cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Juvenile Hormone Suppresses Resistance to Infection in Mated Female Drosophila melanogaster

Summary Hormonal signaling provides metazoans with the ability to regulate development, growth, metabolism, immune defense, and reproduction in response to internal and external stimuli. The use of hormones as central regulators of physiology makes them prime candidates for mediating allocation of resources to competing biological functions (i.e., hormonal pleiotropy) [1]. In animals, reproductive effort often results in weaker immune responses (e.g., [2–4]), and this reduction is sometimes linked to hormone signaling (see [5–7]). In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster , mating and the receipt of male seminal fluid proteins results in reduced resistance to a systemic bacterial infection [8, 9]. Here, we evaluate whether the immunosuppressive effect of reproduction in female D. melanogaster is attributable to the endocrine signal juvenile hormone (JH), which promotes the development of oocytes and the synthesis and deposition of yolk protein [10, 11]. Previous work has implicated JH as immunosuppressive [12, 13], and the male seminal fluid protein Sex Peptide (SP) activates JH biosynthesis in female D. melanogaster after mating [14]. We find that transfer of SP activates synthesis of JH in the mated female, which in turn suppresses resistance to infection through the receptor germ cell expressed ( gce ). We find that mated females are more likely to die from infection, suffer higher pathogen burdens, and are less able to induce their immune responses. All of these deficiencies are rescued when JH signaling is blocked. We argue that hormonal signaling is important for regulating immune system activity and, more generally, for governing trade-offs between physiological processes.
Increasing awareness with recognition of pulsatile tinnitus for nurse practitioners in the primary care setting: A case study.

Background and purpose Pulsatile tinnitus is a whooshing sound heard synchronous with the heartbeat. It is an uncommon symptom affecting fewer than 10% of patients with tinnitus. It often goes unrecognized in the primary care setting. Failure to recognize this symptom can result in a missed or delayed diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening condition known as a dural arteriovenous fistula. The purpose of this case study is to provide a structured approach to the identification of pulsatile tinnitus and provide management recommendations. Method A case study and review of pertinent literature. Conclusions Pulsatile tinnitus usually has a vascular treatable cause. A comprehensive history and physical examination will alert the nurse practitioner (NP) when pulsatile tinnitus is present. Auscultation in specific areas of the head can detect audible or objective pulsatile tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus that is audible to the examiner is an urgent medical condition requiring immediate consultation and referral. Implications for practice Knowledge of pulsatile tinnitus and awareness of this often treatable condition directs the NP to perform a detailed assessment when patients present with tinnitus, directs appropriate referral for care and treatment, and can reduce the risk of delayed or missed diagnosis.
Futures Perfect and Visioneering: a Re-Assessment

In this essay, I review the concept of visioneering as I developed it and consider the ways in which other scholars have deployed it.
Thermophysical Properties of Chlorine from Speed-of-Sound Measurements

The speed of sound was measured in gaseous chlorine using a highly precise acoustic resonance technique. The data span the temperature range 260 to 440 K and the pressure range 100 kPa to the lesser of 1500 kPa or 80% of the sample's vapor pressure. A small correction (0.003 to 0.06%) to the observed resonance frequencies was required to account for dispersion caused by the vibrational relaxation of chlorine. The speed-of-sound measurements have a relative standard uncertainty of 0.01%. The data were analyzed to obtain the ideal-gas heat capacity as a function of the temperature with a relative standard uncertainty of 0.1%. The reported values of C o p are in agreement with those determined from spectroscopic data. The speed-of-sound data were fitted by virial equations of state to obtain the temperature dependent density virial coefficients. Two virial coefficient models were employed, one based on square-well intermolecular potentials and the second based on a hard-core Lennard–Jones intermolecular potential. The resulting virial equations reproduced the sound speed data to within 0.01% and may be used to calculate vapor densities with relative standard uncertainties of 0.1% or less.
Research Imaging of Brain Structure and Function After Concussion

Even when concussions are associated with prolonged physical and cognitive sequelae, concussions are typically "invisible" on diagnostic brain imaging, indicating that the neuropathology associated with concussion lies under the detection threshold of routine imaging. However, data from brain structural and functional research imaging studies using diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and brain perfusion imaging indicate that these imaging sequences have a role in identifying concussion-related neuropathology. These advanced imaging techniques provide insights into concussion neuropathology and might be useful for differentiating concussed patients from healthy controls. In this review article, we provide an overview of research findings from brain structural and functional imaging studies of concussion, and discuss the accuracy of classification models developed via machine-learning algorithms for identifying individual patients with concussion based on imaging data.
Vasogenic Brain Edema and Intracranial Pressure in Experimental Carbon Dioxide Laser Brain Lesions

