cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards developing robust solid lubricant operable in multifarious environments.

Conventional solid lubricants such as MoS2, graphite, or diamond-like carbon films demonstrate excellent tribological performance but only in specific environments due to their inherent materials properties. This limitation prohibits using these solid lubricants in environments that change dynamically. This study presents the results of a novel solid lubricant that was developed using a combination of solution-processed 2D-molybdenum disulfide and graphene-oxide (GO) that can be deposited on to stainless steel substrates using a simple spray-coating technique and show exceptional performance in multifarious environments namely, ambient (humid) atmosphere, dry nitrogen, and vacuum. The tribological performance of the coatings was evaluated using a ball-on-disc sliding test and demonstrated an excellent wear/friction performance in all environments and coating survived even after 44 km of linear sliding. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy analysis of the tribolayers suggested in-operando friction-induced re-orientation of MoS2 layers that were protected by GO layers and, an absence of MoOx peaks indicate a strong resistance to intercalation with moisture and oxygen. The simplicity and robustness of the hybrid MoS2-GO solid lubricant in mitigating wear-friction behavior of steel-on-steel tribopair in a multifarious environment is a game-changing and is promising for various applications.
Lincoln's Mercenaries: Economic Motivation among Union Soldiers during the Civil War

Review of: Lincoln’s Mercenaries: Economic Motivation among Union Soldiers during the Civil War, by William Marvel
Epidemiological Trends of Racial Differences in Early- and Late-Onset Group B Streptococcus Disease in Tennessee.

Background The rates of early-onset Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease (EOGBS) have declined since the implementation of universal screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines but late-onset (LOGBS) rates remain unchanged. Racial differences in GBS disease rates have been previously documented with Black infants having higher rates of EOGBS and LOGBS, but it is not known if these have persisted. Therefore, we sought to determine the differences of EOGBS and LOGBS disease by race over the past decade in Tennessee. Methods This study used active population-based and laboratory-based surveillance data for invasive GBS disease conducted through Active Bacterial Core surveillance in selected counties across Tennessee. We included infants younger than 90 days and who had invasive GBS disease between 2009-2018. Results A total of 356 GBS cases were included, with 60% having LOGBS. EOGBS and LOGBS had decreasing temporal trends over the study period. Overall, there were no changes of temporal trend noted in the rates of EOGBS and LOGBS among White race. However, Black infants had a significantly decreasing EOGBS and LOGBS temporal trends, [(RR=0.87, 95% CI= [0.79, 0.96], P-value=0.007), (RR= 0.90, 95% CI= [0.84, 0.97], P-value=0.003)], respectively. Conclusions Years after the successful implementation of the universal screening guidelines, our data revealed an overall decrease in LOGBS rates, primarily driven by changes among infants of Black race. More studies are needed to characterize the racial disparities in GBS rates, and factors driving them. Prevention measures such as vaccination are needed to have a further impact on disease rates.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among College Students in Sierra Leone: A Life Course Ecological Analysis

Applying life course theory, this study examined the direct and indirect effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), mediated by early sexual activity (first sexual experience before age 15), number of lifetime sex partners, and mental health problems. The link between ACEs and mental health on college students' sexual risk is still understudied. Using cross-sectional data from a sample of 327 college students in Sierra Leone, this study tested the hypothesized mediation model using structural equation modeling analysis. The results showed that ACEs significantly increased sexual risks. Specifically, ACEs increased the risk of early initiation of sexual activity and the number of lifetime sex partners, which in turn increased the risk of STDs. Furthermore, ACEs significantly predicted negative mental health and were significantly associated with an increased risk of STDs. Effective future intervention strategies should include health education programs to address the lifelong effects of ACEs and mental health treatment.
Quantitative Assessment of Cerebrovascular Malformation using18F-GE180 PET/MRI

