cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influenza Cataclysm, 1918.

Influenza Cataclysm, 1918 This year marks the centennial of an influenza pandemic that killed 50 million to 100 million people globally — arguably the single deadliest event in recorded human histo...
The Potential of 'Omics to Link Lipid Metabolism and Genetic and Comorbidity Risk Factors of Alzheimer's Disease in African Americans.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects African Americans (AAs) and Hispanics, who are more likely to have AD than non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) and Asian Americans. Racial disparities in AD are multifactorial, with potential contributing factors including genetics, comorbidities, diet and lifestyle, education, healthcare access, and socioeconomic status. Interestingly, comorbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease also impact AAs. It is plausible that a common underlying molecular basis to these higher incidences of AD and comorbidities exists especially among AAs. A likely common molecular pathway that is centrally linked to AD and these noted comorbidities is alterations in lipid metabolism. Several genes associated with AD risk—most notably, the e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and several mutations in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A7 (ABCA7) gene—are linked to altered lipid metabolism, especially in AAs. This review explores the role of lipid metabolism in AD broadly, as well as in other comorbidities that are prevalent in AAs. Because there are gaps in our understanding of the molecular basis of higher incidences of AD in AAs, ‘omics approaches such as proteomics and lipidomics are presented as potential methods to improve our knowledge in these areas.
School food and physical activity environment: a longitudinal analysis of four school districts in New Jersey.

Abstract Purpose Exposures to favorable environments in childhood, including those in schools, are associated with healthy habits among children. In this study, we developed a series of indices aimed at measuring students' exposure to different dimensions of the school food and physical activity (PA) environment. We implemented these indices to investigate how different aspects of the school food and PA environment changed over time and examined their correspondence with known changes in relevant policies and programs. Methods All public schools (n= 141) in four school districts in New Jersey provided detailed food and PA environment data for each school year from 2010–2011 to 2015–2016. Seven food environment indices, three PA environment indices, and two additional indices that capture health-promoting initiatives at the school level and at the state or federal level were developed. Results Although the school PA environment largely remained unchanged, several dimensions of the school food environment changed between 2010–2011 and 2015–2016. Overall, the number of healthy items increased over time in vending machines (p Conclusions Schools are a key venue for implementing policy and environment interventions aimed to promote healthy behaviors. Indices developed from easy-to-use survey questions captured multiple dimensions of the school food and PA environments and were sensitive to policy changes over time.
Social Connectedness Factors that Facilitate Use of Healthcare Services: Comparison of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming and Cisgender Adolescents.

Objective To compare social connectedness factors that facilitate use of primary, dental, and mental healthcare services among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) and cisgender adolescents. Methods Data from the cross-sectional 2016 Minnesota Student Survey were used to examine protective social connectedness factors associated with use of different healthcare services among matched samples of 1916 TGNC and 1916 cisgender youth. Stratified, logistic regression analyses were used to examine background characteristics and social connectedness factors (parent connectedness, connections to other nonparental adults, teacher–student relationships, and friend connections) associated with use of each healthcare service within the last year. Results For TGNC youth, but not for cisgender youth, higher levels of parent connectedness were associated with receipt of primary (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.40-3.66) and dental (OR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.78-5.08) care services, and lower levels of connectedness to nonparental adults was associated with receipt of mental healthcare (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33-0.93). Among cisgender youth, no protective factors were significantly associated with receipt of primary care services, higher levels of friend connections were associated with receipt of dental services (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.10-3.09), and lower levels of parent connectedness were associated with receipt of mental healthcare (OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.10-0.40). Conclusions To promote the health of TGNC youth, clinicians should understand the distinct factors associated with obtaining healthcare among this population such as the need for tailored efforts focused on strengthening connectedness between TGNC youth and their parents to facilitate receipt of needed care.
An engineering approach to teaching apa style in the cis curriculum

The ability to properly research, write professionally, and correctly cite sources is a must for any business major, including Computer Science (CS) majors. Throughout CS programs, emphasis is often placed on learning new languages, specifically code syntax, with little emphasis on researching and writing papers. The authors have seen an abundance of students in, or coming out of CS programs whose citation skills are substandard when compared to their business peers at the same level. In fact, recent data obtained from our capstone course which uses a contextualized case study found that on average, students received a score of 62.22 (standard deviation of 1.36) in proper APA formatting and citation. As a result, the authors believe that students within CS programs are not paying enough attention to APA as they should be. Therefore, this paper provides an engineering approach to teaching and learning APA style geared towards the CS professors and students.
Linked Silurian carbon cycle perturbations, bursts of pinnacle reef growth, extreme sea-level oscillations, and evaporite deposition (Michigan Basin, USA)

