cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immune response in BALB/c mice following immunization with heat-killed Mycobacterium lepraemurium

BALB/c mice were immunized with 1 X 10(7) heat-killed Mycobacterium lepraemurium (Mlm) via the hind foot pad. Four weeks later, the animals were infected with 1 X 10(9) Mlm intraperitoneally. Skin test studies, using footpad swelling as a parameter, indicated the development of skin reactivity to Mlm and M. leprae cell extracts. Immunized animals that were infected showed positive reactions to both antigens by the second week. This persisted up to fourteen weeks, at which time, bacillary restriction was also observed in the spleens and livers. Non-immunized infected animals, on the other hand showed a decline in skin reactivity to the two antigens used, and also showed proliferation of Mlm in the two organs examined. Animals receiving heat-killed Mlm or sensitized splenocytes when challenged with 5 X 10(3) M. leprae via hind foot pad, did not show inhibition of the infecting agent, thus indicating a lack of cross-protection.
SHOCK COMPRESSION OF ALUMINUM NITRIDE POWDER

Powder and compressed gas guns were used to determine Hugoniot data via quartz gauge pressure measurement. Special attention was focused on the effects of initial density on the Hugoniot data of AlN. Initial density variation was from 67% to 76%. Stress range was from 1.2 GPa to 6.0 GPa. Interpretation of the data was made through use of the Carroll-Holt porous material model suitably adapted for powder materials. Generally good agreement was observed between the experimental results and the theoretical data obtained from the one-dimensional shock propagation model.
Observations of Instabilities of a Great Lakes Coastal Current

The small and mesoscale features of the very sharp front bounding a eoastal current off the south shore of Lake Superior have been studied, using moored current meters, towed thermistors, aerial photography, and an airborne thermal scanner. Estimates are made of frontal slope, the motion and evolution of meanders along the front, the (surface) velocity shear and convergence near the front, and the along-front coherence of surface-temperature fine structure. The meanders are related to laboratory and theoretical studies of similar phenomena by others.
The Fundamental Period of the Queue with Markov-Modulated Arrivals

Publisher Summary Stimulated by applications in communications engineering, queues with Markov-modulated arrivals have recently received much attention. Lucantoni, Meier-Hellstern, and Neuts have considered queues with a highly tractable class of arrival processes that include the Markov-modulated arrival process as a particular case. This chapter discusses the fundamental period of the queue with Markov-modulated arrivals. A Markov-modulated Poisson process is the doubly stochastic Poisson process whose arrival rate is given by λ*[J(t)], where J(t), t ≥ 0, is an m-state irreducible Markov process. The nucleus of the theory of Markov renewal processes, which arise frequently in the study of queues and related models, is the fundamental period, which is the first passage time (measured in real time or in number of transitions) from an initial state.
Impact of clinical characteristics and unmet need on oncology combination pricing.

e18941Background: Combination therapy is the mainstay in oncology, where over the years branded combination therapies have become more widespread and expensive. This research aims to assess the imp...
Tannic acid-inspired paclitaxel nanoparticles for enhanced anticancer effects in breast cancer cells.

Abstract Paclitaxel (PTX) is a gold standard chemotherapeutic agent for breast, ovarian, pancreatic and non-small cell lung carcinoma. However, in clinical use PTX can have adverse side effects or inadequate pharmacodynamic parameters, limiting its use. Nanotechnology is often employed to reduce the therapeutic dosage required for effective therapy, while also minimizing the systemic side effects of chemotherapy drugs. However, there is no nanoformulation of paclitaxel with chemosensitization motifs built in. With this objective, we screened eleven pharmaceutical excipients to develop an alternative paclitaxel nanoformulation using a self-assembly method. Based on the screening results, we observed tannic acid possesses unique properties to produce a paclitaxel nanoparticle formulation, i.e., tannic acid-paclitaxel nanoparticles. This stable TAP nanoformulation, referred to as TAP nanoparticles (TAP NPs), showed a spherical shape of ~ 102 nm and negative zeta potential of ~ −8.85. The presence of PTX in TAP NPs was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra, thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Encapsulation efficiency of PTX in TAP NPs was determined to be ≥96%. Intracellular drug uptake of plain drug PTX on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) shows more or less constant drug levels in 2 to 6 h, suggesting drug efflux by the P-gp transporters, over TAP NPs, in which PTX uptake was more than 95.52 ± 11.01% in 6 h, as analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Various biological assays such as proliferation, clonogenic formation, invasion, and migration confirm superior anticancer effects of TAP NPs over plain PTX at all tested concentrations. P-gp expression, beta-tubulin stabilization, Western blot, and microarray analysis further confirm the improved therapeutic potential of TAP NPs. These results suggest that the TAP nanoformulation provides an important reference for developing a therapeutic nanoformulation affording pronounced, enhanced effects in breast cancer therapy.
The effect of ingredient-specific calorie information on calories ordered

