cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A One-Third Advice Rule Based on a Control-Theoretic Opinion Dynamics Model

We commonly seek advice in making decisions. However, multiple empirical studies report that, on average, we shift our own initial decision by only 30% toward external advice after advice is provided. This “egocentric advice discounting” is particularly counterintuitive because we do care a lot about the opinion of our peers. There is significant literature that attempts to explain the egocentric advice discounting and factors that influence this phenomenon; however, this literature is unable to explain why the numerical value of 30% is robust across a number of experimental settings. In this paper, we employ a control-theoretic opinion dynamics model to show that the one-third advice rule—adjusting one’s decision about 33.3% toward advice—is in fact distributionally robust for a crowd of decision-makers whose decisions also serve as advice for others. Our results imply that the observed egocentric advice discounting might not be a coincidence; instead, when an individual is faced with insufficient information, the distributionally robust optimal decision is to combine one-third of advice with two-thirds of his/her initial decision. Our theory also suggests that knowing the dispersion of decisions can further help decision-makers optimize advice taking.
Surgical resection of granular cell tumor of the sellar region: three indications.

This case series evaluates the surgical management of granular cell tumor (GCT) of the sellar region. This rare entity presents a unique diagnostic and surgical challenge. Institutional neuropathology databases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital were searched for cases with a tissue diagnosis of GCT, and with a location in the sellar region. Patient, treatment, tumor, and follow-up data were extracted. Three patients had a diagnosis of GCT of the sellar region occurring over an 18-year period. All three patients were followed postoperatively at our multidisciplinary pituitary center (median follow-up = 30 months; range 12–30 months). Hormonal disturbances, an incidental lesion requiring diagnosis, and neurological symptoms were indications for surgery in these patients. Two patients underwent a craniotomy and one underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. All three patients were free of tumor recurrence at last follow-up. In one case tested, positive thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) immunohistochemistry was observed. GCT is generally a benign tumor of the sellar region. Surgical resection is the standard treatment, more recently with transsphenoidal surgery when indicated. Surgical resection results in optimal outcome for patients.
Fabrication of ultrahard Q-carbon nanocoatings on AISI 304 and 316 stainless steels and subsequent formation of high-quality diamond films

Abstract Ideal coatings require three critical elements: hardness, toughness, and adhesion. Coatings of diamond-related materials are appealing owing to their high hardness but exhibit inadequate adhesion and toughness, especially on stainless steel substrates. Q-carbon, a newly discovered allotrope of carbon has the potential to improve hardness, toughness, and adhesion. The Q-carbon is formed on melting and quenching from super undercooled melt state. In this study, we have synthesized robust Q-carbon/α-carbon and Q-carbon/nanodiamond heterostructures on austenitic stainless steel substrates by laser annealing amorphous carbon films with nanosecond laser pulses above melt threshold (ED). Maximum melt regrowth velocity of 13 m/s corresponding to Q-carbon/nanodiamond composite was obtained by laser-solid melt interaction simulations. Subsequently, Q-carbon was used as seed layer to grow microdiamonds by HFCVD (hot filament chemical vapor deposition). The Q-carbon seed layer helped growth of better quality diamonds (50% less graphitic) with FWHM of 11.5 cm-1 and demonstrated higher nucleation density in comparision with amorphous carbon-coated and bare 316 SS substrates. Diamonds grown on Q-carbon displayed ballas type of microstructure indicative of high toughness. This study on Q-carbon nanocomposite coatings provides a new pathway for fabricating ultrahard carbon-based coatings on stainless steels for biomedical and tribocorrosive applications.
Early pulmonary function changes associated with brigatinib initiation.

9538Background: Phase I-III studies reported symptomatic pulmonary toxicity within the first week of initiating brigatinib in 6% patients post-crizotinib and 3% in TKI naive patients with standard ...
A PIP 2 substitute mediates voltage sensor-pore coupling in KCNQ activation