Abstract Integration of sedimentologic, chemostratigraphic, biostratigraphic, and geochronologic data identifies the profound influence that sudden bursts of carbonate sedimentation, sea-level oscillation, and hypersalinity, associated with Ireviken and Mulde carbon cycle perturbations, had on the evolution of the Michigan Basin during the Silurian. Conodonts and carbon isotope (δ13Ccarb) stratigraphy of the Lockport and Engadine Dolomites constrain the rapid build-up and progradation of a thick biohermal wedge along the basin margins to the Sheinwoodian-age Ireviken Excursion, a recently identified period of global reef growth. This event significantly changed the hydrologic architecture of the basin, ultimately resulting in restricted seawater exchange that drove evaporite deposition. Zircon U Pb ages of ~428 Ma from bentonites near the base of the evaporite-bearing Salina Group, together with δ13Ccarb profiles transecting the basin, constrain the onset of hypersalinity to initiation of the late Homerian Mulde Excursion. Importantly, the double δ13Ccarb peak of this event parallels a complex pattern of dramatic sea-level oscillations, on the order of 100 m, recorded within the A-0 to A-2 evaporites and associated pinnacle reefs. Ascending δ13Ccarb values were accompanied by sea-level fall, karstification, and the formation of evaporites in the basin center. Intra-excursion sea-level rebounds triggered exceptionally rapid upward pinnacle reef growth. Subsequent sea-level fall again exposed the ramp and pinnacle reefs resulting in basin-wide restriction and massive salt deposition that, ultimately, encased the reefs in salt. The return to baseline δ13Ccarb values was accompanied by flooding and carbonate sedimentation. Our integrated approach, with high-resolution δ13Ccarb stratigraphy from closely spaced (intra-basinal) sections as a central component, enables finely tuned chronostratigraphic correlation, recognition of unconformity-bound facies packages (i.e., systems tracts), and constrains variations in sea level and sedimentation rates. These findings have immediate applications to predictive static reservoir models for the evaluation of the reefs as repositories for anthropogenic CO2 sequestration, gas storage reservoirs, and hydrocarbon exploration. Ultimately, our findings demonstrate that a cascade of rapid environmental changes, including pulses of carbonate sedimentation, high-amplitude sea-level oscillations, and evaporite deposition, were associated with the Ireviken and Mulde perturbations of the Silurian carbon cycle.
Bradyarrhythmias and AV Block

Bradyarrhythmias may be due to disorders of impulse origination in the sinus node and disorders of atrioventricular conduction. These abnormalities can be asymptomatic or result in symptoms such as fatigue, lightheadedness, syncope, exertional dyspnea, or chest discomfort. In almost all cases, diagnosis can be made by obtaining a surface 12-lead electrocardiogram. If asymptomatic, bradyarrhythmias often do not require treatment except for second-degree atrioventricular block Mobitz type II, high-grade atrioventricular block, and complete heart block. If symptomatic, the importance of establishing a temporal symptom correlation with the bradycardia cannot be over-emphasized. Hemodynamically unstable patients may require treatment with medications such as atropine, dopamine, or temporary transcutaneous or transvenous cardiac pacing if available. In the long term, a permanent pacemaker is often indicated in symptomatic patients except if the etiology is considered to be reversible such as medication induced.
Ethical and moral perspectives of individuals who considered/used preimplantation (embryo) genetic testing.

This study examined perspectives on the ethical implications of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) among individuals who actually (not hypothetically) used or considered using PGT. Most of the prior patient-centered research on PGT ethics used qualitative designs (9 out of the 11 articles) and focused only on single gene testing. This cross-sectional study used an anonymous online questionnaire; 15 items assessed potential ethical concerns involved in PGT decision-making, including clinical indications for PGT, the greater implications of PGT for society, and unused embryo disposition. N = 207 individuals (mean female/male age 35.7/38.9 years, 21% Hispanic or non-White) who had recently used or considered using PGT for single gene (60%) or for chromosomal testing (40%) completed the questionnaire. Most respondents supported PGT screening for disease conditions with childhood or adult onset that are untreatable (64%-85% across items); most opposed PGT for trait selection (76%-81%). Most respondents agreed that PGT aids in parental decision-making (66%-67%), although some expressed concern over potential unforeseen consequences (25%-30%). Regarding disposition of embryos without known genetic abnormalities, most respondents favored freezing indefinitely (86%) or donating to another family (69%), while for embryos with genetic abnormalities, most respondents favored donating to research (78%) or destroying them (62%). Stratification by religious affiliation revealed several differences, such as less acceptance of PGT for diseases that occur in adulthood and have no treatment options among Protestants (p = .015) and greater willingness to donate surplus embryos to research among participants without a religious affiliation (p < .001). These results are limited by the relatively homogeneous sample of participants (mostly White, married, and predominantly college-educated). In summary, participants who considered/used PGT found PGT acceptable overall for screening for disease conditions; most opposed using PGT for trait selection. Our novel questionnaire provides a structured tool for assessing the ethical perspectives surrounding the use of PGT.
Supervised Line Attention for Tumor Attribute Classification from Pathology Reports: Higher Performance with Less Data

