found with residual glass concentrated at crystallite boundaries. Further studies by scanning tunneling electron microscopy (STEM) in conjunction with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) reveals inhomogeneous distribution of NaNbO 3 and PbNb 2 O 6 in the sample annealed at 850 °C for 3 h and these phases contribute to the high dielectric constant.
Persistent abnormalities in central nervous system function (long-term tolerance) after brief ethanol administration

Abstract Almost 15 years ago it was demonstrated that elevated tolerance to a narcotic would persist despite many months of abstinence. Since approximately 100 million Americans ingest ethanol and some 5–10% of these develop ethanol dependence on one or more occasions, evaluation of this frequently addicting sedative for long-term or persistent effects seemed warranted. Preliminary studies in 1973 of rapid eye movement sleep modification in response to ethanol challenge demonstrated that rodents made dependent upon ethanol for a 6-week period responded abnormally to an ethanol challenge 6 months later. In order to confirm the ability of ethanol to produce such persistent changes in the central nervous system response to this drug a simpler paradigm was developed. Sprague-Dawley rats were addicted to ethanol by administration of 6 g ethanol/kg per day in divided dosage every 8 hours by feeding needle for 6 weeks. Control animals were given equicaloric sucrose by the same means and both sets of animals were fed identical quantities of liquid diet. After withdrawal, all animals were fed and housed similarly for a 6-month period. Their control and post-ethanol challenge locomotor activities were the basis for concluding that those rats previously dependent upon ethanol revealed significantly lessened evidence of sedation (greater agitation) in response to the ethanol challenge. In an attempt to elucidate correlates or determinants of this mechanism, brain biogenic amines were measured during ethanol dependency as well as after 2 weeks and after 2 months of abstinence in rats previously fed either ethanol or equicaloric sucrose by feeding needle for 1 week. The dopamine metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, was significantly depleted from the striatum during ethanol administration, whereas hypothalamic norepinephrine, normal during this period, was depleted 2 weeks later but returned to normal by 2 months. This represents further evidence that dopamine depletion is somehow correlated with ethanol dependence, whereas hypothalamic norepinephrine depletion occurs during the period of tolerance. In any event, the presumption that the effect of ethanol upon brain function is readily reversible can no longer be accepted.
Finding service paths in a media service proxy network

With the deployment of multimedia service proxies at different locations in the networks, it is possible to create an application-level media service proxy network. Multimedia sources and clients will then be able to connect to this network, and create customized, value-added, and composite media service delivered by one or more proxies in the media service proxy network. In this paper, we focus on the problem of finding multimedia service path in the media service proxy network. Our goal is to find the best path with respect to end-to-end resource availability for each service path request. Our solution includes (1) a mechanism to monitor and propagate resource availability information in the media service proxy network and (2) an algorithm to find the best service path based on the resource monitoring results. Its main features include: (1) the resource monitoring mechanism provides reasonable accuracy and stability, while incurring controlled overhead; (2) the service path finding algorithm finds the best path for each service path request, and achieves high overall success rate among all requests; and (3) it is an application-level solution, and does not require changes to the lower-level network infrastructure.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Large-Area Aerodynamic Control for High-Altitude Long- Endurance Sensor Platforms

The use of large-area aerodynamic control schemes to enable high-altitude long-endurance sensor platforms is investigated. The focus is on a vehicle with a joined-wing design. The vehicle has two performance shortcomings that are considered typical of the broader class of high-altitude long-endurance vehicles. The first is minimum roll rate at landing due to the large amount of roll damping associated with these configurations. It is shown that multiple distributed control surfaces can help meet the roll rate requirements. The second is sensitivity of takeoff gross weight to maximum lift-to-drag ratio. Notional mission requirements drive the fuel fraction to high levels and small changes in lift-to-drag ratio can enable large changes in the vehicle weight through reduced fuel requirements. It is shown that the same technology used to satisfy the roll requirement can also be used to actively control the twist and camber during cruise and can have a moderate impact on the vehicle weight or endurance.
Teratocytes and host/parasitoid interactions

Abstract Teratocytes, derived from extraembryonic tissues of parasitic Braconidae, Platygasteridae, and Scelionidae, play several important roles in parasitoid-host interactions. Teratocytes have trophic, immunosuppressive, and secretory functions but their specific activities depend upon the life stage of the host, the time spent by the parasitoid within the host, and the individual species of parasite and host. Teratocytes have immunosuppressive, trophic, and secretory functions. Teratocytes from the braconid, Microplitis croceipes, were obtained at various times from the hemolymph of its host, Heliothis virescens, or from preparations obtained from M. croceipes eggs hatched in vitro. The teratocytes were viewed using scanning electron microscopy and were found to possess a dense coat of microvilli. In vitro cultures of teratocytes secrete proteins and these teratocyte secretory products, when injected into H. virescens larvae, produce many of the same developmental abnormalities observed when larvae are injected with intact teratocytes or are truly parasitized. Finally, it was demonstrated that DNA from the M. croceipes polydnavirus hybridizes with DNA extracted from teratocytes and various other tissues of M. croceipes. Potential implications of the teratocyte/host/polydnavirus interactions are discussed with respect to biological control applications.
Infrared photodetectors with SiGe/Si multiple quantum wells