209 Introduction: Neuroinflammation plays a key role in both the pathogenesis and the progression of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) and brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVM). [18F]GE-180 is a translocator protein (TSPO) targeting PET tracer, developed for neuroinflammation imaging. The objective of this study was to describe characteristics of [18F]GE-180 uptake in the brains of patients with CCM and to investigate whether a functional polymorphism in the TSPO p.Thr147Ala is effective for [18F]GE-180 PET screening. Methods: Six patients (five CCM and one BAVM) with an average age 50 (five males and one female), were enrolled and scanned on a GE PET/MR system. Genotyping of TSPO Ala147Thr polymorphism was performed to classify subjects as either high affinity binders (HAB) or mixed affinity binders (MAB); low affinity binders (LAB) were excluded. Subjects underwent a 60 or 90 min PET/MR scan after the administration of 8.2±1.9 mCi [18F]GE-180. For quantification of the radiotracer uptake, standardized uptake value (SUV), a validated method for this radiotracer was used. In addition, standardized uptake value ratio (SUVr) calculations were made using striatum as a reference. In order to derive SUVs consistently between all patients, all brain PET images were summed over 50-60 min when the total scan duration was 60 minutes or 60-90 min when the total scan duration was 90 minutes, and were normalized to an AAL-ROI template to derive SUVs in defined brain regions using PMOD (version 3.3). For the lesion specific SUVs, quantitative susceptibility maps (QSM), that were acquired simultaneously with the PET data, were used to define the location of the vascular malformation. Results: Patients were classified as HAB (n=5) or MAB (n=1) based on genotype. Low [18F]GE-180 uptake was seen globally in non-lesion brain tissue ROIs, and lesion-specific uptake was visible as seen in Fig. 1. The temporal pole and cuneus showed high radiotracer uptake, the paracentral lobule and hippocampus showed moderate uptake, and striatum had the lowest uptake, with average SUVs of 0.63, 0.59, 0.55, 0.53 and 0.32, respectively. The regional SUVr was 1.95,1.82, 1.68 and 1.64, respectively. The size of lesions ranged between 3.2 mm3 and 3.8 cm3. Average CCM SUV (g/ml) and SUVr were 0.55±0.22 and 1.51±0.52, respectively. Conclusions: The distribution characteristics of [18F]GE-180 in the brain has demonstrated the potential of this tracer as a marker of neuroinflammation that may be relevant for tracking CCM disease progression and evaluating the effectiveness of potential drug therapies in future clinical trials.
Recognized Rights as Device of Public Reason

In this essay I argue that under conditions of extensive reasonable disagreement about what is valuable in life, conceptions of the good, and so on, a publicly justified social morality must be (i) a morality that gives pride of place to jurisdictional rights that are (ii) socially recognized. Re (i): given what I shall call “deep evaluative pluralism,” I argue that a social morality that is publicly justified must be one in which most moral claims are based on individual moral rights. I shall argue that rights are often best understood in terms of a jurisdictional model. On this jurisdictional view moral rights are individualized spheres of moral authority or sovereignty, in which the rightholder’s judgment about what is to be done provides moral directions for others. Although this view has obvious affinities to the choice theory, it is distinct from it, as well as from interest and benefit theories. Re (ii): my second thesis is (even) more controversial: bona fide jurisdictional rights must be socially recognized.
Methodologic approaches in studies using real-world data (RWD) to measure pediatric safety and effectiveness of vaccines administered to pregnant women: A scoping review.

Abstract Objective This scoping review mapped studies using real-world data (RWD) to measure pediatric safety and effectiveness of vaccines administered to pregnant women. Introduction In the US, two vaccines are recommended for all pregnant women to prevent illness in the infant: inactivated influenza vaccine (recommended since 2004), and the combined tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine (recommended since 2013). This scoping review maps the studies conducted to date that address questions about pediatric safety and effectiveness of vaccines administered during pregnancy and provides a knowledge base for evaluating the use of RWD to study this issue. Methods The scoping review was conducted following a published protocol. Methods included an electronic search of PubMed and Embase, screening of titles and abstracts by two reviewers, and double extraction of data for summary and synthesis. Studies that reported on pregnant women and the effectiveness or safety outcomes in their infants were included. Results Forty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria of the scoping review protocol using RWD to assess safety or effectiveness of influenza or pertussis vaccinations administered to pregnant women with respect to pregnancy, infant or child outcomes. Detailed information about data sources, linkage of maternal and infant data, and operational definitions for gestational age were largely absent from the majority of studies raising concerns about reproducibility and validity of study findings. Conclusions A body of literature is available from which to plan and design future studies of vaccination in pregnant women using RWD. This is of intense importance as new vaccines, such as those for COVID-19, become available to the general population via approval or authorization without inclusion of pregnant women in the clinical trials.
The Incidence of Early Seizures in Non-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients and the Efficacy of Prophylactic Antiepileptic Drugs

The incidence of early seizures (ES) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) ranges between 1 and 7%. However, the incidence of ES after a non-severe TBI (NSTBI) with traumatic hemorrhage (TH) is unknown. Moreover, the data about seizure prophylaxis (SP) in this population remains inconclusive. We aim to determine the incidence of ES in NSTBI and the efficacy of SP. We retrospectively reviewed all adult patients with NSTBI with evidence of a TH on presentation from 2015 to 2018 at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis TN. Patients with history of epilepsy or receiving antiseizure medications (ASM) were excluded. We collected demographic data, the type, severity, and mechanism of injury; the need for neurosurgical intervention (NSI); ES; and SP use. A total of 633 patients met our inclusion criteria; 94.4% had mild TBI; mean age was 70.5 years (SD 16.9); 55.0% were males; and 49.1% had subdural hematoma (SDH). Same level fall was the most common mechanism of injury in 79%. Forty patients (6.3%) had ES. After excluding seizures on presentation, 22 of 310 (7.1%) patients had an ES in the SP group (16 clinical) vs 5 of 310 (1.6%) in the non-prophylaxis group (all clinical) (P = 0.001). Levetiracetam as SP was used in 83.5%. Patients with combined SDH and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage or with multicompartment hemorrhage were more likely to have ES than SDH alone (p = 0.02 and 0.001, respectively). NSI was not a predictor for ES in our cohort. The incidence of ES (clinical and electrographic) in NSTBI with TH patients in our cohort is higher than previously reported in those with non-severe TBI. ES were reported more in the SP group, which might indicate a clinical selection bias giving more moderate TBI and multicompartmental hemorrhage patients receiving ASM for SP. However, prospective studies are required to further determine the predictors of ES in non-severe TBI and the effect of ASM for SP on outcomes and reducing ES in NSTBI patients.
A Review of “Beyond the Down Low: Sex, Lies, and Denial in Black America”