Abstract Objective We aim to build an accurate machine learning-based system for classifying tumor attributes from cancer pathology reports in the presence of a small amount of annotated data, motivated by the expensive and time-consuming nature of pathology report annotation. An enriched labeling scheme that includes the location of relevant information along with the final label is used along with a corresponding hierarchical method for classifying reports that leverages these enriched annotations. Materials and methods Our data consists of 250 colon cancer and 250 kidney cancer pathology reports from 2002 to 2019 at the University of California, San Francisco. For each report, we classify attributes such as procedure performed, tumor grade, and tumor site. For each attribute and document, an annotator trained by an oncologist labeled both the value of that attribute as well as the specific lines in the document that indicated the value. We develop a model that uses these enriched annotations that first predicts the relevant lines of the document, then predicts the final value given the predicted lines. We compare our model to multiple state-of-the-art methods for classifying tumor attributes from pathology reports. Results Our results show that across colon and kidney cancers and varying training set sizes, our hierarchical method consistently outperforms state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, performance comparable to these methods can be achieved with approximately half the amount of labeled data. Conclusion Document annotations that are enriched with location information are shown to greatly increase the sample efficiency of machine learning methods for classifying attributes of pathology reports.
Analysis of genomic targets reveals complex functions of MYC

MYC is overexpressed by many human tumour types and has been shown to regulate cell functions that are required for tumorigenesis. It is not clear, however, which of its target genes mediate these effects. A series of recent studies have indicated that this could be a result of the fact that MYC binds and regulates up to 15% of all genes. Does MYC function as a widespread regulator of transcription or as a classical transcription factor that regulates a limited number of downstream targets?
Design of a planning model for an urban school district: The S.D. two simulation model

Abstract This paper describes a simulation model of an urban school district called S.D. Two. This model is a generalized representation of the planning activity in a school district which can be made specific with the use of data from a district under study. A brief description of earlier work in the same area is given, the overall model is described and then some details of the model. A program flow chart showing the basic logic is included. The more important decisions made in designing the model are reviewed. Problems of data collection and of future use of the model are recognized.
Is metagenomics resolving identification of functions in microbial communities

We are coming up on the tenth anniversary of the broad use of the method involving whole metagenome shotgun sequencing, referred to as metagenomics. The application of this approach has definitely revolutionized microbiology and the related fields, including the realization of the importance of the human microbiome. As such, metagenomics has already provided a novel outlook on the complexity and dynamics of microbial communities that are an important part of the biosphere of the planet. Accumulation of massive amounts of sequence data also caused a surge in the development of bioinformatics tools specially designed to provide pipelines for data analysis and visualization. However, a critical outlook into the field is required to appreciate what could be and what has currently been gained from the massive sequence databases that are being generated with ever-increasing speed.
Interplanetary scintillation, Alfven waves and anisotropic microstructure

ABSTRACT Observations of interplanetary scintillation show that the spatial spectrum of electron density in the inner solar wind follows a Kolmogorov power-law at large scales. However at scales of 10's to 100's of km there is a well-defined excess. Angular scattering observations show this excess region to be highly anisotropic, at least inside 10 Rs. Here we explore the effect of Alfven waves on scattering observations, the relationship of the waves to the density fluctuations, and ways of estimating the wave amplitudes.
Neonatal ECMO: Neuroimaging and neurodevelopmental outcome

Intracranial injury continues to be a major complication associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-treated neonates. The reported frequency of abnormal neuroimaging has ranged from 28% to 52%, depending on neuroimaging techniques and methods of classification. The purpose of this chapter is to describe types of imaging techniques commonly used to evaluate the ECMO neonate, to specify different types of injuries that have been reported, and to identify factors which increase the risk of injury. We will then describe the functional impact at age 5 years following neonatal brain injury among ECMO infants.
Parameterizations of Inclusive Cross Sections for Kaon, Proton, and Antiproton Production in Proton-Proton Collisions

Inclusive kaon, proton, and antiproton production from high-energy proton-proton collisions is studied. Various available parameterizations of Lorentz-invariant, differential cross sections, as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity, are compared with experimental data. This paper shows that the Badhwar parameterization provides the best fit for charged kaon production. For proton production, the Alper parameterization is best and for antiproton production the Carey parameterization works best. The formulae for these cross sections are suitable for use in high-energy cosmic ray transport codes.
Young patients with endometrial carcinoma selected for conservative treatment: a need for vigilance for synchronous ovarian carcinomas, case report and literature review.

