cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ROBUSTNESS WITHOUT ASYMMETRY: A FLAW IN FODOR'S THEORY OF CONTENT*

INTRODUCTION: THE SO-CALLED "DISJUNCTION PROBLEM" In "A Theory of Content, II, ''1 Jerry Fodor offers an account of content designed to avoid the "disjunction problem ''2 and to provide conditions for content that are both sufficient and naturalistic. The burden of this paper will be to show that Fodor fails to deliver the goods. Before immersing ourselves in the intricacies of and possible deficiencies in Fodor's theory, however, it is important to notice something vitally important, something that is often overlooked in discussions of "the disjunction problem": there is no "the disjunction problem." Stated less combatively, the point is that the so-called "disjunction problem" is not really a single problem at all, but a label for a cluster of more or less closely related problems that should not be assumed without argument to require a unitary solution. The unargued assumption that there must be one solution to these various problems may make the task more difficult than it needs to be and may prevent us from recognizing a solution to one problem as a solution at all, since we expect it to solve the entire cluster at once. Fodor recently has pointed out, quite rightly, that the so-called disjunction problem is not merely the form taken by the problem of error in information based semantic theories [Fodor 1990b]. Even if we solved the problem of error for such theories, for example, by "idealizing away from sources of error" [Fodor 1990b, p. 8] as teleological theories do, that would not explain what Fodor has still more recently labeled the "robustness" of meaning:
Selective Binding of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners by a Monoclonal Antibody: Analysis by Kinetic Exclusion Fluorescence Immunoassay

A previously described monoclonal antibody, S2B1, was highly selective for coplanar (non-ortho-chlorinated) PCB congeners in enzyme immunoassays that measured binding at equilibrium. In the present study, kinetic exclusion fluoroimmunoassay (KinExA) was used to determine the dissociation constants (Kd) and on and off rates (kon,koff) for binding of various PCB congeners to affinity-purified S2B1 IgG and Fab fragments in solution. This method revealed that mono- and di-ortho-chlorinated PCBs were bound by S2B1, but the on rates were slower, and the off rates faster by 6−60-fold, than with congeners that had no ortho chlorines. Although the sensitivity of immunoassays may be improved by using competing haptens that S2B1 binds more weakly than the parent PCB, the KinExA results demonstrate that congener specificity is an intrinsic property of S2B1 and does not require weaker binding haptens. KinExA also provided new information on the percentage of active binding sites, valence, and effects of buffer, solven...
Methionine Requirement of Male White Pekin Ducklings

Two experiments were conducted to determine the methionine (Met) requirement of male White Pekin ducklings. In each study, day-old ducklings were raised in electrically heated battery brooders and fed a corn-peanut meal basal diet (dry mash) supplemented with either 0, .06, .12, .18, .24, or .30% L-Met. Based on the analysis of corn and peanut meal, the basal diet contained 22% crude protein .268% Met, and .284% cystine (Cys). The energy content of the basal diet was calculated to be 2914 kcal ME/kg. Regression analysis of 12- day weight gain data pooled across experiments indicated a quadratic trend. When the quadratic model was solved for 95% of maximum growth, a Met requirement of .422% was predicted (r2 = .49). Analysis of the pooled weight gain data by the broken-line method yielded a requirement estimate of .382% (r2 = .50). Therefore, the duckling's calculated Met requirement most likely lies between .382 and .422% (.666 and .706% total sulfur amino acids, respectively). This .04% discrepancy between models for predicting the duckling's Met requirement is probably of minor practical significance, considering the variability of Met and Cys contents of feedstuffs and the fact that corn-soy diets are usually supplemented with a source of Met activity that includes a margin of safety.
Population Estimation Using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Imagery

An assessment of two groups of approaches for estimating urban population with remote-sensing information is presented in this article. These approaches, zonal and pixel-based models, are applied to Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper images of a portion of Columbus, Ohio, to generate population estimates. The zonal approach uses impervious surface fraction, spectral radiance, and land-use/land-cover classification to derive population estimates. The pixel-based approach uses impervious surface fraction and spectral radiance to estimate the population of residential areas. To assess robustness, these models were applied to Dayton, Ohio. A comparative study indicates that the models generated promising results in estimating regional population counts. However, zonal regression with spectral radiance produced large errors (76%) for census block groups, whereas other models gave significantly better estimation accuracy. Comparing the performance of the indicators, impervious surface fraction is competitive, and slightly but consistently better than land-use classification. In comparison with traditional zonal approaches, pixel-based models give somewhat better estimation accuracy.
Stability considerations in community organization

Abstract We show how mathematical stability considerations (persistence in a fluctuating environmental fluctuation) suggest that competing species should partition the habitat dimension more finely than the food-type dimension.
From Censure to Reinforcement: Developmental Changes in the Association Between Aggression and Social Status

Developmental changes were examined in the associations among physical and relational aggression, and sociometric and perceived popularity based on peer nominations. Participating in the longitudinal study were 905 children (440 girls, 465 boys) from ages 10 to 14. Associations between the forms of status and between the forms of aggression decreased over time. Relational aggression increasingly predicted high social prominence but low social preference; physical aggression was increasingly less disliked but decreasingly predictive of prominence. The effect of relational aggression on perceived popularity was strong for girls. Perceived popularity preceded physical and relational aggression for both genders. Implications for the attainment of high status, processes of peer influence on antisocial behavior, and gender differences in the meaning of status are discussed.
Biosynthesis of Rauscher leukemia viral proteins: presence of p30 and envelope p15 sequences in precursor polypeptides.

