cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of oil and oil-dispersant mixtures on fungi in freshwater ponds

Abstract The impact of oil and oil-dispersant mixtures on the mycoflora of a freshwater ecosystem was assessed using man made ponds. Data indicated that the ponds were well stabilized before pond treatment. Sufficient Norman Wells crude oil to give 100 ppm was added to each treated pond. The dispersant, Corexit 9527, was initially one-fifth of the oil concentration in the oil-dispersant-treated ponds. After pond treatment, an immediate increase occurred in the number of geoaquatic fungi in the oil-treated pond whereas an increase, followed by a sharp decrease, which was in turn followed by a recovery occurred in the oil-dispersant-treated ponds. The fungal enhancement effects, which were slight, were largely short term in duration (7–83 days). No clear cut medium or long term geoaquatic fungal enhancement effects were observed. The pond treatments had no detectable effect on the vertical distribution of fungi in the ponds. No significant treatment effects were observed on the water mould levels in the treated ponds. No obvious treatment effect was observed on the percentage of viable fungi capable of growth on non-degraded or biodegraded oil as a sole carbon source. Fifteen of 39 selected pond water fungi were able to grow on non-degraded Norman Wells oil. Corexit 9527 incorporated into agar plates inhibited the radial growth of the oil utilizing fungal isolates; EC 50 values were determined.
Pyroglutamyl apelin-13 identified as the major apelin isoform in human plasma.

Abstract Apelin is emerging as an important hormone regulator of cardiovascular homoeostasis and an important biomarker for heart failure. Apelin concentrations have historically been measured by immunoassays; however, reported apelin concentrations measured in healthy volunteers show a large disparity from a few picograms per milliliter (pg/ml) to several nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). Apelin exists in several isoforms ranging in size from 12 to 36 residues, and immunoassays generally cannot distinguish the specific forms present. In this study, an optimized method for enriching apelin peptides with cation-exchange beads followed with mass spectrometry analysis is presented. Apelin peptides are labile in plasma at physiological conditions; however, by lowering the plasma pH to 4.5, the recovery of apelin peptides can be increased significantly. Through optimizing the cation-exchange extraction process, we improved the lower limit of detection for most of the apelin peptides monitored to a few pg/ml. Using the improved method, we detected pyroglutamyl apelin-13 [(pyr)apelin-13] as the major apelin isoform present in plasma from several healthy volunteers at concentrations ranging from 7.7 to 23.3 pg/ml.
Reaction of aminoalcohols with butadiene catalysed by palladium complexes

Abstract Reactions of amino alcohols RNHCH 2 CH 2 OH (R = methyl, ethyl, n-Bu, T-Bu, Ph. PhCH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 OH) and diisopropanolamine with buta-1, 3-diene in the presence of catalytic quantities of palladium acetylacetonate and triphenylphosphine have been studied. With two molar equivalents of butadiene, exclusive formation of the N-(octadienyl) amino alcohols occurs (except where R = Ph) the N-2, 7 octadienyl aminoalcohol being formed in ⩾ 96% selectivity. Butenyl adducts were not formed, and in only one case (R = Ph) was any preferential ether formation observed (1.5% yield) compared to 93% yield of the N-octadienyl-aminoalcohol. In the presence of excess butadiene, alkyl aminoalcohols form exclusively the N-octadienyl-aminoalcohols and octa-1,3,7 triene, excepting for diethanolamine which undergoes both N-octadienylation and octadienyl mono etherification. Etherification of alkyl-aminoalcohols can be induced by the presence of molar quantities of phosphine 5 . The effect of added ligand on the course of reaction is discussed in terms of intra- and inter molecular H bonding.
Unconventional allies: interdisciplinary approaches to science policy and funding

