cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical predictors of donor antibody titre and correlation with recipient antibody response in a COVID-19 convalescent plasma clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 relies on transfer of anti-viral antibody from donors to recipients via plasma transfusion. The relationship between clinical characteristics and antibody response to COVID-19 is not well defined. We investigated predictors of convalescent antibody production and quantified recipient antibody response in a convalescent plasma therapy clinical trial. METHODS: Multivariable analysis of clinical and serological parameters in 103 confirmed COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors 28 days or more following symptom resolution was performed. Mixed-effects regression models with piecewise linear trends were used to characterize serial antibody responses in 10 convalescent plasma recipients with severe COVID-19. RESULTS: Donor antibody titres ranged from 0 to 1 : 3892 (anti-receptor binding domain (RBD)) and 0 to 1 : 3289 (anti-spike). Higher anti-RBD and anti-spike titres were associated with increased age, hospitalization for COVID-19, fever and absence of myalgia (all P < 0.05). Fatigue was significantly associated with anti-RBD (P = 0.03). In pairwise comparison amongst ABO blood types, AB donors had higher anti-RBD and anti-spike than O donors (P < 0.05). No toxicity was associated with plasma transfusion. Non-ECMO recipient anti-RBD antibody titre increased on average 31% per day during the first three days post-transfusion (P = 0.01) and anti-spike antibody titre by 40.3% (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Advanced age, fever, absence of myalgia, fatigue, blood type and hospitalization were associated with higher convalescent antibody titre to COVID-19. Despite variability in donor titre, 80% of convalescent plasma recipients showed significant increase in antibody levels post-transfusion. A more complete understanding of the dose-response effect of plasma transfusion amongst COVID-19-infected patients is needed.
Modeling Multi-Frequency Tomograms for Snow Stratigraphy

Recently, the Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR) Tomography (TomoSAR) has been used in monitoring the snowpack from X-band to Ku-band. This technique provides unique access to the structure of the imaged scene, and in the case of snowpack, it enables the separation of multiple snow layers as well as the detection of and compensation for soil and vegetation layers. The addition of polarimetric capabilities brings in the ability to detect spatially varying shapes, sizes, and permittivities, to decompose the backscattered signal into volumetric and surface scattering components, and to distinguish between snow, soil, and vegetation. There are a few ground-based field experiments that demonstrate the focused image recover the layering structure of the snowpack with different densities. To better understand the measurement, this paper aims to provide physical-based forward modeling to reconstruct the TomoSAR images with realistic snow profiles. Without loss of generality, we perform the analysis on a two-layer snowpack.
Picante Mexican Grill: A New Delhi Experience

Modeled loosely after the American restaurant chain Chipotle, Picante Mexican Grill seeks to offer fresh and healthy vegetarian fast-food options. The owners of this start-up chain in Gurgaon, India, struggle to manage their quickly growing operation. As they consider expanding into new locations, diverse issues—including determining store hours, location, managing centralized production, and meeting staffing needs—challenge the entrepreneurial trio. Excerpt UVA-OM-1520 Aug. 15, 2014 PICANTE MEXICAN GRILL: A NEW DELHI EXPERIENCE Just shy of a year after opening their first Picante Mexican Grill (Picante) in Gurgaon, India, cofounders Akshay Mittal, Gokul Chandrasekaran, and Kshitiz Mittal found themselves working behind the counter at their third location. They had opened their first restaurant in a business tower in January 2012. Shortly afterwards, they launched a second one in a commercial shopping area, and in April 2013, the third Picante opened in a shopping mall in a primarily residential area. Although the cofounders had not envisioned being such active participants in the food-service part of their business, they had learned much throughout the year. And there were several difficulties to work out before they could even hope to return to back-office management. The partners were looking at immense challenges. The growth throughout 2013 had put utilization pressure on Picante's central kitchen, where all the food was prepared. The transportation of prepped food took longer, and employee attrition had risen. On top of that, business, in general, was slower, and the third restaurant had greater variability of business than the other two. It seemed as though customers at the third restaurant failed to understand that customization was a key benefit of dining at Picante restaurants. Given these issues, should the cofounders continue with the third location? Quick-Service Restaurants in India . . .
Higher Index Theory

Index theory studies the solutions to differential equations on geometric spaces, their relation to the underlying geometry and topology, and applications to physics. If the space of solutions is infinite dimensional, it becomes necessary to generalise the classical Fredholm index using tools from the K-theory of operator algebras. This leads to higher index theory, a rapidly developing subject with connections to noncommutative geometry, large-scale geometry, manifold topology and geometry, and operator algebras. Aimed at geometers, topologists and operator algebraists, this book takes a friendly and concrete approach to this exciting theory, focusing on the main conjectures in the area and their applications outside of it. A well-balanced combination of detailed introductory material (with exercises), cutting-edge developments and references to the wider literature make this a valuable guide to this active area for graduate students and experts alike.
Applications of Thomson’s “Simplest” Solution

The theme of this chapter is the simplification of Thomson’s (1987) solution for the nonstationary, three-dimensional Langevin equation model for turbulent diffusion. For our convenience, we repeat Eqs. (8.8a,b), (8.10), and (8.15): (9.1a) (9.1b) (9.2) (9.3) and Thomson’s “simplest” solution, (9.4)
Paspaline and paspalicine, two indole-mevalonate metabolites from Claviceps paspali.