KCNQ family K+ channels (KCNQ1-5) in the heart, nerve, epithelium and ear require phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) for voltage dependent activation. While membrane lipids are known to regulate voltage sensor domain (VSD) activation and pore opening in voltage dependent gating, PIP2 was found to interact with KCNQ1 and mediate VSD-pore coupling. Here, we show that a compound CP1, identified in silico based on the structures of both KCNQ1 and PIP2, can substitute for PIP2 to mediate VSD-pore coupling. Both PIP2 and CP1 interact with residues amongst a cluster of amino acids critical for VSD-pore coupling. CP1 alters KCNQ channel function due to different interactions with KCNQ compared with PIP2. We also found that CP1 returned drug-induced action potential prolongation in ventricular myocytes to normal durations. These results reveal the structural basis of PIP2 regulation of KCNQ channels and indicate a potential approach for the development of anti-arrhythmic therapy. Yongfeng Liu, Xianjin Xu, Junyuan Gao et al. perform in silico screening targeting compounds that resemble both KCNQ1 and PIP2 structures and identify CP1 as a compound that could restore KCNQ1 currents after PIP2 depletion. Like PIP2, this compound can mediate VSD-pore coupling of the channel, albeit via a different mechanism from PIP2.
Considerations for Long-Term Dialysis Access in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Background Renal dysfunction, requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) is commonly encountered in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Continuous flow LVAD (CFLVAD) is the most widely used device. Nonpulsatile blood flow begets special hemodynamic changes. This poses a unique challenge in choosing a long-term dialysis access for patients with CFLVAD where life expectancy is limited. Methods A 61-year-old man with an implanted CFLVAD and renal dysfunction receiving intermittent RRT through a nontunneled dialysis catheter had progressed to dialysis-dependent renal failure. He was referred to us for a permanent hemodialysis access. Results The patient underwent a right brachio-brachial arterio-venous graft (AVG) placement. The graft was successfully cannulated for hemodialysis on postoperative day 15. On regular follow-up at 18 months, the graft was still functional. Conclusions Dialysis access for patients on LVAD is an exceptional management problem owing to both altered physiology and guarded overall prognosis. We recommend the use of AVG as a convenient and durable option-facilitating early cannulation and expediting freedom from indwelling catheters that may lead to catastrophic consequences. This should limit the need for secondary interventions, hospitalization, and cost, thus improving quality of life.
Maternal hypercortisolemia alters placental metabolism: a multiomics view

Previous studies have suggested that increases in maternal cortisol or maternal stress in late pregnancy increase the risk of stillbirth at term. In an ovine model with increased maternal cortisol ...
“Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner”: Reproductive Justice in Dirty Dancing (1987)

Dirty Dancing is an iconic 1987 film that is the top “chick flick” for most Baby Boomers and their progeny. When you think about this film, abortion may not come to mind at first, but “Baby” sure does. By the end, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner!” falls off our lips as easily as the last line from Casablanca (1942): “Louis, this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” When the final cut of Dirty Dancing was screened, 39% of those viewing it got so caught up in the film’s music and energy, they didn’t realize that abortion was, in fact, the main plot (Dawn 2017). If you’re tackling the topic of reproductive justice and abortion access, this film is a wonderful entry point for a necessary discussion about pre-Roe America, post-Roe America, and the potential repeal of Roe v. Wade (1973) in the twenty-first century.
Race and ethnic variation in college students’ allostatic regulation of racism-related stress

Racism-related stress is thought to contribute to widespread race/ethnic health inequities via negative emotion and allostatic stress process up-regulation. Although prior studies document race-related stress and health correlations, due to methodological and technical limitations, they have been unable to directly test the stress-reactivity hypothesis in situ. Guided by theories of constructed emotion and allostasis, we developed a protocol using wearable sensors and daily surveys that allowed us to operationalize and time-couple self-reported racism-related experiences, negative emotions, and an independent biosignal of emotional arousal. We used data from 100 diverse young adults at a predominantly White college campus to assess racism-related stress reactivity using electrodermal activity (EDA), a biosignal of sympathetic nervous system activity. We find that racism-related experiences predict both increased negative emotion risk and heightened EDA, consistent with the proposed allostatic model of health and disease. Specific patterns varied across race/ethnic groups. For example, discrimination and rumination were associated with negative emotion for African American students, but only interpersonal discrimination predicted increased arousal via EDA. The pattern of results was more general for Latinx students, for whom interpersonal discrimination, vicarious racism exposure, and rumination significantly modulated arousal. As with Latinx students, African students were particularly responsive to vicarious racism while 1.5 generation Black students were generally not responsive to racism-related experiences. Overall, these findings provide support for allostasis-based theories of mental and physical health via a naturalistic assessment of the emotional and sympathetic nervous system responding to real-life social experiences.
The role of the super-relaxed state of myosin in human metabolism.

Abstract Background The super-relaxed state of myosin (SRX) plays a fundamental role in maintaining the low resting metabolic rate of skeletal muscle. Our previous work on this state has been in animal models. Piperine is a small molecule that has been shown to destabilize the SRX in rabbit fast twitch fibers. Methods Here we extend this work to human muscle obtained from biopsies of the vastus lateralis of both lean and obese subjects. The slow release of nucleotides by myosin in the SRX was measured by incubating permeable fibers in a fluorescent analog of ATP and chasing with ATP. Results The fraction of myosin heads in the SRX was 0.48 ± 0.04 with a lifetime of 148 ± 5 s in lean subjects and a fraction of 0.41 ± 0.05 and a lifetime of 176 ± 7 s in obese subjects. Addition of 100 μM piperine decreased the SRX population by 25 ± 4% in lean subjects and 21 ± 4% in obese subjects, with little change in lifetimes. Addition of piperine to human cardiac cells had no effect on the SRX, a requirement for a drug to treat metabolic diseases. Conclusions In human muscle the SRX and its responses to piperine are similar to those seen previously, with no significant differences between muscles from lean and obese subjects. Thus analogs of piperine that have greater specificity could provide effective treatment for metabolic diseases. The SRX provides a potential mechanism contributing to the large dynamic range of metabolic rate.
The oral microbiome and lung cancer risk

