cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recognition of Human Oncogenic Viruses by Host Pattern-Recognition Receptors

Human oncogenic viruses include Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papilloma virus (HPV), human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), Kaposi’s associated sarcoma virus (KSHV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). It would be expected that during virus-host interaction, the immune system would recognize these pathogens and eliminate them. However, through evolution, these viruses have developed a number of strategies to avoid such an outcome and successfully establish chronic infections. The persistent nature of the infection caused by these viruses is associated with their oncogenic potential. In this article, we will review the latest information on the interaction between oncogenic viruses and the innate immune system of the host. In particular, we will summarize the available knowledge on the recognition by host pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) present in the incoming viral particle or generated during the virus’ life cycle. We will also review the data on the recognition of cell-derived danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) generated during the virus infection that may impact the outcome of the host-pathogen interaction and the development cancer.
Screening for Secondary Intervention Concept and Context

The article by Speece (in this issue) underscores the disappointing accuracy results of early screening for reading difficulties and argues that development conceptualized as rate of learning matters. We respond by emphasizing three points. First, the purpose of early screening could be identifying students not at risk so that instructional objectives can be established for students potentially at risk. Second, monitoring progress in mastering the alphabetic principle is reflected in item-based learning. Third, response to instruction is multilevel and contextualized. These points are illustrated with data from an early reading assessment used widely in Texas and from high-performing/high-poverty schools in Texas that serve as models of multitiered instruction.
Energy Conversion in Natural and Artificial Photosynthesis

Modern civilization is dependent upon fossil fuels, a nonrenewable energy source originally provided by the storage of solar energy. Fossil-fuel dependence has severe consequences, including energy security issues and greenhouse gas emissions. The consequences of fossil-fuel dependence could be avoided by fuel-producing artificial systems that mimic natural photosynthesis, directly converting solar energy to fuel. This review describes the three key components of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis: light harvesting, charge separation, and catalysis. These processes are compared in natural and in artificial systems. Such a comparison can assist in understanding the general principles of photosynthesis and in developing working devices, including photoelectrochemical cells, for solar energy conversion.
Theory of structures in the doubly differential cross section for collisional detachment of electrons from H

Abstract The two groups in the energy distribution of electrons detached from H− in collision with gases are shown to originate from ejection into l = 0 and l > 0 states, respectively. The energies of these groups and their behavior with variation of beam energy, target species, and angle are explained.
INTRACELLULAR FORMS OF MENINGOPNEUMONITIS VIRUS

Electron micrographs of intracellular memngopneumonitis virus have shown several types of particles which are presumably representative of different stages of a life cycle. They are: (a) Elementary bodies—dense particles 250 to 300 mµ in diameter with very dense central granules. (b) Intermediate forms—less dense than elementary bodies and larger. They are 300 to 400 mµ in diameter, contain a very dense central granule, and often have two or three limiting zones, (c) Circles 400 to 500 mµ in diameter—homogeneous structures with single membranes and no internal granules. They are often elongated and constricted at the center in the manner of budding yeast cells, (d) Circles 500 to 600 mµ in diameter with single membranes.mdash;One, two, and three dense granules may be present in some of these structures, (e) "Larger" structures, circular to elliptical, often with discontinuities or ruptures in their membranes. They sometimes seem to have internal septa. It has been inferred from these observations that the virus can multiply by binary fission or by multiple endosporulation and that elementary bodies are a spore-like stage.
Clinical and biochemical spectrum of patients with RSH/Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and abnormal cholesterol metabolism