Abstract The crystal and molecular structures of paspaline and paspalicine, indolemevalonate metabolites from Claviceps paspali are presented.
Transduodenal Excision of Duodenal Diverticulum

Transduodenal excision of duodenal diverticulum is performed for complications of diverticula. These include a duodenal diverticulum in close proximity to the ampulla or embedded in the head of the pancreas or the following: bleeding, obstruction of the common bile duct or duodenum, perforation, and diverticulitis. This chapter lists the indications, essential steps, common technical variations, and complications of the procedure. A detailed template operative dictation note is included.
Conceptual art made simple for neuroaesthetics

Cognitive neuroscience and conceptual art share some interesting common ground. Both are concerned with very basic questions about meaning and objecthood. By focusing on reductionist and contrastive aspects of conceptual art, perhaps neuroscience methods can be applied to the investigation of such questions using everyday objects.
Anatomical Localization and Regulation of Somatostatin Gene Expression in the Basal Ganglia and its Clinical Implications

The distribution of somatostatin in both the human and rat brain suggests that it is involved in numerous functions, including endocrine regulation, cognition and memory, autonomic regulation and motor activity. We have examined the regulation of somatostatin mRNA in the striatum, a brain region involved in motor and cognitive behaviour. Somatostatin and its mRNA are expressed in this region in interneurons which are resistant to ischaemia, excitotoxicity and Huntington's disease, possibly because they express high levels of superoxide dismutase. Striatal somatostatin mRNA is increased by stimulation of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors. Ischaemia-induced cortical lesions also increase somatostatin gene expression in the striatum. In contrast, the levels of striatal somatostatin mRNA decrease after treatment with haloperidol, an antipsychotic agent that produces extrapyramidal symptoms, but not clozapine, which does not. Further evidence for a role for striatal somatostatin in extrapyramidal symptoms includes the observation that somatostatin mRNA levels decrease in the striatum after lesions are made in the dopaminergic pathway, a feature of Parkinson's disease. The largest change in somatostatin gene expression after dopaminergic lesions is the increase in somatostatin mRNA level sin neurons of the internal pallidum and lateral hypothalamus projecting to the lateral habenula. The results suggest that changes in brain somatostatin gene expression occur in pathological conditions and may be related to their symptoms.
Hepatitis C virus in children

Chronic hepatitis C viral infection represents a worldwide viral epidemic. The natural course of hepatitis C virus is less understood in the pediatric population, although fewer children progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease than adults infected. In the last five years, epidemiological and clinical research involving hepatitis C virus-infected children has raised interesting observations regarding the differences in transmission, natural history, and response to treatment in this population.
Characterizations of F-superconductors and selected F-compounds, amorphous carbon and (VO)2P2O7 by 19F, 13C, 1H, 31P NMR and a new probe for multiple pulse, MAS and DAS NMR

6 INTRODUCTION 7 EXPERIMENTS 8 RESULTS 11 DISCUSSION 14 CONCLUSION 17 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 18 REFERENCES 19 PART II. NMR STUDY OF LOCAL COORDINATION IN AMORPHOUS CARBON 35 ABSTRACT 37 INTRODUCTION 3 8 EXPERIMENTS 40 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 42 CONCLUSION 49 REFERENCES 5037 INTRODUCTION 3 8 EXPERIMENTS 40 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 42 CONCLUSION 49 REFERENCES 50
Distributed speculations: providing fault-tolerance and improving performance

This thesis introduces a new programming model based on speculative execution and it examines the use of speculations, a form of distributed transactions, for improving the performance, reliability and fault tolerance of distributed systems. A speculation is defined as a computation that is based on an assumption that is not validated before the computation is started. If the assumption is later invalidated the computation is aborted and the state of the program is rolled back; if the assumption is validated, the results of the computation are committed. The primary difference between a speculation and a transaction is that a speculation is not isolated---for example, a speculative computation may send and receive messages, and it may modify shared objects. As a result, processes that share those objects may be absorbed into a speculation. The contributions presented in this thesis include: (1) the introduction of anew programming model based on speculations, (2) the definition of new speculative programming language constructs, (3) the formal specification of the semantics of various speculative execution models, including message passing and shared objects, (4) the implementation of speculations in the Linux kernel in a transparent manner, and (5) the design and implementation of components of a distributed filesystem that supports speculations and guarantees sequential consistency of concurrent accesses to files.
Symptom burden in hematologic malignancies.