The oral cavity is instrumental to the human body in several ways. It is the entry point for both ingested (to the GI tract) and inhaled (to the respirable tract) substances. The oral microbiome resides within biofilms throughout the oral cavity and forms an ecosystem that helps to maintain health. The breadth and depth of the oral microbiome is impressive: 1 mL of saliva contains 108 microbial cells and 700 distinct prokaryotic taxa. There are rich communities such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea and protists, among which about 54% are cultivatable and identified, 14% are cultivatable, but not identified, and 32% are not even cultivatable.1 Caselli et al defined the oral microbiome in 20 healthy individuals from Europe by whole genome sequencing (WGS) and reported that α-diversity differed significantly among the different microsites in the mouth of each participant, but not among the participants, supporting the notion of a recognisable healthy oral microbiome.1 With its rich microenvironment, the oral cavity remains less understood than the gut as to its health effects. Metagenomic studies have associated the oral microbiome with oral cancer and at least one with oesophageal cancer, and another with head and neck cancer.2 The use of recent 16 s rRNA gene next-generation sequencing methods have provided an important look into the complexity of the bacterial inhabitants of the oral microbiome and have helped to distinguish the differences between healthy microbiome and …
Benzodiazepines reported in NFLIS-Drug, 2015 to 2018

Abstract The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) is a program of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Division. The NFLIS-Drug component collects drug identification results and associated information from drug cases submitted to and analyzed by federal, state, and local forensic laboratories. This paper presents national annual estimates and national and regional yearly trend differences for clonazepam, diazepam, flubromazolam, clonazolam, and etizolam using annual report rates per 100,000 persons aged 15 or older between 2015 and 2018. An estimated 263,538 benzodiazepine reports were identified by state and local laboratories between 2015 and 2018. Methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin accounted for 32% of the drugs reported in the same item as alprazolam. Depressants and tranquilizers and narcotic analgesics were the drug classes most frequently identified in the same item as etizolam. A timeline of some benzodiazepines’ emergence in NFLIS-Drug is shown, as well as state- and county-level data for selected benzodiazepines.
Social Participation across Mid- and Later-life: Evidence from a Longitudinal Cohort Study:

Despite the benefits of social participation for individuals and communities, little is known about how social participation varies over the life course. Drawing upon data collected between 1957 an...
Gromov’s Amenable Localization and Geodesic Flows

Let M be a compact smooth Riemannian n-manifold with boundary. We combine Gromov’s amenable localization technique with the Poincare duality to study the traversally generic geodesic flows on SM, the space of the spherical tangent bundle. Such flows generate stratifications of SM, governed by rich universal combinatorics. The stratification reflects the ways in which the flow trajectories are tangent to the boundary $$\partial (SM)$$ . Specifically, we get lower estimates of the numbers of connected components of these flow-generated strata of any given codimension k in terms of the normed homology $$H_k(M; \mathbb R)$$ and $$H_k(DM; \mathbb R)$$ , where $$DM = M\cup _{\partial M} M$$ denotes the double of M. The norms here are the simplicial semi-norms in homology. The more complex the metric on M is, the more numerous the strata of SM and S(DM) are. It turns out that the normed homology spaces form obstructions to the existence of globally k-convex traversally generic metrics on M. We also prove that knowing the geodesic scattering map on M makes it possible to reconstruct the stratified topological type of the space of geodesics, as well as the amenably localized Poincare duality operators on SM.
Beyond beefsteak and onions: engaging the foodscape at the 1876 Centennial Exposition

Although many scholars have examined the history and culture of the first United States-hosted World’s Fair, little coverage has been given to the various items and products that comprised its food...
Vision-related quality-of-life in pediatric primary brain tumor patients.

Brain tumors are the leading cause of death from childhood cancer. Although overall survival has improved due to earlier detection, better therapies, and improved surveillance, visual dysfunction and impaired vision-related quality-of-life (VR-QOL) are often unrecognized in children. This project investigated VR-QOL in pediatric brain tumor patients. We evaluated visual impairment and quality-of-life (QOL) in a quality improvement project at one tertiary care center. Patients ≤ 18, greater than 6 months from diagnosis of brain tumor, excluding intrinsic anterior visual pathway tumors, underwent standardized neuro-ophthalmologic examination. Health-related QOL (HR-QOL) (PedsQL Brain Tumor Module) and VR-QOL questionnaires [CVFQ (Children’s Visual Function Questionnaire) in children < 8, and EYE-Q in children 8–18] were obtained from patients and parents. Among 77 patients, craniopharyngiomas (n = 16, 21%) and astrocytomas (n = 15, 20%) were the most common tumors. Among 44/77 (57%) visually impaired children, 7 (16%) were legally blind. Eye-Q median score was 3.40 (interquartile range 3.00–3.75), worse than average scores for normal children. Eye-Q score decreased 0.12 with every 0.1 increase in logMAR visual acuity (p < 0.001). Patients who were legally blind had a significantly lower Eye-Q score than those who were not [0.70 vs. 3.44 (p < 0.001)]. Cognitive HR-QOL scores decreased 1.3 for every 0.1 increase in logMAR visual acuity (p = 0.02). Pediatric brain tumor patients’ vision, HR-QOL, and VR-QOL were often severely affected even when tumors were considered cured. Visual acuity and legal blindness correlated with VR-QOL. Systematic neuro-ophthalmologic examinations in pediatric primary brain tumor patients are necessary to facilitate early preventative and corrective ophthalmologic interventions.
Impact of Mediator Mentors Service-Learning on College Student Social-Emotional Expertise and Cultural Competence

