cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Differences in Physical Size, H2O2-Removal, and Cellular Bioenergetics in the Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines MIA PaCa-2 and Panc-1: Impact on Susceptibilities to Ascorbate/H2O2

We have been using quantitative approaches to better understand how externally/internally generated reactive species, metabolism, cell signaling and death pathways lead to differential sensitivities to cancer treatment. Studying aspects of cell biology in more quantitative and absolute terms allows direct comparisons to be made and unknown relationships to be discovered that may be therapeutically actionable to enhance treatment efficacy, prevent treatment-limiting complications or therapy/cross resistance. We have focused primarily on using quantitative approaches on a set of human pancreatic cancer cell lines, MIA PaCa-2 and Panc-1, which are differentially sensitive to high concentrations of ascorbate. High-dose ascorbate acts as a pro-drug that generates extracellular H2O2 in vivo and in vitro. We have identified cell size (volume), catalase levels, changes in GSH, and quantitative differences in cellular bioenergetics (ATP) as major contributors to the differential toxicity seen in this pair of cell lines. For example, Panc-1 has a much higher rate of ATP-linked oxygen consumption compared to MIA PaCa-2 as determined using a Seahorse XF96 extracellular flux analyzer. Using our quantitative approaches along with the new proton efflux rate (PER) developed by Agilent/Seahorse, we are able to quantitatively estimate the basal and maximal ATP generation rate from respiration and glycolysis on a per cell basis for this cell line pair. These quantitative approaches to cellular bioenergetics allows a direct comparison of the rates of ATP generation in these two cell lines and the role that bioenergetics may play in cell susceptibility to ascorbate/ H2O2.
Opponent control of behavioral reinforcement by inhibitory and excitatory projections from the ventral pallidum

The ventral pallidum (VP) lies at the interface between sensory, motor, and cognitive processing-with a particular role in mounting behavioral responses to rewards. Though the VP is predominantly GABAergic, glutamate neurons were recently identified, though their relative abundances and respective roles are unknown. Here, we show that VP glutamate neurons are concentrated in the rostral ventromedial VP and project to qualitatively similar targets as do VP GABA neurons. At the functional level, we used optogenetics to show that activity in VP GABA neurons can drive positive reinforcement, particularly through projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA). On the other hand, activation of VP glutamate neurons leads to behavioral avoidance, particularly through projections to the lateral habenula. These findings highlight cell-type and projection-target specific roles for VP neurons in behavioral reinforcement, dysregulation of which could contribute to the emergence of negative symptoms associated with drug addiction and other neuropsychiatric disease.
Theory and Practice: The Methodological Content of Galileo’s Science

Galileo’s Dialogue is full of explicit remarks about topics such as: (1) the role played in physical inquiry by experience, authority, mathematics, logical analysis, conceptualization, human interests and capacities, causal investigation, explanations, comprehensibility, criticism, simplicity, quantitative and qualitative considerations, open-mindedness, and ignorance; (2) the nature of, and interrelationships among, these things and others, such as the Socratic method, unconscious knowledge, and astronomical investigation; and (3) the distinction between method and results, between discovery and justification, and between theory and practice. Remarks about such matters are universally regarded to be methodological remarks, and when a book contains them with the frequency and intensity that the Dialogue does, one has to conclude that such a book is a work on method, whatever its title may be and whatever other dimensions it may possess.
Exploring Geology on the World-Wide Web--Geomorphology

INTRODUCTION Long before we collect and study in detail rocks in the field, we learn to observe and interpret the lay of the land. From the jagged peaks and sheer cliffs of a youthful mountain to the sinuous curves of a mature stream, the major landforms themselves tell us much of what we need to know about how a particular region has been molded by geological forces. College-level courses in geomorphology often address both the physical descriptions of landforms, and the underlying processes that created them. If the latter were to be included in this articular column, there would be a significant overlap with environmental geology, glacial geology, sedimentology, volcanology, and a host of other. fields of study that merit entire columns of their own. The primary purpose of this issue, therefore, is to identify those sites that present clear images and simple descriptions of the great variety of landforms a t the Earth's surface. Previous topics of this column and their corresponding hypertext links are available from the web page listed below. All of the URL addresses in the current article will be available on the publication date of the next issue of the iournal. Please visit: htbdl Web site for one of the largest member organizations in geomorphology. Contains the IAG-GEOMORPHLIST, an e-mail distribution list for the international geomorphological community. If you have a technical question that is not answered by the web sites listed below, the directory of subscribers includes e-mail addresses and fields of expertise for several hundred members.
Canonical Forms for Bihamiltonian Systems

BiHamiltonian systems were first defined in the fundamental paper of Magri, [5], which deduced the integrability of many soliton equations from the fact that they could be written in Hamiltonian form in two distinct ways. More recently, the classical completely integrable Hamiltonian systems of ordinary differential equations, such as the Toda lattice and rigid body, have been shown to be biHamiltonian systems. However, recent results of Brouzet, [1], extended by Fernandes, [3], indicate that there are global, topological obstructions to the existence of a biHamiltonian structure for a general completely integrable Hamiltonian system. The connection between biHamiltonian structures and R-matrices, [10], which provide solutions to the classical Yang-Baxter equation, has given additional impetus to their study.
Erythrocytic glutathione and plasma cysteine status of human immunodeficient patients.