Scientific research is an often misunderstood, undervalued and yet essential activity. Many nonscientists think that research is quick and easy, and that science is a compilation of established facts rather than rigorous conclusions based on available evidence. In addition, many nonscientists, and perhaps many scientists as well, forget that our social and financial investment is small relative to the massive and expensive problems that we all want scientific research to solve. Using biomedical research in the United States as an example, I will argue that countering this underinvestment in science will require broadening perspectives in the scientific community as well as coupling expanded individual advocacy and education efforts to an interdisciplinary advocacy approach. This approach is in many ways analogous to the unique solutions that emerge when scientists working in different disciplines leave their intellectual silos and work together.
Cellular heterogeneity of CFTR expression and function in the lung: implications for gene therapy of cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has become a paradigm disorder for the clinical testing of gene therapies in the treatment of inherited disease. In recent years, efforts directed at gene therapy of CF have concentrated on improving gene delivery systems to the airway. Surrogate endpoints for complementation of CFTR dysfunction in the lung have been primarily dependent on correction of chloride transport abnormalities. However, it is now clear that the pathophysiology of CF airways disease is far more complex than can be solely attributed to altered chloride permeability. For example, in addition to functioning as a chloride channel, CFTR also has been implicated in the regulation of other apical membrane conductance pathways through interactions with the amiloride sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and the outwardly rectifying chloride channel (ORCC). Superimposed on this functional diversity of CFTR is a highly regulated pattern of CFTR expression in the lung. This heterogeneity occurs at both the level of CFTR protein expression within different cell types in the airway and the anatomical location of these cells in the lung. Potential targets for gene therapy of CF include ciliated, non-ciliated, and goblet cells in the surface airway epithelium as well as submucosal glands within the interstitium of the airways. Each of these distinct cellular compartments may have functionally distinct roles in processes which affect the pathogenesis of CF airways disease, such as fluid and electrolyte balance. However, it is presently unclear which of these cellular targets are most pathophysiologic relevant with regard to gene therapy. Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of CFTR function in the airway will allow for the rational design of gene therapy approaches for CF lung diseases. This review will provide a summary of the field's current knowledge regarding CFTR functional diversity in the airway and the implications of such diversity for gene therapies of CF lung disease.
Antecedents‐contained Deletion in Negative Polarity Items

(1) a. That boy won’t do a damn thing I ask him to. b. Abby doesn’t have to read anything we did when we were young. c. Ben rarely grants an interview to a single reporter who wants him to. d. Jack wasn’t able to get an interview with a single person you were. e. The suspect didn’t answer a single question he was required to. These examples show that antecedent-contained deletion can occur inside negative polarity items. In the next two sections, I briefly review our current understanding of antecedentcontained deletion and negative polarity items, showing how the standard analyses come into conflict when confronted with examples like those in (1). In the final section, I show that by giving up part of the assumptions underlying these orthodox analyses, we can successfully accommodate these data without losing the advantages of the standard accounts of these phenomena.
Partial tolerance of autoreactive B and T cells to erythrocyte-specific self-antigens in mice

Background Breakdown of humoral tolerance to RBC antigens may lead to autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a severe and sometimes fatal disease. The underlying mechanisms behind the breakdown of humoral tolerance to RBC antigens are poorly understood. Design and Methods In order to study the pathogenesis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, we developed a murine model with RBC-specific expression of a model antigen carrying epitopes from hen egg lysozyme and ovalbumin. Results Humoral tolerance was observed; this was not broken even by strong immunogenic stimulation (lysozyme or ovalbumin with adjuvant). Autoreactive CD4+ T cells were detected by tetramer enrichment assays, but failed to activate or expand despite repeat stimulation, indicating a nonresponsive population rather than deletion. Adoptive transfer of autoreactive CD4+ T cells (OT-II mice) led to autoantibody (anti-lysozyme) production by B cells in multiple anatomic compartments, including the bone marrow. Conclusions These data demonstrate that B cells autoreactive to RBC antigens survive in healthy mice with normal immune systems. Furthermore, autoreactive B cells are not centrally tolerized and are receptive to T-cell help. As the autoreactive T cells are present but non-responsive, these data indicate that factors that reverse T-cell non-responsiveness may be central to the pathogenesis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
NGL comparable to 193-nm lithography in cost, footprint, and power consumption

A comparison of ArF immersion single exposure, double patterning, extreme UV, and multi-e-beam maskless lithography (MEB ML2) systems, is made on their special characteristics, then in footprint, cost, and raw energy consumption. Only the MEB ML2 system has the potential to mimic ArF immersion single exposure in the three areas compared. In addition, MEB ML2 does not have the burden of mask-contributed CD and overlay variation, mask cost, cycle time, pellicle, contamination, and electrostatic-discharge-induced damage. Key challenges to develop MEB ML2 into a high-volume manufacturing technology are also given.
Polyconductor beam power sensor

Abstract The design is presented of a sensor circuit for the thermal detection and power measurement of incident microwave and laser beams due to accidental or targeted exposure. In this sensor, a polyconductor device acts as a microwave or optical beam absorber. The basic feature of the polyconductor is that its terminal resistance in the transition region can vary by many orders of magnitude with small changes in excitation temperature, regardless of frequency. Thus the heating effect of the incident wave changes the terminal resistance which is converted into a sensitive imbalance of a Wheatstone bridge circuit with appropriate display. This circuit is significantly improved with the aid of an ambient temperature compensation section and a feedback loop to maintain operation in the most sensitive region of the polyconductor characteristic. The sensor has proved to be adequate for a wide range of fluctuations in ambient temperature and incident power levels. Also, since the polyconductor film does not a...
Mail response rates from distributors

Abstract To forecast demand for a new product, information was sought from a national sample of 600 medical equipment dealers by means of a mail survey. The critical managerial question for this research was whether a new product inventor wishing to obtain information from the sample should employ a university sponsor, offer monetary incentives, or go it alone. The results indicate that monetary incentives and university sponsorship are effective ways to obtain information.
Capacitance and Loss Variations with Frequency And Temperature in Composite Insulation