Mentorship in the field of service-learning has many variations. The utilization of peace circles has been on the rise as a way of bringing inclusion and cultural awareness when interacting with diverse perspectives in a group setting. Research on the impact of service-learning experiences on college students reflects that participation in these high-impact practices in higher education lead to positive outcomes through engagement in active learning practices that will impact their future careers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential factors that impact college students’ own growth and development within mentorship service learning experiences in virtual settings with school-aged students. Using Likert-style retrospective survey questions with open-ended responses, this mixed-methods research explored the impact of participating in mentorship service learning on college students’ development of social-emotional and cultural competence. The findings of the study are presented in a descriptive approach which led to conclusions and recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Mediator Mentors program at Fresno State University to positively impact the growth and development of college students in the areas of social-emotional expertise and cultural competence.
Management of Critically Ill Pregnant Patients with COVID-19 Infection in a Rural State.

Objective There is limited data on the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnancy. Arkansas saw an increase in COVID-19 cases in June 2020. The first critically ill pregnant patient was admitted to our institution on May 21st, 2020. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes in critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19 at a single tertiary care center who received remdesivir and convalescent plasma (CCP). Study design This is a retrospective observational review of critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19 who received remdesivir and CCP. This study was approved by the institutional review board (#261354). Results Seven pregnant patients with COVID-19 were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). All received remdesivir and CCP. Six received dexamethasone. The median ICU length of stay (LOS) was 8 days (range 3-17). Patient 1 had multi-organ failure requiring vasopressors, renal dialysis, and had an intrauterine fetal demise. Patients 4 and 6 required mechanical ventilation, were delivered for respiratory distress and were extubated at 2 and 1 days postpartum, respectively. The only common risk factor was obesity. There were no adverse events noted with remdesivir or CCP. Conclusion There is little data regarding the use of remdesivir or CCP for the treatment of COVID-19 in pregnant women. In our cohort, these were well tolerated with no adverse events. Previously reported median ICU LOS in critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19 was 8 days (range 4-15).1 Our study found a similar ICU LOS (8 days; range 3-17). Patient 1 did not receive remdesivir or CCP until transport to our facility on hospital day 3. Excluding patient 1, median ICU LOS was 6.5 days (range 3-9). Our institution's treatment of pregnant women with critical illness with remdesivir, CCP and dexamethasone combined with delivery in select cases has thus far had good outcomes. Key points · Combined therapy: remdesivir, CCP, dexamethasone.. · Remdesivir, CCP and dexamethasone was effective in treating critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19.. · No adverse events were associated with combined therapy.. · Delivery improved respiratory status..
Early Second Trimester Weight Gain in Obese Women Predicts Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in Pregnancy

To assess gestational weight gain (GWG) in obese women to determine an inflection point that identifies women at risk for excessive weight gain. This is an observational prospective cohort study of pregnancies managed through the UC San Diego Maternal Weight and Wellness Program from 2011 to 2014. The primary outcome was total gestational weight gain. GWG was categorized as inadequate ( 20 pounds) based on Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations. Other outcomes were GWG by trimester and postpartum weight retention. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess factors associated with GWG. Ninety-five patients had a mean prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) of 41.9 ± 8.9 kg/m2 and a net weight gain of 21.9 ± 19 pounds. First trimester GWG was −0.3 ± 4.9 pounds, second trimester was 10.4 ± 10.8 pounds, and third trimester was 11.4 ± 8.5 pounds for all participants. Women who exceeded IOM recommendations accelerated weight gain at 12–14 weeks and gained a majority of weight during the second trimester. Weight gain of more than two pounds at 12–14 weeks had a 96 % positive predictive value (95 % CI 79–99) for excessive GWG. Postpartum women with excessive GWG retained more weight than those with inadequate GWG (10.7 ± 15.6 pounds compared with −13.6 ± 10.9 pounds, P < 0.001). On multiple linear regression GWG by trimester was predictive of total GWG with second and third trimester GWG having the greatest effect on total GWG. Prepregnancy BMI and gestational diabetes were not predictors of total GWG. Obese women at risk for excessive GWG may be identified as early as 12–14 weeks and gain most weight during the second trimester. GWG less than 11 pounds resulted in significant postpartum weight loss among obese women.
The Impact of Inpatient Versus Outpatient Initiation on Early Warfarin Dosing