Keith Boykin—former assistant to President Bill Clinton and cofounder of the National Black Justice Coalition—provides a comprehensive analysis of the down low. Down low (DL) is a term used to desc...
Metal-replacement studies of blue copper proteins: The removal and replacement of copper(1) from Chinese laccase

Metal removal and replacement studies of Rhus vernicifera laccase (benzenediol:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.10.3.2) (a blue copper oxidase) isolated from the Chinese natural lacquer tree are reported. Copper has been removed by anaerobic dialysis of the reduced enzyme against cyanide around pH 7. The apoprotein is inactive and lacks the absorbance features at 614 and 330 nm which are associated with the resting enzyme. The copper-depleted peptide exhibits enhanced fluorescence and a single titratable sulfhydryl group, which is believed to be a copper ligand. On addition of copper(I) to the apoprotein under nitrogen followed by exposure to oxygen, substantial restoration of metal occurs, as evidenced by the return of activity as well as absorbane at 614 and 330 nm, which indicate restoration of type 1 and type 3 copper, respectively. In addition, the re-metalated protein gives EPR signals characteristic of type 1 and type 2 copper, and the protein fluorescence returns to a native-like intensity. The copper is retained when the reconstituted protein is eluted through a cation-exchange resin which affords a separation of products. Most of the sample elutes with the retention time of native protein and exhibits both high activity and the correct copper stoichiometry. Although some heterogeneity remains, the procedure is judged to be satisfactory in view of the complexity of the enzyme. Kinetically distinct forms of native laccase have been identified and means of interconversion are described.
Coming Clean for Your Birthday

Author Affiliation: Sacred Vocation Program at theMcGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, University of Texas Medical School, Houston. Corresponding Author: Sylvia S. Villarreal (sylvia.s.villarreal@uth.tmc.edu). Section Editor: Charlene Breedlove, Associate Editor. Submissions: Poemsmay be submitted to jamapoems@jamanetwork.org. The Best Way to Bring Evidence-Based Medicine Into Your Practice!
An unusual pattern of neutrophil kinetics in sickle cell anemia.

Blood neutrophil kinetics were studied withwith DF32P in patients with sickle cell anemia. Neutrophil concentration in venous blood samples and the size of the circulating granulocyte pool (CGP) were high normal or abnormally high in all patients. The total blood granulocyte pool (TBGP) was not increased to the same degree as the CGP so that in part, the neutrophilia associated with sickle cell anemia represents a shift from marginated to circulating blood compartments. The half disappearance time (T½) of blood neutrophils tended to be short so that with an elevated or high normal TBGP the absolute granulocyte turnover rate (GTR) tended to be increased. The fractional GTR was regularly increased. In most types of neutrophilia the T½ tends to be increased rather than shortened and the fractional GTR may be normal, decreased, or increased. The increased fractional GTR observed in sickle cell anemia suggests that the absolute increase in neutrophil loss from the blood is not merely a function of increased pool size as was suggested previouslyy.
Vascular damage in giant cell arteritis.

Immune-mediated damage to medium-sized arteries results in wall remodeling with intimal hyperplasia, luminal stenosis and tissue ischemia. In the case of the aorta, vasculitis may result in dissection, aneurysm or rupture. The response-to-injury program of the blood vessel is a concerted action between the immune system and wall-resident cells, involving the release of growth and angiogenic factors from macrophages and giant cells and the migration and hyperproliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Innate immune cells, specifically, dendritic cells (DC) positioned in the vessel wall, have been implicated in the earliest steps of vasculitis. Pathogen-derived molecular patterns are capable of activating vascular DC and initiating adaptive immune responses. The pattern of the emerging vessel wall inflammation is ultimately determined by the initial insult. Ligands to toll-like receptor (TLR) 4, such as lipopolysaccharides, facilitate the recruitment of CD4 T cells that invade deep into the wall and dist...
Effects of aging on the adaptive immune response to respiratory virus infections

Severe acute respiratory disease caused by respiratory virus infections in individuals aged 65 years and older and in high-risk adults, such as those with chronic cardiopulmonary disorders, is associated with increased hospitalization and mortality rates. Epidemiological studies have identified influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus as the most frequent causes of virus-induced respiratory disease in elderly and high-risk adults. Studies in both humans and animal models have established fundamental defects in cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in aged individuals. However, it is not well understood how age specifically alters the immune response to respiratory pathogens. In this review, we will focus our discussion on the major causative agents of severe respiratory virus infections in elderly and high-risk adults and the age-associated defects in the immune response that probably contribute to the increased disease severity observed in these populations.
Cues for health-related imagery in analogue worriers: a brief report.

