cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive aspects of ethnographic inquiry

This article proposes that despite an explicit emphasis on language in use, the interpretive nature of ethnography (especially ethnography of speaking) and its commitment to examining cultural meanings from the native’s point of view requires inclusion of discourse presumed to relate to cognitive processes such as memory, belief, and imagination. An example of a difficult interaction is used as the basis for an argument that forms of metacommunication often elicited in ethnographic interviews, when unproblematically approached as talk similar to that found in everyday storytelling, are a common avenue for incorporating cognitive aspects of social interaction into such research.
Premature chromosome condensation in a ts DNA-mutant of BHK cells

A temperature-sensitive mutant of BHK, designated ts BN-2, shows a rapid drop in 3H-thymidine incorporation along with accumulation of the cells in the G1 phase of the cycle when asynchronous cultures are shifted from 33.5 degrees C to the nonpermissive temperature of 39.5 degrees C. Synchronized cultures of ts BN-2 cells did not enter DNA synthesis when shifted up in G1. Shift-up of cultures at the beginning of the S phase resulted in an approximately normal rate of DNA synthesis for about 2 hr. The rate of DNA synthesis then quickly declined, and the cells became arrested in mid-S after completion of approximately 0.5 rounds of DNA replication. At the same time, the majority of the cells were observed to lose the nuclear membrane and displayed premature chromosome condensation. These events were followed by the appearance of cells containing several micronuclei and eventual cell disruption and death. The nonpermissive temperature appeared to have no effect on either the elongation of short fragments of DNA or the execution of mitosis after the completion of the S phase under permissive conditions. The ts defect in this mutant may directly limit the initiation of DNA synthesis or alter the regulation of chromatin condensation.
Who receives a diagnosis of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in the United States elementary school population?

OBJECTIVE.To investigate factors that are associated with the probability of attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis among U.S. elementary school children, including child, family, school, and policy factors. METHODS.Logistic regression was used to estimate relative risks associated with independent variables using a nationally representative sample of 9278 children in the 2002 follow-up of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey‐Kindergarten Cohort. Most children in the sample were in third grade at this point. Previous ADHD diagnoses by professionals were reported by parent respondents. RESULTS.A total of 5.44% of children were reported to have received an ADHD diagnosis. Girls, black children, and Hispanic children were less likely to have the diagnosis even after controlling for other characteristics. Living with one’s biological father was negatively associated with ADHD diagnosis. We also found regional variation in diagnosis with the western region of the United States having significantly lower instances of ADHD cases. Higher diagnosis rates were associated with having an older teacher, and lower rates were associated with having a white teacher, relative to a nonwhite teacher. In schools that were subject to stricter state-level performance accountability laws, we found higher odds of ADHD diagnoses, but we found no differences associated with larger class sizes or the presence of state laws that restrict school personnel from discussing ADHD treatment options with parents. CONCLUSIONS.ADHD diagnosis is likely to be influenced by a child’s social and school environment as well as exogenous child characteristics. Concerns that increased pressures for school performance are associated with increased ADHD diagnoses may be justified.
Effect of potential amine prodrugs of selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on blood–brain barrier penetration

Several prodrug approaches were taken to mask amino groups in two potent and selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitors containing either a primary or secondary amino group to lower the charge and improve blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. The primary amine was masked as an azide and the secondary amine as an amide or carbamate. The azide was not reduced to the amine under a variety of in vitro and ex vivo conditions. Despite the decrease in charge of the amino group as an amide and as carbamates, BBB penetration did not increase. It appears that the uses of azides as prodrugs for primary amines or amides and carbamates as prodrugs for secondary amines are not universally effective for CNS applications.
Data Compression and Enhancement of Sampled Images

A two-dimensional sampled image can be represented by an equal number of spatial frequencies in the Fourier domain. However, due to physical limitations of the sampling process, there exists an effective cutoff frequency beyond which no information is preserved. The knowledge of this cutoff frequency is very important, since a considerable amount of additional noise can be introduced by frequency components above this cutoff. Availability of a sharp edge within the image allows, within the linear theory, the estimation of the transfer function of the digitizing process itself. This calculated transfer function may be used for image enhancement below the cutoff frequency. In addition, significant amount of data compression may be achieved by removing all spatial frequency terms above the cutoff frequency. An example of this technique is developed utilizing a tribar resolution chart sampled at 1024 x 1024 points.
Total Synthesis of the Polycyclic Fungal Metabolite (±)‐Communesin F