Variations in electrical properties of composite insulation with changes in temperature and frequency are important because they lead to concepts of physical causes of such variations and, therefore, indicate how to obtain improved electrical properties in commercial materials. Typical experimental data are presented showing the capacitance and loss characteristics of synthetic resin laminated materials and of imperfect composite dielectrics made from combinations of fused quartz or glass and semi-conducting liquids. An example is given showing agreement between calculated and observed characteristics of such a glass-liquid combination. Theoretical analyses are given, showing that the general form of the capacitance and loss characteristics could be caused by any one of several physical mechanisms. As a result of these studies it seems probable that in synthetic resin laminated products semi-conducting materials in small insulated pockets or fibers can account for observed characteristics and can be represented mathematically by the Maxwell-Wagner theory. It is also shown that capacitance and loss measurements at one frequency and temperature cannot generally be used to predict corresponding values under different conditions.
The credibility of the Colombian exchange rate target zone: Its impact over the volatility of interest rate differentials

Abstract This paper analyzes the credibility of Colombia’s exchange rate target zone, and in particular its impact on the volatility of interest rate differentials. Bertola and Caballeros’ (1995) model of a target zone with imperfect credibility is used to derive the impact of a reduction in credibility over the variance of the interest rate differential. It is theoretically shown, that as credibility decreases the variance of the interest rate differential increases. This theoretical argument is used to estimate credibility in Colombia’s exchange rate target zone. Using a SWARCH model, the probability of being in a regime with high interest rate volatility is estimated, and is related with events in the exchange rate market. Results suggest that there is evidence of lack of credibility even before the recent international financial turmoil was triggered.
Target recognition: fusing long-wave infrared and electro-optical imagery for detection of humans in a scene

We aim to identify humans in multimodal imagery by predicting the human long-wave infrared (LWIR) signature in a variety of scenarios. By adapting Tanabe's thermocomfort model, we simulate human body heat flow both between tissue layers (core, muscle, fat and skin) and between body segments (head, chest, upper arm, etc.). To assess the validity of our implementation, we simulated the conditions described in actual human subject studies, and compared our results to values reported in the literature. Inputs to the model include age, height, weight, clothing, physical activity and ambient conditions, including temperature, humidity and wind velocity. Iteration of heat transport equations and a thermoregulatory component yields temporal data of segment surface temperature. Our model was found to be in close agreement with experimentally collected data, with a maximum deviation from literature values of approximately 0.80%. By comparing the predicted human thermal signature to deblurred LWIR images and then fusing this information at the feature level with high-resolution electro-optical image data, we can facilitate identity detection of objects in a scene acquired under different conditions. Ultimately, our goal is to differentiate humans from their surroundings and label non-human objects as thermal clutter.
Some Remarks on Exact Confidence Intervals for Positive Linear Combinations of Variance Components

Abstract A technique given by Burdick and Sielken (1978) for determining an exact confidence interval for a positive linear combination of the two variance components in a random one-way model is examined from a different viewpoint. It is found that their technique can sometimes be improved on with respect to degrees of freedom and with respect to the particular linear combinations for which an exact confidence interval can be obtained. In addition, our development is applicable to any mixed model having two variance components and to some special cases involving three or more variance components.
Lessons learned from the design of the decision support system used in the hurricane Katrina evacuation decision

Computer-based decision support systems are increasingly used to aid human decision makers in dynamic, uncertain, time-stressed and high-stakes contexts. The decision of whether, and if so, when to evacuate New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina approached landfall is a prime example. An evaluation of the “HURREVAC” decision support system (DSS) used during Katrina is presented. The evaluation is based on real-time screen-shots of the graphical and numerical information displayed to emergency response managers and other users. While the system is clearly an improvement over methods used prior to advances in information technology and realtime networking, design deficiencies were identified as well. The most crucial of these concern insufficient resources provided by the design to support users in reasoning effectively about uncertainty, and about the interactions among uncertainty and other aspects of the decision situation. The paper concludes by providing lessons learned and by identifying needs for cognitive engineering research to improve future DSS design in operational contexts.
Marginal Modeling of Nonnested Multilevel Data using Standard Software

Epidemiologic data are often clustered within multiple levels that may not be nested within each other. Generalized estimating equations are commonly used to adjust for correlation among observations within clusters when fitting regression models; however, standard software does not currently accommodate nonnested clusters. This paper introduces a simple generalized estimating equation strategy that uses available commercial or public software for the regression analysis of nonnested multilevel data. The authors describe how to obtain empirical standard error estimates for constructing valid confidence intervals and conducting statistical hypothesis tests. The method is evaluated using simulations and illustrated with an analysis of data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium that estimates the influence of woman, radiologist, and facility characteristics on the positive predictive value of screening mammography. Performance with a small number of clusters is discussed. Both the simulations and the example demonstrate the importance of accounting for the correlation within all levels of clustering for proper inference.
Digital mammography: mixed feature neural network with spectral entropy decision for detection of microcalcifications