Abstract The role of specific cues for eliciting fearful imagery in a sample of analogue worriers was examined. Picture, script and audiotape disease-related cues were presented to 12 nonworriers and 13 analogue worriers who worried about health and disease. In general, the picture and audiotape cues were most anxiety provoking and elicited the most vivid imagery, respectively, although ratings were in the moderate range. Repeated trials of brief imagery had little effect on imagery ratings or estimates of risk for contracting the disease (i.e. worry statements) in the worry group. Disconfirmation of risk for contracting the diseases tended to lessen post-imagery anxiety but only after a series of imagery trials. On the other hand, disconfirming information lessened risk estimation overall. The findings are related to the conceptualization of worry and imagery proposed by Borkovec and Hu (Behaviour Research and Therapy,28, 153–158 1990).
Effective Group Decision Making in Organizations: Field Test of the Vigilant Interaction Theory

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the relationship between group interaction quality and group decision performance can be generalized to established organizational groups. Four hypotheses derived from previous historical and laboratory studies of group decision-making efficacy were examined using nine established, ongoing decision-making groups obtained from a large utility company in the midwest. The results of the study generally support the process-outcome relationship. Specifically, it was discovered that group decision performance is directly related to a group's efforts to analyze and understand its task and objective(s) as well as identify the positive and negative qualities of alternative choices. These findings reaffirm the claim that group decision performance is enhanced by a group's ability to engage in vigilant interaction prior to arriving at a decision.
Cancer spending and accountable care organizations: Evidence from the Physician Group Practice Demonstration.

Background Although accountable care organizations (ACOs) are rapidly being deployed in Medicare, little is known about how the model might affect high-risk, high cost groups such as cancer patients. The Physician Group Practice Demonstration, which ran from 2005 to 2010 in 10 physician groups, provides the best current evidence on the likely effectiveness of accountable care organizations for Medicare beneficiaries. Changes in cancer treatment and spending under this program may be indicative of cancer treatment under ACO payment reform.
Heat stress of cultured GC cells enhances triiodothyronine-induced growth hormone production by action within the 5′- flanking region of the rat growth hormone gene

Abstract We studied the effect of incubation at 41 C on a clone of GC cells that had previously been stably transfected with a gene construct, pGHXGPT, containing -1800 to +8 of the rat growth hormone promoter fused to the structural gene for E. Coli xanthine guanine phosphor ibosyl-transferase. The effect of incubation of the clone containing pGHXGPT at 41 C was to enhance triiodothyronine induction of growth hormone secretion (2-fold, p
Modular and Versatile Hybrid Coordination Motifs on α-Helical Protein Surfaces

We report here the construction of phenanthroline (Phen) and terpyridine (Terpy)-based hybrid coordination motifs (HCMs), which were installed on the surface of the four-helical bundle hemeprotein cytochrome cb562. The resulting constructs, termed HPhen1, HPhen2, HPhen3, and HTerpy1, feature HCMs that are composed of a histidine ligand and a Phen or Terpy functionality located two helix turns away, yielding stable tri- or tetradentate coordination platforms. Our characterization of the tridentate HCMs indicates that they accommodate many divalent metal ions (Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) with nanomolar to femtomolar affinities, lead to significant stabilization of the α-helical protein scaffold through metal-mediated cross-linking, assert tight control over protein dimerization, and provide stable and high-affinity binding sites for substitution-inert metal probes. Our analyses suggest that such tridentate HCMs may be used modularly on any α-helical protein surface in a sequence-independent fashion.
Preparation of composite‐crosslinked poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gel layer and characteristics of reverse hydrophilic–hydrophobic surface

The composite-crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) gels were prepared by grafting N-isopropylacrylamide on the surface of glass plates modified by organosilanes. The glass plates as the substrate increase the mechanical strength of composite PNIPAAm gel layers. We investigated the effects of a series of organosilanes and the reaction time of organosilanes on surface characteristics, such as the static contact angle and the layer thickness. We discuss the equilibrium swelling ratio and the water release behavior of the gel layers in terms of the crosslinking density of the composite gels. The composite gels exhibit not only the characteristics of remarkable water release but also the reversed hydrophilic–hydrophobic surface properties. The gel layers are hydrophilic under 25°C and change to hydrophobic above 40°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1–11, 1999
Present Status of Anthracyclines in the Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer

Anthracyclines represent the most active cytotoxic agents against metastatic breast cancer. The introduction of these drugs into the adjuvant therapy of breast cancer was slow because of concern related to chronic toxicities. However, there is clinical evidence of the safety and efficacy of doxorubicin-containing adjuvant regimens with follow-up periods that now approach 19 years. Adjuvant chemotherapy trials performed at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center demonstrate that doxorubicin can be administered in the adjuvant setting with tolerable and reversible acute side effects, and minimal long term toxicity. Over the last 15 years, a number of prospective randomised trials have compared doxorubicin-containing regimens versus those not containing doxorubicin in the adjuvant therapy of early breast cancer. Several of these trials have demonstrated disease-free survival benefit of the doxorubicin-containing regimens; some have also shown a definite overall survival gain. Several other trials in progress will need additional follow-up for definitive analysis. Thus, doxorubicin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy is effective, tolerable, and safe for adjuvant therapy of breast cancer.
Polynomial Chaos in Stochastic Finite Elements

A new method for the solution of problems involving material variability is proposed. The material property is modeled as a stochastic process. The method makes use of a convergent orthogonal expansion of the process. The solution process is viewed as an element in the Hilbert space of random functions, in which a sequence of projection operators is identified as the polynomial chaos of consecutive orders. Thus, the solution process is represented by its projections onto the spaces spanned by these polynomials
WHEN MISSING DATA ARE NOT MISSING: A NEW APPROACH TO EVALUATING SUPPLEMENTAL HOMICIDE REPORT IMPUTATION STRATEGIES*

The Supplemental Homicide Reports (SHR) are widely used in criminological research and inform a broad range of research topics and subsequent policy applications. A serious issue with the SHR is missing information about the offender and incident in many recorded homicides. Although it is convenient to discard cases with missing data before analysis, such discarding is not theoretically justified and can lead to incorrect substantive conclusions. Recently, several techniques for imputing missing SHR data have been proposed, but it is difficult to evaluate their effectiveness. This research presents a new approach to testing and evaluating SHR imputation techniques. Offender data that are missing in the SHR are often found in police records available for individual cities. We examine similarities and differences among cases with known offender characteristics in the SHR, cases with such information missing in the SHR but available in police records, and cases with such information missing in both sources. We then use these data sets to evaluate four different imputation techniques suggested in the literature (Fox, 2004; Messner, Deane, and Beaulieu, 2002; Pampel and Williams, 2000; Regoeczi and Riedel, 2003). We apply each imputation technique to the SHR, and for cases with information missing in the SHR but known in the police records, we see how well the imputed values correspond both with the individual known values and with the overall distributions in the police records. We discuss the outcome of our assessment of these strategies, and we outline important implications this assessment has for research using SHR data.
Exercise Training in Patients With Severe Congestive Heart Failure: Enhancing Peak Aerobic Capacity While Minimizing the Increase in Ventricular Wall Stress

Abstract Objectives. The aims of the study were to 1) assess the effects of 12 weeks of exercise training at low work loads (i.e., corresponding to ≤50% of peak oxygen consumption [V o 2]) on peak V o 2and hyperemic calf blood flow in patients with severe congestive heart failure; and 2) evaluate left ventricular diastolic pressure and wall stress during exercise performed at work loads corresponding to ≤50% and 70% to 80% of peak V o 2. Background. Whether the benefits of exercise training can be achieved at work loads that result in lower left ventricular diastolic wall stress than those associated with conventional work loads is unknown in patients with severe congestive heart failure. Methods. Sixteen patients with severe congestive heart failure trained at low work loads for 1 h/day, four times a week, for 12 weeks. Peak V o 2and calf and forearm reactive hyperemia were measured before and during training. Nine of the 16 patients underwent right heart catheterization and echocardiography during bicycle exercise at low and conventional work loads (i.e., 50% and 70% to 80% of peak V o 2, respectively). Results. The increase in left ventricular diastolic wall stress was substantially lower during exercise at low work loads than during exercise at conventional work loads, (i.e., [mean ± SEM] 23.3 ± 7.4 vs. 69.6 ± 8.1 dynes/cm2(p o 2increased from 11.5 ± 0.4 to 14.0 ± 0.5 and 15.0 ± 0.5 ml/kg per min, respectively (p o 2and calf peak reactive hyperemia correlated closely (r = 0.61, p Conclusions. In patients with severe congestive heart failure, peak V o 2is enhanced by exercise training at work loads that result in smaller increases in left ventricular diastolic wall stress than those observed at conventional work loads. (J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;29:597–603)
Moving Forward with Research on Adolescence: Some Reflections on the State of JRA and the State of the Field