Abstract Viral structural polypeptides p30 and a 17,000-dalton polypeptide, termed envelope p15, are formed in Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV)-infected N.I.H. Swiss mouse embryo fibroblasts by cleavage of high molecular weight precursor polypeptides. The evidence for this conclusion is based on the analysis of polypeptides precipitated from RLV-infected cells by antiserum directed against RLV structural proteins. High resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of such immune precipitates from infected cells pulse-labeled with [ 35 S]methionine or pulse-labeled and then chased in unlabeled medium provides evidence that three size classes of unstable polypeptides are precursors to virion p30. They are: two polypeptides with an approximate molecular weight of 200,000 (termed Pr1 a and b ), an 80,000-dalton polypeptide (Pr3) and a 65,000-dalton polypeptide (Pr4). Ion-exchange chromatography of tryptic digests showed that methionine-containing tryptic peptides of p30 are present in these precursor polypeptides. Methionine-labeled tryptic peptide sequences of envelope p15 were present in a 90,000-dalton peptide fraction containing two components (Pr2 a and b ). The latter polypeptides comigrated with viral specific fucose-free glycoproteins not present in virions or uninfected cells.
Steroidogenic electron transport in adrenal cortex mitochondria.

The flavoprotein NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase and the iron sulfur protein adrenodoxin function as a short electron transport chain which donates electrons one-at-a-time to adrenal cortex mitochondrial cytochromes P-450. The soluble adrenodoxin acts as a mobile one-electron shuttle, forming a complex first with NADPH-reduced adrenodoxin reductase from which it accepts an electron, then dissociating, and finally reassociating with and donating an electron to the membrane-bound cytochrome P-450 (Fig. 9). Dissociation and reassociation with flavoprotein then allows a second cycle of electron transfers. A complex set of factors govern the sequential protein-protein interactions which comprise this adrenodoxin shuttle mechanism; among these factors, reduction of the iron sulfur center by the flavin weakens the adrenodoxinadrenodoxin reductase interaction, thus promoting dissociation of this complex to yield free reduced adrenodoxin. Substrate (cholesterol) binding to cytochrome P-450scc both promotes the binding of the free adrenodoxin to the cytochrome, and alters the oxidation-reduction potential of the heme so as to favor reduction by adrenodoxin. The cholesterol binding site on cytochrome P-450scc appears to be in direct communication with the hydrophobic phospholipid milieu in which this substrate is dissolved. Specific effects of both phospholipid headgroups and fatty acyl side-chains regulate the interaction of cholesterol with its binding side. Cardiolipin is an extremely potent positive effector for cholesterol binding, and evidence supports the existence of a specific effector lipid binding site on cytochrome P.450scc to which this phospho-lipid binds.
Simulation of façade and envelope design options for a new institutional building

This paper presents a simulation case study of facade and envelope preliminary design options for the new Engineering building of Concordia University in Montreal. A major principle of the analysis was to create a high quality building envelope in order to optimally control solar gains, reduce heating and cooling energy demand and reduce electricity consumption for lighting, while at the same time maintain a comfortable and pleasant indoor environment. The stated approach of the design team was to aim for an energy-efficient building, employing innovative technologies and integrating concepts such as daylighting and natural ventilation. Detailed energy simulations were therefore performed from the early design stage, in order to present recommendations on the choice of facade, glazings, shading devices, lighting control options, and natural ventilation. Integrated thermal studies, a daylighting analysis and the impact of the above on HVAC system sizing were considered. Simulation results showed that, using an optimum combination of glazings, shading devices and controllable electric lighting systems, the energy savings in perimeter spaces can be substantial. Perimeter heating could be eliminated if a high performance envelope is used. The building is currently being commissioned.
Injury and growth of Jeffrey pine and giant sequoia in response to ozone and acidic mist.