In 1993, Numata et al. isolated two unique natural products from a Penicillium mold found growing on the marine alga Enteromorpha intestinalis.[1] The structures of these compounds, communesin A (1) and communesin B (5), were established by spectroscopic analysis (Figure 1). Notable features of these complex, highly functionalized polycyclic metabolites are the two contiguous quaternary centers at C-7/8, and the presence of two aminal moieties. The communesins were found to have cytotoxic activity against P-388 lymphoid leukemia cells in vitro. In 2001, Hemscheidt and coworkers described an alkaloid called nomofungin, which was isolated from an unidentified fungus growing on the bark of Ficus microcarpa in Hawaii.[2] This material was found to have cytotoxic activity against LoVo and KB cells, which was shown to be due to the ability of the metabolite to cause microfilament disruption. The initial structural assignment of this metabolite, however, was incorrect, and nomofungin was in fact found to be communesin B (5). It should be noted, however, that the Hemscheidt work did serve to establish both the configuration at C-21 of 5 as well as the absolute configuration of the molecule, which were not originally determined by the Numata group. More recently, several other structurally modified communesin derivatives have been isolated[3,4] including communesin C (6), D (7), E (2), F (8), G (3) and H (4). Some of these new compounds were found to have significant biological activity. For example, communesins D, E and F are insecticidal, and communesins C and D are moderately active against various leukemia cell lines.
Vocal Imitation of Song and Speech.

We report four experiments that explored the cognitive bases of vocal imitation. Specifically, we investigated the accuracy with which normal individuals vocally imitated the pitch-time trajectories of spoken sentences and sung melodies, presented in their original form and with phonetic information removed. Overall, participants imitated melodies more accurately than sentences with respect to absolute pitch but not with respect to relative pitch or timing (overall duration). Notably, the presence of phonetic information facilitated imitation of both melodies and speech. Analyses of individual differences across studies suggested that the accuracy of imitating song predicts accuracy of imitating speech. Overall, these results do not accord with accounts of modular pitch processing that emphasize information encapsulation.
Decomposition and construction of group codes

A decomposition of a group code into a normal subcode and a quotient code can be characterized as group extension (extension code) of the subcode and the quotient code. Simple necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of an extension code with given sub- and quotient code. These purely algebraic results are complemented by a characterization of finitely generated, complete, k-controllable group codes by a sublength-generation property of finite-length generators. This property leads to a new construction process of canonical minimal encoders. >
Challenges associated with the targeted delivery of gelonin to claudin-expressing cancer cells with the use of activatable cell penetrating peptides to enhance potency

Treatment of tumors with macromolecular toxins directed to cytoplasmic targets requires selective endocytosis followed by release of intact toxin from the endosomal/lysosomal compartment. The latter step remains a particular challenge. Claudins 3 and 4 are tight junction proteins that are over-expressed in many types of tumors. This study utilized the C-terminal 30 amino acid fragment of C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), which binds to claudins 3 and 4, to deliver a toxin in the form of recombinant gelonin (rGel) to the cytoplasm of the human ovarian carcinoma cell line 2008. CPE was fused to rGel at its N-terminal end via a flexible G4S linker. This CPE-G4S-rGel molecule was internalized into vesicles from which location it produced little cytotoxicity. To enhance release from the endosomal/lysosomal compartment a poly-arginine sequence (R9) was introduced between the CPE and the rGel. CPE-R9-rGel was 10-fold more cytotoxic but selectivity for claudin-expressing cells was lost. The addition of a poly-glutamic acid sequence (E9) through a G4S linker to R9-rGel (E9-G4S-R9-rGel) largely neutralized the non-selective cell membrane penetrating activity of the R9 motif. However, introduction of CPE to the E9-G4S-R9-rGel fusion protein (CPE-E9-G4S-R9-rGel) further reduced its cytotoxic effect. Treatment with the endosomolytic reagent chloroquine increased the cytotoxicity of CPE-E9-G4S-R9-rGel. Several types of linkers susceptible to cleavage by furin and endosomal cathepsin B were tested for their ability to enhance R9-rGel release but none of these modifications further enhanced the cytotoxicity of CPE-E9-G4S-R9-rGel. We conclude that while a claudin-3 and -4 ligand serves to deliver rGel into 2008 cells the delivered molecules were entrapped in intracellular vesicles. Incorporation of R9 non-specifically increased rGel cytotoxicity and this effect could be masked by inclusion of an E9 sequence. However, the putative protease cleavable sequences tested were inadequate for release of R9-rGel from CPE-E9-G4S-R9-rGel.
Electrolysis-enhanced co-digestion of switchgrass and cow manure.