Both deficient and normal blood levels of glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys) have been reported in HIV patients, a discrepancy that has been attributed to different methodologies. The goal of this study was to apply our analytical method to this problem. Blood samples from HIV patients and healthy subjects were collected, immediately stabilized, and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography with dual electrochemical detection. The results showed that the erythrocytic GSH levels were the same in healthy subjects and in HIV patients regardless of their CD4 lymphocyte level. Only those with the lowest CD4 level plus opportunistic infections had subnormal GSH concentrations (P < 0.001). GSH plus glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels also were normal in patients. However, the Cys contents were higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that HIV patients have normal erythrocytic GSH concentrations and supranormal Cys levels.
The Development of Justice and Self-Interest during Childhood

Anyone who spends time around young children eventually will encounter the ringing refrain of “That’s not fair!” Beginning as early as the preschool years, fairness plays a central role in every child’s social life. Particularly in its breach, it is a notion of which even young children are acutely aware. The outraged reaction of a 2-year-old to being denied a turn on a swing or a share of a cookie will attest to this early sense, at least as evoked in personally experienced injustices.
Medicare Beneficiaries Living In Housing With Supportive Services Experienced Lower Hospital Use Than Others

There is strong evidence that housing conditions affect population health, but evidence is limited on the extent to which housing with supportive social services can maintain population health and ...
Multi-omic profiling of transcriptome and DNA methylome in single nuclei with molecular partitioning

Abstract Single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses provide powerful strategies for unbiased determination of cell types in mammalian tissues. Although previous studies have identified cell types using individual molecular signatures, the generation of consensus cell type classification requires the integration of multiple data types. Most existing single-cell techniques can only make one type of molecular measurement. Here we describe single-nucleus methylcytosine and transcriptome sequencing (snmCT-seq), a multi-omic method that requires no physical separation of DNA and RNA molecules. We demonstrated that snmCT-seq profiles generated from single cells or nuclei robustly distinguish human cell types and accurately measures cytosine DNA methylation and gene expression signatures of each cell type.
The burden of carcinogenic air toxics among Asian Americans in four US metro areas

This study investigated disparities in residential exposure to carcinogenic air pollutants among Asian Americans, including Asian ancestry subgroups, in four US metro areas with high proportions of Asians, i.e., Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. Generalized estimating equations adjusting for socioeconomic status, population density, and clustering show that a greater proportion of Asian Americans in census tracts was associated with significantly greater health risk in all four metro areas. Intracategorical disparities were uncovered for Asian ancestry. A greater proportion Korean was positively associated with risk in four metro areas; greater proportion Chinese and Filipino were positively associated with risk in three of the four metro areas. While Asian Americans are infrequently examined in environmental justice research, these results demonstrate that Asian Americans experience substantial distributional environmental injustices in these four metro areas and that ancestry is an important dimension of intracategorical complexity.
Influence of Rurality on HIV Testing Practices Across the United States, 2012-2017.

In the US, HIV testing has been key in the identification of new HIV cases, allowing for the initiation of antiretroviral treatment and a reduction in disease transmission. We consider the influence of living in a rural area (rurality) on HIV testing between different US regions and states as existing work in this area is limited. Using the 2012–2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Systems surveys, we explored the independent role of rurality on having ever been tested for HIV and having a recent HIV test at the national, regional, and state levels by calculating average adjusted predictions (AAPs) and average marginal effects (AMEs). Suburban and urban areas had higher odds and AAPs of having ever been tested for HIV and having a recent HIV test compared to rural areas across the US. The Midwest had the lowest AAPs for both having ever been tested for HIV (17.57–20.32%) and having a recent HIV test (37.65–41.14%) compared to other regions. For both questions on HIV testing, regions with the highest AAPs had the greatest rural–urban differences in probabilities and regions with the lowest AAPs had the smallest rural–urban difference in probabilities. The highest rural–urban testing disparities were observed in states with high AAPs for HIV testing. HIV testing estimates were higher in urban compared to rural areas at the national, regional, and state level. This study examines the isolated influence of rurality on HIV testing and identifies specific US areas where future efforts to increase HIV testing should be directed to.
Moral Distress in the PICU