Providing calorie labeling is a widely used strategy to combat obesity. However, there is little evidence that the availability of calorie information at food-away-from-home establishments has an effect on food choices. Listing calorie information for each ingredient, though, may allow customers to avoid high-calorie items that add little to their enjoyment. Data from a natural experiment were used to compare total calories ordered before and after the provision of per-ingredient versus for build-your-own sandwiches, and per-sandwich for pre-defined sandwiches, at a supermarket sandwich counter. Sandwich order slips from a Lincoln, Neb. supermarket were collected from December 15, 2016 to February 4, 2018. In June 2017, calorie information was introduced. A total of 1134 build-your-own orders and 559 pre-defined orders were collected. Calories ordered before and after the provision of calorie information were examined for build-your-own and pre-defined sandwiches using two-sample t-tests. Orders post-calorie information were split into three periods to examine whether responses to information changed over time. Ingredients ordered were also examined before and after information was provided. Customers decrease calories ordered by 7.8% for build-your-own sandwiches when per-ingredient calorie information is introduced. There is no significant change in calories ordered for pre-defined sandwiches. Calorie reduction appears to result from substitution away from some higher calorie items, e.g., mayonnaise, towards lower calorie ingredients, like mustard. Despite low calorie content, customers did not increase the number of vegetables ordered. Finally, there is no attenuation of the effect of calorie information over time.
Effects of thioTEPA chemotherapy on cognition and motor coordination

Cancer survivorship has increased greatly as therapies have become more advanced and effective. Thus, we must now focus on improving the quality of life of patients after treatment. After chemotherapy, many patients experience chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline, indicating a need to investigate pathologies associated with this condition. In this study, we addressed cognitive impairment after thioTEPA treatment by assessing behavior and assaying cytokine production and the structure of dendrites in the hippocampus. Male mice were given three intraperitoneal injections of thioTEPA. Five weeks later, the mice underwent behavior testing, and brains were collected for Golgi staining and cytokine analysis. Behavior tests included y-maze and Morris water maze and licking behavioral task. Cytokines measured include: IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12p70, MCP-1, TNF-α, GMCSF, and RANTES. We observed decreased memory retention in behavioral tasks. Also, dendritic arborization and length were decreased after chemotherapy treatment. Finally, thioTEPA decreased cytokine production in animals treated with chemotherapy, compared to saline-treated controls. Here, we used a mouse model to correlate the decreases in dendritic complexity and inflammatory cytokine production with cognitive impairment after chemotherapy.
Pilot Conduct of a No-Closer-Than Spacing Task with a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information

A Human-In-The-loop (HITL) simulation was conducted to examine a new concept called Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) Assisted Pilot Procedure (CAPP). With CAPP, the controller issues a no-closer-than (NCT) spacing distance to the flight crew, who then makes spacing judgments relative to a Traffic To Follow (TTF) aircraft using information provided on the CDTI during final approach. The flight crew manages aircraft speed to stay at or outside of that spacing value until a transition to visual separation occurs and a reduction in spacing is expected. The purpose of the simulation was to determine the feasibility and operational acceptability of CAPP and the necessary display elements. The simulation was conducted with air traffic controllers and pilots. Selected pilot results are presented in this paper. Overall, the results indicate pilot acceptability of, and ability to conduct, CAPP, including the ability to remain at or outside the NCT value. The displays were reported as providing the necessary information. Recommendations are made for CAPP operations and display requirements.
Does Body Mass Index Influence Social Media Use? An Exploration of Social Media Use in College Students (P04-009-19)

To examine the relationship between college dietetic students’ body mass index (BMI), body image, social desirability and social media use. This study is a secondary data analysis. The study population consisted of 42 male and female nutrition and dietetic students at a large southeastern University. The demographics of the students were 70.7% White, 17.1% Black, 9.8% Asian, 2.4% American Indian and 46.3% identified as Hispanic. The sample included 41.4% undergraduate and 58.5% graduate students. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and general linear regression was conducted using SPSSv20. Regression analysis indicated that social desirability (t = −2.23, P = .03) and BMI category (t = −2.18, P = .04) were both negatively related to the number of social media platforms students participated in. Body image had no relationship with the number of platforms students engaged with (t = −.301, P = .765). However, number of hours spent on social media platforms increased as BMI categorization increased [F = 3.654, P = 0.22]. Student BMI and social desirability were related to the number of social media platforms students engage in and the amount of time they spend posting information online. Future studies are needed to further examine the role body image, BMI and social desirability play in student online behavior. Private.
Dissipation of fomesafen in fumigated, anaerobic soil disinfestation‐treated, and organic‐amended soil in Florida tomato production systems