Background. The aim of this paper is to report a case of synchronous ovarian malignancy in a very young patient with early endometrial cancer who desired fertility-sparing management. Case. Twenty one-year-old patient presented with an apparent early stage endometrial cancer and desiring conservative management. After failure of conservative management for 3 years, surgery was performed. An incidentally small papillary serous ovarian tumor of low malignant potential was found. Conclusion. Careful preoperative and intraoperative assessment of the adnexa is mandatory in young women with endometrial cancer. Those who desire ovarian preservation should be counseled regarding the high potential for coexisting ovarian malignancy.
A review of major Crohn’s disease susceptibility genes and their role in disease pathogenesis

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease whose relevance is increasing in industrialized society. Recent genome wide association studies revealed over seventy one loci associated with disease penetrance. Several variants that increase disease risk encode for altered proteins that diminish bacterial host defense. NOD2 alters intracellular bacterial sensing while ATG16L1 is thought to diminish bacterial clearance by impairing autophagy. Additionally, changes in the IBD5 locus are thought to diminish barrier function. Alternatively, recent data indicate a gain of function genetic variant of IL23R is protective amongst European CD patients. These recent genetic discoveries contradict historical theories that Crohn’s disease results from overactive auto-aggressive responses. Rather, new genetic data suggest disease-associated variants encode for dysfunctional proteins that diminish essential innate immune responses against commensal organisms. This review provides an overview of these critical discoveries and places them in their biological context.
Behavior, Belonging, and Belief: A Theory of Ritual Practice

A new model of ritual based on Durkheim's ([1912] 1995) theory is developed. It is argued that ritual practices generate belief and belonging in participants by activating multiple social-psycholog...
Quad-Type Stain for the Simultaneous Demonstration of Intracellular and Extracellular Tissue Components

This technic for the simultaneous demonstration of several different tissue components works equally well on invertebrate and vertebrate tissue if they have been treated with nonchromate fixatives Sections 4-7 μ thick are stained 30 min in 1% Alcian blue, then treated with alkaline alcohol for 2 hr. They are stained in Verhoeff's hematoxylin for 4-6 hr, and rinsed in alcohol; stained in woodstain scarlet-acid fuchsin for 3 min, decolorized in 5% phosphotungstic acid for 20 min and finally stained 5-8 min in alcoholic saffron. Collagen and bone are stained yellow; elastin, myelin and nucleic acids, purple to black; muscle, chitin, cytoplasm, fibrinoid and acid secretion, bright red to lavender; ground substances and mucus, blue-green. Fibrous connective tissue, cartilage, bone and glandular epithelia are exceptionally well demonstrated by this method. Slides stained in this manner are well suited for color photomicrography and as demonstrations in the classroom.
High-temperature crack-arrest behavior of prototypical and degraded (simulated) reactor pressure vessel steels☆

Abstract Sixteen wide-plate crack-arrest tests have been completed, ten utilizing specimens fabricated from A533B Class 1 material and six fabricated from a low-upper-shelf base material. Each test utilized a single-edge notched specimen that was subjected to a linear thermal gradient along the plane of crack propagation. Test results exhibit an increase in crack-arrest toughness ( K Ia ) with temperature, with the rate of increase becoming greater as the temperature increases. When the wide-plate test results are compared with other large-specimen results, the data show a consistent trend in which the K Ia data extend above the limit provided in ASME Section XI.
Effect of Lysozyme Adsorption on the Interfacial Rheology of DPPC and Cholesteryl Myristate Films

A model tear film lipid layer composed of a binary mixture of cholesteryl myristate (CM) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) was characterized using surface tension measurements, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) and interfacial stress rheology (ISR). Isotherms showed that films containing >or=90 mol % CM have a 17-fold greater % area loss between the first and second compressions than the films with less CM. BAM images clearly showed that CM films did not expand after compression, and solid-like regions extending 1-2 mm were observed at low pressures (1 mN/m). Lipid films with or=50 mol % CM became elastic at higher surface pressures. Increasing CM content reduced the surface pressure at which the mixed film became elastic. Lysozyme adsorption into a CM film increased the compressibility and resulted in a more expanded film. Lysozyme increased the ductility of the CM/DPPC films with no film breakdown occurring up to the highest pressure measured (40 mN/m). In summary, CM increased the elasticity of the lipid films, but also caused them to become brittle and incapable of expansion following compression. Lysozyme adsorption increased the ductility and decreased the isotherm hysteresis for CM/DPPC films.
The United States Occupation of Haiti, 1915-1934