Abstract A 2-year study of the interactive effect of sequential exposures of Jeffrey pine ( P. Jeffreyi ) and giant sequoia ( S. giganteum ) to simulated acidic mist and ozone (O 3 ) was conducted in 1985 and 1986. Two-year-old seedlings of each species were exposed to simulated mist acidified to pH 4.1, 3.4, 2.7 or 2.0 with 2:1 HNO 3 /H 2 SO 4 plus appropriate background ions 3 days per week from 0300 to 0600 in outdoor mist exposure chambers. On the same day the same plants were exposed to 0, 0.10 or 0.20 ppm O 3 from 1200 to 1600. Exposures were conducted in May and June of each year. Each O 3 × pH combination contained 12 plants of each species and each treatment was replicated twice. Half the trees were harvested after the first year and the rest after 2 years of exposure to O 3 and simulated acidic mist. In the first year, O 3 at both 0.10 and 0.20 ppm caused light to moderate chlorotic mottle on Jeffrey pine but O 3 had no effect on giant sequoia. Simulated mist at pH 2.0 caused severe foliar necrosis on both species. Ozone had no significant effect on growth of either species in 1985, but simulated acidic mist at pH 2.0 significantly reduced growth of both species. In 1986, similar visible foliar injury symptoms were observed on both species. Ozone significantly reduced leaf, stem and root growth of Jeffrey pine, but growth of giant sequoia was not affected by O 3 . Exposure to simulated acidic mist stimulated Jeffrey pine growth at intermediate pH (3.4 and 2.7) and significantly reduced growth at pH 2.0, relative to growth at pH 4.1. Simulated acidic mist significantly reduced root growth of giant sequoia, particularly at pH 2.0, and the combination of O 3 at 0.20 ppm and mist at pH 2.0 reduced sequoia root growth significantly more than the additive effects of either pollutant acting alone. The effects of both pollutants on root growth were attributed to reallocation of photoassimilates from roots to shoots to maintain growth of photosynthetic tissues.
The effects of automatic artifact rejection on evoked potential recordings

An analysis of the effects of automatic artifact rejection on the evoked potential recordings is made using both a theoretical analysis and computer simulations. It is demonstrated that when the noise at each measurement point is independently distributed with maximum probability near zero amplitude, the bias and changes in variance induced by the automatic artifact rejection are small unless more than 80% of traces are rejected. When high-amplitude noise transients occur, there can be significant bias in the evoked potential when the artifact rejection threshold is set near the amplitude of the noise transients. Even more substantial distortions in the evoked potential occur when the noise is not independently distributed at each measurement point. It is important to recognize the possibility of these effects during clinical evoked potential recording.
Conductance modulation of spin interferometers

We study the conductance modulation of gate controlled electron spin interferometers (also known as spin field effect transistors) based on the Rashba spin--orbit coupling effect. It is found that the modulation is dominated by Ramsauer (or Fabry-Perot) type transmission resonances rather than the Rashba effect in typical structures. These transmission resonances are due to reflections at the interferometer's contacts caused by large interface potential barriers and effective mass mismatch between the contact material and the semiconductor. They are particularly strong in quasi-one-dimensional structures which, in fact, are preferred for spin interferometers because of the energy independence of the spin precession angle. Thus, unless particular care is taken to eliminate Ramsauer resonances by proper contact engineering, any observed conductance modulation of spin interferometers may not have its origin in the Rashba effect.
SECRECY AND DECEPTION AT EQUILIBRIUM, WITH APPLICATIONS TO ANTI‐TERRORISM RESOURCE ALLOCATION

edu In this work, we develop a game-theoretic model for whether and how a first mover should disclose her resource allocation. Our model allows us to explore whether the first mover should disclose correct information about her resource allocation, incorrect information, or no information. Although we study secrecy and deception specifically in the homeland-security context where the first mover is assumed to be the defender, our work can also provide insights in other contexts, such as business competition.
Bioactive alginate coatings to control Listeria monocytogenes on cold-smoked salmon slices and fillets

The relatively high incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in cold smoked salmon (CSS) is of concern as CSS is a ready-to-eat product. No post-processing measures are currently available to control this pathogen in CSS. The objective of this study was to develop an effective antimicrobial edible coating containing organic salts to control the growth of L. monocytogenes in CSS slices and fillets. An in-house made formulation consisting of sodium lactate (SL, 0-2.4%) and sodium diacetate (SD, 0-0.25%) as well as 2.5% OptiForm (a commercial formulation of SL and SD) were incorporated into five edible coatings: alginate, kappa-carrageenan, pectin, gelatin or starch. The coatings were applied onto the surface of CSS slices inoculated with L. monocytogenes to an inoculum level of 500 CFU/cm(2) ( approximately 3 log CFU/g) and stored at room temperature (22 degrees C) for 6 days. Alginate coating was found to be the most effective carrier for the various antimicrobial treatments in inhibiting the growth of L. monocytogenes. In the second phase of the study, CSS slices and fillets inoculated with the pathogen at a level of 500 CFU/cm(2) were coated with alginate incorporating the in-house made and the commercial (OptiForm) SL/SD based formulations and stored for 30 days at 4 degrees C. When cold-smoked salmon slices and fillets were stored at 4 degrees C, alginate coatings supplemented with 2.4%SL/0.25%SD and the commercial product OptiForm significantly delayed the growth of L. monocytogenes during the 30-day storage with final counts reaching 4.1 and 3.3 log CFU/g (slices) and 4.4 and 3.8 log CFU/g (fillets), respectively, while the counts in their untreated counterparts were significantly higher (P<0.05) reaching 7.3 and 6.8 log CFU/g for slices and fillets, respectively. Therefore, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of using an alginate-based coating containing lactate and diacetate to control the growth of L. monocytogenes to enhance the microbiological safety of filleted and sliced smoked salmon.
Miocene Blanca Fan, Northern Channel Islands, California: Small fans reflecting tectonism and volcanism

Blanca fan is a submarine fan composed of Miocene volcaniclastic strata. Parts of the fan system are exposed on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands, and possibly correlative strata crop out on San Miguel and Santa Catalina Islands. The Blanca fan and underlying breccia reflect regional transcurrent faulting in the California Continental Borderland and development of a system of rapidly subsiding basins and uplifted linear ridges during early and middle Miocene time. Erosion of uplifted crystalline basement rocks followed by the onset of silicic volcanism created linear sediment sources for the alluvial and submarine fans, respectively.
Albumin enhanced morphometric image analysis in CLL.