In this issue of Blood , Geyer et al[1][1] report results from a large multinational survey in which a sizeable proportion of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms experienced severe symptom burden. However, standard measures of disease severity and risk did not always predict which patients
Another look at the prompt lepton puzzle

Abstract Recent studies in quantum chromadynamics of the hadroproduction of direct photons cast new light on the old question regarding the origin of prompt leptons. The observed lepton-pion ratio l/π ⋍ 10 −4 is shown to be a transient value for transverse momenta n the resonance region mϱ/2 ≲ pT ≲ mψ/2. Bremsstrahlung of photons (followed by internal conversion into lepton pairs); (i) by charged hadrons for pT ≲ mϱ/2; (ii) by constituent quarks and gluons for pT ≳ mψ/2, provide sources of direct leptons in excess of the celebrated l/π ⋍ 10 −4 ratio. Dynamic enhancements yield l/π ratios of order α (not α2).
Crystal nucleation for a model of globular proteins.

A continuum model of globular proteins proposed by Talanquer and Oxtoby [J. Chem. Phys. 109, 223 (1998)] is investigated numerically, with particular emphasis on the region near the metastable fluid–fluid coexistence curve. Classical nucleation theory is shown to be invalid not only in the vicinity of the metastable critical point but also close to the liquidus line. An approximate analytic solution is also presented for the shape and properties of the nucleating crystal droplet.
The value of evaluation in cooperative extension

The author considers whether current evaluation practice is of value to the Cooperative Extension System. Evaluation use and influence in Extension are characterized through literature review and examination of case examples informed by correspondence with study authors. The more than 675 evaluations examined consistently yielded specific and valuable program counsel applicable to Extension education practice. Nearly seven in ten studies addressed at least one aspect of program improvement. Beyond simply generating a supply of potentially useful findings, there was clear evidence of substantive program modification in response to program evaluation. Case examples indicated that evaluation studies have influenced Extension practice by helping to establish program direction, improving existing educational practice, informing public policy, establishing or sustaining program support, establishing a basis for resource allocation decisions, influencing relationships with stakeholders, and strengthening evaluation practice itself. The author concludes that evaluation practice is both dynamic and influential within the Cooperative Extension System. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Current Status of Hemorrhagic Stroke and Acute Nonthrombolytic Ischemic Stroke Treatment

Strokes still cause death every 3.3 minutes in the United States and are a leading cause of disability. Although the thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator has been available for the treatment of ischemic stroke since 1996, no neuroprotectant acute stroke treatment strategy to preserve dysfunctional neurons in the ischemic penumbra has shown efficacy in clinical trials. New approaches for the treatment of hemorrhagic stroke and changes in the design of acute ischemic stroke trials provide a more optimistic picture for future stroke treatments. ### Hemorrhagic Stroke Hemorrhagic stroke has received far less attention than ischemic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke offers >1 potential approach for treatment, some of which are only now being assessed in clinical trials. These include preventing hematoma expansion, reducing any perihemorrhage oligemia, and preventing hemorrhage recurrence. The International Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Hemorrhage (STICH) was the first multicenter trial to assess the efficacy of early surgical evacuation of hemorrhage. This trial, reported in February 2004, required that patients be randomized to surgery or conservative treatment by 96 hours after the ictus.1 Perhaps because the trial allowed both superficial and deep hemorrhage locations to be included, it showed a neutral effect for surgery. Although seemingly counterintuitive to the treatment of hemorrhage, the use of a lytic was also reported in February 2004. In an early safety trial in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage, low-dose tissue plasminogen …
Qualitative Analysis by Thin-Layer Chromatography of Some Common Dyes Used in Biological Staining

Thin-layer chromatography will resolve impurities in commercial dyes, and will do so much faster than paper chromatography. Solvent systems consisting of (a) n-propanol: n-butanol: NH4OH (conc.): H2O—4:4:1:1; (b) n-propanol: NH4OH (conc.): H2O—8:1:1 on silica gel G plates; and (c) n-propanol: NH4OH (conc.): H2O-7:2:1 on Adsorbosil plates were found to be the most effective. Dyes studied were azure A, azure B, azure C, methylene blue, toluidine blue O, thionin, pyronin B, pyronin Y, methyl green, crystal violet amido black 10B and buffalo black (NBR).
Cognitive reappraisal self-efficacy mediates the effects of individual cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder.

Objective To examine whether changes in cognitive reappraisal self-efficacy (CR-SE) mediate the effects of individually-administered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD) on severity of social anxiety symptoms.
Moral Integrity and Academic Research

This paper focuses on some moral issues in academic journal publishing, from the standpoints of Publishers, editors, referees and authors.
Hold that needle: octreotide for acute variceal hemorrhage.