"A good history of a sordid intervention that submitted a people to autocratic rule and did little for economic development." --The New York Times "From Schmidt we get the full details ...of the brutal racist practices inflicted on the Haitians for nearly all of the nineteen-year American presence in the country." --American Historical Review "The only thoroughgoing study of one of the more discreditable American interventions overseas." --Journal of Interdisciplinary History "Should become the standard work on the subject...required reading for specialists in Caribbean studies and U.S.-Latin American relations." --Choice Hans Schmidt taught form many years at the State University of New York at New Paltz. He now teaches at the University of Hong Kong.
Prolactin stimulation of iodide uptake and incorporation into protein is polyamine-dependent in mouse mammary gland explants.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the prolactin stimulation of most lactational processes (casein, lactose, and triglyceride synthesis) requires an earlier stimulating effect of prolactin on the synthesis of the polyamines. Spermidine appears to be the specific polyamine required for prolactin to enhance milk product synthesis. Inorganic iodide is present in milk at more than an order of magnitude higher concentration than that of the maternal plasma. Since prolactin stimulates iodide accumulation in milk, the goal of these studies was to determine the role of the polyamines in this hormone response. Two drugs were employed in these studies: DFMO (difluoromethylornithine), which inhibits ornithine decarboxylase, and MGBG [methylglyoxal bis(guanyl-hydrazone)], which inhibits S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase. In mammary gland explants from midpregnant (10–14 days of pregnancy) mice, MGBG at 100 μM abolished the prolactin stimulation of iodide uptake and incorporation into milk proteins, whereas DFM...
Expert systems in engineering design: an application for injection molding of plastic parts

The rich development environments of expert system shells provide tools for developing knowledge-based expert systems for complex tasks such as engineering design. The diverse knowledge in engineering design combines heuristics with deterministic knowledge, from multiple sources, and involves complicated, interrelated components. The hybrid capabilities in emerging expert system tools effectively address this diverse knowledge, and facilitate the rapid development of design aids by the engineering designer. A prototype expert system for injection-molded plastic parts demonstrates the utility of expert systems for design applications. The prototype is implemented in an object-oriented, rule-based environment, and incorporates solid modeling software and external material databases.
Chemical immobilization and killing of intra-aural roaches: An in vitro comparative study

Study objective: The treatment of live insects in patients' ears is controversial. To determine which chemical agent is most effective for immobilizing and killing intra-aural cockroaches, we carried out the following investigation. Design: An in vitro blinded comparative study. Interventions: A model was developed in which live cockroaches were submerged in microscope immersion oil, 2% lidocaine, 4% lidocaine, or 2% viscous lidocaine in a glass beaker. Responses of cockroaches were recorded with a video-cassette recorder and evaluated later by a blinded observer. Measured variables were time to death and time-integrated activity before death. Analysis was by analysis of variance with Tukey's procedure. Results: Four groups of 40 cockroaches each were exposed to each of the four agents. Microscope oil killed the insects most quickly (mean, 27.2 seconds; 95% confidence interval, 23.8 to 30.6). The other agents required more than 40 seconds and were inferior to oil ( F = 15.5, P F = 25.7, P Conclusion: Microscope immersion oil is the most effective agent for immobilizing and killing intra-aural cockroaches.
Design and fabrication of single chirality carbon nanotube-based sensors

This paper presents a method to fabricate high purity, single chirality CNT-based sensor systems. Ultracentrifugation is initially used to create an 85% pure (6,5) CNT sample. Electrical breakdown is then used to remove the low resistance and low gauge factor CNTs from the sensor. Overall, this increases the gauge factor of the CNT-based piezoresistive sensor from −22.7 to 34.1. This result indicates that the majority of the impurities in the sensor are removed during the fabrication process.
Contributions of Self-Explanation to Comprehension of High- and Low-Cohesion Texts.

This study examined how the contribution of self-explanation to science text comprehension is affected by the cohesion of a text at a local level. Psychology undergraduates read and self-explained a science text with either low or high local cohesion. Local cohesion was manipulated by the presence or absence of connectives and referential words or phrases that explicitly link successive sentences. After the self-explanation activity, participants answered open-ended comprehension questions about the text. Participants in the high local cohesion condition produced higher quality explanations, including more local bridging self-explanations, than those in the low local cohesion condition. However, these explanations, although higher in quality, did not improve comprehension. Performance on text-based comprehension questions was better in the low local cohesion condition. In addition, the correlation between self-explanation quality and comprehension performance was generally higher in the low local cohesion...
Factors influencing nitrogen concentrations in soil water in a north American tallgrass prairie