Background and Objectives Dosing algorithms for warfarin incorporate clinical and genetic factors but may not account for the numerous comorbidities affecting patients who start warfarin while hospitalized. We aimed to determine whether these algorithms perform differently when warfarin is initiated for inpatients compared with outpatients.
Temperature-dependent growth and behavior of juvenile Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and co-occurring North Pacific gadids

The thermal sensitivity of Arctic fish species is poorly understood, yet such data are a critical component of forecasting and understanding ecosystem impacts of climate change. In this study, we experimentally measured temperature-dependent growth and routine swim activity in the juvenile stage of two Arctic gadids (Arctic cod, Boreogadus saida and saffron cod, Eleginus gracilis) and two North Pacific gadids (walleye pollock, Gadus chalcogrammus and Pacific cod, Gadus macrocephalus) over a 6-week growth period across five temperatures (0, 5, 9, 16 and 20 °C). Arctic cod demonstrated a cold-water, stenothermic response in that there was relatively high growth at 0 °C (0.73 % day−1), near-maximal growth at 5 °C (1.35 % day−1) and negative impacts on activity, growth and survival at 16 °C. In contrast, saffron cod demonstrated a warmer-water, eurythermic response, and temperature had a positive effect on growth and condition beyond 16 °C. However, despite these distinct thermal responses, walleye pollock and Pacific cod grew 2–3 times faster than Arctic gadids across a relatively broad temperature range above 5 °C. These results, coupled with possible northward expansion by both Pacific cod and walleye pollock, suggest Arctic cod are highly vulnerable to continued climate change in the Arctic, especially in coastal areas of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas where temperatures already exceed 14 °C in the summer growth period.
Review of Principles and Practice of Forensic Psychiatry

This volume, monumental in scope and size, is excellently conceived, carefully edited, thoroughly indexed, and laden with citations and references. More than 100 British, Commonwealth, Irish, European, and American contributors skillfully present reasonably brief case synopses and their theses.
Weighted rectilinear approximation of points in the plane

We consider the problem of weighted rectilinear approximation on the plane and offer both exact algorithms and heuristics with provable performance bounds. Let S = {(pi, wi)} be a set of n points pi in the plane, with associated distance-modifying weights wi > 0. We present algorithms for finding the best fit to S among x-monotone rectilinear polylines R with a given number k < n of horizontal segments. We measure the quality of the fit by the greatest weighted vertical distance, i.e., the approximation error is max1≤i≤n widv(pi, R), where dv(pi, R) is the vertical distance from pi to R. We can solve for arbitrary k optimally in O(n2) or approximately in O(n log2 n) time. We also describe a randomized algorithm with an O(n log2 n) expected running time for the unweighted case and describe how to modify it to handle the weighted case in O(n log3 n) expected time. All algorithms require O(n) space.
Electron Microscopic Study of the Morphogenesis of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Except for the rate, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) grows as well at 25 C as at 37 C in primary chick embryo fibroblast cells and in a pig kidney cell line [PK(H13)]. Maximal yields were reached at about 28 hr at 25 C and 10 hr at 37 C in these cells. Morphogenesis, as observed by electron microscopy, was similar at the two temperatures. The main feature was accumulation of virus in intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Mode of release of VSV has been controversial; both budding (as displayed by myxoviruses) and maturation at membranes of cytoplasmic vacuoles (as with arboviruses) have been claimed. Our observations support the latter view, and the apparent dichotomy in interpretation is discussed.
A numerical model of coupled fluid flow and reactive geochemical transport

Experiments have shown that geochemical reactions have profound effects on the mechanics of fluid flows. Changes in hydraulic conductivity and fluid pore velocity were observed in the unsaturated flow experiments. These changes were attributed to secondary phase precipitation, which occurred under reduced saturation conditions. Clearly the depletion of water by precipitation would manifest itself if the water is not supplied via hydrologic transport. It is not difficult to see that the heterogeneous reactions including precipitation can plug pores reducing both the porosity and hydraulic conductivity, which in turn would hinder the transport of water into the affected regions. As a result, moisture content would be reduced and further precipitation would occur. The onset of further precipitation would remove water from the liquid phase. These complicated interactions between flow dynamics and geochemical reactions must be included in modelling reactive transport, especially when the degree of saturation is low. This paper communicates the development of a mechanistic-based numerical model for simulation of coupled fluid flow and reactive geochemical transport, including both fast and slow reactions, in variably saturated media. A simple example is used to illustrate the interplay and effects of advective/dispersive transport, geochemical reactions, and fluid flows. With the ability to simulate coupled fluid flow and reactive transport, an effective strategy for investigating contaminant transport and for conducting performance assessment of various waste management and remediation technologies can be developed.
Telomeres: Protection and Maintenance

Eukaryotic chromosomes terminate in telomeres, nucleoprotein complexes thought to mask chromosome ends from the machinery that detects and repairs damaged deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The maintenance of this protective telomeric cap requires a specialized mode of DNA synthesis, because chromosome duplication results in incomplete replication of DNA ends. Proteins associated with the telomeric DNA sequence at chromosome ends execute and regulate the maintenance and protection functions of telomeres. Keywords: telomere; telomerase; cancer; chromosome; genome instability
Laser Pumping of Solid-State Amplifers Using Random Binary-Phase Plates