BACKGROUND Anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes is a cost effective way for combining resource recovery and methane production. This paper evaluates the co-digestion of cow manure and switchgrass in a completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR) by the electrolysis-enhanced anaerobic digestion (eAD) process. RESULTS The electrodes for water electrolysis were installed directly in an anaerobic digester and were used to create micro-aerobic conditions. Significant gains in process performance and biogas quality were obtained at current densities of 20–25 mA (per digester volume) with a corresponding volumetric energy consumption of 0.07–0.08 Wh . In particular, the COD removal rate was increased from 0.6 to 0.9 g COD d-1, methane production increased by 26%, and H2S content in the biogas declined from 2500–3000 ppm to less than 10 ppm. CONCLUSIONS The improved performance was achieved due to methane production from hydrolytic H2 and possibly due to the enhanced hydrolysis of organic matter. © 2013 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
On the ill-conditioned nature of the intracardiac inverse problem

Multi-electrode catheters can be placed transvenously and positioned on the atrial endocardial surface in order to sample the chaotic electrical activity taking place during atrial fibrillation. We consider here the possibility of placing an array of electrodes over a relatively small, and hence roughly planar, region of the atrial surface in order to examine local activity patterns. This provides a spatially coarse but temporally fine sampling of electrical activity that can be expressed at each point in time as the convolution of the true electrical excitation of the tissue with a hyperbolic point spread function. We demonstrate the deconvolution of sampled signals using a polynomial approximation of the true electrical activity. When the deconvolution is unconstrained the inverse problem is poorly conditioned, showing that a high spatial sampling rate is required for accurate reconstructions of atrial activity in the vicinity of the electrode array. We discuss ways in which the conditioning of the problem might be improved through the application of constraints on the solution.
Roll aftereffects: influence of tilt and inter-stimulus interval

A theme in sensory perception is that exposure to a stimulus causes perception of subsequent stimuli to be shifted in the opposite direction. Such phenomenon is known as aftereffect and has been extensively described in the visual system as well as recently described for the vestibular system during translation. It is known from aviation studies that after a maneuver in roll, pilots can experience a false perception of roll in the opposite direction. The magnitude and duration of this effect as well as the potential influence of the gravity vector have not previously been defined. In the current paper this roll aftereffect (RAE) is examined in response to whole-body roll about an earth-horizontal axis in eight healthy human subjects. The peak velocity of a 0.5-s-duration roll was varied based on previous responses to find the point where subjects perceived no motion. Without a preceding stimulus, the starting position (upright, 9° left, or 9° right) did not influence roll perception. The RAE was measured in a completely dark room using an adapting (first interval) stimulus consisting of 9° of roll over 1.5 s (peak velocity, 12°/s), delivered 0.5, 3, or 6 s prior to test (second interval) stimulus. A significant RAE was seen in all subjects. Half a second after the adapting stimulus, a test stimulus had to be on average 1.5 ± 0.4°/s in the opposite direction to be perceived as stationary. When the subject remained upright after the adapting stimulus, the RAE diminished with time, although it remained significantly larger at 3 and 6 s when the subject remained tilted after the adapting stimulus. These data demonstrate that roll perception can be influenced by small preceding stimuli and tilt causes a persistence of the RAE.
Comparative Feeding Ecology of Two Communities of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Kibale National Park, Uganda

Several recent studies have documented considerable intraspecific and intrapopulation ecological variation in primates. However, we generally lack an understanding of how such variability may be linked to concomitant demographic variation among groups or populations of the same species, particularly in regard to large-bodied and wide-ranging species with high ecological flexibility, such as chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). We compared the feeding ecology of chimpanzees inhabiting 2 sites in Kibale National Park, Uganda that differ 3-fold in chimpanzee density and support notably different plant communities. Chimpanzees at Ngogo, a site with the largest known chimpanzee community and unusually high chimpanzee density, spent a significantly lower percentage of time resting (and pregnant and lactating females spent more time feeding), incorporated higher percentages of ripe fruit in their diet, had lower dietary diversity values, and had shorter and less variable average patch residency times than did their counterparts at the nearby Kanyawara site, which supports a relatively low density of chimpanzees. In addition, feeding party size was significantly and positively related to feeding patch size at Ngogo, but not at Kanyawara. Together these findings aid in explaining the noted disparity in chimpanzee community size and density between Ngogo and Kanyawara by suggesting that the diet of Ngogo chimpanzees is of higher overall quality than that of Kanyawara chimpanzees. They also highlight the potentially profound influence of even small-scale habitat heterogeneity on the ecology of primates. Researchers must take such influences into account when attempting to draw conclusions about species- or population-level characteristics.
Vibration Testing and Analysis of A Monumental Stair