Abstract The influence of roots, soil fauna and microbes on nitrogen concentrations in soil water in annually-burned tallgrass prairie were evaluated using porous cup lysimeters and a series of manipulations involving an insecticide, clipping of the vegetation, and C and N additions to the soil surface. An organophosphate insecticide (isofenphos), which significantly reduced densities of certain nematode and arthropod groups, resulted in small but statistically significant declines in soil water NO 3 − concentrations during 2 of 3 yr of study. Organic N, the dominant form of soil water N, was unaffected by treatment. Clipping the foliage weekly during the spring resulted in significant reductions in annual foliage production, but failed to change concentrations of soil water NO 3 − or organic N. Nitrogen additions (10gNm −2 as NH 4 NO 3 ) greatly increased soil water NO 3 − concentrations; However, when 250 g C sucrose m −2 were concurrently added to plots, there was a significant reduction in soil water NO − 3 concentrations. Soil water NH 4 + concentrations were unaffected by treatment. These studies emphasize the importance of microbes as the dominant factor affecting soil waler N concentrations in carbon-rich soils. Plants, soil fauna and nitrogen fertilizers do affect N dynamics, but. under annually-burned conditions in the tallgrass prairie, these effects are obscured by microbial processes.
Enhanced Multi-Modal Access to Planetary Exploration

Tomorrow's Interplanetary Network (IPN) will evolve from JPL's Deep-Space Network (DSN) and provide key capabilities to future investigators, such as simplified acquisition of higher-quality science at remote sites and enriched access to these sites. These capabilities could also be used to foster public interest, e.g., by making it possible for students to explore these environments personally, eventually perhaps interacting with a virtual world whose models could be populated by data obtained continuously from the IPN. Our paper looks at JPL's approach to making this evolution happen, starting from improved communications. Evolving space protocols (e.g., today's CCSDS proximity and file-transfer protocols) will provide the underpinning of such communications in the next decades, just as today's rich web was enabled by progress in Internet Protocols starting from the early 1970's (ARPAnet research). A key architectural thrust of this effort is to deploy persistent infrastructure incrementally, using a layered service model, where later higher-layer capabilities (such as adaptive science planning) are enabled by earlier lower-layer services (such as automated routing of object-based messages). In practice, there is also a mind shift needed from an engineering culture raised on point-to-point single-function communications (command uplink, telemetry downlink), to one in which assets are only indirectly accessed, via well-defined interfaces. We are aiming to foster a 'community of access' both among space assets and the humans who control them. This enables appropriate (perhaps eventually optimized) sharing of services and resources to the greater benefit of all participants. We envision such usage to be as automated in the future as using a cell phone is today - with all the steps in creating the real-time link being automated.
Reproductive Rhythmicity of the Atlantic Silverside

Abstract The reproductive periodicity of the Atlantic silverside Menidia menidia was studied at two locations on the North Edisto River estuary in South Carolina during March-July 1976–1978. Spawning runs occurred in the upper intertidal zone and coincided precisely with daytime high tides. Time-series analysis of daily changes in the intensity of spawning runs revealed a fortnightly reproductive periodicity and indicated that the observed reproductive rhythmicity in Atlantic silversides may be mediated by a high-tide-sunrise cue that also occurs at fortnightly intervals. During the 1976 and 1977 reproductive seasons, there were highly significant correlations (P < 0.01) among the male gonadal index, the female gonadal index, and the occurrence of intermediate, maturing, and hydrated-egg stages of sexual development in females. The percentage of females with hydrated eggs was greatest on days when a high tide occurred within 1 hour after sunrise.
Tailored Nanocomposites of Polypropylene with Layered Silicates

The melt rheological properties of layered silicate nanocomposites with maleic anhydride (MA) functionalized polypropylene are contrasted to those based on ammonium-terminated polypropylene. While the MA functionalized PP based nanocomposites exhibit solid-like linear viscoelastic behavior, consistent with the formation of a long-lived percolated nanoparticle network, the single-end ammonium functionalized PP based nanocomposites demonstrated liquid-like behavior at comparable montmorillonite concentrations. The differences in the linear viscoelasticity are attributed to the presence of bridging interactions in MA functionalized nanocomposites. Further, the transient shear stress of the MA functionalized nanocomposites in start-up of steady shear is a function of the shear strain alone, and the steady shear response is consistent with that of non-Brownian systems. The weak dependence of the steady first normal stress difference on the steady shear stress suggests that the polymer chain mediated silicate network contributes to such unique flow behavior.
Theoretical and Empirical Relationships Between Oat Test Weight and Groat Proportion

ABSTRACT Test weight and groat proportion are two very important quality characteristics of oat grain. In this study, we pose the hypothesis that these two characteristics are related through characteristics of grain density. Test weight is defined as the product of kernel density and packing proportion. Groat proportion, in theory, is the ratio of the groat mass to the kernel mass. We present two theoretical constructions expressing test weight in terms of groat proportion, packing proportion and kernel density components. To test these, we have applied measurements of test weight, groat proportion, kernel density components, and packing proportion of 18 oat cultivars grown at six environments. Whereas the groat proportion alone accounted for only 34% of the variation in test weight, our theoretical constructions that included groat proportion could account for ≤82% of variation in test weight. Also, we present previously undescribed variation in oat kernel density components across genotypes and environ...
The Components of Corporate Credit Spreads: Default, Recovery, Taxes, Jumps, Liquidity, and Market Factors