BACKGROUND Fumigated, anaerobic soil disinfestation-treated (ASD), and organic-amended soil management strategies have been investigated as potential methyl bromide (MBr) alternatives for controlling diseases, nematodes, and weeds in soil. Nutsedge and broadleaf weed control using fomesafen has been reported to be comparable to MBr in normal cropping systems. There is no information on the fate of fomesafen used in combination with alternative practices. In this study, the fate of fomesafen in these alternative systems was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) following extraction using a modified Quick Easy Cheap Effective Safe (QuEChERS) method. RESULTS The reported half-life (DT50 ) values for fomesafen in the top 15 cm of soil were from 62.9 to 107.3 days. The DT50 values in organic-amended soil were higher than in ASD-treated soil in the top 15 cm. For all treatments, reductions in concentrations were positively correlated with lower redox potentials and organic matter content. Some leaching of fomesafen into the 16-30 cm zone was observed in all treatments. CONCLUSIONS The DT50 values in this study were generally higher than those reported in previous studies performed at different locations. Due to increased losses of the herbicide and subsequent reduction in weed control, fomesafen is likely not to be suitable for effective weed control in systems using ASD techniques employing composted poultry litter and molasses. Integration of fomesafen using composted yard waste 1 (CYW1) and Soil Symphony Amendment (SSA) may result in acceptable weed control. Given that the soil was very sandy and the pH was higher than the pKa, fomesafen might leach deeper than 30 cm, particularly with the use of chemical soil fumigants (CSFs). © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma of the Midfoot Presenting as Charcot Arthropathy: A Case Report.

Case Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is a rare soft tissue malignancy that very seldomly presents in the foot or ankle and as a result is not commonly in the differential of patients presenting with foot pain. We cite a case of EMC presenting in the atypical location of the midfoot. Because of its location and similarities, this tumor was initially misdiagnosed and mistreated by multiple medical providers as midfoot Charcot arthropathy. Conclusions Neoplastic etiologies, including EMC, should remain in the differential for atypical, refractory foot pain that presents in a manner similar to Charcot foot.
Recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin for Mucosal Immunity

Abstract More people (an estimated 3 billion) have been immunized with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) than with any other vaccine, and BCG continues to be the most widely administered vaccine globally with around 91% of children immunized annually. Although the intradermal route is the standard method of immunization, BCG was initially administered orally when it was released in the early 1920s as a vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Given its demonstrated immunogenicity by both parenteral and mucosal administrations, long history of use, low cost of manufacture, adjuvant properties that stimulate durable humoral- and cell-mediated immune responses, BCG has received considerable interest and has been investigated for its adaptability as an immunogen against other diseases. Such efforts are feasible since BCG is amenable to recombinant DNA technology and can be delivered parenterally or mucosally (oral or pulmonary delivery). Hence, the bacillus can be modified for enhanced immunogenicity against tuberculosis or tailored for generating specific immune response against other diseases including viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections as well as cancer by engineering strains that overexpress pathogen or cancer-specific antigens, relevant cytokines, or stimulatory molecules. This chapter highlights such efforts by investigators to exploit the virtues of this vaccine and the varying degrees of successes met by their efforts.
Will modern caries management reduce restorations in dental practice

Dentists have difficulty diagnosing caries presence and activity. Modern caries management suggests that lesions in low risk patients should not be restored until the radiolucency extends into the outer third of interproximal dentin. Even stained fissures need not be restored in the absence of occlusal dentin radiolucency. If this standard were adopted, what affect would it have on the amount of operative treatment delivered? This report created a model to forecast the change in work volume caused by new caries management strategies. The model considered two identical groups of 1,000 adult teeth with a normal distribution of 1,000 radiographic lesions in each group. Group I would have all lesions restored at baseline, but Group II would have only lesions in the dentin restored. Each year for ten years the model forecasts the number of replacement restorations for both groups, plus initial restorations for Group II. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using slow progression rates (Group IIa) and fast progression rates (Group IIb). After ten years, Group IIa has 49% and Group IIb had 32% fewer restorations than Group I. It is concluded that the model is robust and modern caries management may significantly reduce operative workload.
A multilayer circuit architecture for the generation of distinct locomotor behaviors in Drosophila

Animals generate diverse motor behaviors, yet how the same motor neurons (MNs) generate two distinct or antagonistic behaviors remains an open question. Here, we characterize Drosophila larval muscle activity patterns and premotor/motor circuits to understand how they generate forward and backward locomotion. We show that all body wall MNs are activated during both behaviors, but a subset of MNs change recruitment timing for each behavior. We used TEM to reconstruct a full segment of all 60 MNs and 236 premotor neurons (PMNs), including differentially-recruited MNs. Analysis of this comprehensive connectome identified PMN-MN 'labeled line' connectivity; PMN-MN combinatorial connectivity; asymmetric neuronal morphology; and PMN-MN circuit motifs that could all contribute to generating distinct behaviors. We generated a recurrent network model that reproduced the observed behaviors, and used functional optogenetics to validate selected model predictions. This PMN-MN connectome will provide a foundation for analyzing the full suite of larval behaviors.
Current Use and Trends in Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Percutaneous Intervention