RSH/Smith-Lemli-Opitz (RSH/SLO) syndrome is an autosomal recessive malformation syndrome recently shown to be associated with a severe deficiency of cholesterol biosynthesis and markedly elevated plasma and tissue levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC), the immediate precursor of cholesterol in the Kandutsch-Russell biosynthetic pathway. Because these biochemical abnormalities permit a reassessment of RSH/SLO on biochemical criteria rather than less specific physical criteria, we review here the clinical and biochemical characteristics of our first 80 patients with abnormally increased levels of 7-DHC. The study population included 68 index patients and 12 additional relatives identified by quantification of 7-DHC and cholesterol in plasma, amniotic fluid, or cultured fibroblasts, lymphoblasts, or amniocytes. As demonstrated in other clinical syndromes when redefined biochemically, we have found a wider range of clinical expression of RSH/SLO than previously recognized. These newly recognized atypical RSH/SLO patients included several with no malformations other than syndactyly of the toes and, at the other extreme, patients with frank holoprosencephaly or multiple visceral anomalies who died in utero. Syndactyly of toes 2 and 3 was the most common malformation, occurring in all but one of 80 patients. The best biochemical predictor of clinical severity was the plasma cholesterol level, which decreased with increasing clinical severity. However, at least 10% of patients, including one newborn infant, had normal cholesterol levels at the time of diagnosis and would have been missed without specific quantification of 7-DHC. Not unexpectedly, several patients carrying a clinical diagnosis of RSH/SLO were found to have normal levels of all plasma sterols and apparently normal cholesterol biosynthesis in cultured cells. A comparison of the frequency of anomalies in our biochemically identified patients with similar data from previously reported clinical series suggests that up to 25% of reports of RSH/SLO in the literature may describe genetic conditions other than RSH/SLO with 7-DHC-emia.
Transcription of Key Genes Regulating Gonadal Steroidogenesis in Control and Ketoconazole- or Vinclozolin-Exposed Fathead Minnows

This study evaluated changes in the expression of steroidogenesis-related genes in male fathead minnows exposed to ketoconazole (KTC) or vinclozolin (VZ) for 21 days. The aim was to evaluate links between molecular changes and higher level outcomes after exposure to endocrine-active chemicals (EACs) with different modes of action. To aid our analysis and interpretation of EAC-related effects, we first examined variation in the relative abundance of steroidogenesis-related gene transcripts in the gonads of male and female fathead minnows as a function of age, gonad development, and spawning status, independent of EAC exposure. Gonadal expression of several genes varied with age and/or gonadal somatic index in either males or females. However, with the exception of aromatase, steroidogenesis-related gene expression did not vary with spawning status. Following the baseline experiments, expression of the selected genes in male fathead minnows exposed to KTC or VZ was evaluated in the context of effects observed at higher levels of organization. Exposure to KTC elicited changes in gene transcription that were consistent with an apparent compensatory response to the chemical’s anticipated direct inhibition of steroidogenic enzyme activity. Exposure to VZ, an antiandrogen expected to indirectly impact steroidogenesis, increased pituitary expression of folliclestimulating hormone b-subunit as well as testis expression of 20bhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and luteinizing hormone receptor transcripts. Results of this study contribute to ongoing research aimed at understanding responses of the teleost hypothalamicpituitary-gonadal axis to different types of EACs and how changes in molecular endpoints translate into apical outcomes reflective of either adverse effect or compensation.
DEVELOPMENTAL STABILITY IN STOCKS OF WHITE LEGHORN CHICKENS

Abstract The degree of asymmetry in bilateral morphological characters may reflect genetic and environmental stressors. Shank length and diameter, weight and length of the first primary wing feather, and distance between the junction of upper and lower mandibles and auditory canal (face length) were used to classify bilateral types and measure relative asymmetry (RA) in six genetic stocks. The stocks were the S23 generation of White Leghorn lines selected for high or low antibody response to SRBC, sublines in which selection had been relaxed for eight generations, and reciprocal crosses of the selected lines. Differences were found among all stocks for the traits measured. Rankings among traits for RA in descending order were face length, shank diameter, feather weight, and shank and feather lengths. The RA of shank and feather lengths did not differ from each other. An overall RA composed of mean RA of the five traits showed that the two selected lines exhibited greater RA than the crosses between them. The RA of the two lines where selection had been relaxed was similar to that of selected lines. This research suggests that an overall RA created as a combination of RA of several bilateral traits can be a valid measure of genetic stress in chickens and provides a method of comparing developmental stability among populations.
Identifying drug (cocaine) intake events from acute physiological response in the presence of free-living physical activity