Efficient laser pumping of solid-state amplifiers, which requires good spatial overlap between the signal beam and the gain, can be difficult to achieve using pump beams with irregular intensity profiles (hot spots).1 Hot spots appear readily in the output of a high power Nd:YAG oscillator-amplifier, and they may be exacerbated by frequency doubling. Many techniques for reducing hot spots significantly reduce the available output power and increase the system's complexity. The random binary-phase plate (RBPP) can remove hot spots with minimal decrease in power or increase in complexity.2
Weaning preterm infants from continuous positive airway pressure: evidence for best practice.

Background Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) is frequently used in preterm infants. However, there is no consensus on when and how to wean them from NCPAP.
T-lymphoid, megakaryocyte, and granulocyte development are sensitive to decreases in CBFβ dosage.

The family of core-binding factors includes the DNA-binding subunits Runx1-3 and their common non-DNA-binding partner CBFbeta. We examined the collective role of core-binding factors in hematopoiesis with a hypomorphic Cbfb allelic series. Reducing CBFbeta levels by 3- or 6-fold caused abnormalities in bone development, megakaryocytes, granulocytes, and T cells. T-cell development was very sensitive to an incremental reduction of CBFbeta levels: mature thymocytes were decreased in number upon a 3-fold reduction in CBFbeta levels, and were virtually absent when CBFbeta levels were 6-fold lower. Partially penetrant consecutive differentiation blocks were found among early T-lineage progenitors within the CD4- CD8- double-negative 1 and downstream double-negative 2 thymocyte subsets. Our data define a critical CBFbeta threshold for normal T-cell development, and situate an essential role for core-binding factors during the earliest stages of T-cell development.
White-light Fresnel diffraction by a circular aperture

The weighted-ordinate method of colorimetry is applied to Fresnel diffraction of white light by a circular aperture to determine the dominant wavelength, purity, and relative luminance of the center of the diffraction pattern. This chromaticity information is compared to experimental results and graphs are included to allow easy determination of these quantities for most combinations of aperture radius, source distance, and observation distance that would be of interest.
Effects of proposed dam removal on ice jamming and bridge scour on the Clark Fork River, Montana

Abstract The Milltown Dam, at the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers in Montana, lies at the downstream end of the nation's largest Superfund Project. Since its construction in 1906, several hundred thousand tonnes of metal-contaminated sediment from upstream mining activities, primarily copper, have accumulated in the dam impoundment. A large amount of this sediment was scoured during a 1996 ice jam event on Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers and transported downstream. The EPA remediation plan calls for phased removal and off-site disposal of much of the contaminated sediment, and removal of the Milltown Dam and a smaller mill dam upstream on the Blackfoot River. As much as possible, the river channels will be restored to their pre-project natural morphology. This study assessed ice impacts associated with the restoration plan, specifically where ice jams and related ice jam scour might occur with and without the dams in place. Also addressed was the effect of dam removal on potential ice-related scour around the piers of five bridges that cross the Blackfoot River just upstream of the Milltown Dam. Because this type of problem is relatively new, relevant engineering guidelines are lacking. Shortcomings of the tools and methods used are discussed. It is hoped that the study described herein will assist those addressing similar problems in the future, and also point to areas where analysis methods and tools could be improved.
A developmental study on the effect of stimulus rate on the auditory evoked brain-stem response

Abstract Four groups of subjects were presented auditory stimuli differing only in repetition rate. One group was adults, another term newborns, and the other 2 groups were preterm newborns tested at respectively, 32 and 36 weeks postconceptional age. All 4 groups were judged to be audiologically and neurologically normal at the time of testing. Six stimulus repetition rates were presented to each subject, 10, 20, 40, 50, 66 2 3 , and 80/sec. Auditory evoked brain-stem responses (ABRs) were recorded to each stimulus. Increasing repetition rate increased ABR wave form latencies and decreased ABR wave form amplitudes at all ages tested. For the most reliable measurement, wave V latency, a linear function effectively described the latency-rate function for individual subjects at all ages. The slope of the wave V latency-rate function increased with decreasing age. It was 300 μsec/decade change in rate at 32 weeks, 227 μsec/decade at 36 weeks, 162 μsec/decade at term, and 86 μsec/decade in adults. Wave V latencies were more prolonged by rate than waves I and III and the differences in the rate effects between waves V and I and III increased with decreasing age. Amplitude was a less reliable measurement and amplitude-rate effects were less consistent than latency-rate effects.
Biodiversity Studies: Science and Policy

Biodiversity studies comprise the systematic examination of the full array of different kinds of organisms together with the technology by which the diversity can be maintained and used for the benefit of humanity. Current basic research at the species level focuses on the process of species formation, the standing levels of species numbers in various higher taxonomic categories, and the phenomena of hyperdiversity and extinction proneness. The major practical concern is the massive extinction rate now caused by human activity, which threatens losses in the esthetic quality of the world, in economic opportunity, and in vital ecosystem services.
Synoptic Structure and Evolution of a Kona Low