Excessive and annoying vibrations in buildings, stadiums, and footbridges have become more common in the past two decades due to several reasons including the tendency to optimize the use of building materials, use of higher strength and lighter structural properties, etc. Stair vibrations have also become an important design issue mainly due to the architects’ desire to create more innovative, slender, light, and flexible monumental structures. Large vibrations and movements of stairs can become serious safety and serviceability problems, as they have the potential to disrupt the evacuation during an emergency and also people may feel unsafe during the normal use. Even though over the past two decades a large number of research studies on the floor vibrations have been conducted, very little information is available for stairs. This paper presents experimental and analytical studies of a large monumental stair. Using an electrodynamic shaker and a series of seismic accelerometers, a set of modal tests was performed on the structure. This was done to estimate the dynamic properties of the stair. A computer model of the structure was created using the common practices used in structural engineering design offices. Comparison of the measured stair responses and the results of computer analysis showed reasonable agreement. A Cumulative Modal Assurance Criterion (CMAC) was introduced, and was used to identify the degrees of freedom with low quality measured responses. It was found that CMAC performs better than Enhanced Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion (ECOMAC) and Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion (COMAC) when the response is due to the excitation of a single mode. Several walking and running tests were conducted on the structure, which showed the structure may not be susceptible to large levels of vibrations for everyday use.
Immunogenicity of combination DNA vaccines for Rift Valley fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Hantaan virus, and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

DNA vaccines for Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), and Hantaan virus (HTNV), were tested in mice alone or in various combinations. The bunyavirus vaccines (RVFV, CCHFV, and HTNV) expressed Gn and Gc genes, and the flavivirus vaccine (TBEV) expressed the preM and E genes. All vaccines were delivered by gene gun. The TBEV DNA vaccine and the RVFV DNA vaccine elicited similar levels of antibodies and protected mice from challenge when delivered alone or in combination with other DNAs. Although in general, the HTNV and CCHFV DNA vaccines were not very immunogenic in mice, there were no major differences in performance when given alone or in combination with the other vaccines.
Adaptive neural network clustering of Web users

The degree of personalization that a Web site offers in presenting its services to users is an important attribute contributing to the site's popularity. Web server access logs contain substantial data about user access patterns. One way to solve this problem is to group users on the basis of their Web interests and then organize the site's structure according to the needs of different groups. Two main difficulties inhibit this approach: the essentially infinite diversity of user interests and the change in these interests with time. We have developed a clustering algorithm that groups users according to their Web access patterns. The algorithm is based on the ART1 version of adaptive resonance theory. In our ART1-based algorithm, a prototype vector represents each user cluster by generalizing the URLs most frequently accessed by all cluster members. We have compared our algorithm's performance with the traditional k-means clustering algorithm. Results showed that the ART1-based technique performed better in terms of intracluster distances. We also applied the technique in a prefetching scheme that predicts future user requests.
Effects of Fatty Acid Substitution on the Release of Enzymes by Osmotic Shock

The release of enzymes by osmotic shock from Escherichia coli strain 30E, an unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph, was examined in culture supplemented with either cis - or trans -unsaturated fatty acids. Cultures grown in oleate-supplemented medium release a large fraction of the total cyclic phosphodiesterase, acid hexose phosphatase, and 5′-nucleotidase following osmotic shock. Cultures grown in elaidate-supplemented medium release much less of these same enzymes after shock treatment. Cultures grown with either supplementation show total release of these enzymes upon conversion to spheroplasts, demonstrating that the enzymes are in the periplasmic space in both cases. Cultures grown with either oleate or elaidate as fatty acid source were washed and suspended in medium containing the other isomer. The change from oleate to elaidate resulted in a rapid decrease in ability of the cells to release the three enzymes after osmotic shock so that within a 25% increase in cell mass the culture responded to osmotic shock as would a culture grown overnight in elaidate-supplemented medium. The reverse experiment resulted in a gradual increase in the ability of the cells to respond to osmotic shock. The outer membrane of E. coli is altered by the incorporation of elaidate, as indicated by electron microscopic data. Images
Perpetrators of early physical and sexual abuse among homeless and runaway adolescents

Objective: To examine abuse specific variables among homeless and runaway adolescents and to look at perpetrators of childhood abuse. Method: A total of 372 homeless and runaway adolescents were interviewed using a systematic sampling strategy in metropolitan Seattle. Young people were interviewed on the streets and in shelters by outreach workers in youth service agencies. Results: Approximately one-half of these young people reported being physically abused and almost one-third experienced sexual abuse. Females experienced significantly higher rates of sex ual abuse compared to males, and sexual minority youth experienced significantly higher rates of physical and sexual abuse compared to heterosexual youth. Average duration of physical and sexual abuse was 5 and 2 years, respectively. Both types of abuse were rated as extremely violent by more than half of those who were abused. The average number of different perpetrators of physical and sexual abuse was four and three, respectively. Biological parents were the majority of perpetrators for physical abuse whereas nonfamily members most often perpetrated sexual abuse. Average age of perpetrators was late 20s to early 30s and the majority of perpetrators were male for both types of abuse. Conclusions: The pattern of exploitation and victimization within the family may have serious and cumulative developmental consequences for these youth as they enter the street environment. Early intervention programs are needed to break the cycle of exploitation and abuse that adolescents experience within the family. Without intervention, many of these youth may be at risk of
Discriminative training of hierarchical acoustic models for large vocabulary continuous speech recognition