Moral distress is ubiquitous in PICU settings, impacting team members from all different disciplines. Distress arises from the critical nature of the patient’s illness, with many children facing either death or living with life-long disability. Values used for decision making vary widely among patients’ families and multiple team members, leading to tension about “right” and “wrong”. Additionally, differences in experiences among parties contribute to difficulty arriving at conclusions along the same timeline. Although many know when they feel moral distress, it can be difficult to define. This chapter examines current thinking about moral distress, how it may arise from questions surrounding ethical permissibility of treatments and variations in values. Moral distress can impact clinical care and the well-being of healthcare professionals, leading to burnout. Strategies on mitigating moral distress are offered, although recognizing some degree of distress should be expected and may be beneficial.
Coronary microvascular dysfunction, left ventricular remodeling, and clinical outcomes in aortic stenosis.

We investigated role of coronary microvascular disease (CMD) in maladaptive LV remodeling and prognosis in patients with aortic sclerosis or stenosis and no overt CAD. This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with aortic sclerosis or stenosis, normal myocardial perfusion and LV ejection fraction (EF) > 50% (n = 43) and matched controls without AS (n = 43). PET and echocardiograms were performed within 1 year of each other. Myocardial perfusion and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) were quantified using PET imaging. LV structure and function, including global longitudinal strain (GLS), were quantified by transthoracic echocardiography. Global MFR declined with increasing AS severity (P = 0.04). Probability of impaired MFR increased with severity of adverse LV remodeling (OR 1.88, CI 1.03 to 3.41, P =0.04). Reduced MFR associated with impaired GLS (r = − 0.29, P = 0.002) and associated with reduced MACE-free survival at 7.27 years median follow-up. Adjusted annualized rate of MACE was highest in those with impaired GLS and MFR and lowest in those with normal GLS and MFR (30.99% vs 1.86%, P =0.002). In patients with AS and no overt CAD, impaired MFR associates with adverse LV remodeling and subclinical LV mechanical dysfunction, and is a marker increased clinical risk.
Hyperdimensional computing approach to word sense disambiguation

Coping with the ambiguous meanings of words has long been a hurdle for information retrieval and natural language processing systems. This paper presents a new word sense disambiguation approach using high-dimensional binary vectors, which encode meanings of words based on the different contexts in which they occur. In our approach, a randomly constructed vector is assigned to each ambiguous term, and another to each sense of this term. In the context of a sense-annotated training set, a reversible vector transformation is used to combine these vectors, such that both the term and the sense assigned to a context in which the term occurs are encoded into vectors representing the surrounding terms in this context. When a new context is encountered, the information required to disambiguate this term is extracted from the trained semantic vectors for the terms in this context by reversing the vector transformation to recover the correct sense of the term. On repeated experiments using ten-fold cross-validation and a standard test set, we obtained results comparable to the best obtained in previous studies. These results demonstrate the potential of our methodology, and suggest directions for future research.
When is it Good to be Bad? Contrasting Effects of Multiple Reputations for Bad Behavior on Media Coverage of Serious Organizational Errors

We have long known that organizational reputation is consequential. While highlighting the effects of a reputation for good behavior, however, prior work has largely overlooked the possibility that...
Workplace breastfeeding support and job satisfaction among working mothers in the United States

Background Job satisfaction is associated with health and productivity. Workplace support for breastfeeding may affect working mothers' job satisfaction. Methods We analyzed responses from 488 women from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (2005-2007). Using logistic regression, we assessed whether workplace breastfeeding problems at 3 months postpartum were related to low job satisfaction concurrently and, for a subsample (n = 265), at 9 and 12 months postpartum. Results Compared with women reporting no problems, women reporting three or more problems had higher odds (odds ratio [OR] = 4.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.03-11.18) of low job satisfaction at 3 months, and at 12 months (OR = 6.88, 95% CI: 1.33-35.58) after controlling for baseline job satisfaction. Models isolating problems with break time and space to pump/nurse showed more modest results. Conclusions Work-related breastfeeding problems at 3 months postpartum were associated with low job satisfaction concurrently and at follow-up. Improving workplace breastfeeding accommodations could improve mothers' job satisfaction.
Mechanics of self-healing thermoplastic elastomers