A computationally efficient mixed feature based neural network (MFNN) is proposed for the detection of microcalcification clusters (MCCs) in digitized mammograms. The MFNN employs features computed in both the spatial and spectral domain and uses spectral entropy as a decision parameter. Backpropagation with Kalman filtering (KF) is employed to allow more efficient network training as required for evaluation of different features, input images, and related error analysis. A previously reported, wavelet-based image-enhancement method is also employed to enhance microcalcification clusters for improved detection. The relative performance of the MFNN for both the raw and enhanced images is evaluated using a common image database of 30 digitized mammograms, with 20 images containing 21 biopsy proven MCCs and ten normal cases. The computed sensitivity (true positive (TP) detection rate) was 90.1% with an average low false positive (FP) detection of 0.71 MCCs/image for the enhanced images using a modified k-fold validation error estimation technique. The corresponding computed sensitivity for the raw images was reduced to 81.4% and with 0.59 FP's MCCs/image. A relative comparison to an earlier neural network (NN) design, using only spatially related features, suggests the importance of the addition of spectral domain features when the raw image data is analyzed.
An exploratory study of quality of life and coping strategies of orphans living in child-headed households in an urban high HIV-prevalent community in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa 1

Abstract A distressing consequence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and of the increasing numbers of orphans and decreasing numbers of caregivers is the emergence in ever-larger numbers of child-headed households (CHHs). The complexity of issues affecting CHHs and the lack of research on this subject means that CHHs are not well understood. This sometimes prompts support agencies to provide emotionally driven recommendations suggesting that it is better for a child to be in an orphanage than to live in a CHH. This exploratory study, involving heads of 105 CHHs over a 12-month period and 142 participants in various focus group discussions (FGD) and interviews, suggests the need for a change in perspective. It addresses the question of CHH quality of life, coping strategies and household functioning and attempts to bring this into a productive dialogue with community child care activities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and statutory support and child care and protection policies. Research data suggest that ...
A note on the compression ratio in MHD shocks

Abstract. We present an analysis of the compression ratio in MHD shocks. Although the equation describing the compression ratio has been in the literature for decades, we believe that our results are interesting and complementary to the earlier research. We concentrate on the behavior of the compression ratio in a bow shock as a function of the angle between the shock normal and the plasma velocity. For this problem, we find non-unique solutions in certain regimes, which we investigate in detail. We also find regimes where the compression ratio in fast bow shocks achieves a local maximum in more than one location. In the last section, we consider the compression ratio in slow shocks and make some conclusions about the shape of the shock in this flow regime.
Time-Domain Modelling of Phase Noise in an Oscillator

This paper presents a time-domain simulation of phase noise in a varactor-tuned voltage-controlled oscillator. Flicker, thermal and shot noise are captured using transient sources of noise based on the principles of mathematical chaos. High levels of noise are handled by replacing the ordinary differential equations used in conventional transient circuit simulation by stochastic differential equations. The system of stochastic differential equations is interpreted in the sense of Stratonovich. Simulation runs are compared with measured phase noise of the oscillator and an accurate match is found for different levels of bias.
Operating system management of reconfigurable hardware computing systems

Reconfigurable computing systems include multiple forms of compute resources. In a multi-tasking system, resources of each type—CPUs and reconfigurable hardware (RH)—must be carefully shared between executing threads to maximize overall system performance. This work examines the inter-dependences between CPU and RH allocation, and how changes to these can affect performance.
Antiproliferative Factor Signaling and Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome

A unique glycopeptide, antiproliferative factor (APF), has been suggested as a urinary biomarker and potential mediator of long-term bladder disorder Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome. There is no known cause for this disease. Several mechanistic approaches have been employed to address the underlying mechanism whereby APF regulates cellular responses in the bladder epithelium. A summary of recent literature is provided, and is focused on signal transduction pathways and networks that are responsive to APF.
Arguing for Experimental “Facts” in Science: A Study of Research Article Results Sections in Biochemistry

Rhetorical studies on experimental research articles in science have focused predominantly on introductions and discussions. The contextual nature of Results sections—the empirical heart of a scien...
Maize centromeres expand and adopt a uniform size in the genetic background of oat