A variety of health and behavioral states can potentially be inferred from physiological measurements that can now be collected in the natural free-living environment. The major challenge, however, is to develop computational models for automated detection of health events that can work reliably in the natural field environment. In this paper, we develop a physiologically-informed model to automatically detect drug (cocaine) use events in the free-living environment of participants from their electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements. The key to reliably detecting drug use events in the field is to incorporate the knowledge of autonomic nervous system (ANS) behavior in the model development so as to decompose the activation effect of cocaine from the natural recovery behavior of the parasympathetic nervous system (after an episode of physical activity). We collect 89 days of data from 9 active drug users in two residential lab environments and 922 days of data from 42 active drug users in the field environment, for a total of 11,283 hours. We develop a model that tracks the natural recovery by the parasympathetic nervous system and then estimates the dampening caused to the recovery by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system due to cocaine. We develop efficient methods to screen and clean the ECG time series data and extract candidate windows to assess for potential drug use. We then apply our model on the recovery segments from these windows. Our model achieves 100% true positive rate while keeping the false positive rate to 0.87/day over (9+ hours/day of) lab data and to 1.13/day over (11+ hours/day of) field data.
Cell processes in dentin tubules during early phases of attachment to demineralized periodontitis-affected surfaces.

Abstract This report details some preliminary observations regarding cell morphology and behavior during early phases of in vivo attachment to demineralized surfaces. Rectangular dentin specimens prepared from beneath calculus-covered areas of root surfaces were treated with citric acid and implanted vertically into the skin of rats such that one end of the implant protruded above the skin. The implants were removed after 1 day and the dentin surface—connective tissue interface examined using scanning electron microscopy. A dynamic series of biological events seemed to be in progress. Numerous cells were attached lo the dentinal root surface. Cell processes extended a considerable distance along the root surface and into dentin tubules. Cell processes in dentin tubules are discussed.
Frictional contact models with local compliance: semismooth formulation

A complementarity-based, 3-dimensional frictional contact model with local compliance and damping was introduced in the Ph.D. thesis [45] and the paper [47] and was subsequently studied extensively in [31, 49]. In this paper, we examine a variant of this model where there is no damping in the normal contact forces but there is coupled stiffness between the normal and tangential forces via body deformations. We show that this frictional contact model admits a formulation as an ordinary differential equation with a boundedly Lipschitz continuous, albeit implicitly defined, semismooth right-hand side with global linear growth. Several major consequences follow from such a formulation: (a) existence and uniqueness of a continuously differentiable solution trajectory originated from an arbitrary initial state, (b) finite contact forces that are semismooth functions of the system state, (c) semismooth dependence of the trajectory on the initial state, and (d) convergence of a shooting method for solving two-point boundary problems. The derived results are valid for both a dynamic model and a quasistatic model, the latter being one in which inertia effects are ignored, and for a broad class of friction cones that include the well-known quadratic Coulomb cone and its polygonal approximations. Part II of this work establishes the absence of Zeno states in such a frictional contact model.
Crack tolerating ability of a high-strength biaxially stressed cylindrical pressure vessel containing a surface crack

Abstract Test specimens in the form of cylindrical pressure vessels were deep drawn from AISI 4130 steel and heat treated to an average uniaxial yield strength (0.2 per cent offset) of 207 ksi. Each vessel was provided with an initial surface crack consisting of a mechanically produced slot, terminating at each end in a fatigue-induced, hairline-type crack. Strain gages mounted at both ends of the crack provided a measure of the displacement at these locations during the development of internal pressures culminating in bursting. The constants κ, γ and δ of the equation for the critical stress intensity factor associated with biaxial stress distribution, |KIc|B, were experimentally determined and the term containing them evaluated to determine the contribution of the term to bulging in the vicinity of the crack; however, the term containing the constants tended toward zero, thereby justifying its deletion and effecting simplification of the equation. The magnitude of |KIc|B would appear to be some two-thirds that for the critical stress intensity factor associated with uniaxial stress distribution, |KIc|U. Crack instability in the biaxially stressed vessels occurred at stress magnitudes less, in some cases, considerably less, than the biaxial yield stress of the same member containing no surface crack. Crack propagation consistently was observed to correspond to the catastrophic mode.
Hardening of the sea urchin fertilization envelope by peroxidase-catalyzed phenolic coupling of tyrosines