In this paper we propose discriminative training of hierarchical acoustic models for large vocabulary continuous speech recognition tasks. After presenting our hierarchical modeling framework, we describe how the models can be generated with either Minimum Classification Error or large-margin training. Experiments on a large vocabulary lecture transcription task show that the hierarchical model can yield more than 1.0% absolute word error rate reduction over non-hierarchical models for both kinds of discriminative training.
Exploring opinions and beliefs about cord blood donation among Hispanic and non‐Hispanic black women

BACKGROUND: Despite higher birth rates among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics, the availability of umbilical cord blood from these groups is lower due to lower donation rates than that of non-Hispanic whites. Similar racial and ethnic disparities in donation rates have been found for blood and organ donation. This study is among the first to explore beliefs and attitudes toward umbilical cord blood donation among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black women. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Five focus groups composed of Hispanic and non-Hispanic black women were conducted to explore how women conceptualize information needs about umbilical cord blood donation and from whom women want to receive information about donation. Participants were adult women who had given birth within the past year or were pregnant. RESULTS: Lack of basic information regarding umbilical cord blood, its harvesting and use, and the steps and conditions necessary to donate were primary barriers to donation. Women expressed confusion over the differences between “donation” and “banking.” The social value of donation was explicitly weighed in terms of the cost of the donation effort. Doctors were viewed as critical sources for information about donation, although women expressed skepticism about doctors' ability to convey sufficient information during short office visits. CONCLUSION: Efforts to increase donation rates among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black women should include information about both the technical aspects and the social value of donation. The specific terms “umbilical” and “donation” should be used consistently to prevent misunderstanding. Information should be provided by physicians with follow-up by other health providers.
Anions in Space and in the Laboratory

The astronomical detection of molecular anions has prompted our study of their chemical reactions with atomic species that are abundant in the interstellar medium. We have recently explored the chemistry of a variety of Cx Ny− anions with hydrogen atoms and determined their reaction rate constants and products using the flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube technique. Computational studies allow characterization of the structures of reactants and products, as well as the energetics along the reaction pathway. For anions containing one or two nitrogen atoms, reactions with hydrogen atoms are facile, and proceed primarily by associative detachment. In contrast, anions containing three nitrogen atoms are unreactive with hydrogen atoms due to reaction barriers and unfavorable thermodynamics.
Early Brain Development: African-American Mothers' Cognitions about the First Three Years

The current study was designed to explore the cognitions of African- American mothers about the importance of the first 3 years of life for brain development, and to determine the relations between those cognitions and important parenting beliefs. We collected survey data over a 1-week period from a diverse sample of 222 African-American mothers waiting for preventive and minor acute care appointments in six pediatric waiting rooms in Memphis, TN. Latent Class Analysis revealed two groups of mothers: one that was aware of the importance of the first 3 years for brain development (about 56 %), and one that is less aware (about 44 %). Mothers in the two latent classes had significantly different parenting beliefs about spoiling versus nurturing and the importance of stable child care arrangements, but not about corporal punishment of infants. Poverty and education significantly affected latent class membership. Parenting education interventions might be better targeted and more effective when informed by participants' understanding of early brain development.
Comments: Humanism Is Not a Scarce Resource.

Recently, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation announced that membership in the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) will now appear on Electronic Residency Application Service applications for residency. This news was met with excitement, suggesting that this change would allow for the more careful selection of humanistic physicians into residency programs. Yet, on closer examination, there are reasons for concern. Unlike honor societies based on merit judged objectively using data on academic performance, entry into the Gold Foundation, according to the GHHS Chapter Toolkit, is to be judged using a validated survey made up of 6 questions that is completed by peers.
Combinations of Aromatic and Aliphatic Radiolysis.

The production of H2 in the radiolysis of benzene, methylbenzene (toluene), ethylbenzene, butylbenzene, and hexylbenzene with γ-rays, 2–10 MeV protons, 5–20 MeV helium ions, and 10–30 MeV carbon ions is used as a probe of the overall radiation sensitivity and to determine the relative contributions of aromatic and aliphatic entities in mixed hydrocarbons. The addition of an aliphatic side chain with progressively from one to six carbon lengths to benzene increases the H2 yield with γ-rays, but the yield seems to reach a plateau far below that found from a simple aliphatic such as cyclohexane. There is a large increase in H2 with LET (linear energy transfer) for all of the substituted benzenes, which indicates that the main process for H2 formation is a second-order process and dominated by the aromatic entity. The addition of a small amount of benzene to cyclohexane can lower the H2 yield from the value expected from a simple mixture law. A 50:50% volume mixture of benzene–cyclohexane has essentially the ...
Waiving concerns about conflicts of interest--response.