To review the clinical evidence on the use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) revascularization options in left main (LM) disease in comparison with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Coronary artery disease (CAD) involving the LM is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Though CABG remains the gold standard for complex CAD involving the LM artery, recent trials have shown a trend towards non-inferiority of the LM PCI when compared with CABG in certain subset of patients. Two recent major randomized trials compared the outcomes of PCI versus CABG in the LM and multi-vessel disease with LM involvement. The NOBLE trial included patients with all range of Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) scores and utilized biolimus drug-eluting stent (DES). The trial concluded that MACCE (major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event) was significantly higher with PCI (28%) when compared with CABG (18%) but overall stroke and motility were not different. EXCEL trial evaluated the same treatment option in low to intermediate SYNTAX score population with third-generation everolimus DES platform as PCI option. Results showed no significant differences in the composite primary endpoints of death, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) at the end of 30 days (22% versus 19.2%, p = 0.13), although repeat revascularization was higher in PCI group (16.9% versus 10%). Recent evidence suggests that PCI is an acceptable alternative to treat symptomatic LM stenosis in select group of patients. In low to medium SYNTAX score, particularly in patients without diabetes mellitus, PCI remains a viable option. Future trials focusing on evaluating subset of patients who would benefit from one particular revascularization option in comparison with other is warranted.
Probing phonological structure in play language: Speaking backwards in Zenzontepec Chatino

Play languages (also known as language games or ludlings) represent a special type of language use that is well known to shed useful light on linguistic structure. This paper explores a syllable transposition play language in Zenzontepec Chatino that provides evidence for the segmental inventory, syllable structure, the limits of the phonological word, the prosodic status of inflectional formatives, and the autonomy of tone, all of which aligns with independent phonological evidence in the language. While recent theoretical and cross-linguistic studies have questioned the nature, and even the validity, of constituents such as the phonological word, the syllable, and the onset, this study provides an example of a language with strongly manifested phonological constituents. Following the International Year of Indigenous Languages, the study also highlights the importance of in-depth analysis of less-studied languages for linguistic theory, typology, and language maintenance or reclamation for communities.
Chapter 13 – Personnel Issues and Liability

Publisher Summary During the past several years, it has become more common for police and correctional officers to become plaintiffs. Supervisors must be familiar with many aspects of personnel legal issues. Contemporary managers can be sued under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for claims of sexual harassment and discrimination based on race, gender, color, religion, and national origin. Claims of sexual harassment against supervisors and co-workers have been emerging with more frequency than other areas, and the U. S. Supreme Court has issued three decisions regarding this topic since 1998. The Americans with Disabilities Act provides another avenue of potential supervisor liability that affects hiring and firing aspects of the job. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has been examined by the U. S. Supreme Court on two occasions and stipulates the requirements for proper wages, overtime, and compensatory time. Employee drug testing also emerged as a significant legal area in the early 1980s and requires employers to adhere to essential provisions of the FLSA when performing such searches. These issues and others are continuing to evolve. Criminal justice managers should keep abreast of these changes in the law and implement the necessary policy and administrative systems that follow the mandatory requirements. Training for mid-level and first-line supervisors as well as line-level employees is essential to producing a healthy work environment. Further, adhering to the laws and agency policy on these subjects assists in communicating to all employees and the community that management will not tolerate infringement of protected employee rights in the workplace.
Possible Association Between Apremilast Therapy and Increased Tearing.

PURPOSE To evaluate a possible association between apremilast and increased tearing. METHODS A retrospective observational case series in which reports from VigiBase, the World Health Organization global database of Individual Case Safety Reports, and the literature involving apremilast were evaluated by the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects for possible increased tearing. RESULTS A total of 45 cases of possible apremilast-induced increased tearing were identified. All patients were on the standard dose of 30 mg BID. There was no sex difference and ages ranged from 28 to 77 years with an average of 56 years ± 12. Time to onset of the increased tearing ranged from a few days to many months. There were 10 cases of positive dechallenge, 3 cases of positive rechallenge, and 1 case with double-positive rechallenge. In the cases with positive dechallenge and rechallenge, the increased tearing resolved as early as within 2 days after stopping the drug. Most cleared within 2 weeks. One case required 3 months for tearing to return to normal. CONCLUSIONS Based on patterns and positive dechallenge and rechallenge data, apremilast possibly causes increased tearing on rare occasions.
Bio-inspired Inverted Landing Strategy in a Small Aerial Robot Using Policy Gradient