Within minutes after its elevation from the egg surface, the sea urchin fertilization envelope (FE) becomes "hardened" by a reaction that renders it resistant to agents that solubilize, denature or degrade most proteins. Peroxidase activity is released into the surrounding seawater from Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus eggs during fertilization. Evidence from several sources indicate that the catalytic action of the peroxidase is responsible for hardening the FE through the phenolic coupling of tyrosyl residues of the FE proteins. First, the peroxidase is localized within the hardened FE and within the crystalline FE precursor material released from egg cortical granules during the fertilization reaction. Second, a direct correlation is established between the effectiveness of compounds in inhibiting the cortical granule peroxidase (CGP) and their effectiveness in inhibiting hardening of the FE. Third, the CGP catalyzes the cross-linking of tyrosines in solution, a reaction known to be catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Fourth, acid hydrolysates of hardened FEs contain cross-linked tyrosines that are identified by comparing their chromatographic ultraviolet absorption and fluorescent characteristics to those known for cross-linked tyrosines formed by HRP. Finally, when eggs are fertilized in the presence of 125I, the CGP heavily labels proteins of the FE and of the crystalline FE precursor material released with the enzyme from the cortical granules. The iodide label reflects the localization of the CGP and may reflect the sites of peroxidase-generated tyrosyl phenyl radicals involved in the tyrosine coupling reaction. Maximal iodide labeling occurs during the first 5 min period following fertilization, corresponding to the period of FE hardening.
Sydney's metropolitan fringe: a study in urban‐rural relations

(1960). Sydney's metropolitan fringe: a study in urban‐rural relations. Australian Geographer: Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 243-255.
Plasma appearance of labeled β-carotene, lutein, and retinol in humans after consumption of isotopically labeled kale

The bioavailability of carotenoids from kale was investigated by labeling nutrients in kale with 13C, feeding the kale to seven adult volunteers, and analyzing serial plasma samples for labeled lutein, beta-carotene, and retinol. Ingested doses of labeled carotenoids were 34 micromol for beta-carotene and 33 micromol for lutein. Peak plasma concentrations, areas under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUCs), and percentages of dose recovered at peak plasma concentrations were calculated. Average peak plasma concentrations were 0.38, 0.068, and 0.079 microM for [13C]lutein, [13C]beta-carotene, and [13C]retinol, respectively. Average AUC values (over 28 days) were 42.8, 13.6, 13.2 microM h for [13C]lutein, [13C]beta-carotene, and [13C]retinol, respectively. Percentages of dose recovered at peak plasma concentrations were 3.6, 0.7, and 0.7% for [13C]lutein, [13C]beta-carotene, and [13C]retinol, respectively. A positive relationship was observed between baseline plasma retinol levels and [13C]retinol plasma response. It is possible that this relationship was mediated either through some aspect of beta-carotene absorption or via the common pathways of metabolism for postdose and endogenous retinoid.
The Control Revolution: Technological and Economic Origins of the Information Society

1. Introduction PART I: Living Systems, Technology, and the Evolution of Control 2. Programming and Control: The Essential Life Process 3. Evolution of Control: Culture and Society PART II: Industrialization, Processing Speed, and the Crisis of control 4. From tradition to rationally: Distributing Control 5. Toward Industrialization: Controlling Energy and Speed 6. Industrial Revolution and the Crisis of Control PART III: Toward an Information Society: From Control Crisis to Control Revolution 7. Revolution in Control of Mass Production and Distribution 8. Revolution in Control of Mass Consumption 9. Revolution in Generalized Control: Data Processing and Bureaucracy 10. Conclusions: Control as Engine of the Information Society References Index
Membrane microscopic chorionic pseudocysts are associated with increased amount of placental extravillous trophoblasts