To compare octreotide with injection sclerotherapy in the treatment of acute variceal hemorrhage, patients admitted with gastrointestinal bleeding and oesophageal varices confirmed by endoscopy were randomised to receive either emergency sclerotherapy with 3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate or octreotide (50 μg intravenous bolus plus 50 μg per hr intravenous infusion for 48 hr). At the end of the study period (48 hr), the octreotide group also had sclerotherapy to obliterate the varices. One hundred patients were recruited. Demographic features including the aetiology of portal hypertension and the Child-Pugh's grading of the two groups were similar. Bleeding was initially controlled in 90% of patients by emergency sclerotherapy and in 84% by octreotide infusion (95% confidence interval 0-19.5, p = 0.55). There were no significant differences between the two groups in early (within 48 hr of randomisation) rebleeding (16% vs 14%), blood transfusion (3 units vs 3.51, hospital stay (5 days vs 6 days), or hospital mortality (27% vs 20%). No notable side-effects were associated with octreotide. We conclude that octreotide infusion and emergency sclerotherapy are equally effective in controlling variceal haemorrhage.
Using everyday technology to enhance evidence-based treatments.

Technologies such as smartphones and digital cameras are an increasingly ubiquitous part of modern life, and the increasing convenience of these electronic tools provides psychotherapists with opportunities to incorporate these technologies into psychotherapy. In the face of so much opportunity, psychotherapists must learn how to incorporate these tools effectively and responsibly. The authors present three case studies that demonstrate the use of digital technology to individualize and enhance the efficiency of existing evidence-based treatments. In the first, digital pictures were used to track the treatment progress of a client who compulsively hoards. In the second, a smartphone was used to record a personalized progressive muscle relaxation file for a client with agoraphobia, hypochondriasis, and generalized anxiety disorder. In the third, a smartphone was used to photograph and send pictures of in-session work to a client with trichotillomania and generalized anxiety disorder. The implications and ethical considerations of using technology in psychotherapeutic settings are explored, and practical strategies are provided for incorporating common digital technology into psychotherapeutic practice.
3-D Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Based on a Full-MEMS Scanning System

We have developed a confocal microscope using MEMS devices for laser scanning in all three axes. This full-MEMS laser scanning system is equipped with a MEMS lens scanner for deep scanning and a MEMS mirror for two-axis lateral scan. The MEMS lens scanner can move an objective lens axially by 515 μm at only 3.2 V. The two-dimensional MEMS mirror can achieve ± 20° optical scan angle at 4.5 V. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional confocal reflectance images of microparticles embedded in PDMS and acute rat brain tissue are obtained. The axial and lateral resolutions are measured as 9.0 and 1.2 μm, respectively.
Tubocurarine binding in undercut cerebral cortex and the effect of long-term electrical stimulation.

Abstract (1) An in vitro technique was used to study the binding capacity of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-rich synaptic membrane fraction of cat cerebral cortex for dimethyl-[ 14 C]- d -tubocurarine. Observations were made on the effect of undercutting and long-term electrical stimulation of the undercut cortex upon this binding. (2) Undercutting increased the binding of dimethyl-[ 14 C]- d -tubocurarine by 63% as compared with the contralateral control cortex. In parallel studies long-term electrical stimulation of undercut cortex appreciably reduced this expected increase. (3) The binding of dimethyl-[ 14 C]- d -tubocurarine to the membranes was more directly related to membrane protein levels than to the AChE activity associated with them. (4) Supersensitivity of undercut cerebral cortex is likely the result of deafferentation resulting in synaptic disuse and in a concomitantly increasing sensitivity of a post-synaptic receptor or receptors.
The Virtues of International Theoretical Discourse

This article reviews the published proceedings of the 1993 and 1995 conferences of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology, namely Trends and Issues of Theoretical Psychology and Problems of Theoretical Psychology. The international diversity of the authors gives rise to a broader treatment of relevant psychological issues and their solutions. The topics covered in these volumes demonstrate fine scholarship and raise many provocative questions and ideas. Topics range from issues that are specifically pertinent to certain subdisciplines of psychology such as linguistics, cognitive science, personality theory, history, social psychology and methodology-to theoretical issues that are relevant to the discipline as a whole. Several individual articles from both volumes are discussed, and general strengths and weaknesses of the books are explored.
Disturbance rejection using fuzzy model free adaptive control (FMFAC) with adaptive conditional defuzzification threshold

Abstract Disturbance rejection in nonlinear uncertain systems is a challenging issue especially when the sensor noise cannot be eliminated by low pass filtering. Fuzzy relational models (FRM) can effectively represent the sensor noise in the fuzzy control signal. Due to the large amount of sensor noise there will be huge actuator movement. In most of the cases the actuator movement is in response to the noise and not due to the set-point change. Conditional defuzzification is employed to reduce the control activity. The amount of control activity depends on the threshold level of the conditional defuzzification scheme. A novel scheme has been presented in this paper which can significantly reduce the actuator movement due to noise by adapting the conditional defuzzification threshold. Effective disturbance rejection can be achieved if the controller is modeled as an exact inverse of the plant model. The controller is a fuzzy relational model which develops the inverse plant model by incorporating feedback error learning. Sensitivity analyses have been carried out which demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methodology.
The Glass Transition Phases in the Formation of PtSi