With the increased application of carbon dioxide lasers in neurological surgery, studies have been and are being carried out on its effect on nervous tissues. Most of these have primarily dealt with the histological changes seen following laser impacts. Other studies have looked at microcirculatory changes, as well as comparisons between the effects of lasers and electrocautery.
Psychotherapeutic Discretion and Judicial Decision: A Case of Enigmatic Justice

On October 27, 1969, Prosenjit Poddar, a 25-year old graduate student from India, fatally shot and stabbed Tatiana Tarasoff, a young junior college student. One might suppose that this was a crime of passion with a familiar pattern: a spurned suitor’s desire for revenge erupts into an uncontrollable (or perhaps only uncontrolled) impulse to destroy the rejecting woman. Not unexpectedly, the jury convicted Poddar of second-degree murder, despite a plea of insanity and diminished capacity that was considerably buttressed by psychiatric and lay testimony as to Poddar’s bizarre behavior. Poddar’s criminal trial might have ended with his conviction and sentencing, followed by his serving about five years (the average time served for second-degree murder1) and, if his prison behavior was acceptable, his release on parole.
Parameterizing the basal melt of tabular icebergs

Abstract In this study, we consider the influence of icebergs on the ocean when they are modeled as occupying physical space, to answer the question of how the melting of icebergs and subsequent distribution of meltwater in the water column might be accurately parameterized in climate models. Iceberg melt is analyzed by comparing in-situ melt rates calculated via the three-equation parameterization, which was developed for application under ice shelves, with the commonly used bulk parameterization of iceberg basal melt. Our results suggest an updated velocity-independent version of the basal melt parameterization for tabular icebergs for use in calculating the basal melt rate of icebergs that are large (relative to the deformation radius), to account for the changes in ocean properties caused by the physical presence of a large iceberg in the ocean.
RIN: Reformulation Inference Network for Context-Aware Query Suggestion

Search engine users always endeavor to reformulate queries during search sessions for articulating their information needs because it is not always easy to articulate the search intents. To further ameliorate the reformulation process, search engines may provide some query suggestions based on previous queries. In this paper, we propose Reformulation Inference Network (RIN) to learn how users reformulate queries, thereby benefiting context-aware query suggestion. Instead of categorizing reformulations into predefined patterns, we represent queries and reformulations in a homomorphic hidden space through heterogeneous network embedding. To capture the structure of the session context, a recurrent neural network (RNN) with the attention mechanism is employed to encode the search session by reading the homomorphic query and reformulation embeddings. It enables the model to explicitly captures the former reformulation for each query in the search session and directly learn user reformulation behaviors, from which query suggestion may benefit as shown in previous studies. To generate query suggestions, a binary classifier and an RNN-based decoder are introduced as the query discriminator and the query generator. Inspired by the intuition that model accurately predicting the next reformulation can also correctly infer the next intended query, a reformulation inferencer is then designed for inferring the next reformulation in the latent space of homomorphic embeddings. Therefore, both question suggestion and reformulation prediction can be simultaneously optimized by multi-task learning. Extensive experiments are conducted on publicly available AOL search engine logs. The experimental results demonstrate that RIN outperforms competitive baselines across various situations for both discriminative and generative tasks of context-aware query suggestion.
Intrinsically ultrastrong plasmon-exciton interactions in crystallized films of carbon nanotubes.

In cavity quantum electrodynamics, optical emitters that are strongly coupled to cavities give rise to polaritons with characteristics of both the emitters and the cavity excitations. We show that carbon nanotubes can be crystallized into chip-scale, two-dimensionally ordered films and that this material enables intrinsically ultrastrong emitter–cavity interactions: Rather than interacting with external cavities, nanotube excitons couple to the near-infrared plasmon resonances of the nanotubes themselves. Our polycrystalline nanotube films have a hexagonal crystal structure, ∼25-nm domains, and a 1.74-nm lattice constant. With this extremely high nanotube density and nearly ideal plasmon–exciton spatial overlap, plasmon–exciton coupling strengths reach 0.5 eV, which is 75% of the bare exciton energy and a near record for room-temperature ultrastrong coupling. Crystallized nanotube films represent a milestone in nanomaterials assembly and provide a compelling foundation for high-ampacity conductors, low-power optical switches, and tunable optical antennas.
Evaluating the Strength of Structural Connectivity Underlying Brain Functional Networks

Abstract In recent years, there has been strong interest in neuroscience studies to investigate brain organization through networks of brain regions that demonstrate strong functional connectivity ...
Understanding the International Student Experience

Catherine Montgomery has depicted a clear picture of how international students encounter both social and cultural, academic differences and learn positively as a result of crosscultural experiences while studying as abroad sojourns in her book, Understanding the International Student Experience. She has established a strong relationship with foreign students who pursue higher education overseas with home cultures, languages, and learning backgrounds.
Afterword: Human Rights and the Science of Suffering