This paper analyzes the components of corporate credit spreads. The analysis is based on a structural model that can offer a framework to understand the decomposition. The paper contends that default risk may correctly represent only a small portion of corporate credit spreads. This idea stems both from empirical evidence and from the following theoretical assumptions underlying contingent claim models of default: that markets for corporate stocks and bonds are (i) perfect, (ii) complete, and (iii) trading takes place continuously. Thus, in these models there are no transaction or bankruptcy costs, no tax effects, no liquidity effects, no jump effects reflecting market incompleteness, and no market risk factors effecting the pricing of corporate stocks or bonds. The paper starts with the use of a modified version of the Black-Scholes-Merton diffusion based option approach. We estimate corporate default spreads as simply a component of corporate credit spreads using data from November 1991 to December 1998, which includes the Asian Crisis in the Fall, 1998. First we measure the difference between the observed corporate credit spreads and option based estimates of default spreads. We define this difference as the residual spread. We show that for AAA (BBB) firms only a small percentage, 5% (22%), of the credit spread can be attributed to default risk. We show that recovery risk also cannot explain this residual spread. Next, we show that state taxes on corporate bonds also cannot explain the residual. We note that the pure diffusion assumption may lead to underestimates of the default risk. In order to include jumps to default, we next estimate what combined jump-diffusion parameters would be necessary to force default spread to eliminate the residual spread. In each rating class on average firms would be required to experience annual jumps that decrease firm value by 20% and increase stock volatility by more than 100% over their observed volatility in order to eliminate the residual spread. We consider this required increase in stock volatility to be unrealistic as the sole explanation of the residual spread. So next we consider whether the unexplained component can be partly attributable to interest rates, liquidity, and market risk factors. We find the following empirical results: i) increases in liquidity as measured by changes in each firm's trading volume significantly reduces the residual spread, but does not alter the default spread; ii) increases in stock market volatility significantly reduces the residual spread by increasing the default spread relative to the credit spread, and iii) increases in stock market returns significantly increases the residual spread by reducing the default spread relative to the credit spread. This paper concludes that credit risk and credit spreads are not primarily explained by default, leverage, firm specific risk, and recovery risk, but are mainly attributable to taxes, jumps, liquidity, and market risk factors.
Comparison of two PCR-based methods and automated DNA sequencing for prop-1 genotyping in Ames dwarf mice.

Ames dwarfism is caused by a homozygous single nucleotide mutation in the pituitary specific prop-1 gene, resulting in combined pituitary hormone deficiency, reduced growth and extended lifespan. Thus, these mice serve as an important model system for endocrinological, aging and longevity studies. Because the phenotype of wild type and heterozygous mice is undistinguishable, it is imperative for successful breeding to accurately genotype these animals. Here we report a novel, yet simple, approach for prop-1 genotyping using PCR-based allele-specific amplification (PCR-ASA). We also compare this method to other potential genotyping techniques, i.e. PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP) and fluorescence automated DNA sequencing. We demonstrate that the single-step PCR-ASA has several advantages over the classical PCR-RFLP because the procedure is simple, less expensive and rapid. To further increase the specificity and sensitivity of the PCR-ASA, we introduced a single-base mismatch at the 3' penultimate position of the mutant primer. Our results also reveal that the fluorescence automated DNA sequencing has limitations for detecting a single nucleotide polymorphism in the prop-1 gene, particularly in heterozygotes.
Sharing Instructional Leadership--A View to Strengthening the Principal's Position.

Secondary school principals are expected to provide instructional leadership, but the everyday demands of the principalship compromise their ability to ade quately fulfill that role, according to this writer, who challenges the traditional role of the principal. The editors invite reader reaction to this perspective.
Megalithic Plan Underlying Canterbury Cathedral

Woodhenge and the Trinity chapel, Canterbury, are strikingly similar in outline. One is megalithic, the other Norman Christian over Saxon Christian. An analysis of the geometry shows that both are based on Pythagorean triangles: Woodhenge with sides, 6, 17.5, and 18.5, and Canterbury with sides 12, 72, and 73 in megalithic yards. The structurally more recent eastern end of Canterbury Cathedral may have been built over and around an older megalithic site. The longitudinal axes of the composite cathedral differ by 2°, and these, if aligned on Betelgeuse, would indicate buried megalithic structures dating from 2300, 1900, and 1500 B.C.
Systolic processor designs using single-electron digital circuits