Abstract Self-healing polymers crosslinked by dynamic bonds have shown great potential in various engineering applications ranging from electronics to robotics. Due to the intrinsic weakness of dynamic bonds, most of the existing self-healing polymers have relatively weak mechanical strengths. To address this drawback, it is proposed to incorporate crystalline domains within the polymer matrix during the synthesis to make tough and strong self-healing thermoplastic elastomers with semi-crystalline phases. Despite the success in the polymer synthesis, the theoretical understanding of self-healing thermoplastic elastomers remains elusive. In this paper, we develop a theoretical framework to model the constitutive and healing behaviors of self-healable thermoplastic elastomers with both dynamic bonds and semi-crystalline phases. We model the virgin thermoplastic elastomer by using a spring-dash model that couples the soft rubbery phase and the stiff crystalline phase. The rubbery polymer network is formed by layering the body-centered unit cubes that link polymer chains via dynamic bonds. Then, the healing is considered as a coupling of polymer chain diffusion and dynamic-bond binding, leading to an effective diffusion-reaction model. Based on the theoretical framework, we can model the stress-strain behavior of the virgin and healed polymers and theoretically explain the relationship between the healing strength and the healing time. The model can consistently explain our own experiments on self-healable thermoplastic elastomers polyurethane and the documented experiments on self-healable thermoplastic elastomers with disulfide bonds and π-π interactions.
How the theory of information and journalism ethics contributes to the ethics of public relations: six principles from the dialogue between codes of ethics and Luka Brajnović’s legacy

The ethics of public relations (PR), irrespective of how many different theoretical and practical approaches have contributed to it, still has a gap to fill concerning the role of human person. Thi...
The multiple mini-interview and dental hygiene admissions: A feasible option?

PURPOSE As healthcare becomes more client-centered, certain provider "soft skills" have become more desirable. Although these skills may be valued by the health professions, admission processes often do not account for them. This study evaluated the performance of applicants to 3 dental hygiene programs in a multiple mini-interview designed to assess characteristics deemed desirable by the programs and profession. METHODS Trained evaluators assessed the performance of participants as they rotated through 8 unique stations designed to highlight specific traits. Participants were scored on a 1-7 Likert scale, and a mean average was calculated based on performance at all stations. Participants and evaluators also completed a survey to determine opinions regarding the multiple mini-interview (MMI) activity and its potential as an admissions tool. Two-tailed Fisher's exact test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess the relationship between station types, and ANOVA and post hoc tests to analyze the performance of program groups among stations. Qualitative data were analyzed for trends and themes. RESULTS Mean scores ranged from 2.5 to 6.25, with a mean average of 4.90. Both participants and evaluators expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the activity overall and believed it was an effective tool for assessment of nonacademic traits. CONCLUSION An MMI is a feasible option for assessment of nonacademic traits of candidates for admission to dental hygiene programs. Programs that consider both academic and nonacademic performances of applicants may admit individuals who are not only uniquely qualified to be healthcare providers, but might otherwise not have gained admission.
Nanocarrier-Mediated Immunogenic Chemotherapy for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) does not respond to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy as a result of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To remodel the tumor microenvironment, we developed a liposome formulation to deliver a potential immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducing agent, 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG, or tanespimycin), in a tumor targeted manner to reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment and facilitate the checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. The 17-AAG liposomes was prepared by thin film dispersion methods. The orthotopic 4T1 murine triple negative breast cancer model was studied. 17-AAG delivered by liposome remodeled the immunosuppressive microenvironment, significantly increased tumor infiltrating T cells, lowered the hypoxia level, decreased the suppressive lymphocytes such as tumor associated macrophages and myeloid derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, real-time PCR analysis revealed that chemokines and cytokines with immunosuppressive properties were notably reduced, which further facilitated the T cell mediated immunotherapy. Despite the fact that low dose 17-AAG liposomes demonstrated a limited therapeutic effect alone on 4T1 tumor, promising efficacy was observed when 17-AAG liposomes combined with checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. Taken together, 17-AAG liposomes could remodel the immunosuppressive microenvironment of triple negative breast cancer and facilitate the checkpoint blockade immunotherapy.
Cortical and subcortical changes following sphenopalatine ganglion blocks in chronic migraine with medication overuse headache: a preliminary longitudinal study.