Landing upside down on a ceiling is challenging as it requires a flier to invert its body and land against the gravity, a process that demands a stringent spatiotemporal coordination of body translational and rotational motion. Although such an aerobatic feat is routinely performed by biological fliers such as flies, it is not yet achieved in aerial robots using onboard sensors. This work describes the development of a bio-inspired inverted landing strategy using computationally efficient Relative Retinal Expansion Velocity (RREV) as a visual cue. This landing strategy consists of a sequence of two motions, i.e. an upward acceleration and a rapid angular maneuver. A policy search algorithm is applied to optimize the landing strategy and improve its robustness by learning the transition timing between the two motions and the magnitude of the target body angular velocity. Simulation results show that the aerial robot is able to achieve robust inverted landing, and it tends to exploit its maximal maneuverability. In addition to the computational aspects of the landing strategy, the robustness of landing is also significantly dependent on the mechanical design of the landing gear, the upward velocity at the start of body rotation, and timing of rotor shutdown.
Commodity Prices, Monetary Policy and the Taylor Rule

One way to analyze the impact of commodity price shocks on monetary policy is to think about short-term interest rates set by the Federal Reserve (Fed) according to the Taylor rule. Taylor (1993) suggested a policy reaction function for moderating short-term interest rates to achieve the two-fold goals of stabilizing economic growth in the short-term and inflation in the long-term. One important question is why monetary policy makers focus on core inflation instead of headline inflation. Therefore, the main goal of this research article is to study the pattern of monetary policy responses to commodity price shocks derived from an impulse response function (IRF). To do this, we first estimate two individual Taylor rules based on core and headline consumer price index (CPI) inflation by using real-time data of the US economy for the Greenspan years from 1987 to 2006 and predict the residuals. Then, we estimate two regressions for core and headline CPI inflation as our two individual dependent variables against some independent variables including commodity price shocks, and the Taylor rule residuals. At the end, we predict the monetary policy responses to commodity price shocks by using IRF analysis in multivariate systems of a vector autoregression (VAR) model.
Assessing the full costs of floodplain buyouts.

Given projected increases in flood damages, managed retreat strategies are likely to become more widespread. Voluntary buyouts, where governments acquire flood-damaged properties and return the sites to open space, have been the primary form of federally funded retreat in the USA to date. However, little attention has been paid to the cost structure of buyout projects. Using a transaction cost framework, we analyze the costs of activities that comprise floodplain buyouts. Federal data do not distinguish transaction costs, but they do suggest that the cost of purchasing properties often accounts for 80% or less of total project costs. Through a systematic review (n = 1103 publications) and an analysis of government budgets (across n = 859 jurisdiction-years), we find limited sources with relevant cost information, none of which reports transaction costs. The absence of activity-level cost data inhibits more targeted policy reform to support community-driven and efficient buyout programs. Better data collection and reporting can inform more impactful and equitable buyout policy.
10 Security and Privacy Problems in Self-Supervised Learning

Self-supervised learning has achieved revolutionary progress in the past several years and is commonly believed to be a promising approach for general-purpose AI. In particular, self-supervised learning aims to pre-train an encoder using a large amount of unlabeled data. The pre-trained encoder is like an "operating system" of the AI ecosystem. Specifically, the encoder can be used as a feature extractor for many downstream tasks with little or no labeled training data. Existing studies on self-supervised learning mainly focused on pre-training a better encoder to improve its performance on downstream tasks in non-adversarial settings, leaving its security and privacy in adversarial settings largely unexplored. A security or privacy issue of a pre-trained encoder leads to a single point of failure for the AI ecosystem. In this book chapter, we discuss 10 basic security and privacy problems for the pre-trained encoders in self-supervised learning, including six confidentiality problems, three integrity problems, and one availability problem. For each problem, we discuss potential opportunities and challenges. We hope our book chapter will inspire future research on the security and privacy of self-supervised learning.
The Gross Conformation of Protein-Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Complexes

Abstract The interaction of sodium dodecyl sulfate with a wide variety of proteins is characterized by a high binding ratio when the monomer concentration of amphiphile exceeds 5 x 10-4 m. This binding ratio on a gram to gram basis is identical for all proteins investigated. The protein portion of the complex contains a high degree of order, and hydrodynamic studies suggest that the complex is a rodlike particle, the length of which varies uniquely with the molecular weight of the protein moiety. These results explain the empirical observation that proteins dissolved in aqueous solutions containing high concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate have electrophoretic mobilities on polyacrylamide gels which are a unique function of their molecular weights. In addition, the data suggest a possible model for the conformation of membrane proteins and their interactions with phospholipid.
Direct versus Facility Centric Load Control for Automated Demand Response

Direct versus Facility Centric Load Control for Automated Demand Response Ed Koch, Akuacom Mary Ann Piette, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory November 2009
The Design and Analysis of Partner Studies of HIV Transmission