The study of intersubband transitions in both quantum wells and superlattices has rapidly developed to the point where intersubband photodetectors are becoming attractive for a number of applications. This is particularly significant for Si-based heterostructures due to the advantage of monolithic integration with the conventional silicon signal processing electronics, especially for large-area staring FPAs in advanced IR sensor systems. The authors review experimental observations of hole intersubband transitions in SiGe/Si quantum wells. In addition to intersubband transitions in SiGe/Si quantum wells. In addition to intersubband transitions, they also discuss two normal incident absorption processes: intervalence band transition and internal photoemission from 2-D hole gas in the quantum well. Finally, the progress in the application of SiGe/Si multiple quantum well structures for the fabrication of IR detectors operating in both the 2- to 5-[mu]m and 8- to 12-[mu]m ranges is described.
Freestanding vertically oriented single-walled carbon nanotubes synthesized using microwave plasma-enhanced CVD

Freestanding single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been synthesized in a vertical direction, perpendicular to the growth substrate, using applied DC substrate bias in a microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) synthesis process. The degree of alignment and spatial density of SWCNTs demonstrate a strong dependence on the magnitude of applied bias, with increased alignment and decreased density with increased bias. The unique synthesis environment created by the application of a negative substrate bias in PECVD aligns SWCNTs along electric field lines and decreases SWCNT density due to bombardment by positively charged hydrogen ions. Multi-excitation wavelength Raman spectroscopy reveals shifts in dominant RBM peaks with the application of dc bias. Use of this technique to orient SWCNTs in the vertical direction may allow for three-dimensional SWCNT-based device architectures. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Benzene exposure assessment in rubber hydrochloride workers: A critical evaluation of previous estimates

Many risk assessments for leukemia associated with benzene exposure have been based on the mortality experience of the rubber hydrochloride worker cohort. Although there have been several different historical exposure assessments proposed for this cohort, Paustenbach et al. [1992, J Tox Environ Health], recently published a new historical characterization of benzene exposures based on data previously developed by Rinsky et al. [1981, Am J Ind Med] and further modified by Crump and Allen [1984: OSHA]. Adjustments by Paustenbach et al. in the Rinsky et al. data result in retrospective benzene exposure estimates far greater than those previously reported, by an order of magnitude in many cases. Judgments made on the significance of dermal contact and interpretation of historical measurement data led Paustenbach et al. to arrive at exposure estimates for this cohort that are in conflict with what is known about the adverse effects of benzene exposure. More reasonable estimates for dermal absorption are included in this report that do not substantially affect total estimates of benzene exposure for the cohort. The exposure estimates originally presented in the Rinsky et al. article appear in concordance with data not previously reported in any analyses.
Nodule excitability in an animal model of periventricular nodular heterotopia: c-fos activation in organotypic hippocampal slices.

Objective Aberrations in brain development may lead to dysplasic structures such as periventricular nodules. While these abnormal collections of neurons are often associated with difficult-to-control seizure activity, there is little consensus regarding the epileptogenicity of the nodules themselves. Since one common treatment option is surgical resection of suspected epileptic nodules, it is important to determine whether these structures in fact give rise, or essentially contribute, to epileptic activities.
Video coding using a self-adaptive redundant dictionary consisting of spatial and temporal prediction candidates

All standard video coders are based on the prediction plus transform representation of an image block, which predicts the current block using various intra- and inter-prediction modes and then represents the prediction error using a fixed orthonormal transform. We propose to directly represent a mean-removed block using a redundant dictionary consisting of all possible inter-prediction candidates with integer motion vectors (mean-removed). In general the dictionary may also contain some intra-prediction candidates and some pre-designed fixed dictionary atoms. However, simulation results reported in this papers are obtained by using the inter-prediction candidates only. We determine the coefficients by minimizing the L0 norm of the coefficients subject to a constraint on the sparse approximation error. We show that using such a self-adaptive dictionary can lead to a very sparse representation, with significantly fewer non-zero coefficients than using the DCT transform on the prediction error. We further propose a modified orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm which othonormalizes each new chosen atom with respect to all previously chosen and orthonormalized atoms. Each image block is represented by the quantized coefficients corresponding to the othonormalized atoms, to overcome the inefficiency associated with using non-orthonormal atoms. Each image block is represented by its mean, which is predictively coded, the indices of the chosen atoms, and the quantized coefficients. Each variable is coded based on its unconditional distribution. Simulation results show that the proposed coder can achieve significant gain over the H.264 coder (implemented using x264) and achieve similar performance comparing to the HEVC reference encoder (HM).