The impact of a financial conflict of interest (COI) on individual decision making as part of a group is difficult to quantify, as noted by Lutter and discussed in our Policy Forum. However, because the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a science-based agency making critical decisions on approval and labeling of medical products, avoiding even an appearance of a COI is paramount. Indeed, public confidence depends on it. The FDA and its review divisions were quite successful in reducing the number of members of advisory committees with financial COIs, clearly demonstrating that the FDA is capable of identifying such individuals without increasing vacancy rates on the committees or reducing productivity. As Lutter identifies, there are indeed cases when specific experts are needed and it is necessary for the FDA to provide a waiver to allow them to serve. For example, certain pediatric specialties and some rare diseases may have few experts available who do not have a financial COI. The FDA, both in individual meetings and as a whole, was well below the previously required limits for waivers, so in these cases, waivers can and should be granted to conflicted experts. But removing the legal limit on waivers—as was successfully done last year when there was no need to do so—raises real concerns. There was no problem to be fixed. Pressure seems to have been brought to bear on Congress and potentially on the FDA to increase the number of waivers beyond the limit, and to increase the number of advisory committee experts who have a financial interest in pharmaceutical or medical device product development.
The electrical properties of some solid organic esters

Because of continued interest in a chemical interpretation of electrical properties the technique of dielectric spectroscopy has been used to determine the molecular configurations of a series of symmetrical diesters of dibasic acids. From a study of the change in the dielectric constants and loss factors brought about by systematic changes in the number of carbon atoms in both the original alcohol and the dibasic acid the possible range of these values has been established. These esters are all white solids and considerable variation in both the physical and electrical properties is observed. From consideration of these characteristics the arrangement of the molecules within the crystalline lattice and the freedom to rotate with changes in temperature and frequency have been established.
Implications of Gifted Student Selection Techniques for Scientific Creativity

When schools attempt to identify gifted children, quantitative measures are part of that identification process. While exploring the nexus of gifted children and science, it is worthwhile to ask, “How well are scientific ways of thinking represented on a commonly used metric to identify a gifted child?” This question has become even more important as the U.S. expands its attention on STEM and STEM education.
Postmodernism and the Church: An Opportunity and a Challenge

Postmodernism is, in many respects, a term that has lost most of its cultural and academic cachet. This does not, however, mean that the themes, context, and conditions to which it referred are no longer relevant. In this essay, I will briefly review the latest reports which show a decreasing interest in organized religion, and interpret these results as symptomatic of a larger change in the state of knowledge. To this end, I will examine Jean­‑Francois Lyotard’s analysis of the loss of metanarratives as a way of understanding the implicit rules of the dialogue that occurs between the theist and the atheist or agnostic. Next, I will note the unique capacity of beauty to transcend the diverse language games played by both sides of the conversation. I will conclude by contending that this characteristic of beauty offers a kind of common ground which can be built upon, fostering further dialogue as well as an opportunity for evangelization.
Effects of Perceived Discrimination on the School Satisfaction of Brazilian High School Graduates

This paper analyzes the consequences of peer victimization for the satisfaction with schooling (“happiness”) of college-bound high school graduates in Brazil. Several types of victimization are explored including discrimination due to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, and disability. We compare the satisfaction with their schooling of students planning to head to college straight from high school and older students applying for college later in life (“nontraditional students”). We conclude that students who perceived that they had been discriminated against were more dissatisfied with their school experience than those who did not, ceteris paribus, and we relate level of dissatisfaction to type of discrimination. The older student evidence reveals that this dissatisfaction wanes with time and age, however. Our conclusions are based upon ordered logistic analyses of data for 2.4 million current high school seniors and 78.7 thousand older students drawn from the Exame Nacional do Ensino Medio questionnaire (ENEM).
Preliminary Report: Prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis in public restrooms in central Kentucky