BACKGROUND The heterogeneity of lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and blood film artifacts make morphologic subclassification of this disease difficult. METHODS We reviewed paired blood films prepared from ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid (ETDA) samples with and without bovine serum albumin (BSA) from 82 CLL patients. Group 1 adhered to NCCLS specifications for the preparations of EDTA blood films. Group 2 consisted of blood films containing EDTA and a 1:12 dilution of 22% BSA. Eight patients were selected for digital photomicroscopy and statistical analysis. Approximately 100 lymphocytes from each slide were digitally captured. RESULTS The mean cell area ± standard error was 127.8 μm2 ± 1.42 for (n = 793) for group 1 versus 100.7 μm2 ± 1.39 (n = 831) for group 2. The nuclear area was 88.9 μm2 ± 0.85 for group 1 versus 76.4 μm2 ± 0.83 for group 2. For the nuclear transmittance, the values were 97.6 ± 0.85 for group 1 and 104.1 ± 0.83 for group 2. The nuclear:cytoplasmic ratios were 0.71 ± 0.003 for group 1 and 0.78 ± 0.003 for group 2. All differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS BSA addition results in the reduction of atypical lymphocytes and a decrease in smudge cells. BSA also decreases the lymphocyte area and nuclear area, whereas nuclear transmittance and nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio are increased. A standardized method of slide preparation would allow accurate interlaboratory comparison. The use of BSA may permit better implementation of the blood film-based subclassification of CLL and lead to a better correlation of morphology with cytogenetics and immunophenotyping. Published 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Thermodynamics of solid solution of hydrogen in Ta6S and Nb21S8

Abstract Equilibrium hydrogen pressures in the systems Ta6SH2 and Nb21S8H2 have been measured for temperatures in the range 300–550°C. Data for five different temperatures were treated to obtain various thermodynamic quantities. The reactions H(S.S.) = 1 2 H 2 (g) for the systems Ta6SH2 and Nb21S8H2 are found to be less endothermic than the respective metal-hydrogen reactions. Standard entropies of dissolved hydrogen in the sulfides are similar to those of hydrogen in the metals.
The monoid generated by projections in an algebraic group

Let G be a simple algebraic group, g(G) the set of all Bore1 subgroups of G, and A the set of all parabolic subgroups of G. For PEA, let proj,,:g(G)-+&?(G) be given by proj.(B)=(PnB)R,(P)cP, where R,(P) is the unipotent radical of P. Tits [9] has given a purely combinatorial (i.e., in terms of the Tits building A) definition of proj,. In this paper we are interested in the monoid M = M(G) generated (with respect to composition) by proj., PEA. Let PEA, P # G, L a Levi factor of P. Let H, denote the group of automorphisms of &I(L) induced by N,(L). Thus H, is a finite extension of L’ = L/C(L), where C(L) denotes the center of L. The following results are established: (1) The maximal subgroup of A4 with identity element proj. is isomorphic to H,, and moreover every maximal subgroup of A4 with identity element e # 1 is isomorphic to some H,. (2) M is a fundamental regular monoid. (3) The idempotent set E( M ) = { proj p 0 proj o 1 P, Q E A >. (4) The set of principal right ideals of M is in one to one correspondence with A. (5) The set A with all the Bore1 subgroups identified is in one to one correspondence with the set of all principal left ideals of M. (6) The principal ideals of M are in one to one correspondence with the conjugacy classes in W of W, (Is S ), where W is the Weyl group of G with fundamental generating set S. (7) If r = IS(, then for all a EM, ar lies in a subgroup of M.
Second Generation VaR and Risk-Adjusted Return on Capital

Within a period of only a few years, value at risk has become probably the single most widely used measure of financial risk exposure. Yet, by focusing only on the probability of experiencing a loss of a given size at the VaR horizon, it tacitly assumes that a large loss occurring prior to the horizon will be ignored. But this is unrealistic. A firm that monitors its financial position frequently and sees that it has penetrated the VaR level before the horizon is reached will very likely take action to reduce risk exposure, even though in many cases, a recovery would occur such that the loss would not exceed the VaR level by the time the horizon was reached. In this article, Rich shows that the traditional VaR calculation substantially understates the risk that a loss of a given size will occur at some point during the specified VaR horizon, and he offers a set of formulas for computing the relevant “continuous value at risk.” The article also explores related applications of the continuously monitored VaR barrier, including discretely monitored VaR barriers, RAROC using continuous VaR, and modifications for inflation-adjusted VaR and VaR evaluated relative to a benchmark portfolio.
Psychological Perspectives on the Development of Coronary Heart Disease.