The crystalline to amorphous transformation occurs at the Pt–Si interface in the formation of PtSi. The structure of the glassy phase depends on temperature. At higher temperatures, the glassy phase contains small randomly oriented Pt crystals. The lower temperature glass has as continuous amorphous structure. When Pt diffuses into Si, the crystalline-amorphous transformation occurs when the clastic energy of the crystalline solid is increased and the energy barrier for the reaction is lowered by the weakening of covalent bonds. PtSi nucleates within the glass at one interface. At 725 °C, the structure of the amorphous phase and the orientation of Pt and PtSi do not depend on the Si surface orientation. Bei der Bildung von PtSi tritt ein Ubergang kristallin-amorph an der Pt–Si-Grenzflache auf. Die Struktur der glasartigen Phase hangt von der Temperatur ab. Bei hoheren Temperaturen enthalt die glasartige Phase kleine statistisch orientierte Pt-Kristalle. Das Niedertemperaturglas besitzt enie kontinuierliche amorphe Struktur. Wenn Pt in Si eindiffundiert, tritt der Ubergang kristallin-amorph auf, wenn die elastische Energie des kristallinen Festkorpers anwachst und die Energiebarriere fur die Reaktion durch die Absch wachung der kovalenten Bindungen erniedrigt wird. Im Glas tritt an einer Grenzflache PtSi-Keimbildung auf. Bei 725 °C hangen die Struktur der amorphen Phase und die Orientierung von Pt und PtSi nicht von der Si-Oberflachenoricnticrung ab.
Behavioral contagion in sibships.

Abstract A behavior is “contagious” if one person is more likely to exhibit it when a relevant other person has already done so. In this sense, behavioral contagion is commonly thought to contribute to many social problems, such as drug abuse and teenage promiscuity. In this paper we focus on behavioral contagion in sibships. Borrowing a model from the theory of contagious diseases, we show that contagion will cause prevalence to increase with sibship size. This model also allows us to estimate the magnitude of the contagious factor relative to non-contagious factors. Finally, we develop two statistical tests for the presence of contagion. Results are presented for participation in a skill-development program and four child-psychiatric conditions: neurosis, hyperactivity, somatization, and conduct disorder. Evidence is presented that program participation is probably contagious and conduct disorder possibly so. The other three child-psychiatric conditions are shown not to be contagious. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Interleukin-4 is chemotactic for mouse macrophages

Abstract An important component of the cell-mediated immune response often is the migration of macrophages to the site of immune activity. Although much evidence suggests that macrophage migration is regulated by antigen-specific T cells, the influence of T cell-derived cytokines on macrophage chemotaxis has not been well studied. Here we present evidence that interleukin-4 (IL-4), a cytokine derived from T helper 2 (Th 2) cells, is chemotactic for mouse peritoneal macrophages. In an in vitro chemotaxis assay using Boyden chambers, recombinant IL-4 was chemotactic for mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages. This response was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the anti-IL-4 antibody, 11B11. As shown here and previously, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), cytokines derived from T helper 1 cells, are not chemotactic for mouse macrophages.
Roots: Chloroplast genetics

The existence and properties of the chloroplast genome were established by a combination of genetic methods which identified chloroplast mutations and placed them into a linear sequence or map; and by chemical methods, CsCl density gradient ultracentrifugation and base analysis, which identified non-nuclear DNA extracted from isolated chloroplasts. These studies, carried out in the 1950s and 1960s, primarily with Chlamydomonas, as well as parallel studies of mitochondrial DNA with yeast and Neurospora, laid the framework for distinguishing organelle and nuclear genomes. On this basis, the coding and regulatory functions of three genomes – nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial – are being addressed in modern plant molecular biology.
Erythropoietin in stroke: quo vadis.