Enterococci are complex Gram positive cocci found in the intestines of humans and animals. For over 30 years, Enterococcus has shown increased resistance to vancomycin and other antimicrobials as seen in nosocomial infections in the United States. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in the community was first reported in the United States in 2010, but Europe has seen these organisms in the community for over 20 years. This study examined the prevalence of VRE in public restrooms from three locations in Woodford and Fayette counties in central Kentucky. Restrooms varied in size, location, and user type (male, female or unisex). The public restrooms tested were in a college auditorium, a college student center, a small cafe, and a hospital. Ninety-eight samples from eight restrooms were collected from surfaces including the door handle exiting the entire restroom, the lock on the stall door, the soap dispenser, the floor of the stall, the sink, the paper towel dispenser, the urinal, and the feminine napkin disposal system. Prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium and VRE was determined. Enterococcus species were identified by conventional biochemical physiologic testing, and vancomycin resistance was determined by the vancomycin agar screen test. VRE was isolated from four out of 98 (4%) of the samples collected. VRE was found on two exit door handles, one soap dispenser, and one feminine napkin disposal system. All of the VRE were found in hospital public (visitors') restrooms. VRE found in public restrooms may be a place for the possible spread of VRE to community members.
Collectively Cultivating Resilience: The Role of Agency and Community at a Children’s Emergency Shelter

This study examines the communicative construction of resilience at a children’s emergency shelter. Prior research suggests that resilience is dependent upon social construction processes, wherein ...
Sex differences in primary muscle afferent sensitization following ischemia and reperfusion injury

Chronic pain conditions are more prevalent in women, but most preclinical studies into mechanisms of pain generation are performed using male animals. Furthermore, whereas group III and IV nociceptive muscle afferents provoke central sensitization more effectively than their cutaneous counterparts, less is known about this critical population of muscle nociceptors. Here, we compare the physiology of individual muscle afferents in uninjured males and females. We then characterize the molecular, physiological, and behavioral effects of transient ischemia and reperfusion injury (I/R), a model we have extensively studied in males and in females. Response properties and phenotypes to mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimulation were compared using an ex vivo muscle/nerve/dorsal root ganglia (DRG)/spinal cord recording preparation. Analyses of injury-related changes were also performed by assaying evoked and spontaneous pain-related behaviors, as well as mRNA expression of the affected muscle and DRGs. The appropriate analyses of variance and post hoc tests (with false discovery rate corrections when needed) were performed for each measure. Females have more mechanically sensitive muscle afferents and show greater mechanical and thermal responsiveness than what is found in males. With I/R, both sexes show fewer cells responsive to an innocuous metabolite solution (ATP, lactic acid, and protons), and lower mechanical thresholds in individual afferents; however, females also possess altered thermal responsiveness, which may be related to sex-dependent changes in gene expression within the affected DRGs. Regardless, both sexes show similar increases in I/R-induced pain-like behaviors. Here, we illustrate a unique phenomenon wherein discrete, sex-dependent mechanisms of primary muscle afferent sensitization after ischemic injury to the periphery may underlie similar behavioral changes between the sexes. Furthermore, although the group III and IV muscle afferents are fully developed functionally, the differential mechanisms of sensitization manifest prior to sexual maturity. Hence, this study illustrates the pressing need for further exploration of sex differences in afferent function throughout the lifespan for use in developing appropriately targeted pain therapies.
Targeted Right Medial Temporal Lobe tDCS and Associative Spatial and Non-Spatial Memory

Advances in finite element modeling afford targeting of cortical and subcortical brain regions with transcranial electrical stimulation, presenting the possibility for neuromodulating medial temporal brain regions. We examined transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the hippocampus and parahippocampus, brain structures implicated in flexibly forming novel memory associations. We expected active (versus sham) stimulation to alter aspects of relational memory, specifically the ability to develop flexible relations in a paired-associates task, and develop flexible spatial associations during a virtual navigation task. Fifty participants received either active or sham tDCS, delivered via five electrodes positioned at scalp sites Fp1, Fp2, AF3, F4, and P8. Participants completed two tasks shown to selectively modulate hippocampal activation in previous research: first, a paired-associates task testing the learning of simple and complex conjoined associations, and second, a virtual navigation task involving the encoding and subsequent retrieval of novel large-scale spatial memory. The study phase of the paired-associates task was done online during stimulation, and the virtual navigation and test phase of the paired-associates task were done offline following stimulation. No statistically significant influences of active versus sham tDCS were found on the paired-associates task, during navigation, or during spatial memory retrieval. Moreover, Bayes factors consistently demonstrated anecdotal to moderate support of the null hypothesis across all tasks and dependent measures. The present results suggest potential challenges in selectively targeting subcortical structures with tDCS, prompting continuing research in this domain.
The Role of Mitochondria in Pulmonary Hypertension-Warburg Redux