The author of this final chapter is a psychiatrist whose expertise includes a deep understanding of the impact of traumatic stress on individuals, groups, and organizations. She calls this understanding the “science of suffering” and in doing so ties together traumatic stress studies and human rights advocacy as two inseparable discourses, functioning at two different levels within any society—the first focusing on alleviation of suffering, the other on the prevention of suffering. She reviews the changing relationship between these two discourses over time showing how that relationship has shifted depending on dominant themes within the psychiatric profession as psychiatry moves toward and then away from grappling with the social determinants of health that are irrevocably tied to human rights.
Conclusions: On Pragmatist Performance Philosophy

This chapter examines theoretical methodologies often used to analyze dance process, performance, and reception. After discussing the ability of the methodologies to account for the plurality of dance experience, Mullis argues for a pragmatic instrumentalism which holds that different theories may be applied to distinct areas of an interdisciplinary performance research project. In addition, a theory-in-process approach is discussed which holds that theory provides the artist with conceptual resources that facilitate the understanding and negotiation of choreographic and dramaturgical problems. Mullis concludes by considering whether and how theatrical performance can advance philosophical inquiry, as well as the efficacy of political performance, the reach of performance philosophy, and standards of interdisciplinary performance research.
Visco-inertial gas flow through wellbore cement fractures

Abstract Understanding the nature of fluid flow through fractured wellbore cement is fundamental for evaluating the leakage potential and risk assessments of leaky wellbores. In this study, the conditions that require considering visco-inertial flow for describing the gas flow through wellbore cement fractures were investigated. Nitrogen gas flow tests were conducted on fractured cement samples under varying pressure conditions and flow rates, covering both viscous and visco-inertial flow regimes. The data substantially deviated from Darcy's law at higher flowrates and were well-fit to Forchheimer's equation for visco-inertial flow. The inertial coefficient and critical Reynolds number were expressed as a function of the hydraulic aperture. The empirical function obtained from the experiments was used as an input to numerical simulations which showed the significant role of visco-inertial flow in wellhead pressure build-up and leakage rates, and demonstrated the importance of visco-inertial flow when modeling gas flow through wellbore cement fractures.
Fuzzy Cognitive Maps in Agent Based Models: A Practicial Implementation Example

Agent Based Social Simulation (ABSS) has been used to create simulations with agents that contain cognitive models to achieve more realistic and explainable results by mimicking human cognition. However when using this technique the decision model used by agents is often a black box. Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) have been used to provide clear and transparent representations of cognition and could be used as models for agents in simulations to achieve results with better transparency. Utilizing FCMs to represent agents’ cognitions in social and organizational modeling is still an emerging field with limited work done to show how FCM and ABM can be combined for greater model interpretability. This paper provides 2 major contributions: (1) the use of FCM for agent’s design in social simulation as compared to previous research using different cognitive models, and (2) a system architecture consisting of 8 components that combine FCM and ABM for simulation.
A community of fear: emotion and the hydro-social cycle in East Porterville, California

Broader governance challenges driving water insecurity globally are well documented inthe literature, however the power-laden relationships and emotions that shape water access at the household and community levels are yet to be fully investigated, especially in the context of water consolidation projects. In this article, we examine the role of emotions in mediating access to water and in the production of resource struggles among marginalized communities,existing outside of conventional regulatory frameworks. We bring together two relational approaches – the hydro-social cycle and emotional political ecology – to examine water insecurity and how it manifests in the historically disadvantaged Latinx community of East Porterville, California; an unincorporated community faced with seven years of prolonged drought and widespread dry wells. Findings from qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with residents and local experts and participant observation revealed that the emotions of fear, suffering, embarrassment, shame, and compassion facilitated the reproduction of water insecurity in certain households while engendering access in others. Social hierarchy and horizontal relationships mattered, particularly in how emotions were mobilized and contested and the effects they produced for households. Furthermore, this article shows that water struggles and solutions are emotional processes with political and livelihood implications and thus require attention beyond engineering solutions.
Brain growth in congenital heart disease from prenatal environment to adulthood

Abstract Over the past several decades, improved survival for children with moderate–severe congenital heart defects has led to heightened recognition of the long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae associated with this diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging studies have identified that abnormal brain growth is common in congenital heart disease and is associated with impaired cognitive and motor outcomes. Deficits in brain growth begin prenatally, progress along an altered trajectory after birth, and continue to be present in adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease. Global disturbances in cerebral white and gray matter development contribute to impaired brain growth and result from altered prenatal cardiac physiology, postnatal hemodynamic changes, surgical and perioperative clinical factors, and genetic variants.
Advancing equitable health and well-being across urban–rural sustainable infrastructure systems