Importance of the field: Recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) failed in a recent clinical study to protect from damages induced by ischemic stroke. The lack of acute treatments in ischemic stroke and the promising outcome in numerous preclinical studies in vivo demands a more critical evaluation of the future use of EPO as an acute treatment.Areas covered in this review: The current use and administration of rhEPO and its analogs in animal models and the future use of this cytokine in the treatment of ischemic stroke.What the reader will gain: In this review the potential reasons for the failure of EPO in the clinical trial are analysed and whether the preclinical trials sufficiently evaluated the true potential of recombinant EPO and its analogs is assessed. Alternative methods for administration of EPO to enhance its potential as a neuroprotective drug in ischemic stroke are discussed.Take home message: Failure in clinical trial does not necessarily indicate the lack of therapeutic potential of EPO. This r...
Father Absence, Social Structure, and Attention Allocation in Children: A Four-Culture Comparison

Beatrice Whiting, together with John Whiting, pioneered comparative field research in anthropology. The present study builds on one of her Six Culture Project contributions, an analysis of the effects of early father absence as mediated by social- structural characteristics. In a four-culture comparison, we find that (a) high frequency of father absence and male dominance in the adult world (as among the Logoli of Kenya) seem to prompt those boys with fathers to allocate to their fathers a high level of attention; and (b) high frequency of father absence and nondominance of males in the adult world (as among the Black Carib of Belize) seem to prompt those boys with fathers to allocate to their fathers an extremely low level of attention. In all four cultures, however, those boys without fathers allocated to males a high level of attention. The attention levels of girls were unaffected by father absence. The findings extend and refine the original contribution of Beatice Whiting while introducing new complexities into the study of father absence and its effects.
Bulk modulus of vegetable oil-diesel fuel blends

(Keywords: oil; diesel; blends) The long-term threat of potential shortages or inordinate price increases for middle distillate petroleum fuels has provided some incentive to consider vegetable oils as fuel for compression ignition engines. Short-term engine tests indicate that vegetable oils can be used in compression ignition engines, either straight or in blends with diesel fuel. It has been shown that short-term engine performance is not greatly affected when vegetable oils are used as fuel’ -3. However, long-term use of straight vegetable oils or in blends with small quantities of diesel fuel has shown some adverse effects on the engine power output, emissions and durability4-6. Due to higher compression ratio, compression ignition engines have higher thermal efficiency than spark ignition engines and it is expected that future generation of direct injection type diesel engines would show at least 10% gain in thermal efficiency over the indirect injection type diesel engines7. The performance of a direct injection type compression ignition engine is highly dependent on the properties of fuel and by the manner in which the fuel is introduced in the combustion chamber. This, in turn, strongly depends on the fuel spray characteristics and how well they are matched with the aerothermodynamic conditions in the chamber. If vegetable oil is to be significant as one of the future fuels for compression ignition engines it would be necessary to modify fuel injection equipment and combustion chamber design. These changes would be needed to take into account the effects of properties of vegetable oils on the spray characteristics and the subsequent process. Some of the properties of vegetable oils which influence engine performance, have been investigated thoroughly’-lo but there is very little information on the bulk modulus of vegetable oils, either stright or in blends with diesel fuel. Bulk modulus is an important parameter that is used in fuel injection system modelling, analysis and design. The injection pressure and its variation during the injection period depends, among other factors, on the values of the bulk modulus of the fuel. For a given fuel injection system, changes in the bulk modulus will alter fuel spray characteristics which may result in inefficient engine performance. The lack of sufficient information on the bulk modulus would make the design and analysis of
In Vitro Inhibition of Coccidioides Immitis Strains with Amphotericin B Plus Rifampin

Abstract Rifampin was shown in vitro to decrease the amphotericin B minimal inhibitory concentrations of all of 10 strains of Coccidioides immitis tested. These decreases ranged from two- to fourfold and occurred with rifampin concentrations of 10 to 40 μg/ml. Rifampin alone was without effect.
Degradation of transgene-coded and endogenous proteins in the muscles of Caenorhabditis elegans

To develop reporter systems to study the regulation of protein degradation in innervated muscle, we have used strains of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans containing transgenes that fuse lacZ or green fluorescent protein (GFP) coding regions to muscle-specific promoter/enhancer regions, such that the fusion proteins are expressed exclusively in body-wall and vulval muscle cells. The starvation-induced degradation of the beta-galactosidase reporter protein is quantitatively similar to that of two endogenous muscle proteins, arginine kinase and adenylate kinase. A soluble GFP in the muscle cytosol is degraded during starvation, but when GFP is fused to a full-length myosin heavy chain and incorporated into myofibrils, it is resistant to starvation-induced degradation. This suggests that under some conditions soluble muscle proteins may be extensively catabolized in preference to the proteins of the contractile fibers.
Riccati equations for scattering matrices on level surfaces

Layer stripping based on the Riccati equation for the scattering matrix is a natural approach to the solution of the inverse scattering problem for the Helmholtz equation. But it has so far failed to work in two and three dimensions. This paper examines a cause of failure and establishes a Riccati equation for the scattering matrix on the level surfaces of the index of refraction. The new Riccati equation overcomes a common drawback shared by the traditional Riccati equations?the waves are unnaturally forced to propagate with a Green's function of an artificially fixed background wave number, and this man-made mismatch will mix and deform the propagating and evanescent modes, which skews the regularization of the backward solve of the Riccati equations for layer stripping.
The Effects of Process Analysis and Ties to His Group upon the Negotiator's Attitudes Toward the Outcomes of Negotiations