Summary Aims To further study the pathogenesis of membrane microscopic chorionic pseudocysts (MCP), a presumptive placental chronic hypoxic lesion, this analysis retrospectively assessed the amount, maturity, proliferation, and apoptosis of membrane and chorionic disc extravillous trophoblasts in placentas with MCP. Methods Sections of 50 consecutive placentas with MCP (study group) and 50 placentas without MCP from pregnancies matched for gestational age (control group) were immunostained for human placental lactogen (hPL, a marker of trophoblastic maturity), M30 (a marker of irreversible apoptosis in epithelial cells), and E-cadherin and Ki-67 (double immunostaining, epithelial and proliferation markers, respectively). Positivity was evaluated quantitatively and analysed statistically. Results A normal placenta features up to a seven cell thick membrane extravillous trophoblast layer and up to five cell islands or placental septa per chorionic disc section. Study group placentas featured 2.2 times more cell islands or placental septa ( p p p > 0.05). Conclusions The increased extravillous trophoblast accumulation and secretory activity is associated with MCP formation. The findings place MCP among other placental lesions associated with extravillous trophoblast accumulation and possibly dysfunction.
Surgical Resection of Cavernous Malformations of the Brainstem: Evolution of a Minimally Invasive Technique

Objective The purpose of this study is to provide an institutional retrospective review of surgically treated brainstem cavernous malformations. Methods Between 2005 and 2010, 22 consecutive patients with brainstem cavernous malformations (15 female and 7 male) with a mean age of 43 years underwent surgical treatment. Mean volume of the resected cavernous malformations was 0.65 cm 3 . A minimally invasive resection technique was used for these cases, in conjunction with skull base approaches. Results The mean follow-up period was 26.6 months (range, 4-68 months). Of the 22 patients, 9% did not have clear evidence of hemorrhage at the time of presentation. Of the remainder, 22% had two or more instances of hemorrhage documented by magnetic resonance imaging. After resection and during follow-up, 54% of patients had an improvement in their modified Rankin scale, whereas 14% were worse compared with their preoperative presentation; 32% were unchanged and 9% of patients were found to have residual cavernoma post-surgery. Conclusion Our longitudinal experience has guided us to emphasize minimally invasive approaches during resection of the brainstem cavernous malformations, occasionally at the expense of achieving a complete resection, to improve patient outcomes.
An Examination of Attitudes About Old Age in a Sample of Elementary School Children

A sample of 318 elementary school children, divided into an experimental and control group, was the basis for an examination of the effects of classroom instruction on attitudes about aging. After a month-long experiment with a film series and class discussions, the attitudes of the experimental group were not significantly different from those of the control group. The implications of these findings, along with some reservations about the measurements used, are discussed.
Limited interconnectivity in synthetic neural systems

If designers of integrated circuits are to make a quantum jump forward in the capabilities of microchips, the development of a coherent, parallel type of processing that provides robustness and is not sensitive to failure of a few individual gates is needed. The problem of using arrays of devices, highly integrated within a chip and coupled to each other, is not one of making the arrays, but is one of introducing the hierarchial control structure necessary to fully implement the various system or computer algorithms necessary. In other words, how are the interactions between the devices orchestrated so as to map a desired architecture onto the array itself? We have suggested in the past that these arrays could be considered as local cellular automata [1], but this does not alleviate the problem of global control which must change the local computational rules in order to implement a general algorithm. Huberman [2,3] has studied the nature of attractors on finite sets in the context of iterative arrays, and has shown in a simple example how several inputs can be mapped into the same output. The ability to change the function during processing has allowed him to demonstrate adaptive behavior in which dynamical associations are made between different inputs, which initially produced sharply distinct outputs. However, these remain only the initial small steps toward the required design theory to map algorithms into network architecture. Hopfield and coworkers [4,5], in turn, have suggested using a quadratic cost function, which in truth is just the potential energy surface commonly used for Liaponuv stability trials, to formulate a design interconnection for an array of neuron-like switching elements. This approach puts the entire foundation of the processing into the interconnections.
Pakistan's foreign and security policies after the 2013 general election: the judge, the politician and the military