Infrastructure systems have direct implications for how health and well-being evolve across urban–rural systems. Scientists, practitioners, and policy-makers use domain-specific methods and tools to characterize sectors of infrastructure, but these approaches do not capture the cascading effects across interrelated infrastructure and governance domains. We argue that the development and management of sustainable urban infrastructure must focus on interactions across urban and rural places to advance equitable health and well-being. We call for a research agenda that focuses on urban–rural infrastructure systems, addressing trade-offs and synergies, decision-making, institutional arrangements, and effective co-production of knowledge across the diverse places connected by infrastructure.
AI-DRIVEN QUANTIFICATION OF GROUND GLASS OPACITIES IN LUNGS OF COVID-19 PATIENTS USING 3D COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING

ObjectivesGround-glass opacity (GGO) -- a hazy, gray appearing density on computed tomography (CT) of lungs -- is one of the hallmark features of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients. This AI-driven study is focused on segmentation, morphology, and distribution patterns of GGOs. MethodWe use an AI-driven unsupervised machine learning approach called PointNet++ to detect and quantify GGOs in CT scans of COVID-19 patients and to assess the severity of the disease. We have conducted our study on the "MosMedData", which contains CT lung scans of 1110 patients with or without COVID-19 infections. We quantify the morphologies of GGOs using Minkowski tensors and compute the abnormality score of individual regions of segmented lung and GGOs. ResultsPointNet++ detects GGOs with the highest evaluation accuracy (98%), average class accuracy (95%), and intersection over union (92%) using only a fraction of 3D data. On average, the shapes of GGOs in the COVID-19 datasets deviate from sphericity by 15% and anisotropies in GGOs are dominated by dipole and hexapole components. These anisotropies may help to quantitatively delineate GGOs of COVID-19 from other lung diseases. ConclusionThe PointNet++ and the Minkowski tensor based morphological approach together with abnormality analysis will provide radiologists and clinicians with a valuable set of tools when interpreting CT lung scans of COVID-19 patients. Implementation would be particularly useful in countries severely devastated by COVID-19 such as India, where the number of cases has outstripped available resources creating delays or even breakdowns in patient care. This AI-driven approach synthesizes both the unique GGO distribution pattern and severity of the disease to allow for more efficient diagnosis, triaging and conservation of limited resources. Key PointsOur approach to GGO analysis has four distinguishing features: O_LIWe combine an unsupervised computer vision approach with convex hull and convex points algorithms to segment and preserve the actual structure of the lung. C_LIO_LITo the best of our knowledge, we are the first group to use PointNet++ architecture for 3D visualization, segmentation, classification, and pattern analysis of GGOs. C_LIO_LIWe make abnormality predictions using a deep network and Cox proportional hazards model using lung CT images of COVID-19 patients. C_LIO_LIWe quantify the shapes and sizes of GGOs using Minkowski tensors to understand the morphological variations of GGOs within the COVID-19 cohort. C_LI
Empathy and Moral Development: Relationship Guilt and Other Virtual Guilts

Once children have Transgression → Guilt scripts and the awareness of harming others makes them feel guilty, they may feel guilty any time they think they committed a transgression, even when they did not. I call this virtual guilt, and the presumed harmful act, virtual transgression. In virtual transgressions one has not caused another's distress; at least not knowingly, but blames oneself for it anyway. This is not a new concept: One of the definitions of guilt in Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (1985) is “feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses” (p. 542). The developmentally earliest instances of virtual transgressions were reported by Zahn-Waxler et al., (1979). Children 15 to 20 months old who encountered their mother looking sad or sobbing for no apparent reason, would look sad themselves, approach and try to comfort the mother. This suggests they felt empathic distress (but also perhaps some anxiety, as this was their mother, their source of security). More important for present purposes, about a third of the infants seemed to blame themselves for the mother's distress, saying something like “I sorry, Mommy, did I do anything wrong?” or spanking themselves. There is no evidence they actually felt guilty: They could have simply imitated the behavior of others in similar situations. But there is evidence their behavior reflects at least a rudimentary form of self-blame: In laboratory assessments 5 years later, infants who showed this guiltlike behavior produced more guilt themes than the infants who did not (Cummings, Hollenbeck, Iannotti, Radke-Yarrow, & Zahn-Waxler, 1986).
Reactive and automatic behavior in plan execution

Much of the work on execution assumes that the agent constantly senses the environment, which lets it respond immediately to errors or unexpected events. In this paper, we argue that this purely reactive strategy is only optimal if sensing is inexpensive, and we formulate a simple model of execution that incorporates the cost of sensing. We present an average-case analysis of this model, which shows that in domains with high sensing cost or low probability of error, a more 'automatic' strategy - one with long intervals between sensing - can lead to less expensive execution. The analysis also shows that the distance to the goal has no effect on the optimal sensing interval. These results run counter to the prevailing wisdom in the planning community, but they promise a more balanced approach to the interleaving of execution and sensing.
EVALUATING MBA-PROGRAM ADMISSIONS CRITERIA: The Relationship Between Pre-MBA Work Experience and Post-MBA Career Outcomes