Common goals in epidemiologic studies of infectious diseases include identification of the infectious agent, description of the modes of transmission, and characterization of factors that influence the probability of transmission from infected to uninfected individuals. In the case of AIDS, the agent has been identified as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and transmission is known to occur through a variety of contact mechanisms including unprotected sexual intercourse, transfusion of infected blood products, and sharing of needles in intravenous drug use. Relatively little is known about the probability of HIV transmission associated with the various modes of contact, or the role that other cofactors play in promoting or suppressing transmission. Here, transmission probability refers to the probability that the virus is transmitted to a susceptible individual following exposure consisting of a series of potentially infectious contacts. The infectivity of HIV for a given route of transmission is defined to be the per contact probability of infection. Knowledge of infectivity and its relationship to other factors is important in understanding the dynamics of the AIDS epidemic and in suggesting appropriate measures to control its spread.
Channel Choice, Justification of Deception, and Detection

Using Truth Default Theory, we assess whether senders choose to communicate through anonymous text chat or face-to-face when they deceive, and differences in receiver ability to detect deception in the 2 channels. Participants were randomly assigned as distributor or receiver in an ultimatum game. Distributors received $8 to divide between self and receiver. Receivers did not know the amount distributors had received, so distributors could deceive. Distributors used text chat more for deceptive offers; receivers were more accurate at detecting deception through text chat than face-to-face. When part of the distributor's allocation appeared to be won through luck, distributors were more deceptive. Distributors with more dishonest demeanors increased suspicion, but demeanor was not significantly related to detection accuracy.
Listening to air quality

In most large cities of the developing world, urban air pollution has worsened, which has been detrimental to the health of their populations. At the same time, it is difficult for lay people to sense the level of air quality with bare human perception as air pollutants are mostly invisible and odorless. We believe that computing technologies can help increase awareness of urban air quality. To the end, we designed and implemented an application that provides users a sense of the air quality level in a sensory input, audio signal, expecting that our system can help increase awareness of air quality. By using our system regularly, we expect that people can easily interpret and understand the level of air quality in surroundings.
The production rate of dust by comets

The present set of short-period comets produces only 250 kg/sec of dust whereas the flux of long-period and “new“ comets produces an average of 20 tons/sec.
Practical batch-updatable external hashing with sorting

This paper presents a practical external hashing scheme that supports fast lookup (7 microseconds) for large datasets (millions to billions of items) with a small memory footprint (2.5 bits/item) and fast index construction (151 K items/s for 1-KiB key-value pairs). Our scheme combines three key techniques: (1) a new index data structure (Entropy-Coded Tries); (2) the use of sorting as the main data manipulation method; and (3) support for incremental index construction for dynamic datasets. We evaluate our scheme by building an external dictionary on flash-based drives and demonstrate our scheme's high performance, compactness, and practicality.
TFS: a transparent file system for contributory storage

Contributory applications allow users to donate unused resources on their personal computers to a shared pool. Applications such as SETI@home, Folding@home, and Freenet are now in wide use and provide a variety of services, including data processing and content distribution. However, while several research projects have proposed contributory applications that support peer-to-peer storage systems, their adoption has been comparatively limited. We believe that a key barrier to the adoption of contributory storage systems is that contributing a large quantity of local storage interferes with the principal user of the machine. To overcome this barrier, we introduce the Transparent File System (TFS). TFS provides background tasks with large amounts of unreliable storage--all of the currently available space--without impacting the performance of ordinary file access operations. We show that TFS allows a peer-to-peer contributory storage system to provide 40% more storage at twice the performance when compared to a user-space storage mechanism. We analyze the impact of TFS on replication in peer-to-peer storage systems and show that TFS does not appreciably increase the resources needed for file replication.
Economic values of agritourism to visitors: a multi-destination hurdle travel cost model of demand.

Farm-based recreation, or agritourism, is growing in the USA, raising new interest in the potential benefits for consumers/travellers and communities. This study utilizes a hurdle travel cost model...
The comparative geochemistries of lignins and carbohydrates in an anoxic fjord

Abstract A reducing, varved sediment core and monthly (May-September) plankton and sediment trap samples from Saanich Inlet, B.C., Canada, were analyzed for their elemental, lignin and neutral sugar compositions. Total yields of lignin-derived phenols from both the sediment trap and core samples indicated less than 15% and 30%, respectively, of chemically recognizable vascular plant remains, derived predominantly from gymnosperm wood and nonwoody angiosperm tissues. The elevated vanillyl and syringyl acid/aldehyde ratios of this material compared to fresh plant material indicated that it suffered mild aerobic decomposition prior to introduction to the Inlet. Most of the remaining particular organic material was nitrogen-rich, carbohydrate-poor and apparently plankton-derived. Organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total neutral sugars and lignin phenols all exhibited decreasing concentrations with depth in a region of uniform varving (upper 15 cm) in the sediment core. All profiles exhibited particularly steep concentration decreases within the top 2 cm of sediment. First-order decay constants for all four chemical categories within the upper 14 cm of the core ranged between 0.1–0.2 yr−1. Neutral sugars were consistently the most reactive chemical class, accounting for roughly 15% of the total organic carbon turnover. Although lignin appeared to be degraded within the sediment core, this degradation was nonselective for different lignin types and did not lead to increased acid/aldehyde ratios as occur during aerobic lignin decomposition. Comparisons of the yields of individual neutral sugars from the sediment and sediment trap samples to those expected from the vascular plant component alone indicated that the vascular plant debris in the upper portion of the sediment core had lost a portion of its initial glucose, lyxose, and mannose. In contrast, rhamnose and fucose were produced by all samples in large excess of total yields expected for chemically intact vascular plant and plankton components and must have additional sources.
and ratios in skeletal calcite of Mytilus trossulus: Covariation with metabolic rate, salinity, and carbon isotopic composition of seawater