This article examines the consequences of Nawaz Sharif ‘s electoral victory in Pakistan's 2013 general election on the country's foreign and security policies. It analyses the relationships the new government is likely to entertain with the military institutions and the judiciary, and tries to identify the potential vulnerabilities of the new authorities. It concludes that the security situation will improve marginally, at best, and that a relatively smooth working relationship with the US, dictated by the constraints of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, can be anticipated. Relations with India are likely to constitute the real test of the political freedom enjoyed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vis-a-vis the military. The difficulty will be to calibrate the relationship to avoid provoking a backlash with the military.
Interference Alignment and the Degrees of Freedom of Wireless $X$ Networks

We explore the degrees of freedom of M times N user wireless X networks, i.e., networks of M transmitters and N receivers where every transmitter has an independent message for every receiver. We derive a general outer bound on the degrees of freedom region of these networks. When all nodes have a single antenna and all channel coefficients vary in time or frequency, we show that the total number of degrees of freedom of the X network is equal to [(MN)/(M+N-1)] per orthogonal time and frequency dimension. Achievability is proved by constructing interference alignment schemes for X networks that can come arbitrarily close to the outer bound on degrees of freedom. For the case where either M=2 or N=2 we find that the degrees of freedom characterization also provides a capacity approximation that is accurate to within O(1) . For these cases the degrees of freedom outer bound is exactly achievable.
Object request broker: foundation for distributed simulation

Real-time, human-in-the-loop simulation of air traffic control is naturally distributed across computing platforms because of the need for many input and display devices, the need for computing power, and the need to integrate legacy simulations that run on a variety of platforms. Object orientation has a long history of fruitful application to simulation problems, including real-time simulation. Thus there is great interest in commercial products for distributed object management. We have examined the suitability of object request broker (ORB) technology for simulation control, i.e. applications-as-objects, and for supporting truly object-oriented, distributed, real-time simulation. Our experience with DEC's ORB shows that at present the former is feasible but the latter is probably not; however the available implementations are changing rapidly. ORB technology can also bring the distributed interactive simulation (DIS) protocol of the DoD into an object-oriented framework.
Aptamers can discriminate alkaline proteins with high specificity

Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids that fold into stable three-dimensional structures with ligand binding sites that are complementary in shape and charge to a desired target. Aptamers are generated by an iterative process known as in vitro selection, which permits their isolation from pools of random sequences. While aptamers have been selected to bind a wide range of targets, it is generally thought that these molecules are incapable of discriminating strongly alkaline proteins due to the attractive forces that govern oppositely charged polymers (e.g., polyelectrolyte effect). Histones, eukaryotic proteins that make up the core structure of nucleosomes are attractive targets for exploring the binding properties of aptamers because these proteins have positively charged surfaces that bind DNA through noncovalent sequence-independent interactions. Previous selections by our lab and others have yielded DNA aptamers with high affinity but low specificity to individual histone proteins. Whether this is a general limitation of aptamers is an interesting question with important practical implications in the future development of protein affinity reagents. Here we report the in vitro selection of a DNA aptamer that binds to histone H4 with a K(d) of 13 nM and distinguishes other core histone proteins with 100 to 480-fold selectivity, which corresponds to a ΔΔG of up to 3.4 kcal mol(-1) . This result extends our fundamental understanding of aptamers and their ability to fold into shapes that selectively bind alkaline proteins.
Alternative Method Of Calculating The Interest-Adjusted Methods Of Determining The Cost Of Life Insurance

n the introductory text books of insurance there are examples of how to calculate the Interest-Adjusted methods of calculating the cost of life insurance. There are two methods, the Surrender Cost Index and the Net Payment Cost Index. In the first case it is assumed that the insured will surrender the policy at some point in the future, with the second case it is assumed that the policy will not be surrendered but the cost is based on keeping the policy in force for some number of years.
Significance of cytogenetic clonal evolution in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

PURPOSETo describe the incidence and significance of clonal evolution patterns.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe analyzed 264 patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who developed clonal evolution between 1967 and 1993.RESULTSThe median survival time following clonal evolution was 19 months. Factors associated with worse survival (P or = 36% abnormal metaphases (estimated median survival time, 6 months), and 22 patie...
Iron in Highbush Blueberries and It's Effect in Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) Assay