It has become common practice among U.S. business schools to require potential students to have substantial work experience before admission to MBA programs. Yet, the benefits of this selection criterion have not been fully articulated nor empirically examined. This article explores the relationships between years of pre-MBA work experience and post-MBA career outcomes. Specifically, we examine the effects of prior work experience on cash compensation, career satisfaction, number of promotions, and individuals' propensity to stay with their first post-MBA employer. Results indicate that previous work experience is not significantly related to graduates'' tenure in their first post-MBA position. Furthermore, counter to conventional wisdom, MBAs without prior work experience were more satisfied, had received more promotions, and earned more cash compensation than some of their more experienced counterparts. The implications of these findings for those responsible for admissions in graduate professional schools and for corporate recruiters are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.
Simulation and Visualization of Indoor Acoustics Using Phonon Tracing

We present an overview of our simulation and visualization system for sound propagation within closed rooms. For acoustic simulation we use a particle-tracing algorithm, the phonon tracing, which is suitable to simulate mid- and high-frequency sound. For low-frequency sound we have to fall back on FEM methods, which solve the wave equation. The result of the phonon-tracing algorithm, the phonon map, is used as a starting point for the visualization of sound propagation and exploration of the influence of different scene surfaces on the acoustic behavior of the room.
Chromatographic studies of mitomycin C degradation in albumin microspheres.

Abstract Serum albumins and polylactic acid (PLA) have been used as bioerodable polymers in the preparation of drug-containing microspheres for parenteral drug delivery. The albumin microsphere may be prepared via either chemical cross-linking or heat denaturation of the protein. Heat-denatured albumin microspheres containing mitomycin C (MMC) have been used in pre-clinical and clinical investigations. Due to the high reactivity of MMC as a bifunctional alkylating agent, a study on the stability of MMC in the albumin and PLA microspheres has been carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Human serum albumin (HSA) microspheres were prepared using an emulsion method via either heat denaturation at 120 or 170°C or the use of 0.5 M biacetyl as a cross-linking agent. The PLA microspheres were prepared by an emulsion method at 55°C. HPLC analysis of the HSA microspheres showed that about 37% of MMC was converted to 2,7-diaminomitosene derivatives in microspheres prepared by heat denaturation at 120°C. The degradation increased to 82% when the microspheres were prepared with a denaturation temperature of 170°C. The use of biacetyl as a cross-linking agent in the preparation of HSA microspheres resulted in a complete degradation of the incorporated MMC. Biacetyl was found to interact with MMC leading to the formation of 7-aminomitosene derivatives. In contrast to the albumin system, MMC may be incorporated into PLA microspheres without degradation.
The Effects of Training, Goal Setting, and Knowledge of Results on Safe Behavior: a Component Analysis.

This study demonstrated the benefits of providing knowledge of results (KR) in addition to goal setting in a strategy to improve occupational safety in a farm machinery manufacturing firm. An analy...
Endosomal NADPH oxidase regulates c-Src activation following hypoxia/reoxygenation injury.

c-Src has been shown to activate NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) following H/R (hypoxia/reoxygenation) by acting as a redox-dependent IκBα (inhibitory κB) tyrosine kinase. In the present study, we have investigated the redox-dependent mechanism of c-Src activation following H/R injury and found that ROS (reactive oxygen species) generated by endosomal Noxs (NADPH oxidases) are critical for this process. Endocytosis following H/R was required for the activation of endosomal Noxs, c-Src activation, and the ability of c-Src to tyrosine-phosphorylate IκBα. Quenching intra-endosomal ROS during reoxygenation inhibited c-Src activation without affecting c-Src recruitment from the plasma membrane to endosomes. However, siRNA (small interfering RNA)-mediated knockdown of Rac1 prevented c-Src recruitment into the endosomal compartment following H/R. Given that Rac1 is a known activator of Nox1 and Nox2, we investigated whether these two proteins were required for c-Src activation in Nox-deficient primary fibroblasts. Findings from these studies suggest that both Nox1 and Nox2 participate in the initial redox activation of c-Src following H/R. In summary, our results suggest that Rac1-dependent Noxs play a critical role in activating c-Src following H/R injury. This signalling pathway may be a useful therapeutic target for ischaemia/reperfusion-related diseases.
The Electrodeposition of Films of Chlorophyll-a Microcrystals and Their Spectroscopic Properties

Abstract It is found that a suspension of microcrystals of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in a nonpolar medium may be electrodeposited as a film on a cathode. Spectroscopic properties of the film indicate that it is quite uniform and consists of randomly oriented microcrystals. Upon heating, the electrodeposited microcrystalline film is transformed to an alternate form of aggregated Chl-a. This new film appears to resemble very closely the Chl-a films previously obtained in monolayer work. Either film may be dissolved into monomer form and it is seen how Chl-a monomer is conserved during the complete process proceeding from electrodeposition to thermal conversion and the final dissolution. Furthermore, it is found how the oscillator strength over the red-visible region is the same for the dissolved monomer and the second type of film. The simple excited state resonance model for the spectrum of the latter is thus supported. The oscillator strength of the microcrystal film, by contrast, is about 40% greater. Such e...
Magnesium-salinity relation in the saline lake ostracode Cyprideis americana