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate potential changes in brain morphology (cortical thickness and cortical/subcortical volume) accompanying a series of sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) blockade treatments in chronic migraine with medication overuse headaches (CMw/MOH). Local anesthetization of the SPG via intranasal application is used for the treatment for multiple types of headache disorders, including CM. Our previous longitudinal fMRI study revealed improved network connectivity after such treatment. However, the impact of SPG blocks on cortical, subcortical gray matter volume and cortical thickness has yet to be assessed. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cortical/subcortical volume were measured in 12 chronic migraine patients before and after a series of 12 SPG blocks administered over a 6-week period (2 per week). The average time between MRI assessments was 6 weeks. Targeted, within-subjects t-tests comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment values in specific apriori brain regions of interest, including the hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia, somatosensory cortex, temporal cortex and occipital cortex, were used to estimate the impact of repetitive SPG blocks treatment on brain morphology in CMw/MOH. Compared to baseline values, the number of moderate/severe headache days per month, HIT-6, PHQ-9 scores and allodynia scores were all significantly improved at the end of treatment. Analysis of MRI data revealed that the volume of the right hippocampus and the right palladium significantly decreased following SPG block treatment, while the volume of the left nucleus accumbens significantly increased following treatment. Cortical thickness in the left temporal pole and left lateral occipito-temporal gyrus significantly decreased following SPG block treatment. Our results suggest SPG block treatment is associated with significant symptom improvement as well as significant structural brain changes in regions known to be associated with migraine and chronic pain processing in CMw/MOH.
Object-Oriented Education: Trends in Information Systems and Computer Science Curricula

The use of object-oriented (OO) technology in industry continues to grow. Unfortunately, re-training of existing developers has proven to be a slow and difficult process. Thus, industry must look t...
Impact of network structure on collective learning: An experimental study in a data science competition.

Do efficient communication networks accelerate solution discovery? The most prominent theory of organizational design for collective learning maintains that informationally efficient collaboration networks increase a group’s ability to find innovative solutions to complex problems. We test this idea against a competing theory that argues that communication networks that are less efficient for information transfer will increase the discovery of novel solutions to complex problems. We conducted a series of experimentally designed Data Science Competitions, in which we manipulated the efficiency of the communication networks among distributed groups of data scientists attempting to find better solutions for complex statistical modeling problems. We present findings from 16 independent competitions, where individuals conduct greedy search and only adopt better solutions. We show that groups with inefficient communication networks consistently discovered better solutions. In every experimental trial, groups with inefficient networks outperformed groups with efficient networks, as measured by both the group’s average solution quality and the best solution found by a group member.
Artists and Trance

This chapter introduces eight woman artists as contemporary exemplars of trance-based artworkings. Multiple languages of art assist in articulating their ritual and trance-based art, including audio, visual, somatic, and poetic renderings. Artist exemplars in this chapter are Katherine Dunham, Maya Deren, Meinrad Craighead, Helene Cixous, Shirin Neshat, Gloria Anzaldua, Karen Finley and Marina Abramovic. The chapter offers an Awake Dream Walking trance practice at the end.
Propagation of Visible and Infrared Radiation in Snow and Rain

As part of a program to develop improved models for infrared and visible extinction in adverse weather, a one-kilometer transmission range has been established near Houghton, Michigan, where annual rainfall is about twenty inches, fog is common, and annual snowfall often exceeds 200 inches. A Barnes Engineering Transmissometer is used to record transmission in the 3-5 and 8-14 micrometer bands, a Helium-Neon laser transmissometer is used to record transmission at 0.63 micrometers, and a Nd:YAG laser transmissometer is used to measure transmission at 1.06 micrometers. During Transmission measurements, an automated weather station periodically records standard weather parameters. Results are presented as plots of the logarithm of the infrared extinction coefficient versus the logarithm of the visible extinction coefficient (the GAP model format). Extinction coefficients for rain tend to lie along straight lines, in fairly good agreement with the GAP model, when the atmosphere contains rain drops but not suspended droplets. Measured extinction coefficients in snow tend to lie along straight lines on the log-log plots, with slight differences from one snow storm to another, which are attributed to differences in types of snow-flakes.
Evaluation of a longitudinal subspecialty clinic for internal medicine residents.

The traditional model for subspecialty education in internal medicine (IM) residencies is a short inpatient consult rotation, which often lacks outpatient exposure and continuity with faculty. Our ...
Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Molecular Diagnostic Laboratories

Clinical laboratories are expected to provide accurate and sensitive diagnostic tests. In the meantime, clinical laboratories are facing many challenges including rapidly evolving technologies, increasing test needs, and complexity. Like any complicated process, molecular laboratories are not immune from quality problems. Quality control and assurance help to monitor testing performance and provides additional confidence in the quality and reliability of laboratory operations. In addition, clinical laboratory operation, particularly test validation, is one of the heavily regulated areas in clinical practice. In this chapter, we will focus on the common concept of quality control and assurance, regulatory requirements for laboratory operation.
Operators in Cowen-Douglas classes