Minor element and isotopic compositions of marine bivalve calcite are frequently used as proxy records of seawater temperature and salinity. Although molluscan calcite is secreted at or near oxygen isotope equilibrium, the influence of metabolic activity (i.e., vital effects) on skeletal SrCa ratios and δ 13C values is not well known. We present measurements of skeletal chemistry from (a) consecutive samples milled in chronological order from the organism's final year of growth and (b) adjacent samples within three separate growth bands of the marine mussel Mytilus trossulus to investigate chemical disequilibrium effects among different parts of the shell. Seawater temperature and salinity were monitored for one year at Squirrel Cove, British Columbia. At the end of the year, a young, rapidly growing mussel (mussel A) and an old, slowly growing mussel (mussel B) were harvested from this site. Growth bands within the shells were sampled to provide a chronological record of shell carbonate chemistry. Results from consecutive samples show (1) a significantly higher average SrCa ratio in mussel A than that in mussel B and (2) δ 13C values that correlate well with salinity in mussel A but not in mussel B. Results from time-equivalent, adjacent samples show (1) higher SrCa and δ 13C values near the ventral margin than at time-equivalent regions on lateral margins of the shell and (2) little or no variation in δ 18O values. These observations suggest that skeletal chemistry (SrCa and δ 13C) is primarily controlled by rate of mantle metabolic activity and secondarily modified by variation in seawater salinity. Because metabolic activity in the mantle at the site of carbonate precipitation varies with shell curvature, the composition of calcite secreted along lateral margins is influenced to a greater extent by metabolic activity than calcite secreted coevally at the central margin of the shell. Hence, the chemistry of calcite secreted at the ventral margin is precipitated in near-equilibrium with seawater and allows accurate estimation of seawater SrCa ratios and carbon isotopic composition. In contrast, shell precipitation along lateral margins is dominantly controlled by metabolic activity, and calcite chemistry is not in equilibrium with ambient seawater. In this context, we present a biomineralization model where variations in skeletal SrCa and δ 13C values are explained in the context of mantle metabolic activity and seawater salinity.
Effect of Gravity on Gamma Radiation

Recoil-free resonant absorption of the 14.4-keV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray in ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{57}$ has been employed to measure the effect of gravity over a 75-ft vertical path in the Jefferson Laboratory, in an improved version of the experiment of Pound and Rebka. A ${\mathrm{Co}}^{57}$ source, initially 1.25 Ci, large-windowed proportional counters, and an enriched absorber foil 15 in. in diameter permitted a much increased counting rate. The employment of temperature-regulated ovens for source and absorbers and a redesigned monitor system to detect variations in waveform of the source velocity effected a reduction in systematic uncertainties. The result found was (0.9990\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0076) times the value ${4.905\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}$ of $\frac{2gh}{{c}^{2}}$ predicted from the principle of equivalence. The range given here is the statistical standard deviation set by the number of counts involved. An estimated limit of systematic error is 0.010.
Allee effects and extinction debt

Abstract Habitat destruction may have profound negative impacts on the biodiversity of a given environment. The presence of Allee effects compounds these problems. A sound understanding of the interplay between habitat destruction, Allee effects, and subsequent extinctions is needed to better guide conversation efforts. This study incorporates Allee effects into an extinction debt model, and the analyses provide upper bounds on the strength of those effects that are consistent with species persistence. These results differ from those of a previous study by up to four orders of magnitude assuming the same published parameter values. These new results suggest that if sufficiently strong Allee effects are present, efforts to prevent extinction through habitat restoration may be futile.
Precision Alignment Technique For Time-Resolved X-Ray Photography

Time-resolved x-ray photography at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics is utilized to measure the shell trajectories during the implosion of laser fusion targets. Time-resolved measurements of the x-ray emission are made by employing an x-ray streak camera coupled to an x-ray pinhole camera. Streak records are absolutely timed to the incident laser pulse to make comparisons with one-dimensional hydrodynamics computer code simulations. For useful measurements to be made, accurate pointing of the pinhole must be achieved and maintained. We describe methods to characterize the pinhole pointing and show results obtained with this system.© (1988) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Isomerism in 154Pm