A one-day intergroup conflict laboratory was conducted to investigate the effects of the use of modified "surrey feedback" during negotiations. This procedure focused on increasing the negotiators' awareness of the competitive behavior in the negotiations and the distortions in internegotiator perception. The results suggest that mediators and others who seek to intervene between two groups in conflict can use techniques of process analysis, such as survey feedback, to increase the negotiator's positive evaluation of the negotiations and its outcomes. The results also point out that whereas high commitment to one's own group and its initial position in the negotiations will tend to mitigate the cooperation-inducing effects of this procedure, high satisfaction with one's role in the home group will tend to enhance them. It was suggested that high commitment leads one to a state of "insulated ignorance," in which one is protected from examining his own behavior, and the other's perceptions and feelings, thr...
Continuous motor unit activity confined to the upper extremities

We report a patient with clinical vermiform motor activity, muscle cramps, delayed relaxation of grip, and continuous motor unit discharges who developed mild symmetric symptoms in the upper extremities following a viral infection. Treatment with carbamazepine produced considerable symptomatic improvement. Needle electromyography (EMG) in several muscles showed irregular grouped spontaneous discharges composed of potentials resembling normal motor units. The discharges occurred asynchronously in distal muscles with identical and different peripheral nerve innervation but were not seen in more proximal muscles innervated by the same nerves. Our EMG findings indicate an origin of this spontaneous activity in the terminal branched motor nerves.
Participation and Leadership in Consumer Movement Organizations

Drawing on social movement theory, supporters of a social movement can be divided into those seeking benefits for themselves, and those seeking benefits for others or the public at large. In addition, organizational leaders can be divided into volunteers and professionals. Using these distinctions, four organizational categories were created. When this typology was applied to the organizations of the consumer movement, the four categories of organizations were found to differ in their agendas, tactics, and future prospects.
Reconstituted micelle formation using reduced, carboxymethylated bovine κ-casein and human β-casein

In milk, κ-casein, a mixture of disulfide-bonded polymers, stabilizes and regulates the size of the unique colloidal complex of protein, Ca2+ and inorganic phosphate (Pi) termed the casein (CN) micelle. However, reduced, carboxymethylated bovine κ-CN (RCM-κ) forms fibrils at 37°C and its micelle-forming ability is in question. Here, the doubly- and quadruply-phosphorylated human β-CN forms and 1:1 (wt:wt) mixtures were combined with RCM-κ at different β/κ weight ratios. Turbidity (OD400 nm) and a lack of precipitation up to 37°C were used as an index of micelle formation. Studies were with 0, 5 and 10 mM Ca2+ and 4 and 8 mM Pi. The RCM-κ does form concentration-dependent micelles. Also, β-CN phosphorylation level influences micelle formation. Complexes were low-temperature reversible and RCM-κ fibrils were seen. There appears to be equilibrium between fibrillar and soluble forms since the solution still stabilized after fibril removal. The RCM-κ stabilized better than native bovine κ-CN.
Multi-spacecraft observations of collisionless shocks

The ability to make simultaneous, multipoint measurements of field and plasma properties has substantially increased knowledge of the structure and physics of collisionless shocks in space. In addition to allowing the determination of the large-scale macroscopic structure of such shocks as well as reliable estimates of shock normal direction, multipoint measurements have made it possible to measure shock thicknesses and speeds under a variety of upstream conditions. This ability has enabled a number of quantitative analyses of shock structure, including the confirmation of the dispersive whistler-mode character at low Mach numbers, the assessment of the relative importance of magnetic and electrostatic forces within the shock, and a detailed examination of possible dissipation mechanisms.
Proterozoic stromatolites: The first marine evolutionary biota

Proterozoic stromatolites represent a Marine Evolutionary Biota, analogous to the three marine evolutionary faunas of the Phanerozoic that have been recognized on the basis of their characteristic benthic metazoans. The pattern of expansion and subsequent decline in morphological diversity of these earliest collectively mineralized benthic ecosystems is documented in this report. First known from the Archean, stromatolites began to radiate significantly in the Paleoproterozoic, beginning about 2500 million years ago. Throughout the Mesoproterozoic, they dominated marine shallow shelf environments as an ecologically simple, producer‐reducer ecosystem. Stromatolites declined drastically in diversity during the late Neoproterozoic and earliest Paleozoic as algae, other protistans, and metazoans diversified to form more complex, multilevel ecosystems. Remnants of this early evolutionary biota of the level sea floor survived through the Phanerozoic to the present day by retreating onshore, where they are now l...
Solution of linear equations for small computer systems