Magnesium concentration in the carapace of live specimens of the euryhaline ostracode Cyprideis americana from lakes of varying salinity on San Salvador Island, Bahamas, is inversely related to salinity. Temperature exerts little if any control of Mg content over the range observed. Magnesium concentration in well-preserved fossil specimens of C. americana reveal paleosalinities in close agreement with results obtained from fossil ostracode assemblages, apparent sea-level-salinity relations, and sedimentological observations.
On the computational complexity of the Abelian permutation group structure, membership and intersection problem

Abstract Algorithms on computations on abelian permutation groups are presented here. An algorithm for computing the complete structure, algorithms for membership-inclusion testing and an algorithm for computing the intersection of abelian permutation groups are given. Their worst-case time complexity is a polynomial of degree 4 in terms of n , the number of points moved by the group. The upper bounds on the running time of the algorithms shown here improve the bounds on the above problems cited in the literature.
The effect of controllable and uncontrollable neonatal preshocks on adult escape/avoidance behavior in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

Neonatal guinea pigs were given escapable, inescapable, or no shock and were later tested as adults on a signaled escape/avoidance task. During the neonatal period, the animals that could escape shock learned to do so quickly and steadily increased their overall level of activity, while those that could not, displayed a consistent decline in activity. Furthermore, during adult escape/avoidance sessions, guinea pigs, that could control neonatal shock were superior to those that lacked such control. These findings extend the generality of the interference effect to the guinea pig and highlight the influence of early control of aversive events on this phenomenon. The occurrence of considerable intraspecies varia­ bility is one of the most serious problems besetting current laboratory investigations of the interference (or "learned helplessness") effect in animals. For example, exposure to uncontrollable aversive stimuli does not always retard the subsequent acquisition of instru­ mental escape/avoidance behavior. Indeed, in their original experiments with dogs, Maier and Seligman (1976) reported that 330J0 of those animals given in­ escapable preshocks subsequently learned quite normally in the shuttlebox. Furthermore, 6070 of the dogs failed to learn even though they had never been previously exposed to shock. In trying to account for this variability, Maier and Seligman suggested that it is essential to consider the animal's prior history. For example, those that have had considerable early ex­ perience controlling aversive stimuli may be immune to the effects of inescapable aversive events in adult­ hood, while those that have had no such experi­ ence or have had extensive prior exposure to un­ controllable aversive events may be particularly re­ tarded when exposed to adult trauma.
Evaluation of the communications impact of a low power arcjet thruster

The interaction of a 1 kW arcjet thruster plume with a communications signal is evaluated. A two-parameter, source flow equation has been used to represent the far flow field distribution of the arcjet plume in a realistic spacecraft configuration. Modelling the plume as a plasma slab, the interaction of the plume with a 4 GHz communications signal is then evaluated in terms of signal attenuation and phase shift between transmitting and receiving antennas. Except for propagation paths which pass very near the arcjet source, the impacts to transmission appear to be negligible. The dominant signal loss mechanism is refraction of the beam rather than absorption losses due to collisions. However, significant reflection of the signal at the sharp vacuum-plasma boundary may also occur for propagation paths which pass near the source.
Classifying organic materials by oxygen-to-carbon elemental ratio to predict the activation regime of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN).

Abstract. The governing highly soluble, slightly soluble, or insoluble activation regime of organic compounds as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) was examined as a function of oxygen-to-carbon elemental ratio (O : C). New data were collected for adipic, pimelic, suberic, azelaic, and pinonic acids. Secondary organic materials (SOMs) produced by α-pinene ozonolysis and isoprene photo-oxidation were also included in the analysis. The saturation concentrations C of the organic compounds in aqueous solutions served as the key parameter for delineating regimes of CCN activation, and the values of C were tightly correlated to the O : C ratios. The highly soluble, slightly soluble, and insoluble regimes of CCN activation were found to correspond to ranges of [O : C] > 0.6, 0.2
Miracles and laws of nature

In this paper, I argue that miracles should not be defined as involving violations of natural laws. They should be defined as signs of particular volitions of the deity or of other supernatural agents. I suggest that one may, without any prior belief in the existence of such supernatural agents, reasonably come to believe that one has witnessed miracles.
Resonant-frequency discharge in a multi-cell radio frequency cavity