The paper introduces a new approach to the Cowen-Douglas theory based on the notion of a spanning holomorphic cross-section. This approach is less geometric and enables one to obtain several additional results, including one about the similarity of operators in the Cowen-Douglass classes and another about the representation of these operators as the adjoint of multiplication by $z$ on certain Hilbert spaces of holomorphic functions.
Poetic Closure: A Study of How Poems End

In "Poetic Closure", distinguished literary scholar Barbara Herrnstein Smith explores the provocative question: How do poems end? To answer it, Smith examines numerous individual poems and examples of common poetic forms in order to reveal the relationship between closure and the overall structure and integrity of a poem. First published in 1968, Smith's book remains essential reading in poetic theory.
On theorists and data in computational neuroscience

A diversity of activities in neuroscience are labeled 'theory'. Developing Bayesian spike sorting algorithms, making a theory of consciousness, attractor neural network dynamics, constructing multi-compartment simulations of neurons, these and many other activities have a theoretical component. So of course there is a role for theory in neuroscience.
Mechanism of RNA synthesis initiation by the vesicular stomatitis virus polymerase

The minimal RNA synthesis machinery of non-segmented negative-strand RNA viruses comprises a genomic RNA encased within a nucleocapsid protein (N-RNA), and associated with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). The RdRP is contained within a viral large (L) protein, which associates with N-RNA through a phosphoprotein (P). Here, we define that vesicular stomatitis virus L initiates synthesis via a de-novo mechanism that does not require N or P, but depends on a high concentration of the first two nucleotides and specific template requirements. Purified L copies a template devoid of N, and P stimulates L initiation and processivity. Full processivity of the polymerase requires the template-associated N protein. This work provides new mechanistic insights into the workings of a minimal RNA synthesis machine shared by a broad group of important human, animal and plant pathogens, and defines a mechanism by which specific inhibitors of RNA synthesis function.
Struggling for space and finding my place: An interactionist perspective on everyday use of biomedical information

Information use intrigues information behavior researchers, though many have struggled with how to conceptualize and study this phenomenon. Some work suggests that information may have social uses, hinting that information use is more complicated than previous frameworks suggest. Therefore, we use a micro-sociological, symbolic interactionist approach to examine the use of one type of information—biomedical information—in the everyday life interactions of chronic illness patients and their families. Based on a grounded theory analysis of 60 semi-structured interviews (30 individual patient interviews and 30 family group interviews) and observations within the family group interviews, we identify 4 categories of information use: (a) knowing my body; (b) mapping the social terrain; (c) asserting autonomy; and (d) puffing myself up. Extending previous research, the findings demonstrate use of biomedical information in interactions that construct a valued self for the patient: a person who holds authority, and who is unique and cared for. In so doing, we contribute novel insights regarding the use of information to manage social emotions such as shame, and to construct embodied knowledge that is mobilized in action to address disease-related challenges. We thus offer an expanded conceptualization of information use that provides new directions for research and practice.
The Effect of Robotics Competitions on High School Students' Attitudes toward Science

This study was designed to examine the impact of participating in an after-school robotics competition on high school students' attitudes toward science. Specifically, this study used the Test of Science-Related Attitude to measure students' social implications of science, normality of scientists, attitude toward scientific inquiry, adoption of scientific attitudes, enjoyment of science lessons, leisure interest in science, and career interest in science. Results indicated that students who participated in a robotic competition had a more positive attitude toward science and science-related areas in four of the seven categories examined: social implications of science, normality of scientists, attitude toward scientific inquiry, and adoption of scientific attitudes. Implications of results on students' attitudes are discussed.
Effect of Ala-2-D-Trp-8-D-Cys-14-Somatostatin on the Arginine Induced Release of Insulin, gh and Glucagon in Normal men

The effects of several doses of somatostatin (SS) and the analog Ala-2-D-Trp-8-D-Cys-14-SS on the arginine-induced release of insulin, glucagon, and GH were compared in a group of normal human subjects. Somatostatin suppressed the release of insulin, glucagon and GH when administered in a dose of 100 μ/hr. The same dose of Ala-2-D-Trp-8-D-Cys-14-SS inhibited GH and glucagon release, but although insulin levels were decreased about 24%, this inhibition was not significant statistically. Higher doses of Ala-2-D-Trp-8-D-Cys-14-SS (300 μ/hr) induced a partial inhibition of insulin secretion and completely blocked GH release. These results indicate that in humans this analog is a less potent inhibitor of insulin release than somatostatin.
Patterns of courtship between cowbird subspecies: evidence for positive assortment