Throughout my career I have benefited from the superb mentorship of Dr. E Kenneth Weir, from an array of talented collaborators, and from the contributions of masterful technicians and staff scientists. I have also enjoyed mentoring many talented trainees who developed into independent scientists and leaders in their own right. This lecture summarizes work of these individuals over the past 25 years. We initially identified a mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and gradually recognized that this mechanism was subverted in proliferative disorders, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We showed that mitochondria in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) act as oxygen sensors by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that regulate oxygen-sensitive potassium channels (e.g. Kv1.5) and thereby control vascular tone. More recently we found that acquired disorders of mitochondrial function and structure are important in the pathogenesis of PAH. We discovered that the mitochondria-ROS-HIF-1α-Kv1.5 pathway is disordered in PAH such that cells perceive themselves as hypoxic, despite adequate PO 2 . This hypoxic mitochondrial-metabolic transformation confers a survival advantage, leading to excessive cell proliferation and impaired apoptosis. Despite adequate oxygen, PAH PASMC have impaired oxidative glucose metabolism and enhanced glycolytic metabolism, due to activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) and HIF-1α. This glycolytic shift constitutes a survival mechanism for PAH PASMC and endothelial cells (thus Warburg9s hypothesis redux). We have identified several mitochondrial abnormalities that may offer therapeutic targets: (1) There is pathologic PDK activation that inhibits oxidative metabolism and favors glycolysis. Dichloroacetate, a prototypic PDK inhibitor, normalizes the mitochondria-ROS-HIF-1α-Kv1.5 pathway and regresses several experimental models of PAH. (2) There is a heritable, epigenetic downregulation of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2) , due to methylation of CpG islands in the SOD2 gene. Therapies that reverse epigenetic silencing of SOD2 or supplement SOD may be feasible. (3) Normal mitochondria are fused into a reticulum by fusogenic proteins (notably mitofusin-2). Mitofusin-2 also regulates cell proliferation. In PAH there is an increased ratio of mitochondrial fission to fusion, due in part to reduced mitofusin-2 levels. Fusogenic mitochondrial therapies are being developed.
DRIFTING SNOW SIMILITUDE—DRIFT DEPOSIT RATE CORRELATION

The similitude requirements for proper modeling of snowdrift phenomena are presented, as well as preliminary results from a series of snowdrift model tests on a 120th scale highway-grade separation. Theoretical means are used to reduce the number of independent dimensionless variables by a combination of terms. A mass rate similitude parameter is shown to successfully correlate model data and is also used to predict full-scale drift deposition as a function of full-scale time and wind speed.
Evaluation of the Patient with Organic Mental Disease

Medical-history taking is not as simple as it superficially appears. One cannot expect the patient to know what is important and what is not. One cannot simply say, “what is your problem?” and expect all of the necessary information to be told in proper order. The information present in the patient’s mind can be transferred to the physician’s mind only by the art of medical interviewing. The problem is doubly difficult when the patient suffers from organic mental disease, because the organ of communication suffers from the disordered function the patient is asked about.
Genetic Diversity Between Isolates of Pleurotus Ostreatus as Revealed by Isozyme Analysis

Abstract Kulkarni, R. K., Kamerath, CD., and Allred, K. L., 1986. Genetic diversity between isolates of Pleurotus ostreatus as revealed by isozyme analysis. The soluble proteins from 30 dikaryotic isolates of Pleurotus ostreatus were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Using enzyme activity staining procedures, the isozyme banding patterns for 15 enzymes were evaluated. The presumed genotype for each strain at 15 biochemical loci was determined. Based on the observed enzyme polymorphism, the 30 isolates were divided into 28 different genotypic classes. Coefficients of genetic similarity were calculated to facilitate comparisons between strains. The similarity coefficients were used to generate a dendogram to illustrate the relationships between strains. The results indicate the tremendous genetic diversity that exists within this species. This information may be appropriately used to produce new hybrids by crossing the requisite monokaryons.
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Differences

The last chapter demonstrated that different types of background can influence reactions to crowded living conditions. On this basis, it would seem likely that other personal characteristics that are related to background differences would also be related to the differential reactions to crowding. Gender and race or ethnic group are such characteristics and these often come up in discussions of our crowding research. Since our work has focused predominantly on males, one might question whether the observed effects may be restricted to all-male environments. Living in crowded male housing environments may be much more threatening than living in crowded female housing situations. Similarly, differences in the background of racial or ethnic groups (socioeconomic, cultural, etc.) could lead to differential adjustment to crowded prison housing. We will review some of the literature pertinent to these issues and present relevant data from our prison studies.
Executive Career Patterns and Organizational Adaptation to Change

Work organizations in the United States have been buffeted by significant change in their environments during the past few years. There is reason to believe that these changes in technological, competitive, regulatory, and social domains will continue to present critical challenges to organizations. An important task for any firm under these circumstances is to develop managers who are capable of leading the organization through this turbulence, adapting to uncertainty, and creating change internally in anticipation of change to come from without.
How to choose between IL-17 inhibitors and IL-23 inhibitors for psoriasis

Sir,With the advent of novel biologic agents for psoriasis, such as IL-17 inhibitors and IL-23 inhibitors, the treatment options available for psoriasis have increased considerably. Dermatologists ...