Psychological science has new opportunities to have major input into the understanding of the development of coronary heart disease. This article provides an overview of advances in understanding the etiology of heart disease, recently applied technologies for measuring early stages of heart disease, and an accumulating base of evidence on the psychosocial predictors of clinical and subclinical coronary disease. It suggests that it is now time to develop conceptual models that integrate our understanding of separate psychosocial predictors. It offers and provides preliminary evidence for a model that integrates socioeconomic status, environmental stress, and person-level factors from a life span perspective.
What does children's art work tell us about gender?

If art is an authentic expression of the self, a sociologist should be able to examine children's art work to see what effect various social agents have had on gender socialization. Inferences could be made from the art work about the socialization process. In this study, the authors examined children's art work to investigate the implicit sex role perceptions of children. The population included 110 students between the ages of nine and 12 in three elementary schools in Texas. 126 pieces of art were examined and 500 independent ratings were made. Results of the study indicated that the content and form of children's art work differ significantly by sex. A gender role perspective was used to explain the pattern.
The effect of surgeon volume on mortality for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Objective Recent trials comparing on-pump (CABG) with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) have been criticized by those who believe that surgeon inexperience may explain the apparent worse outcomes for OPCAB. However, the true effect of surgeon volume on outcomes after OPCAB remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of surgeon volume on risk-adjusted mortality after OPCAB. Methods From 2003 to 2007, 709,483 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting operations (CABG = 439,253; OPCAB = 270,230) within the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Hierarchic generalized linear regression modeling with spline functions for annual individual operating surgeon volume was used to assess the relationship between annual surgeon volume and inpatient mortality, adjusted for comorbid disease and other potential confounders. Results OPCAB was performed in 38.1% of coronary artery bypass grafting operations. The average age for those undergoing OPCAB was 66.1 ± 11.1 years, and female patients accounted for 29.3% of operations with 1-vessel (20.4%), 2-vessel (36.6%), 3-vessel (20.5%), or 4 vessels or more (13.6%). Median surgeon volume for OPCAB was 105 (56–156) operations per year. A highly significant nonlinear relationship between surgeon volume and risk-adjusted mortality was observed for OPCAB operations ( P Conclusions A significant surgeon volume–outcome relationship exists for mortality after OPCAB with a threshold of more than 50 operations per year. However, the contribution of surgeon volume to the probability of death is incrementally small compared with other patient and operative characteristics. This demonstrates that outcomes after OPCAB are more dependent on patient risk factors than on surgeon volume.
A diffusion limit for a class of randomly-growing binary trees

Binary trees are grown by adding one node at a time, an available node at height i being added with probability proportional to c -i, c>1. We establish both a “strong law of large numbers” and a “central limit theorem” for the vector X(t)=(X i(t)), where X i(t) is the proportion of nodes of height i that are available at time t. We show, in fact, that there is a deterministic process x i(t) such that $$\sum {|X_i (t) - x_i (t)|} {\text{ converges to 0 a}}{\text{.s}}{\text{.,}}$$ and such that if c2 $$\tfrac{1}{2}$$ , $$Z_i^n (t) = 2^{n/2} \{ X_{n + 1} (tc^n ) - x_{n + 1} (tc^n )\} ,$$ and Z n(t)=(Z i n (t)), then Z n(t) converges weakly to a Gaussian diffusion Z(t). The results are applied to establish asymptotic normality in the unbiased coin-tossing case for an entropy estimation procedure due to J. Ziv, and to obtain results on the growth of the maximum height of the tree.
Localization of type II, IX and V collagen in the inner ear.

Types II and IX collagen are traditionally considered cartilage collagens; however, within the inner ear, types II and IX collagen have a more diverse distribution. In the adult gerbil, type II collagen is the major fibrillar component. In the otic capsule it is present surrounding the osteocytes embedded and branching in the periosteal layer, in the cartilaginous rests of the enchondral layer, and in the endosteal layer bordering the membranous labyrinth. In the regions of the sensory cells, type II collagen is found in the osseous spiral lamina, the connective tissue of the spiral limbus, the subepithelial tissue of the maculae in the vestibule and the cristae in the ampullae, and in the spiral ligament. It is present in the non-cartilaginous and acellular structures of the tectorial membrane over the cochlear hair cells and the vestibular membrane lining the semicircular canals. Type IX collagen, when present, in all cases co-localizes with type II collagen but is found in more limited regions. It is f...
Multitechnique Characterization of Self-Assembled Carboxylic Acid-Terminated Alkanethiol Monolayers on Nanoparticle and Flat Gold Surfaces