A subtropical cyclone or kona low affected the island of Hawaii on 24‐28 February 1997 and brought with it record winds at Hilo, large hail, blizzard conditions at higher elevations, and high surf. Damage estimates for the storm due to crop loss, property damage, and utility line destruction exceed $4 million. A detailed case study of the storm was conducted using all available operational data and data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction‐National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis dataset. The kona low formed on 23 February 1997 along a stalled trough northeast of the Hawaiian Islands and is investigated during five evolutionary stages: (i) incipient, (ii) intensifying, (iii) mature, (iv) weakening, and (v) dissipating. The system’s initial development is linked to dynamics at the 250-mb level. The maximum circulation, absolute vorticity, divergence, and height anomalies all occurred at 250 mb during the period of most rapid deepening. Cold anomalies occurred in a deep layer between 850 and 250 mb that tilted eastward with height. Quasigeostrophic analysis showed enhanced vorticity to the west of a thickness trough, a configuration that maintained an area of positive vorticity advection to the west of the surface low and over new convection east and southeast of the low. The vorticity tendency is dominated by the advection of vorticity aloft in this case, especially during the incipient and intensifying stages. The vorticity tendency is dominated by the generation of vorticity by divergence in the lower troposphere. Cloud bands with embedded convective cells formed on the low’s eastern side and propagated eastward, eventually leaving the area of synoptic-scale ascent and losing their convective properties. Areas where the bestlifted index values were less than zero and areas of positive low-level advection of equivalent potential temperature coincided with regions of deep convection, as inferred from satellite imagery.
Biliary D-Glucaric Acid: Its Quantitation and Preventive Role in Gallstone Formation

A method for quantitation of D-glucaric acid in bile has been developed involving extraction with tetrahexylammonium chloride, boiling for 40-60 min, and determination of the percentage inhibition of β-glucuronidase activity at 56°C and pH 4. D-glucaric acid, bilirubin, bile acid, and protein were determined in 106 human gallbladder biles obtained at autopsy, including 20 with gallstones. The mean D-glucaric acid content was 1125 ± 159 μM (mean ± SE). Biliary β-glucuronidase activity was not affected by D-glucaric acid because of 1) no difference in biliary D-glucaric acid content, either absolute or corrected for per unit of bilirubin, bile acid, or protein, between those with and those without gallstones; 2) no negative correlation between D-glucaric acid content and β-glucuronidase activity in the bile; and 3) minimal conversion of D -glucaric acid to D -glucaro-l,4-lactone at the usual pH of bile. We conclude that biliary D-glucaric acid plays no role in the prevention of gallstone formation.
Experimental investigation of pathogenic stress on phytolith formation in Cucurbita pepo var. texana (wild gourd)

Silica phytoliths that form in plant tissues are useful to archaeologists because of their diagnostic value and longevity in ancient deposits. Palaeoecology, site formation processes, plant domestication, and other topics are routinely addressed using phytolith assemblages, especially when macrobotanical remains are not well preserved. However, little research has been conducted to document the effects of ecological variables on phytolith formation. Here, we investigate the effects of mosaic virus and bacterial wilt disease on diagnostic scalloped phytoliths in the rind of a wild-type Cucurbita pepo var texana (gourd). We observe a minimal change in phytolith size distribution between control plants and individuals with mosaic virus. However, we observe a notable difference between plants with bacterial wilt disease and control plants, with diseased individuals carrying a greater proportion of large-diameter scalloped phytoliths. This and similar phenomena could potentially confound archaeological interpretations of phytolith assemblages, and we suggest that the effects of this and other ecological variables should be studied in a diverse range of taxa.
An integrative examination of peer conflict: Children's reported goals, emotions, and behaviors

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine the interrelations among children's typical emotions, goals, and behavior during peer conflict and to examine emotions and goals as joint predictors of behavior. Children (7 to 11 years old) described recent conflicts with peers and were questioned about their emotions, goals, and behaviors. The friendliness of children's reported goals during conflict was associated with low anger intensity and with high intensity of sadness. Children who tended to report nonconstructive behavior also tended to report relatively intense anger and relatively unfriendly goals. Furthermore, in regression analyses, the friendliness of goals uniquely predicted the constructiveness of children's behavior after controlling for the effects of anger intensity, age, gender, provoking event, and friendship with the peer. Although boys and girls reported similar levels of anger and sadness, girls reported friendlier goals and more constructive behavior than did boys. The use of self-reports of actual events to examine peer conflict during middle childhood is also discussed.
Effects of the substrate on deposit structure and reactivity in the chemical vapor deposition of carbon