Most existing centromeres may have originated as neocentromeres that activated de novo from noncentromeric regions. However, the evolutionary path from a neocentromere to a mature centromere has been elusive. Here we analyzed the centromeres of nine chromosomes that were transferred from maize into oat as the result of an inter-species cross. Centromere size and location were assayed by chromatin immunoprecipitation for the histone variant CENH3, which is a defining feature of functional centromeres. Two isolates of maize chromosome 3 proved to contain neocentromeres in the sense that they had moved from the original site, whereas the remaining seven centromeres (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10) were retained in the same area in both species. In all cases, the CENH3-binding domains were dramatically expanded to encompass a larger area in the oat background (∼3.6 Mb) than the average centromere size in maize (∼1.8 Mb). The expansion of maize centromeres appeared to be restricted by the transcription of genes located in regions flanking the original centromeres. These results provide evidence that (1) centromere size is regulated; (2) centromere sizes tend to be uniform within a species regardless of chromosome size or origin of the centromere; and (3) neocentromeres emerge and expand preferentially in gene-poor regions. Our results suggest that centromere size expansion may be a key factor in the survival of neocentric chromosomes in natural populations.
Molecular Evolution of Seminal Proteins in Field Crickets

In sexually reproducing organisms, male ejaculates are complex traits that are potentially subject to many different selection pressures. Recent experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that postmating sexual selection, and particularly sexual conflict, may play a key role in the evolution of the proteinaceous components of ejaculates. However, this evidence is based almost entirely on the study of Drosophila, a species with a mating system characterized by a high cost of mating for females. In this paper, we broaden our understanding of the role of selection on the evolution of seminal proteins by characterizing these proteins in field crickets, a group of insects in which females appear to benefit from mating multiply. We have used an experimental protocol that can be applied to other organisms for which complete genome sequences are not yet available. By combining an evolutionary expressed sequence tag screen of the male accessory gland in 2 focal species (Gryllus firmus and Gryllus pennsylvanicus) with a bioinformatics approach, we have been able to identify as many as 30 seminal proteins. Evolutionary analyses among 5 species of the genus Gryllus suggest that seminal protein genes evolve more rapidly than genes encoding proteins that are not involved with reproduction. The rates of synonymous substitution (d S ) are similar in genes encoding seminal proteins and genes encoding "housekeeping" proteins. For the same comparison, the rate of fixation of nonsynonymous substitutions (d N ) is 3 times higher in genes encoding seminal proteins, suggesting that the divergence of seminal proteins in field crickets has been accelerated by positive Darwinian selection. In spite of the contrasting characteristics of the Drosophila and Gryllus mating systems, the mean selection parameter ω and the proportion of loci estimated to be affected by positive selection are very similar.
Topographic mapping of somatosensory evoked potentials helps identify motor cortex more quickly in the operating room

Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded from exposed cerebral cortex during craniotomies. This technique is valuable when knowledge of the motor cortex location can influence surgical decisions about resection limits or biopsy sites. Two different recording techniques were compared: strips of electrodes and arrays of electrodes. The arrays recorded electrical potentials suitable for topographic mapping. We found that motor cortex could be identified more quickly when using the topographic mapping of SEPs from arrays. We conclude that topographic mapping of SEP from sensorimotor regions during craniotomies works well in general and can be done more quickly than the traditional electrode strip technique.
The presence of friends increases food intake in youth.

Background: Friendship may be uniquely relevant and influential to youths' eating behavior. Objective: This study examined how overweight and nonoverweight youths adjust their level of eating as a function of their familiarity with their eating partner. Design: Twenty-three overweight and 42 nonoverweight youths had the opportunity to play and eat with a friend (n = 26) or with an unfamiliar peer (n = 39). The dependent variables of interest were the amount of nutrient-dense and energy-dense foods children consumed and their total energy intake. Results: Participants eating with a friend ate substantially more than did participants eating with an unfamiliar peer. Furthermore, overweight youth, but not nonoverweight youth, who ate with an overweight partner (friend or unfamiliar peer) consumed more food than did overweight participants who ate with a nonoverweight eating partner. Matching of intake was greater between friends than between unfamiliar peers. Conclusions: These results extend previous research by suggesting that the effect of the partners' weight statuses may add to the facilitative effect of familiarity and result in greater energy intake in overweight youth and their friends. Behavioral similarity among overweight youth may increase the difficulty of promoting long-term changes because the youths' social network is likely to reinforce overeating. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00874055.
Phase correct routing for alternating phase shift masks

In this paper, we investigate routing restrictions that enable the generation of "correct by construction" layouts for Dark Field AltPSM. Existing routers produce designs in which coloring errors are numerous, and up to 15% of the pin locations in macros may cause unavoidable coloring errors. We identify routing restrictions which produce 100% phase-correct results, and quantify the impact on wire-lengths and via counts.
Adaptive forward-propagating input reconstruction for nonminimum-phase systems