Blueberries are well known for their antioxidant property, due to the polyphenolics present in these fruits. The antioxidant activity of blueberries is usually measured by colorimetric assays involving metals such as iron, copper. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) assay was previously studied on blueberry fractions which has metmyoglobulin (protein bound iron) in its +3 oxidation state to assess the antioxidant activity of compounds. Studies showed that the amount of iron in highbush blueberries is too low to have a significant effect on the antioxidant activity measured by the TAS assay. A short comparative study was also performed using ascorbic acid in TAS assay and bathocuproine copper complex assay for a quick, inexpensive, rapid analysis of crude screening for antioxidant compounds.
Thin Film Solar Cells Using ZnO Nanowires, Organic Semiconductors and Quantum Dots

An abstract of the thesis of Kaitlyn V anSant for ·the Master of Science in Physics presented May 11, 2007. Title: ·Thin Film Solar Cells Using ZnO N anowires, Organic Semiconductor.s and Quantum Dots. A thin film organic/ inorganic hybrid solar cell was fabricated by incorporating ZnO nanowires, nand p-type organic semiconductors and inorganic quantum dots. The basic cell design involved the electrodeposition of ZnO nanowires grown on a substrate coated with a transparent conductive oxide. The ZnO nanowires were coated with a thin layer of an organic n-type material, followed by a deposition of inorganic quantum dots. A p-type polymer layer was subsequently deposited and the sample was then contacted with gold to form a quantum dot layer sandwiched between a p-n junction of organic conductive materials. Various materials and processing methods were adjusted, using I-V characteristics, photovoltage and/ or photocurrent measurements to determine the performance of the cell. Each constituent material in the basic device design was evaluated in terms of its contribution to the sample characteristics. A variety of deposition techniques were investigated to obtain homogeneous layers. Different 2 annealing procedures were explored with· the intent of balancing the time and tem:peratures required for electrical activation with material constraints such · as tendency towards oxidat~on and low meltiJ?.g points. The effect of time on the sample characteristics was also observed. The evaluatiOn primarily includes data for samples that led to design modifications aimed at improving both electrical properties and quantum efficiencies. This research led to the development of a hybrid solar cell sensitized by the addition of quantum dots. The organic semiconductors were used to form a p-n junction, and the p-type polymer also served as an active absorber layer. The quantum dots were used as the inorganic absorber fayer, and the results show that the range of optical absorption in the cell can be modified by adjusting particle size. In addition, the ZnO nanowires appear to improve charge transfer, when used with materials that have favorable band offsets. \.. THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS USING ZNO NANOWIRES, ORGANIC SEMICONDUCTORS AND QUANTUM DOTS
Adjuvants Increasing the Residual Activity of Phosdrin

Twenty-three materials were screened as potential adjuvants to increase the residual effectiveness of Phosdrin® (1-methoxycarbonyl-1-propen-2-yl dimethyl phosphate) on fourth instar larvae of Mexican bean beetle ( Epilachna varivestis Muls). Phosdrin residues 24, 48, and 72 hours old were infested and mortality observed after periods of 24 and 48 hours. The gross performance of each concentration of each material was compared with the performance of Phosdrin standard treatments. Six materials appeared promising. They are Experimental Plyac® (polyethylene formulation), Prorex-l® (high paraffin petroleum oil), Dri-Die 67®(silica aerogel), Nuchar C-115N®(active carbon), Cellosizc® WP-4400 (hydroxyethyl cellulose polymer), and Methocel® MC-4000 cps. (methyl cellulose polymer). Of these, the last two were outstanding. At 2%, both of these water soluble cellulose ether polymers more than doubled the residual efficacy of Phosdrin. Methocel alone was found toxic and thus may not act as an adjuvant in this instance.
Decision procedures for elementary sublanguages of set theory. XV. multilevel syllogistic extended by the predicate finite and the operators Singleton and Pred

In this paper we prove the decidability of the class of unquantified formulae of set theory involving the operators ϕ, ∪, ∩, \, {·}, pred< and the predicates =, ∈, \( \subseteq \), Finite, where pred<(s) denotes the collection of all sets having rank strictly less than the rank of s.
Comparing Single Case Design Overlap-Based Effect Size Metrics From Studies Examining Speech Generating Device Interventions.