Abstract A study of the decay of the isomers of 154 Pm to levels of 154 Sm has been performed using enriched 154 Sm oxide targets and ( n, p ) reactions at 14·8 MeV. It is shown that the dominant gamma transition at 0·185 MeV ray has half-lives of 1·6 min ± 0·2 and 2·5 min ± 0·3. The separation energy of the two isomers is less than or equal to 200 keV with E βmax of 4·03 MeV. The gamma rays associated with the 1·6 min half-life are: 0·082, 0·185, 1·36, 1·44, 2·05 and 2·14 MeV, while the gamma rays with the 2·5 min half-life are: 0·082, 0·185, 0·282, 0·743, 0·930, 1·36 and 1·44 MeV. Spins of 1+ and 4+ are deduced from the Nilsson orbitals and it is shown that there is no highly converted isomeric transition.
Effect of somatostatin on adenylate cyclase activity in normal and neoplastic thyroid tissue.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and other substances increase adenylate cyclase (AC) activity and growth of normal and neoplastic thyroid tissue. Factors that inhibit cAMP may provide targeted therapy to tumors dependent on cAMP for growth. Somatostatin has been reported to inhibit the growth of gastrinomas and carcinoid tumors. We therefore studied the effects of somatostatin on basal, TSH, pertussis toxin, and forskolin stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in normal and neoplastic thyroid tissue from 19 patients. Adenylate cyclase (AC) activity was determined by the conversion of alpha32P-ATP to32P-cAMP in pmoles/mg protein/30 minutes in an 8000 × g particulate fraction rich in thyroid plasma membranes.
The Kaskaskia paleokarst of the northern Rocky Mountains and Black Hills, northwestern U.S.A.

The Kaskaskia paleokarst, part of the Mississippian-Pennsylvanian unconformity in North America, is typified by sink-holes, fissures, and dissolution caves at and near the top of the Kaskaskia Sequence (Madison Limestone and equivalents) and is covered by basal Absaroka siliciclastics (Chesterian to Morrowan). In the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills of the northwestern U.S.A. it post dates earlier features produced by sulfate-carbonate interactions, including breccias, dissolution voids, bedrock alteration, and mineralization. Both the paleokarst and earlier features have been intersected by post-Laramide caves. Ore deposits, aquifers, and petroleum reservoirs in the region are also concentrated along both the paleokarst horizons and earlier sulfate-related features. Each phase of karst modified and preferentially followed the zones of porosity and structural weakness left by earlier phases, producing an interrelated complex of now-relict features. All should be considered together to explain the present aspect of the paleokarst.
Response behavior of the two-chain Fermi gas

We consider a model of TTF-TCNQ (tetrahiafulvalenium-tetracyanoquinodimethanide) and similar charge-transfer linear conductors in which there are two chains. The electrons on the acceptor (TCNQ) chains have a usual metallic band, but the electrons on the donor (TTF) chains have an inverted or "hole" band. The electrons on each chain interact via the forward and backward scattering ${g}_{2}$ and ${g}_{1}$ processes, respectively. Electrons on different chains interact via the analogous processes ${W}_{2}$ and ${W}_{1}$. The model is also applicable to two metallic chains, with the signs of ${W}_{1}$ and ${W}_{2}$ reversed. Using the techniques of Luther and Emery and of Chui and Lee we show that the problem may be mapped onto a similar problem of three coupled classical two-dimensional Coulomb gases. In addition to gaps in the spin degrees of freedom that were present in the single-chain problem, we find that the antisymmetric form of the resultant charge degrees of freedom may have a gap. We then investigate the predominant two-, four-, six-, and eight-particle response functions and calculate their temperature dependence. In addition to the four divergent two-particle response functions present in the single chain, there is a region for weak interaction strengths in which the $2{k}_{F}$ interchain Cooper pairing response is the most divergent as $T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$. The excitonic insulator response may also be important at high temperatures. For the single chain, either the $4{k}_{F}$ response or a four-particle $q=0$ response is the most divergent for strong coupling and repulsive ${g}_{1}$, depending upon the sign of ${g}_{2}\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}{g}_{1}$. For the two-chain system, the most divergent response as $T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ for strongly attractive interactions (${g}_{1}$ and ${g}_{2}$) is the response to the formation of excitonic "molecules" or exciton pairs. For strong coupling and repulsive ${g}_{1}$ either $8{k}_{F}$ or octet responses may be observable. We discuss these results in conjunction with our previous renormalization-group treatment, which indicates that for certain values of ${g}_{2}$, ${W}_{2}$, and ${W}_{1}$ the line ${g}_{1}=0$ may be crossed. We use these results to interpret the recent x-ray data on TTF-TCNQ showing a crossover from $4{k}_{F}$ to $2{k}_{F}$ behavior above the crossover from one-dimensional to three-dimensional behavior.