Input reconstruction is a process where the inputs to a system are estimated using the measured system output, and possibly some modeling information from the system model. One way to achieve this goal is to invert the system model and cascade delays to guarantee that the inverse is proper. A standing issue in input reconstruction lies in the inversion of nonminimum-phase systems, since the inverse model is unstable. We consider two methods for achieving input reconstruction despite the presence of nonminimum-phase zeros. First, we develop an open-loop partial inversion of the system model using a finite number of frequency points, where the partial inverse is a finite impulse response model and therefore is guaranteed to be asymptotically stable. Second, we examine a closed-loop approach that uses an infinite impulse response model. We demonstrate both methods on several illustrative examples.
Upper Echelons Theory: An Update

The central premise of upper echelons theory is that executives' experiences, values, and personalities greatly influence their interpretations of the situations they face and, in turn, affect their choices. At the invitation of the editor, I recap the AMR article in which the theory was originally presented (Hambrick & Mason, 1984), discuss subsequent refinements of the theory, and lay out several promising avenues for future upper echelons research.
Me, Myron Prinstein, and I: A Troubling Case of Confused Academic Identity

Imagine you received a manuscript to review, written by … you! This article describes the perplexing, then somewhat chilling account of an apparent academic identity theft in which someone was submitting manuscripts for publication ostensibly written by a fictitious author whose name was remarkably similar to my own. Through this story, it becomes clear that the field of academia may be especially vulnerable to several types of fraudulent acts. These events have implications for the manner in which we verify authorship on journal articles, our hiring practices, and our reliance on unverified e-mail correspondence. Academics would be well advised to heed the lessons garnered from this peculiar experience.
Recombinant Sindbis Viruses Expressing a Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Epitope of a Malaria Parasite or of Influenza Virus Elicit Protection against the Corresponding Pathogen in Mice

Subcutaneous administration in mice of recombinant Sindbis viruses expressing a class I major histocompatibility complex-restricted 9-mer epitope of the Plasmodium yoelii circumsporozoite protein or the nucleoprotein of influenza virus induces a large epitope-specific CD8(+) T-cell response. This immunization also elicits a high degree of protection against infection with malaria or influenza A virus.
The effect of minor allele frequency on the likelihood of obtaining false positives

Determining the most promising single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) presents a challenge in genome-wide association studies, when hundreds of thousands of association tests are conducted. The power to detect genetic effects is dependent on minor allele frequency (MAF), and genome-wide association studies SNP arrays include SNPs with a wide distribution of MAFs. Therefore, it is critical to understand MAF's effect on the false positive rate.
Optimization and control in bacterial Lag phase

The lag phase of bacterial growth is important from a medical and food safety perspective, but difficult to study due to the low density and metabolic rate of cells. A new study by Alon and colleagues reveals that the gene expression program during early lag phase prioritizes carbon source utilization enzymes over genes responsible for biomass accumulation. This cellular strategy ultimately maximizes growth, making the best long-term use of the new nutrient-rich environment.
On the scaling interpretation of exponents in hyperboloid models of delay and probability discounting

Previously, we (McKerchar et al., 2009) showed that two-parameter hyperboloid models (Green and Myerson, 2004; Rachlin, 2006) provide significantly better fits to delay discounting data than simple, one-parameter hyperbolic and exponential models. Here, we extend this effort by comparing fits of the two-parameter hyperboloid models to data from a larger sample of participants (N = 171) who discounted probabilistic as well as delayed rewards. In particular, we examined the effects of amount on the exponents in the two hyperboloid models of delay and probability discounting in order to evaluate key theoretical predictions of the standard psychophysical scaling interpretation of these exponents. Both the Rachlin model and the Green and Myerson model provided very good fits to delay and probability discounting of both small and large amounts at both the group and individual levels (all R2s > .97 at the group level; all median R2s > .92 at the individual level). For delay discounting, the exponent in both models did not vary as a function of delayed amount, consistent with the psychophysical scaling interpretation. For probability discounting, however, the exponent in both models increased as the probabilistic amount increased—a finding inconsistent with the scaling interpretation.
Human Toxic Neutrophils. III. Metabolic Characteristics

Oxidation of glucose, utilization of oxygen, and reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) were determined in human toxic neutrophils. Leukocytes from healthy volunteers and from patients with febrile illnesses unassociated with toxic neutrophils served as controls. Oxygen utilization and hexose-monophosphate-shunt activity (HMS) were variable in toxic neutrophils; however, the mean levels of oxygen utilization and HMS activity were slightly elevated in toxic neutrophils following phagocytosis of latex particles. No alteration in quantitative reduction of NBT dye was detected in toxic neutrophils, but the histochemical reduction of NBT dye was significantly increased in these cells. The metabolic perturbations of toxic neutrophils could not be attributed to the degree of leukocytosis, cellular immaturity based on nuclear configuration, the presence of fever, azotemia, hypotension, or antibiotic therapy. Sera from patients with toxic neutrophils did not alter metabolism of control neutrophils. The mechanism responsible for increased metabolic activity and histochemical NBT reduction in toxic neutrophils is unknown. The host-parasite interaction associated with acute bacterial infection is usually characterized by fever, leukocytosis, and a "shift to the left," i.e., toward immature forms of neutrophils in blood [1]. These changes also may be observed during acute inflammatory states without bacterial infection, such as necrotizing vasculitis or a neoplasm with necrosis. In such cases the nonspecific reflections of inflammation may create a diagnostic dilemma for the physician attempting to identify the presence of acute bacterial infection. There are reports that neutrophils obtained from blood of patients with acute bacterial infection reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) more
Reproduction in Germfree Beagles