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with 14, 25, and 40 nm diameters were functionalized with different chain length (C6, C8, C11, and C16) carboxylic acid terminated alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (COOH-SAMs). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) were used to examine the changes in surface chemistry as both AuNP diameter and SAM chain length were varied. COOH-SAMs on flat gold surfaces were also examined and compared to the COOH-SAM on AuNP results. For a given surface, as the COOH-SAM chain length increased the XPS C/Au atomic ratio increased due to an increased number of carbon atoms per molecule in the overlayer and an increased attenuation of the Au substrate signal. For the C16 COOH-SAMs, as the size of AuNPs decreased the XPS C/Au atomic ratio and the apparent SAM thickness increased due to the increased curvature of the smaller AuNPs. The C16 COOH-SAMs on the flat Au had the lowest XPS C/Au atomic ratio and apparent SAM thickness of any...
Photodetachment of He- near the 1s threshold: Absolute cross-section measurements and postcollision interactions

Inner-shell photodetachment of ${\mathrm{He}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ is studied near the ${\mathrm{He}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}1s2s2p\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{4}P^{o}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{He}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}2s2p\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{3}P^{o}$ threshold. The spectrum over this region shows significant suppression of ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ signal production due to postcollision interaction (PCI) effects. The observed shape and absolute cross section are in general agreement with theoretical predictions when corrections for semiclassical PCI effects are included.
Radiation effects on development

It has been widely reported that prenatal exposure to ionizing radiation can interfere with embryonic and fetal development, depending on dose and gestational age in which exposure occurs. According to several studies on animal models, different well-defined stages during prenatal life can be distinguished in relation to teratogenic effects. During the preimplantation stage, elevated doses of radiation can result in abortion, while lower doses may produce genomic damage that is usually repaired. On the other hand, during the organogenesis stage in mice (embryonic day 6.5 [E6.5] to E13.5), irradiation is associated with increased incidence of malformation and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Later exposure is linked to brain damage. Doses used in animal studies are generally higher than those used for diagnostic procedures in humans. Usually, radiation exposure to diagnostic range (<0.05 Gy = 5 rads) is not associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies. In human studies, elevated doses produce adverse outcomes, depending on stage of development, as in animal studies. Blastogenesis (up to two weeks) is associated with failure to implant or no significant health effects. An increased risk of malformation and growth retardation can be observed for two to seven weeks exposure (organogenesis stage), while exposure at later stages (fetogenesis) is mainly associated with brain damage. In this review we focus on the relevance of estimating the cumulative dose of radiation to the fetus and the gestational age in which exposure occurs, to provide appropriate counseling to pregnant women. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 81:177–182, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The missing vital sign

The author catalogues the challenges to family, friends, and herself of managing her 10 month old son’s long hospital stay as he received a transplant to cure Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Blm10 Protein Promotes Proteasomal Substrate Turnover by an Active Gating Mechanism

For optimal proteolytic function, the central core of the proteasome (core particle (CP) or 20S) has to associate with activators. We investigated the impact of the yeast activator Blm10 on proteasomal peptide and protein degradation. We found enhanced degradation of peptide substrates in the presence of Blm10 and demonstrated that Blm10 has the capacity to accelerate proteasomal turnover of the unstructured protein tau-441 in vitro. Mechanistically, proteasome activation requires the opening of a closed gate, which allows passage of unfolded proteins into the catalytic chamber. Our data indicate that gate opening by Blm10 is achieved via engagement of its C-terminal segment with the CP. Crucial for this activity is a conserved C-terminal YYX motif, with the penultimate tyrosine playing a preeminent role. Thus, Blm10 utilizes a gate opening strategy analogous to the proteasomal ATPases HbYX-dependent mechanism. Because gating incompetent Blm10 C-terminal point mutants confers a loss of function phenotype, we propose that the cellular function of Blm10 is based on CP association and activation to promote the degradation of proteasome substrates.
Effects of Dependence and Tasks on Unit Design and Efficiency

This paper explores the ramifications of external dependence for work-unit design and efficiency. Previous studies at the work-unit level have been largely concerned with task elements alone as the most important contingency for design. Two rival formulations of a dependence-contingent model are derived and contrasted with the more familiar task-contingent propositions. Tests using data from 230 employment security agency units show that, if task is controlled, both horizontal and vertical dependence are important predictors of more organic work-unit designs. In addition, failure to relate design to horizontal dependence is related to lower efficiency.
Looks like chicken: Exploring the law of similarity in evaluation of foods of animal origin and their vegan substitutes

Abstract Eighty omnivorous college students (four groups of 20) given chocolate milk, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders and meatballs, or vegan substitutes for those four foods, were told either that they were eating the animal products or vegan substitutes. We expected the subjects who were told that they were eating vegan foods to rate those foods as less familiar and therefore expected them to be less willing to try them. We also thought that the subjects would expect those foods to taste worse and be more dangerous and disgusting, particularly the “flesh foods” and their vegan substitutes (chicken tenders and meatballs). Prior to eating the products, no difference was found in ratings of familiarity, willingness to try, anticipated distaste, danger, or disgust between those subjects shown the products of animal origin and those shown the vegan substitutes for those products nor between subjects told they were viewing animal or vegan products. However, there were differences between the meatball and the other foods on these measures regardless of what they were told about them (animal or vegan). All meatballs were rated as less familiar and more disgusting than the other foods and more dangerous than the chicken tender. Subjects expected the meatballs to taste worse than the other foods and were less willing to try them. Once they tasted the products, they rated the taste of the foods they were told were vegan better than those they were told were of animal origin. Vegan products that resemble animal products are responded to similarly to their animal counterparts as predicted by the law of similarity, one of the laws of sympathetic magic.
Cyclotron Tests to Determine the Response of Solid-State Detectors to Protons of Energies 50 to 160 MeV for Use in a Proton Spectrometer