Over the past 5 years the scientific study of adolescence has continued to grow in volume and sophistication. Drawing on recent articles published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence, I take this opportunity to comment on some common understandings about the nature of adolescent development and behavior, recurrent tensions in the research, and promising directions or special challenges for future investigations. The journal also has changed in significant ways over this period, thanks to the outstanding contributions of scholars and journal/publisher support staff. This editorial pays homage to their efforts.
Free Fatty Acid Content of Fresh Milk as Related to Portions of Milk Drawn

Sumamry Various portions of milk as drawn from different cows, representing five breeds and different periods of lactation, were analyzed for free fatty acid content by utilizing an extraction procedure to obtain the fat for titration. Three portions were obtained, with about 85% of the milk drawn being in the second portion. Measurable quantities of free fatty acids were found in all samples analyzed. Generally, the trend was for the first-drawn milk to be the highest and the last-drawn milk to be the lowest in acid degree. However, for individual cows late in lactation there was a tendency for all three portions of milk to exhibit more nearly the same acid degree. When the fat content was nearly that of normal milk no correlation was noted between fat content of the milk and acid degree of the milk fat. The same portions of milk from individual cows, i.e., first, second, or third, were found to vary widely in acid degree values from day to day. Also, milk from different cows varied daily in free fatty acid content.
Poly(α-hydroxy acids). Carriers for bone morphogenetic proteins

A broad spectrum of cells and cell products is associated with bone homeostasis and the renewal of bone following injury. The coupled interactions among cells provide the power behind sculpting of bone, sustaining form, and ensuring functionality. Local and systemic regulatory molecules (e.g. growth factors, hormones) direct cellular interactions through autocrine, paracrine, and hormonal pathways. Recently, genes for a class of osteogenic regulatory molecules have been cloned, and gene product expression has enabled investigators to assess safety and efficacy in animal studies. The molecules are known as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Therapeutic applications of BMPs depend on a carrier system. A carrier could spatially and temporally localize BMP for regional needs and be custom-tailored for acute craniofacial applications or for recalcitrant extremity non-unions. The poly(alpha-hydroxy acids) (PHAs) may be suitable for these applications. Therefore, the purposes of this paper are (i) to mention, briefly, basic concepts of the bone wound continuum and the possible therapeutic roles of BMPs; (ii) to outline several properties of selected PHAs relevant to bone regeneration dynamics; and (iii) to review selected preclinical studies with PHAs.
Electrical potentials in human brain during cognition: new method reveals dynamic patterns of correlation

A new technique has been developed for identifying, in humans, dynamic spatiotemporal electrical patterns of the brain during purposive behaviors. In this method, single-trial time-series correlations between brain macropotentials recorded from different scalp sites are analyzed by distribution-independent mathematical pattern recognition. Dynamic patterns of correlation clearly distinguished two brief visuomotor tasks differing only in type of mental judgement required (spatial or numeric). These complex patterns shifted in the anterior-posterior and left-right axes between successive 175-millisecond intervals, indicating that many areas in both cerebral hemispheres were involved even in these simple judgements. These patterns were not obtainable by conventional analysis of averaged evoked potentials or by linear analysis of correlations, suggesting that the new technique will advance the study of human brain activity related to cognition and goal-directed behaviors.
How does practice makes perfect

Studies of nonhuman animals have taught us a great deal about how the brain changes during learning. An imaging study in this issue investigates how behavioral strategies interact with brain activation in humans during learning of a working memory task.
Using Student Skill Self-Assessments to Get Balanced Groups for Group Projects

Abstract Communication abilities, conflict management, and delegation are all important to students' success in the work force. Instructors often simulate situations that give students skills in these crucial areas by assigning group projects. It is often difficult for instructors to select individuals who will work successfully together. Common methods for selecting groups, many of which are ineffective, are discussed. A student self-assessment method used by the authors to group students according to their skills is described. The method, used for two years in both sophomore-and senior-level courses, has been proven to prevent intragroup skill imbalances.
Microbial perchlorate reduction: rocket-fuelled metabolism

It is less than 7 years since perchlorate, a predominantly man-made toxic anion, was first identified as a significant water contaminant throughout the United States. Owing to its solubility and non-reactivity, bioremediation was targeted as the most promising solution for the problem of perchlorate contamination. Since 1996, concerted efforts have resulted in significant advances in our understanding of the microbiology, biochemistry and genetics of the microorganisms that are capable of reductively transforming perchlorate into innocuous chloride. The recent completion of the whole-genome sequence of the perchlorate-reducing microorganism Dechloromonas aromatica offers further insight into the evolution and regulation of this unique metabolic pathway. Several in situ and ex situ bioremediative processes have been engineered, and many monitoring tools that are based on immunology, molecular biology and stable isotope content are now available. As such, the rapid scientific response to this emerging contaminant offers great hope for its successful elimination from contaminated environments in the future.
Quantum Theory of Laser Radiation. I. Many-Atom Effects