Abstract The courtship and mating behaviour of captive individuals from allopatric populations of two cowbird subspecies ( Molothrus ater ater and Molothrus ater obscurus ) were observed in a large indoor-outdoor aviary, using a multiple-choice design in order to assess whether they would selectively pair with members of their own subspecies. Twenty-nine of the 42 consortships observed were between consubspecifics, and 10 of the 15 copulating pairs were homogamic. Individuals tended to pair with consubspecifics whether or not they had had prior breeding experience with consubspecifics or winter contact with heterosubspecifics. This demonstration of selective courtship between individuals of widely separated populations is one of the first quantified examples, to our knowledge, of the development of assortative pairing in allopatry for a passerine species. These data place in perspective previous findings on the female cowbird's preferential response to playback of her own subspecies' song, thereby suggesting that song may be an important cue for selective mating between passerine populations.
A numerical study of baroclinic chaos

Abstract A numerical model is used to study the transition between various types of periodic and chaotic behavior in a two-layer baroclinic circumferential flow. At small supercriticality F − F c and low friction Γ, a type of chaos similar to that predicted by low-order or weakly-nonlinear models is found. However, contrary to the predictions of these relatively simple models, this type of aperiodic behavior, first discovered by E. N. Lorenz in his classic study of thermal convection, occupies only a small bubble in the F − Γ parameter-space. As the supercriticality is increased the aperiodic regime terminates abruptly and a broad band of periodic motions separates the weakly-nonlinear chaotic region from a higher-dimensional type of chaos that occurs at larger F − F c Wave-wave vacillation is predicted near the crossing of the wavenumber −1 and wavenumber −2 neutral curves. The calculations are in qualitative agreement with experiments, especially in that the transition to chaos at moderate F − F c, as Γ...
Thin Primary Cutaneous Melanomas Associated Detection Patterns, Lesion Characteristics, and Patient Characteristics

BACKGROUND Public awareness and education may lead to the detection of thinner melanomas, which may result in a decrease in morbidity and mortality rates. Which detection patterns, lesion, and patient characteristics are associated with early detection? METHODS Using the University of Michigan prospective melanoma database, the detection patterns, lesion characteristics, and patient characteristics of 1515 consecutive patients with in situ or invasive cutaneous melanomas were reviewed. Tumor thickness (measured in millimeters) was evaluated in relationship to detection patterns (patient, physician, spouse), lesion characteristics (change in color, size, shape/elevation, ulceration, bleeding, tenderness, itching), and patient characteristics (gender, skin type, number of atypical and clinically benign nevi, history of sunburn, personal and family history of melanoma). RESULTS Patient characteristics associated with early detection included female gender, at least one atypical nevus, greater than 20 clinically benign nevi, and/or a personal history of melanoma. Skin types I, II, and III, a history of sunburn, and/or a family history of melanoma were also associated with thinner lesions, but these associations were not statistically significant. Lesion characteristics associated with earlier detection included a change in color, size, shape/elevation, and/or itching. Physician-detected melanomas were significantly thinner than patient or spouse-detected lesions. CONCLUSIONS Educational campaigns should include increasing melanoma awareness in males and educating the public on the early signs and symptoms. Education should be directed at both high and low-risk groups. Physicians should consider performing total skin examinations routinely on patients. Although they detect a relatively small percentage of all melanomas, physicians detect significantly thinner lesions. Cancer 2002;95:1562–8. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10880
Studies in chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The relatively minor instrumental modifications necessary to allow the operation of a CEC-21-110B mass spectrometer at pressures as high as 0·5 torr are discussed. The chemical ionization mass spectra of a series of substituted benzophenones have been investigated with several reactant gases: methane, ethane, propane and isobutane. The spectra and behavior of these gases are discussed in general and the specific fragmentation processes of these substituted benzophenones with propane are presented in some detail.
Order and democracy: Trade‐offs between social control and civil liberties at Lake Parc Place

Abstract This article applies the classic theories of Thomas Hobbes and John Stuart Mill to the issue of maintaining order, using Chicago's Lake Parc Place public housing project as a case study. I find that public housing residents living in frightening circumstances may be willing to give up some liberties to gain stability and order, but that very order can in turn provide them with the civil space necessary for them to become active participants in their own governance. While Lake Parc Place residents willingly submitted to strict rules to secure a sense of safety, as Hobbes would suggest, once order was established they chose Mill's path, becoming involved in managing their own community. Thus, policies restricting liberties to increase safety have the potential to increase civic participation.
An efficient algorithm for the Hurwitz zeta and related functions

A simple class of algorithms for the efficient computation of the Hurwitz zeta and related special functions is given. The algorithms also provide a means of computing fundamental mathematical constants to arbitrary precision. A number of extensions as well as numerical examples are briefly described. The algorithms are easy to implement and compete with Euler-Maclaurin summation-based methods.
Beyond CoCom: A comparative study of five national export control systems and their implications for a multilateral nonproliferation regime