At the time the abstract for this meeting was submitted, we had observed a successful mating in a breeding pair of germfree beagles; hence, the title “Reproduction in Germfree Beagles.” However, now this title could be expanded to “Successful Reproduction in Germfree Beagles.” On April 7, 1968, second generation germfree dogs were whelped in our laboratory. The following is a description of the events leading up to this accomplishment.
Laser Fabrication of Micron-Size Structures on CdS

Wet and dry laser-etching experiments have been performed on polished CdS crystals, using a CW Ar laser, with the goal of writing patterns with µm linewidth. A nitric acid solution was found to exhibit no appreciable dark etching and high photoetching rate; surface roughening due to scattered light was its limitation. A dry, low-temperature (< 200°C) laser-etching process was also studied, and used to produce satisfactory line patterns with 1- to 5-µm linewidths and a 3:1 depth ratio.
COSTS AND BENEFITS OF A PREDATOR-INDUCED POLYPHENISM IN THE GRAY TREEFROG HYLA CHRYSOSCELIS

The phenotypes of gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) tadpoles vary depending on whether predators are present in the pond. Tadpoles reared in ponds with predatory dragonfly larvae are relatively inactive compared with tadpoles in predator-free ponds, and have relatively large, brightly colored tailfins with dark spots along the margins. Models for the evolution of plasticity predict that induced phenotypes such as this should confer high fitness relative to the typical phenotype when in the presence of predators, but should be costly when the predator is absent. Our study tested for the predicted fitness trade-off in H. chrysoscelis by first rearing tadpoles in mesocosms under conditions that induce the alternate phenotypes, and then comparing the performance of both phenotypes in both environments. We generated the two phenotypes by rearing tadpoles in 600-liter outdoor artificial ponds that contained either two caged dragonflies (Anax junius) or an empty cage. Tadpoles from the two environments showed significantly different behavior, tail shape, and tail color within two weeks of exposure. We compared the growth and survival of both phenotypes over four weeks in ponds where there was no actual risk of predation. Under these conditions, both phenotypes grew at the same rate, but the predator-induced phenotype had significantly lower survival than the typical phenotype, indicating that induced tadpoles suffered greater mortality from causes other than odonate predation. We tested the susceptibility of both phenotypes to predation by exposing them to dragonflies in 24-h predation trials. The predator-induced phenotype showed a significant survival advantage in these trials. These results confirm that the predator-induced phenotype in H. chrysoscelis larvae is associated with fitness costs and benefits that explain why the defensive phenotype is induced rather than constitutive.
Cosolvent-Induced Gelation and the Hydrothermal Enhancement of the Crystallinity of Titania−Silica Mixed Oxides for the Photocatalytic Remediation of Organic Pollutants

The photocatalytic activity of hydrothermally synthesized TiO2−SiO2 mixed oxides was examined in this study. Powder X-ray diffractometry, nitrogen adsorption, diffuse reflectance spectrometry, Raman, and UV−vis spectrometry demonstrated that the pore geometries and the nature of the crystal phase can be tailored by cosolvent-induced gelation (CIG) in the synthesis of mixed oxide materials. This body of work attempts to support the role of crystallinity enhanced by the hydrothermal synthesis (HTS) in establishing active sites pertinent to the advanced oxidation process (AOP) in TiO2−SiO2 mixed oxide materials.
The surface source model of the electrocardiogram

The bi-syncytial model of the heart leads to the result that the volume density of cardiac current source moment is proportional to the gradient of the macroscopic transmembrane action potential distribution. If the anisotropy ratios of inner and outer domains (syncytia) of the myocardium are equal, then the volume distribution of cardiac sources can be replaced by an appropriate double layer on the heart surface. For an intramyocardial electrode there is an additional term proportional to the transmembrane potential. The double layer source distribution (heart surface source model) provides a basis for calculating heart surface potentials from cardiac sources.
Time-Travel in Dickens’ World