The interaction is considered between $N$ stationary two-level atoms and a radiation field described by a single cavity mode. The state vector for the complete system of atoms plus radiation is expressed as a linear superposition of states constructed from a product of photon states in the $n$ representation and products of Pauli spin eigenstates describing all combinations of atoms in the lower and upper energy levels. Equations for the corresponding probability amplitudes are derived by substituting this superposition into the Schr\"odinger equation. The resulting equations are combined into bilinear form and phenomenological damping contributions are added. After the neglect of certain of the bilinear quantities, a master equation is derived which governs the probability ${{P}_{m}}^{n}$ of having $m$ atoms in the lower level and $n$ photons in the mode. This master equation takes account of multiple single-quantum absorption and emission processes but not of simultaneous multiple processes involving two or more atoms at a time. The equation which governs the expected number of photons $〈n〉$ derived from the master equation bears a close resemblance to a rate equation. The effect of radiation loss from the cavity is incorporated into the master equation. Numerical calculations for a $Q$-spoiled laser show that the statistics of the number of photons in the mode bear a qualitative resemblance to Poisson statistics.
Externally constrained plastic flow in miniaturized metallic structures: A continuum-based approach to thin films, lines, and joints

Mechanical behavior of materials at small length scales has received significant attention in recent years, due mainly to the development of devices and components having micro- and nano-scale feature sizes. In miniaturized structures, deformation is heavily influenced by the physical confinement imposed on the material. The present article is devoted to this type of constrained plastic deformation in metals. Continuum plasticity is used as a primary tool to describe the deformation features, for the purpose of establishing an overall mechanistic view which is often missing in the materials science community. We discuss recent progresses in understanding the externally influenced plastic flow behavior in selected metallic structures, including thin continuous films attached to stiff or compliant substrates, various forms of metal lines in modern semiconductor devices, and metallic joints in electronic packages. Special emphasis is on the evolution of local deformation pattern and overall mechanical response, and their implications in the interpretation of experimental results and the structural integrity for real-life applications. Aside from the review of current status of knowledge, we also address common misconceptions, remaining challenges as well as directions of future research in constrained small-scale plasticity.
Applying Human Factors in Payload Display Design

The payload display design process is intended to assist in designing visual computer interfaces that appropriately support astronauts' interaction with payload displays that fly on missions and yet provide the needed results for the scientists. Standardization of displays will minimize training cost and time while maximizing display usability. This paper proposes a framework for developing displays that integrates human factors design techniques at each step. The fundamental principles upon which the framework is based encompass traditional aspects of human computer interface design, systems design, and human performance.
Suppression of transcription of the ribosomal RNA cistrons of Drosophila melanogaster in a structurally rearranged chromosome.

The biochemical evidence presented in this paper supports Baker's hypothesis, based on genetic evidence, that the lethality of scs1/0 larvae is due primarily to suppression of the genes for 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA. The levels of ribosomal RNA in scs1/0 and in y w/0 (control) larvae were determined by three different methods. The results showed a consistent reduction of about 15% in the amount of 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA in scs1/0. In addition, DNA:RNA hybridization data established that the scs1 chromosome had not lost ribosomal DNA, so that the decreased synthesis of ribosomes could not be attributed to a somatic deletion. It is suggested that the reduction in 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA in scs1/0 results from a suppression of transcription.
Multiple congenital anomalies associated with infantile achalasia.

Achalasia is rare in the pediatric age group, particularly in, the neonate and young infant. The symptoms are often nonspecific and may not even suggest a primary esophageal disorder. This is a report of two cases of achalasia seen in neonates, both of whom had other unusual and exceedingly uncommon congenital abnormalities.
Do Men and Women Have Different Goals for Ministry? Evidence from Seminarians*

L'A. examine la situation des femmes pasteurs aux Etats-Unis. Il affirme que la situation du clerge masculin et du clerge feminin ne presente pas un caractere egalitaire. Il analyse un certain nombre de donnees concernant les types de paroisses dont des femmes ont la charge. Il compare leur situation a celle des hommes
Flavonoid adsorption and stability on titania-functionalized silica nanoparticles

Abstract The interaction of flavonoids with silica surfaces is of interest for separation and recovery of these natural products with potential anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The benefit of tailored silica materials for natural product separation is based on the ability to readily tune their surface functionality and pore structure. In this work, the adsorption of quercetin, a model plant-derived flavonoid, was measured on silica particles (450 nm diameter) that were non-functionalized, hydrophobically functionalized (16.2 mg decyl groups/g) or titania modified (0.33–9.83 mg TiO 2 /g). Quercetin interactions with these functionalized silica particles were interpreted from adsorption measurements on non-porous silica particles, which eliminate the potential diffusional and steric constraints of pores. Titania functionalized particles are found to exhibit significantly increased adsorption capacities compared to non-functionalized and decyl functionalized materials, presumably due to binding of quercetin to the metal oxide, and this capacity increased linearly with surface coverage of titania. The ability to recover the activity of bound quercetin is demonstrated using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. This investigation provides guidelines for the surface modification of both porous and nonporous silica for the recovery of natural product flavonoids, taking advantage of the binding properties of the functionalized silica surface.
Comparative ab Initio Treatment (Hartree−Fock, Density Functional Theory, MP2, and Quadratic Configuration Interactions) of the Cycloaddition of Phosphorus Ylides with Formaldehyde in the Gas Phase1