We are reporting experimental results on a microwave discharge operating at resonant frequency in a multi-cell radio frequency (RF) accelerator cavity. Although the discharge operated at room temperature, the setup was constructed so that it could be used for plasma generation and processing in fully assembled active superconducting radio-frequency cryo-module. This discharge offers a mechanism for removal of a variety of contaminants, organic or oxide layers, and residual particulates from the interior surface of RF cavities through the interaction of plasma-generated radicals with the cavity walls. We describe resonant RF breakdown conditions and address the issues related to resonant detuning due to sustained multi-cell cavity plasma. We have determined breakdown conditions in the cavity, which was acting as a plasma vessel with distorted cylindrical geometry. We discuss the spectroscopic data taken during plasma removal of contaminants and use them to evaluate plasma parameters, characterize the process, and estimate the volatile contaminant product removal.
Missing Data in Homicide Research

This article is an introduction to the special issue of Homicide Studies on missing data. The first section is an overview of the status of missing data approaches in homicide research. It begins by describing the importance of missing data estimation in homicide. This is followed by a discussion of missing data mechanisms, complete case analysis, imputation and weighting, and model-based procedures. The second section is a brief description of each of the articles in this issue. The conclusion describes the myth associated with imputing missing data, the use of missing data approaches in public records, the Supreme Court case that found hot-deck imputation acceptable for the census, and guidelines for handling missing data published by the American Psychological Association. This section concludes by describing the kinds of research that need to be done.
A liver transplant center experience with liver dialysis in the management of patients with fulminant hepatic failure: a preliminary report.

Abstract Among extracorporeal liver support devices, liver dialysis is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used for the management of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). The outcomes of patients following liver dialysis need to be clearly evaluated. Among the 25 patients with FHF admitted to the Liver ICU between May 2000 and November 2002, 12 underwent liver dialysis, including 6 men and 6 women, of mean age 32 years. The causes of FHF were identified as acetaminophen ( n = 10), herbal medications ( n = 1) and autoimmune disease ( n = 1). At presentation, the mean total bilirubin was 9.35 mg/dL (range, 0 to 1.3), mean ALT 3015 U/L (range, 0 to 48), mean AST 3457 (range, 0 to 42), mean ammonia 98 μmol/L (range, 10 to 60) and mean INR 1.88. A control group including 13 patients (2 men and 11 women), of mean age 27.8 years mean total bilirubin 5.66, mean ALT 3494, mean AST 3528, mean ammonia 113 and mean INR 3, were not treated with liver dialysis, due to the lack of machine availability or physician’s choice. The causes of FHF were acute hepatitis B ( n = 1), acetaminophen ( n = 10) or unknown ( n = 2). There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline characteristics of the two groups ( P > .05). Among the liver dialysis group, 1 patient died, 2 underwent OLTx, and 9 were discharged home. Among the control group; 4 patients died, 2 underwent OLTx, and 7 were discharged home. Preliminary results seem to support survival benefit among patients who underwent liver dialysis compared to non–liver dialysis; however, further randomized control trials are warranted to verify this observation.
Rotational kinematics and torques for triaxial bodies

Abstract Precession of the orbit poles and spin poles for triaxial bodies, including the possibility of phase locking, is addressed here. We provide a simple derivation of the time-averaged gravitational potential and associated torque, thereby confirming the results of Gladman et al. (Gladman, B., Quinn, D., Nicholson, P., Rand, R. [1996]. Icarus 122, 166–192).
Precision second-Sound velocity measurements in Helium II

The velocity of second soundu2 in helium II under its saturated vapor pressure was measured in an acoustic resonator with a typical precision of 0.07% and was found to agree with existing measurements. Data were taken from 1.135 to 2.09 K, with special attention given to the local maximum near 1.65 K, which can be used as a temperature reference point. A least squares cubic spline fit is given to the present data and selected data of other authors givingu2 from 0.55 K to within 60 µK of Tλ.
Surface tension of polymer solutions. IV. Three‐component mixtures

The lattice-theory equations for the surface tensions of polymer solutions based on the parallel-layer model have been tested for three-component systems. Surface tensions of solutions of some low molecular weight polyisobutylenes and polydimethylsiloxanes in n-heptane–tetralin mixtures and solutions of mixtures of the polymers in these solvents were measured at room temperature. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical calculations.
Clinical evaluation of pseudomonas hyperimmune globulin

Abstract The basic host defense mechanism of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of offending bacteria are the critical determinants to survival in the face of serious infection. Enhancement of this process by providing additional opsonins has resulted in increased host resistance and survival. In patients treated with polyvalent Pseudomonas hyperimmune globulin, an increase in HA antibody titer and improvement in opsonic activity of serum during the course of passive immunization has been accompanied by clinical improvement and abrogation of Pseudomonas sepsis in most patients. These data support this immunological approach as an efficacious adjunctive measure to indicated therapy and supportive management of life-threatening infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa .
Nonreflecting boundary conditions for Euler equation calculations

We present a unified theory for the construction of steady-state and unsteady nonreflecting boundary conditions for the Euler equations. These allow calculatios to be performed on truncated domains without the generation of spurious nonphysical reflections at the far-field boundaries.
Dehydrated circular DNA: Electron microscopy of ethanol-condensed molecules