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the effects of the carbon substrate on matrix structure and composite reactivity upon infiltration of carbon cloths with pyrolytic carbon. Pyrolysis of propylene at 750°C was used to produce carbon fiber/carbon matrix composites. Carbon (and ceramic) substrates of differing crystalline order and surface area were infiltrated with pyrolytic carbon at various partial and total propylene pressures. The infiltrated substrates (composites) were heat-treated to 2900°C in order to determine the effect of porosity on the graphitization behavior of the pyrolytic carbon matrices. Under the conditions examined, the kinetics of pyrolytic carbon formation were controlled by the surface area of the substrate. It was found that the mesoporous surface was entirely covered by pyrolytic carbon, but only the larger micropores were accessible to the products of propylene pyrolysis. The oxidation resistances of heat-treated composites prepared by infiltration of low-temperature (ungraphitized) substrates were greater than those of composites produced by infiltration of high-temperature substrates. This was attributed to stress-enhanced graphitization of the matrix due to pore shrinkage.
The role of restrictive emotionality, trait anger, and masculinity threat in men’s perpetration of physical aggression.

We examined the relationships among restrictive emotionality (RE), trait anger, and masculine-relevant threat as predictors of aggressive behavior in men. There were 128 male participants who competed in a reaction time aggression task whereby they were given a choice to administer shocks to an ostensible opponent after experiencing no threat or a threat directed toward their masculine gender identity. RE was measured with the Gender Role Conflict Scale (O'Neil et al., 1986), direct physical aggression was assessed by the overall intensity, frequency, and initiation of shocks administered to a confederate, and trait anger was assessed with the Anger subscale of the Buss Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992). Results indicate that the relationship between RE and aggressive behavior was contingent on anger-proneness and situational provocation. Greater RE predicted higher shock frequencies for men who endorsed high-trait anger and who had experienced a masculine-relevant threat. Effects of RE on initiation and sustained aggressive behavior are placed in the context of gender role socialization in men and treatment.
Identification of ubiquinone as the secondary electron acceptor in the photosynthetic apparatus of Chromatium vinosum.

Abstract Extracting Chromatium vinosum chromatophores with light petroleum destroys their ability to perform photochemistry on the second of two closely-spaced actinic flashes, without affecting photochemistry on the first flash. Extraction also increases the likelihood of a back-reaction in which an electron returns from the primary electron acceptor directly to P 870 . These effects probably reflect the removal of a secondary electron acceptor. Extraction does not appear to interfere with the primary photochemical reaction. Reconstituting the extracted chromatophores with the lipid extract or with pure ubiquinone (Q) completely reverses the effects of the extraction. Chromatography of the lipid extract shows that Q is the only active material that it contains in detectable quantity. These observations support the conclusion that Q is the secondary electron acceptor. Piericidin A, certain alkyl-substituted quinolinequinones, and a substituted 4,7-dioxobenzothiazole inhibit electron transfer between the primary and secondary acceptors. The sensitivity to these inhibitors, and the participation of Q and non-heme iron suggest that the secondary electron-transfer reaction resembles the reactions catalyzed by respiratory dehydrogenases. The proton uptake that follows flash excitation does not seem to be tightly linked to the reduction of the secondary electron acceptor. It still occurs (though with decreased amplitude) in extracted chromatophores, and even in the presence of inhibitors of the secondary electron-transfer reaction.
Organometallic exchange reactions VIII. Exchanges in mixtures of methylmercury halides and pseudohalides

Abstract The rapid exchange of methyl groups between magnetically distinct sites in CH 3 HgX/CH 3 HgCN mixtures in dimethylformamide (DMF) has been shown to proceed with second-order kinetics, and may involve formation of a four-center, bridged transition state. The thermodynamic parameters for the exchange are strongly dependent on halide X. The Arrhenius activation energies are 22, 15 and 9 kcal/mole for I, Cl and Br, respectively. Corresponding entropies of activation are +4, −18 and −25 cal/deg·mole. The exchanges in DMF are catalyzed slightly by mercuric halides, very markedly by tetramethylammonium bromide or iodide. Exchanges in pyridine are much faster than in DMF. The order of rates in CH 3 HgX/CH 3 HgCN mixtures in pyridine is in the order X  Cl > Br ≈ I. Catalytic effects which are apparently due to reaction with solvent are noted. Species of the form [C 5 H 5 NHgCH 3 ] + X − may be involved.
Impulse Occlusion and Subthreshold Gating in Electrically Coupled Molluscan Neurons

1. Competition for use of a common pathway appears to produce mutually interfering interactions between two electrically coupled neurons in the cerebral ganglia ofNavanax inermis. Each of these cells can eliminate the other's normal output, so that their activities do not summate in common target neurons. 2. Impulse invasion of this pathway can be blocked by subthreshold depolarizations in the somata of a distinct class of neurons. The mechanism of this “gating” action is unknown, but the neurons in this class appear to be electrically coupled to the elements whose activation they control. 3. These effects tend to damp regeneration within and between two groups of electrically coupled neurons. 4. The existence of cells in which subthreshold potential shifts control the transparency of an otherwise safe conduction path suggests a new hypothesis concerning the production of rhythmic activity.