A solution technique, based on Gauss elimination, is described which can solve symmetric or unsymmetric matrices on computers with small core and disk requirement capabilities. The method is related to frontal techniques in that renumbering of the nodes, such as in a finite element mesh, is not required, and the elimination is performed immediately after the equations for a particular node have been fully summed. Only two rows of the matrix need be on core at any step of the solution, but for more efficiency, the program presented here requires all the equations associated with two nodes to be on core. Minimum disk storage is achieved by storing only nonzero entries of the matrix, a single pointing vector for each node, regardless of the number of degrees-of-freedom, and the use of a single sequential file. Special care is taken of the boundary nodes where only the diagonal and the right-hand-side vector are stored. Assembly and elimination for these nodes are avoided completely. The performance of the program is compared with both symmetric and nonsymmetric frontal routines and is shown to be acceptable. The major merit of the method lies in the fact that it can be implemented on small minicomputers. The reduction of core and disk storage inevitably increases the solution time, but the decrease in the output file size also makes the back-substitution and resolution processes more efficient. In some cases, the total solution time can be shorter than for the frontal method due to this property.
Localization of Hydrogen Ion and Chloride Ion Fluxes in Nitella

Alternating bands of acid and base formation have been detected along the length of the internodal cell of Nitella clavata when it is illuminated, while in the dark this phenomenon is minimal. Chloride influx occurs only or largely in the acid-extruding regions, and this is also a light-dependent ion movement. Chloride efflux is slightly dependent on illumination and is not localized as are H+ efflux and Cl- influx. The results obtained support Kitasato's (1968) proposal that a large passive H+ influx is balanced by an active efflux of this ion. Transport mechanisms suggested by the correlations of Cl- and HCO3- influxes with H+ extrusion are discussed.
Implications for patient safety in the use of safe patient handling equipment: a national survey.

Abstract Background The prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries among nursing staff has been high due to patient handling and movement. Internationally, healthcare organizations are integrating technological equipment into patient handling and movement to improve safety. Although evidence shows that safe patient handling programs reduce work-related musculoskeletal injuries in nursing staff, it is not clear how safe these new programs are for patients. Objectives The objective of this study was to explore adverse patient events associated with safe patient handling programs and preventive approaches in US Veterans Affairs medical centers. Methods The study surveyed a convenience sample of safe patient handling program managers from 51 US Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers to collect data on skin-related and fall-related adverse patient events. Results Both skin- and fall-related adverse patient events associated with safe patient handling occurred at VA Medical centers. Skin-related events included abrasions, contusions, pressure ulcers and lacerations. Fall-related events included sprains and strains, fractures, concussions and bleeding. Program managers described contextual factors in these adverse events and ways of preventing the events. Conclusions The use of safe patient handling equipment can pose risks for patients. This study found that organizational factors, human factors and technology factors were associated with patient adverse events. The findings have implications for how nursing professionals can implement safe patient handling programs in ways that are safe for both staff and patients.
Navigating the Religious Landscape in Schools: Towards Inclusive Leadership

This article identifies historical and contemporary influences of religion in US public schooling. It provides analytical questions that social justice leaders can use to evaluate the practices embedded in their own schools, including an equity audit.
Central Role of Ubiquitination in Genome Maintenance: DNA Replication and Damage Repair

Faithful transmission of genetic information through generations ensures genomic stability and integrity. However, genetic alterations occur every now and then during the course of genome duplication. In order to repair these genetic defects and lesions, nature has devised several repair pathways which function promptly to prevent the cell from accumulating permanent mutations. These repair mechanisms seem to be significantly impacted by posttranslational modifications of proteins like phosphorylation and ubiquitination. Protein ubiquitination is emerging as a critical regulatory mechanism of DNA damage response. Non-proteolytic, proteasome-independent functions of ubiquitin involving monoubiquitination and polyubiquitination of DNA repair proteins contribute significantly to the signaling of DNA repair pathways. In this paper, we will particularly highlight the work on ubiquitin-mediated signaling in the repair processes involving the Fanconi anemia pathway, translesional synthesis, nucleotide excision repair, and repair of double-strand breaks. We will also discuss the role of ubiquitin ligases in regulating checkpoint mechanisms, the role of deubiquitinating enzymes, and the growing possibilities of therapeutic intervention in this ubiquitin-conjugation system.
Corticotropin releasing activity of a pepsin labile factor in the hypothalamus.

SummaryAbility of acid extracts of calf hypothalamus (stalk-median eminence area) to induce adrenal ascorbic acid depletion in the median eminence lesioned rat is attributable in large measure to a pepsin labile factor distinct from ACTH and from vasopressin.
Spontaneous Pneumothorax following Thoracic Irradiation

Spontaneous pneumothorax has only very rarely been reported to occur following thoracic irradiation. Four patients who developed this complication following radiation therapy are presented and the literature is reviewed. Spontaneous pneumothorax following thoracic irradiation tends to be recurrent, occasionally bilateral, and in most reported cases, occurs in patients who develop roentgenographic evidence of radiation fibrosis after treatment with mantle-shaped portals for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Re-expansion often occurs without intervention.