In this study we describe the results of the application of several ab initio methods to the reactions in the gas phase of four unstabilized ylides (H3PCH2, H2MePCH2, HMe2PCH2, and Me3PCH2) with formaldehyde to form their respective oxaphosphetanes. At the HF level, H3PCH2 and H2MePCH2 proceeded to the formation of oxaphosphetane. However, at the B3LYP, MP2, and QCISD levels, these ylides react by a nucleophilic attack of the ylidic carbon on the carbonyl group, concomitant with the proton abstraction from the phosphorus atom to form 2-phosphinoethanol. This unusual dependence of the reaction path on the level of theory indicates that H3PCH2, the most popular ylide for modeling the Wittig reaction, is atypical and raises questions regarding its use as a suitable model for more realistic systems. At all levels of theory (HF, B3LYP, and MP2), the reactions of HMe2PCH2 and Me3PCH2 with formaldehyde proceed in a cycloaddition-like fashion to yield oxaphosphetanes. The calculated barriers for these processes v...
Watermarking ICs for IP protection

Watermarking, the embedding of data in a medium for tracking and ownership protection, has been well studied in digital audio, image, and video media. In this work, watermarking is brought into the realm of the physical design of integrated circuits (ICs) to protect and facilitate reuse of intellectual property (IP) circuitry blocks.
Electrohydrodynamic droplet mixing

Abstract The results of experiments conducted to characterize droplet motion within electrohydrodynamic sprays with different external electric field configurations are presented. Light sheet visualizations and droplet size, velocity, size-velocity correlations and number density measurements obtained using laser-based single particle counters are reported. This information is examined in the context of determining how external electric field modifications affect intraspray droplet mixing and spray expansion. The results collectively support that appropriate changes in the local external electric field can inhibit spray expansion and enhance mixing by introducing large-scale droplet convection.
Incidence of cancer in primary biliary cirrhosis: The mayo experience

Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) may be at increased risk for malignancies. Several studies have addressed the risk of specific malignancies; however, there is little information about overall incidences of malignancies in these patients. We hypothesize that these patients may be at an increased risk for cancer. We performed a retrospective chart review evaluating patients with the diagnosis of PBC and malignancies. We reviewed records of patients with PBC presenting to the Mayo Clinic between 1976 and 1985. The diagnosis of PBC was made using evidence of cholestasis, positive antimitochondrial antibody titers and liver biopsy findings consistent with PBC. The incidence of malignancies were then compared with published data by the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute. Of the 1,692 patients with PBC in the Mayo Clinic data base, 114 patients were identified with primary cancer. The number of malignancies was higher than would be anticipated by chance alone; with 93 observed versus 62.4 expected events (P <.001). Hepatobiliary malignancies had a relative risk of 46 (P <.0001) for women and 55 (P <.0001) in men. There was a dramatic increased risk for development of hepatobiliary malignancies. PBC patients might benefit from more aggressive surveillance for hepatobiliary malignancies during their lifetime.
A New Protocol for the Followup of Renal Cell Carcinoma Based on Pathological Stage

AbstractThere is no consensus concerning which laboratory and imaging studies should be obtained to assess patients after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. We restrospectively reviewed 158 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy with a final pathological diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. Of the patients 21 had node-positive or metastatic disease and 137 had no evidence of metastases at diagnosis. Of the latter group 19 had pathological stage T1NOMO, 82 stage T2N0M0 and 36 stage T3N0M0 (18 stage T3a, 10 stage T3b and 8 stages T3a and b) tumor. Disease recurred in 0 percent, 14.6 percent and 52.8 percent (50 percent, 44.4 percent and 75 percent) of the patients, respectively. The average interval to recurrence was 29.5 months (range 3.5 to 88.8) for patients with stage T2 carcinoma and 22 months (range 3 to 138) for those with stage T3 disease. Based upon our data, followup studies should include a symptom history, serum liver function studies and chest x-rays at defined intervals. Routine u...
Laser effects research and modeling to support high-energy laser systems

This paper discuses the DELE lethality assessment methodology and explains requirements for experimental data and algorithm development within the laser lethality and vulnerability area. current applications and data sets cover a broad range of laser parameters and materials properties. In addition, new lasers, new materials, and new applications continue to be rapidly added to the area. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the audience to the formalized process/discipline of formulating vulnerability criteria for different High Energy Laser systems by emphasizing the laser/materials phenomenology. Some of the DELE laser facilities and diagnostic capabilities are reviewed.