The possibility of using single-electron digital circuits (SEDCs) to achieve ultra-high performance digital signal processing is explored. SEDCs are highly-scalable Coulomb blockade-based circuits that operate in the discrete limit where bits are represented by single electrons. Such circuits are well-suited to implementing bit-level systolic processing algorithms because the local connectivity of systolic arrays translates into locally-interconnected hardware. By relieving interconnect bandwidth limitations this enables circuits that can fully exploit the extreme scaling possible with the single-electron devices. Errors associated with co-tunneling, thermal fluctuations, etc. are an important issue in single-electron circuits, especially for a digital application. The systolic arrays are, however, amenable to simple error-correction techniques which may make computing with these unreliable components possible. Nevertheless, it must be emphasized that realization of these complex circuits depends on tremendous advances in fabrication technology, particularly to meet their stringent uniformity requirements.
Electoral Democracy during Wartime: The 2004 U.S. Election

The U.S. election of 2004 affords an opportunity to investigate how wartime affects presidential voting. The conventional wisdom is that wartime presidents always get reelected, but previous studies have not examined how citizens' attitudes on the war affect their voting. The papers in this special issue investigate this process, looking at how attitudes on the Iraq War, the larger War on Terrorism, and the so-called cultural war affected attitudes toward the presidential candidates and voting. The studies use a wide variety of datasets and survey questions, showing that the different aspects of the war resonate with different voters and that some of the effects of wartime are indirect through increasing the salience of leadership in the election. Wartime presidents do not get reelected automatically; they have had success in reelection because of how they use the war to build an image that can get them reelected.
Parents' social networks and beliefs as predictors of parent involvement.

Research on parent involvement has tended to characterize parents as relatively isolated individuals who interact with their child and their child's teacher. This study acknowledged that parents are social actors and maintain social networks that may affect the role they play in their children's education. Survey responses were collected from 195 mothers of students in grades 1-5 in 2 elementary schools (1 urban, 1 suburban) in order to analyze the degree to which parents' social networks predicted parent involvement at home and at school, taking into account parental beliefs and background factors. Multiple regression analyses showed that the size of parents' social network predicted the degree to which parents were involved at home or at school. Furthermore, different networks predicted different types of parent involvement. The research highlighted the importance of examining both individual beliefs and social networks as influences on parent involvement and suggested that parents' social networks can ...
Biochemical Coupling between the DrrA and DrrB Proteins of the Doxorubicin Efflux Pump of Streptomyces peucetius

The drrAB operon ofStreptomyces peucetius encodes for resistance to the antibiotics doxorubicin and daunorubicin. Subcloning of thedrrAB genes in Escherichia coli has previously been shown to result in expression of DrrA and DrrB proteins and resistance to doxorubicin in a sensitive strain of E. coli. DrrA, a peripheral membrane protein, binds ATP in a UV-catalyzed reaction in a doxorubicin-dependent manner; DrrB, a hydrophobic protein, is localized to the inner membrane of E. coli (Kaur, P. (1997) J. Bacteriol. 179, 569–575). The present study provides evidence that DrrB, the membrane component of the complex, is stably maintained in the cell only if DrrA is present. Furthermore, it was found that the catalytic component DrrA is in an active conformation only when it is in a complex with DrrB. In a subclone containing the drrB gene by itself, no DrrB protein could be detected, although a translational fusion of the first 15 amino acids of DrrB to β-galactosidase indicated that DrrB is translated in the absence of DrrA. Upon co-transformation with a plasmid containing the drrA gene in trans, DrrB could again be detected in these cells. UV cross-linking studies with [α-32P]ATP showed that only the membrane-bound form of DrrA in cells containing both DrrA and DrrB was in a conformation competent to bind ATP. Chemical cross-linking studies also provided direct evidence for interaction between the two proteins. Based on these analyses, a model for interaction between DrrA and DrrB proteins is presented.
Multi-valued strain energy functions for crystals

Abstract Various studies in crystal elasticity suggest that the strain energy should, in some cases, be regarded as multi-valued, with branches related in a rather definite way. My purpose is to elaborate this.
Water Absorption and Retention by Cut Up Broiler Parts Chilled in Polyphosphate Solutions

Abstract IN recent years, with an almost universal practice of chilling poultry in ice and water mixtures, much interest has been shown in studying the water absorption properties of poultry. Many factors affect water absorption and the more important ones were summarized by Brant (1963) as water temperature, time of chilling, ice to water ratio, agitation, size of the bird, fat, skin thickness, and application of polyphosphates to the chilling water. Some parts of the broiler carcass were found to absorb more water than other parts. Kotula et al. (1960a) observed that carcasses with the necks intact absorbed more water than did carcasses which had the necks removed. Kotula et al. (1960b) reported that when the thigh area was opened during evisceration, there was an increase in water absorption. Klose et al. (1960) and Lentz and Rooke (1958) stated that water is trapped and loosely held in body cavities, under the…