Abstract The ethanol-induced condensation of linear DNA from phage φ29, and circular DNA from phage PM2 and plasmid R6K, on air-dried electron microscope specimen grids has been analyzed by measuring size and shape of the resulting particles. Upon such dehydration, single DNA molecules are condensed into tight particles of three different classes of superstructure, appearing shorter and thicker with increasing ethanol concentration, as described earlier with coliphage T7 DNA (Lang, 1973), except that circularity of DNA impairs the formation of condensates of second and third order to a degree that depends on the molecular weight. It is suggested that tight supercoils are formed by induction of numerous kinks in the double helix between short, straight DNA segments. This would be consistent with DNA kinks proposed by Crick & Klug (1975).
Dexamethasone treatment of tumor necrosis factor-alpha challenged organ of Corti explants activates nuclear factor kappa B signaling that induces changes in gene expression that favor hair cell survival

The objective was to determine the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) in dexamethasone base (DXMb) protection of auditory hair cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-induced loss on gene expression and cell signaling levels. Organ of Corti (OC) explants from 3-day-old rats were cultured under one of the following conditions: (1) media only—no treatment; (2) media+TNFα; (3) media+TNFα+DXMb; (4) media+TNFα+DXMb+NFκB-Inhibitor (NFκB-I); or (5) media+TNFα+DXMb+NFκBI-Scrambled control (NFκBI-C). A total of 60 organ of Corti explants (OC) were stained with FITC-Phalloidin after 96 h in culture (conditions 1–5) for hair cell counts and imaging of surface characteristics. A total of 108 OC were used for gene expression studies (i.e. B-actin, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and TNFR1) after 0, 24, or 48 h in vitro (conditions 1–4). A total of 86 OC were cultured (conditions 1–3) for 48 h, 36 of which were used for phosphorylated NFκB (p-NFκB) ELISA studies and 50 for whole mount anti-p-NFκB immunostain experiments. TNFα+DXMb exposed cultures demonstrated significant upregulation in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl genes and downregulation in pro-apoptotic Bax gene expression; DXMb treatment of TNFα explants also lowered the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and inhibited TNFR1 upregulation. After inhibiting NFκB activity with NFκB-I, the gene expression profile following TNFα+DXMb treatment now mimics that of TNFα-challenged OC explants. The levels of p-NFκB and the degree of nuclear translocation are significantly greater in TNFα+DXMb exposed OC explants than observed in the TNFα and control groups in the middle+basal turns of OC explants. These findings were supported by the results of the hair cell counts and the imaging results obtained from the whole mount OC specimens. DXMb protects against TNFα-induced apoptosis of auditory hair cells in vitro via activation of NFκB signaling in hair cell nuclei, and regulation of the expression levels of anti- and pro-apoptotic genes and a pro-inflammatory gene.
Simulation of Printed Circuit-Board Manufacturing

The paper describes a simulation model that was built to predict the production output of a printed circuit-board manufacturer. Such a prediction with traditional forecasting tools is difficult owing to varying lot sizes, designs, processing time, product mix, machining capacity and fluctuating work-force. The model was built with discrete-event orientation using SIMPLE_1 simulation language. Model-validation was made over a period of 1 month by comparing the simulation and actual outputs as well as the supervisor's predictions. The model was later used to study the effects of varying manning levels and equipment capacities on output, as well as to evaluate proposed changes to the existing system.
Mammographic Screening: A Surgeon's Perspective

: Prospective randomized trials demonstrate breast cancer mortality reduction in patients offered mammographic screening, conclusively for ages 50–69 and (with longer follow-up) likely for ages 40–49. The 25–30% degree of mortality reduction observed is particularly striking in view of the number of confounding variables in each trial, most of which would act to diminish the observed benefit. Few studies have examined the impact over time of more frequent mammography usage on women found to have breast cancer. During the period in which mammography came into general usage, how did means of cancer diagnosis change, and what was the impact of mammography on stage of disease? 1096 patients were treated in the author's practice for intraductal (DCIS) and invasive breast cancer between 1979 and 1993. Grouped into 5-year treatment intervals, and stratified by age and primary means of diagnosis, trends in tumor size, axillary node status, and tumor histopathology were compared. Over time, patients were increasingly likely 1) to have had mammography previously, 2) to have had their cancers diagnosed mammographically, 3) to have T1a/b (0.1–1.0 cm) tumors, 4) to be axillary node negative, and 5) to have DCIS pathologically. These trends were observed for patients both younger and older than age 50. There was no trend toward earlier-stage disease among patients either self- or physician-diagnosed, supporting the impression that the 15-year trend in this practice toward earlier diagnosis is entirely due to an increased usage of mammography. Mammography every 1–2 years is indicated in all women 40 and older, and every effort should be made to promote mammography among the substantial number of women who have still never had one.