Tests were conducted at the 160-Mev Harvard cyclotron on fully depleted solid-state detectors. This work was done in conjunction with a feasibility study of a proposed proton spectrometer consisting of two dE/dx detectors in a coincident telescope arrangement that can analyze protons over an energy range 0.5 Mev to greater than 200 Mev. The surface barrier sensors were exposed to protons of energies varying from 50 to 160 Mev to determine the response of these sensors to high-energy protons. The two major parameters to be determined were the most probable energy loss in the detector by protons of energy E and the resolution of the energy loss distribution. The results of the tests will be compared with the Symon treatment of the Landau effect. The proposed. proton spectrometer will also be discussed briefly.
Factors associated with focal lamina cribrosa defects in glaucoma.

PURPOSE To assess factors associated with focal lamina cribrosa (LC) defects in glaucoma. METHODS Serial enhanced depth imaging (EDI) optical coherence tomography (OCT) B-scans of the optic nerve head were obtained from glaucoma patients. EDI OCT scans were reviewed for focal LC defects (laminar holes or disinsertions). Evaluated clinical factors included age, central corneal thickness, visual field (VF) mean deviation (MD), exfoliation syndrome, normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), disc hemorrhage, and intraocular pressure (IOP) during past follow-up. RESULTS One hundred forty-eight glaucomatous eyes (148 patients; mean age, 68 ± 12 years; mean VF MD, -11.63 ± 6.96 dB) were included. Sixty-seven (45%) eyes had focal LC defects and 81 (55%) did not. Eyes with focal LC defects had a higher prevalence of both disc hemorrhage (25% vs. 6%) and NTG (33% vs. 9%) and worse VF MD (-14.12 vs. -9.58 dB) than those without focal LC defects (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, higher frequency of disc hemorrhage detection (odds ratio [OR], 3.63; P = 0.032), a diagnosis of NTG (OR, 4.23; P = 0.005), and worse VF MD (OR, 1.11; P < 0.001) were significant factors associated with the presence of focal LC defects. Disc hemorrhage developed in the same half of the disc as the largest or the second largest focal LC defect in 15 of 17 eyes (88.2%). CONCLUSIONS Disc hemorrhage, a diagnosis of NTG, and more advanced glaucoma status are associated with focal LC defects. Future studies are needed to elucidate the cause-and-effect relationships between focal LC defects and these factors.
Cortical Dynein and Asymmetric Membrane Elongation Coordinately Position the Spindle in Anaphase

Mitotic spindle position defines the cell-cleavage site during cytokinesis. However, the mechanisms that control spindle positioning to generate equal-sized daughter cells remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that two mechanisms act coordinately to center the spindle during anaphase in symmetrically dividing human cells. First, the spindle is positioned directly by the microtubule-based motor dynein, which we demonstrate is targeted to the cell cortex by two distinct pathways: a Gαi/LGN/NuMA-dependent pathway and a 4.1G/R and NuMA-dependent, anaphase-specific pathway. Second, we find that asymmetric plasma membrane elongation occurs in response to spindle mispositioning to alter the cellular boundaries relative to the spindle. Asymmetric membrane elongation is promoted by chromosome-derived Ran-GTP signals that locally reduce Anillin at the growing cell cortex. In asymmetrically elongating cells, dynein-dependent spindle anchoring at the stationary cell cortex ensures proper spindle positioning. Our results reveal the anaphase-specific spindle centering systems that achieve equal-sized cell division.
Effects of surface pressures and streamline metrics on the calculation of laminar heating rates

The effect of streamline geometry and pressure distributions on surface heating rates is examined for slender, spherically blunted cones. The modifications to the approximate aeroheating code include a curve fit of pressures computed by an Euler solution over a range of Mach numbers and cone angles. The streamline geometry is then found using the surface pressures and inviscid surface properties. Previously, streamlines were determined using the inviscid properties at the edge of the boundary layer when accounting for the effects of entropy-layer swallowing. Streamline calculations are now based on inviscid surface conditions rather than boundary-layer edge properties. However, the heating rates are calculated using inviscid properties at the edge of the boundary layer. Resulting heating rates compare favorably with solutions from the viscous-shock-layer equations.
Production of Cardiac Glycosides by Plant Tissue Cultures I: Nutritional Requirements in Tissue Cultures of Digitalis lanata and Digitalis purpurea