A restless traveller and travel writer himself, Charles Dickens has done more than his share for commercial and literary travel. Memorials, pilgrimages, festivals and museums have crowded round Dickens with an almost Shakespearean intensity, in spite of his dying wish to have no memorial or monument1 — and in spite of the absence of a unique, established shrine. The likeness of Dickens is amongst the most recognizable of any author’s, while he and his cast of characters seem to walk the earth from the Dickens Universe in Santa Cruz, California, to the Dickens Fellowship in Japan.2 His persistence is both spatial and temporal. Specific locales have become ‘Dickens Country’ and thrive on literary tourism.3 More broadly, much of England’s past is ‘Dickensian,’ a heritage and homeland for the reader-citizen.4 On the one hand, he is tethered to solid objects and accessible places. Like other nineteenth-century novelists he has registered certain landmarks as the originals of fictional or biographical settings. On the other hand, he is diffused as an adjectival association of ideas of Victorian England. How does an author become both materialized and abstracted as a sort of ubiquitous historical anachronism? In this brief essay I feature certain forms of Dickensian reception associated with objects, houses, and places as well as performances. I wish to bring out the dimensions of time travel in ‘homes and haunts’ literature and literary tourism, waiving for the moment the distinctions amongst the interrelated pursuits of experts, journalists and tourists. In practice, a mix of these approaches guided my observations during recent visits to the Dickens Museum in London, the Dickens Festival in Rochester, and Dickens World in Chatham.
Photochemical Generation of Benzyl Cations That Selectively Cross-Link Guanine and Cytosine in DNA

UV irradiation of several aryl boronates efficiently produced bifunctional benzyl cations that selectively form guanine-cytosine cross-links in DNA. Photoinduced homolysis of the C–Br bond took place with the aryl boronate bromides 3a and 4a, generating free radicals that were oxidized to benzyl cations via electron transfer. However, photoirradiation of the quaternary ammonium salts 3b and 4b led to heterolysis of C–N bond, directly producing benzyl cations. The electron-donating group in the aromatic ring greatly enhanced cross-linking efficiency.
Exploratory use of a UAV platform for variety selection in peanut

Variety choice is the most important production decision farmers make because high yielding varieties can increase profit with no additional production costs. Therefore, yield improvement has been the major objective for peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) breeding programs worldwide, but the current breeding approach (selecting for yield under optimal production conditions) is slow and inconsistent with the needs derived from population demand and climate change. To improve the rate of genetic gain, breeders have used target physiological traits such as leaf chlorophyll content using SPAD chlorophyll meter, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from canopy reflectance in visible and near infra-red (NIR) wavelength bands, and canopy temperature (CT) manually measured with infra-red (IR) thermometers at the canopy level; but its use for routine selection was hampered by the time required to walk hundreds of plots. Recent developments in remote sensing-based high throughput phenotyping platforms using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have shown good potential for future breeding advancements. Recently, we initiated a study for the evaluation of suitability of digital imagery, NDVI, and CT taken from an UAV platform for peanut variety differentiation. Peanut is unique for setting its yield underground and resilience to drought and heat, for which yield is difficult to pre-harvest estimate; although the need for early yield estimation within the breeding programs exists. Twenty-six peanut cultivars and breeding lines were grown in replicated plots either optimally or deficiently irrigated under rain exclusion shelters at Suffolk, Virginia. At the beginning maturity growth stage, approximately a month before digging, NDVI and CT were taken with ground-based sensors at the same time with red, blue, green (RGB) images from a Sony camera mounted on an UAV platform. Disease ratings were also taken pre-harvest. Ground and UAV derived vegetation indices were analyzed for disease and yield prediction and further presented in this paper.
Further Experience with Intravesical Dimethyl Sulfoxide in the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis

AbstractIntravesical dimethyl sulfoxide has given satisfactory symptomatic relief in 75 per cent of patients with interstitial cystitis so treated. The treatment is simple and inexpensive, and can be safely administered as an office procedure. Objective improvement in the endoscopic appearance of the disease, with improvement in bladder capacity, was noted in 80 per cent of the patients in our series. Further work with dimethyl sulfoxide is indicated in the treatment of interstitial cystitis, as well as a variety of other genitourinary disorders.
Ten-Year Trends In Treatment Services For Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Enrolled In Medicaid

Closing the gap between evidence-based clinical practice standards and their inclusion in routine practice continues to be a major goal of health policy reforms. This gap is especially large for the care of children with psychiatric disorders—especially those from low-income families, many of whom are insured through Medicaid. To address this gap, we analyzed trends over ten years (2001–10) from Medicaid claims data describing changes over time in medication, psychotherapy, and combined treatment services for children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Over this time, more children received treatments that conformed to practice standards, including the use of combination treatments of medication and psychotherapy. Rates of combined treatment increased by 74 percent, rates of psychotherapy alone more than doubled, and rates of medication alone decreased by 18 percent. Rates of diagnoses without any reimbursed treatment decreased by 39 percent. These trends suggest increasing ad...