The effectiveness of the CoCom successor regime to limit the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will depend on the adoption of clear and comprehensive export control lists and thorough consistent implementation and enforcement by all its members. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the export control systems of the major supplier countries, since the regime will operate on the basis of “national discretion’—allowing each country to decide for itself how to implement and enforce its own export control system. This article compares the export control systems of Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Japan as case studies and emphasizes the disparities among these systems that could undermine the multilateral nonproliferation regime.
The temperature field surrounding a dynamically propagating mode III crack

The asymptotic fields for dynamic mode III crack propagation have been used to determine the temperature rise near the crack tip. This analysis includes the effects of inertia on the strain singularity and does not specify the strength of the heat source a priori, but determines this source from the overall governing equations. The assumptions made here are that the material is elastic-perfectly plastic and thermally insensitive and that asymptotic fields will dominate the temperature generation.
Activation parameters of the oxidation of tetraphenylborate ion by hexahaloiridate(IV) complexes

Abstract The oxidation of BPh−4 by IrCl2−6 and IrBr2−6 has been studied as a function of temperature. The rate law of the oxidation is -d[Ir(IV)]/dt = 2 k2 [IrX2−6][BPh−4 where k2 (25 °C) is 87.0 (±2.3) and 74.4 (±3.1) M−1 s−1, respectively for IrCl2−6 and IrBr2−6 as oxidant. The activation enthalpies and entropies obtained are 11.9 (±0.5) Kcal/mole, and −9.73 (±1.0) e.u. for BPh−4 + IrCl2−6, and 13.5 (±0.5) Kcal/mole and −4.70 (±1.0) e.u. for BPh−4 + IrBr2−6.
GESTURAL BEHAVIOR AS A RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL STIMULI

While viewing a. weekly informational program on commercial television we observed a very interesting phenomenon. The TV program dealt with microorganisms which live on the human body, such as those that live on people's skin, under their fingernails, in their hair, and on their eyelashes. The program was very informative relative to the human body's habitation by these many microorganisms. Inadvertently we observed the tremendous increase in frequency of scratching/rubbing. Viewing the program seemed to "cause" many of the college students present to feel as if the little creatures were in fact crawling on them. The imagined irritations consisted of a crawling feeling present on the skin and in the hair, and a resulting need to scratch and/or rub the face, hair, arms, etc. The longer the viewers watched the microorganisms crawling around on the human body in the televised program, the greater the feeling seemed to be that those microorganisms could be sensed crawling upon the viewers themselves. These organisms were ones which the viewer would not ordinarily think about; however, during and after viewing the program he was fully aware of their presence. Observing this behavior prompted further investigation. Could it be that much of our nonverbal postural and gestural behavior is externally cued? Or, might we believe, as some others tend to profess, that nonverbal gesturing is internally cued with a single meaning/interpretation? Attempts to assess the meanings of postural and gestural behaviors have a rather lengthy history. One such attempt (Krout, 1935) coined the term "autistic" gestures to describe gestures directed toward the self that have no apparent meaning. He concluded that many such behaviors in fact represent internal conflict and act as tension releasers. As an intended test of Gout's hypothesis, Berg ( 1954) attempted to establish a relationship between symbolic sexual behaviors and problems in psychotherapy, with no success. Sainsbury (1955) found that autistic behaviors increased with affective disturbance, and
Calling the Question: Do College Instructors Actually Grade Participation?

The author explores an assumption evident in the literature that “most” college instructors grade participation in undergraduate courses. Instructors (N = 521) at a large, northeastern university were surveyed regarding their attitudes and practices in grading participation in undergraduate courses. A survey instrument was developed for the purpose of this study and subjected to principal components analysis. This instrument yielded seven subscales of acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha ≥ .70), three of which are the focus of this article. Results suggest that the majority of instructors across disciplines do incorporate a “participation” factor into students’ final course grades. Course level is not a significant correlate, but some differences may be observed by discipline. Underlying instructor beliefs are examined, and implications and future directions for research are discussed.
Tri‐n‐Butylborane oxide‐initiated homopolymerization of vinyl monomers containing cyano or isocyanato groups

Homopolymers of 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate, ethyl α-cyanoacrylate, and ethyl α-is-ocyanatoacrylate were prepared in tetrahydrofuran at 22 to 25°C using tri-n-butylborane oxide as a free radical initiator. Additionally, ethyl α-isocyanatoacrylate was homopolymerized using 2,2′-azobis(2-methylbutyronitrile) as the initiator. Homopolymers were characterized by photoacoustic FT-IR, DSC, and elemental analysis. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.