The techniques employed and the agar medium suggested for the establishment of Digitalis lanata Ehrh. and Digitalis purpurea L. seed and root callus tissue are reported. Particular attention is devoted to the concentration effects of the auxins, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2-benzothiazoleoxyacetic acid (BTOA), and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) contained in a growth medium suggested for the two Digitalis species.
A vehicle occupant counting system based on near-infrared phenomenology and fuzzy neural classification

We undertook a study to determine if the automatic detection and counting of vehicle occupants is feasible. In the present paper, we report our findings regarding the appropriate sensor phenomenology and arrangement for the task. We propose a novel system based on fusion of near-infrared imaging signals and demonstrate its adequacy with theoretical and experimental arguments. We also propose a fuzzy neural network classifier to operate upon the fused near-infrared imagery and perform the occupant detection and counting function. We demonstrate experimentally that the combination of fused near-infrared phenomenology and fuzzy neural classification produces a robust solution to the problem of automatic vehicle occupant counting. We substantiate our argument by providing comparative experimental results for vehicle occupant counters based on visible, single near-infrared, and fused near-infrared bands. Our proposed solution can find a more general applicability as the basis for a reliable face detector both indoors and outdoors.
Ectopic expression of seven-up causes cell fate changes during ommatidial assembly

During Drosophila ommatidial development, a single cell is selected within the ommatidial cluster to become the R7 photoreceptor neuron. The seven-up gene has been shown to play a role in this process by preventing four other photoreceptor precursors, R3/R4/R1/R6, from adopting the R7 cell fate. The seven-up gene encodes a steroid receptor-like molecule that is expressed only in those four cells that require seven-up function in the developing Drosophila ommatidium. We have examined the functional significance of the spatially restricted expression of seven-up by misexpressing seven-up isoforms. As expected from the function that seven-up performs in R3/R4/R1/R6, ubiquitous expression of seven-up causes transformation of the R7 cell to an R1-R6 cell fate. In addition, depending on the timing and spatial pattern of expression, various other phenotypes are produced including the loss of the R7 cell and the formation of extra R7 cells. Ubiquitous expression of seven-up close to the morphogenetic furrow interferes with R8 differentiation resulting in failure to express the boss protein, the ligand for the sevenless receptor tyrosine kinase, and the R7 cell is lost consequently. Extra R7 cells are formed by recruiting non-neuronal cone cells as photoreceptor neurons in a sevenless and bride of sevenless independent way. Thus, the spatiotemporal pattern of seven-up expression plays an essential role in controlling the number and cellular origin of the R7 neuron in the ommatidium. Our results also suggest that seven-up controls decisions not only between photoreceptor subtypes, but also between neuronal and non-neuronal fates.
CRITICAL INTERVAL HYPOTHESES FOR DEPRESSION

Two chronobiologic models are presented for the etiology of depression. The internal coincidence model suggests that a phase advance of the strong oscillator in reference to the weak oscillator causes depression. An external coincidence model suggests that depression is caused when the light/dark cycle or photoperiod provides too little illumination during a critical photosensitive interval, which might in turn occur early due to a phase advance. Thus, depression might be treated by drugs or other manipulations which delay the phase of internal circadian rhythms. Depression might also be treated with bright illumination during the critical photosensitive interval. Preliminary experiments suggest that bright artificial light does have antidepressant effects. The optimal times for light exposure and the most responsive patient groups have not yet been identified.
Miscellanea. A note on Bayesian design for the normal linear model with unknown error variance

SUMMARY The Bayesian theory of optimal experimental design for the normal linear model has been developed under the assumption of known variance. The insensitivity of specific design criteria to prior assumptions on the variance distribution has been demonstrated in special cases, but a general result showing the way in which Bayesian optimal designs are affected by prior information on the variance is lacking. This note proves that Bayesian designs are insensitive to information about
Growth of two-dimensional wakes behind solid and porous strips

0) To summarize, Bevilaqua and Lykoudis found that both mean velocity fields had the same self-preserving functional form but had distinctly different turbulence structures and grew at dramatically different rates. These findings, coupled with the flow visualization results, led Bevilaqua and Lykoudis to conclude that the persistent large eddies shed by the sphere play an important role in enhancing far wake entrainment. Recalling the observations of persistent large scale vortical structures in the mixing layer6 and behind the circular cylinder,7 they speculated that the presence or absence of large scale vortices could have a decisive effect on the
Environment and The Genitourinary Tract

A variety of environmental factors have been associated with conditions that affect the genitourinary system. Chronic lead exposure and halogenated hydrocarbons have been found to affect sperm production and fertility. Heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium have been associated with renal tubular toxicity and kidney failure. Aromatic amines, used in a number of industrial processes and most commonly found in the dye industry, have been associated with development of bladder cancer. The same substances that are metabolites in cigarette smoke have been found to explain the strong association between bladder cancer and cigarette smoking. Chlorination and fluoridation have recently been associated with bladder cancer. In each of these associations, host factors may contribute to the toxicity of these substances either by detoxifying them or by converting them to more active agents. Education and regulation are needed to decrease the environmental risk they create.