Abstract Meaningfully synthesizing single case experimental data from intervention studies comprised of individuals with low incidence conditions and generating effect size estimates remains challe...
In vivo tissue interaction between the transverse carpal ligament and finger flexor tendons.

Abstract The transverse carpal ligament (TCL) is a component of the flexor pulley system of the wrist, keeping the flexor tendons in place by resisting their volar displacement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo biomechanical interaction between the TCL and flexor tendons in response to tendon tensioning with the wrist at various postures. In eight healthy subjects, the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus tendons were tensioned by isometrically applying loads (5, 10, and 15N) to the index finger while the wrist posture was at 20° extension, neutral, 20° flexion, and 40° flexion. The TCL and flexor tendons were imaged at the distal carpal tunnel cross section using ultrasound. The volar-dorsal positions of the tendons, TCL arch height, and TCL-tendon distances were calculated. With increasing wrist flexion, the flexor tendons moved volarly, the TCL arch height increased, and the TCL-tendon distances decreased, indicating that the flexor tendons contacted the TCL and pushed it volarly. The TCL-tendon interaction was amplified by the combination of finger loading and wrist flexion. This study provides in vivo evidence of the biomechanical interaction between the TCL and flexor tendons. Repetitive TCL-tendon interactions may implicate the interacting tissues and the median nerve resulting in tissue maladaptation and nerve compression.
Endocrinology in the Colleǵe Curriculum

A survey of college courses in endocrinology reveals that about 80 instructors teach 105 such courses, 68 at the basic or introductory level, and the remainder specialized or advanced. Of the 68 introductory courses, only 47 admit undergraduates, and 45 have an associated laboratory. Prerequisite course work in chemistry and biology usually makes endocrinology unavailable to the undergraduate before the third year; when undergraduates are admitted, they most commonly make up about half of the enrollment in the course. The most frequent size of class is 15-20, and about 1700 students per year elect endocrinology. About three-quarters of college instructors in endocrinology have themselves had a course in the subject. It is recommended that endocrinology be used in the form of a seminar or course to integrate prior experience in biology courses for senior students.
Comparison of Particle-Tracking Features in GEANT4 and MCNPX Codes for Applications in Mapping of Proton Range Uncertainty

The accuracy of proton therapy is partially limited by uncertainties that result from changing pathological conditions in the patient such as tumor motion and shrinkage. These uncertainties can be minimized with the help of a time-resolved range telescope. Monte Carlo methods can help improve the performance of range telescopes by tracking proton interactions on a particle-by-particle basis thus broadening our understanding on the behavior of protons within the patient and the detector. This paper compared the proton multiple coulomb scattering algorithms in the Monte Carlo codes MCNPX and Geant4 to well-established scattering theories. We focus only on beam energies associated with proton imaging. Despite slight discrepancies between scattering algorithms, both codes appear to be capable of providing useful particle-tracking information for applications such as the proton range telescope.
Giant photocurrent enhancement by transition metal doping in quantum dot sensitized solar cells

A huge enhancement in the incident photon-to-current efficiency of PbS quantum dot (QD) sensitized solar cells by manganese doping is observed. In the presence of Mn dopants with relatively small concentration (4 at. %), the photoelectric current increases by an average of 300% (up to 700%). This effect cannot be explained by the light absorption mechanism because both the experimental and theoretical absorption spectra demonstrate several times decreases in the absorption coefficient. To explain such dramatic increase in the photocurrent we propose the electron tunneling mechanism from the LUMO of the QD excited state to the Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) semiconductor photoanode. This change is due to the presence of the Mn instead of Pb atom at the QD/ZTO interface. The ab initio calculations confirm this mechanism. This work proposes an alternative route for a significant improvement of the efficiency for quantum dot sensitized solar cells.
Greater contrast in Martian hydrological history from more accurate estimates of paleodischarge

Correlative width-discharge relationships from the Missouri River Basin are commonly used to estimate fluvial paleodischarge on Mars. However, hydraulic geometry provides alternative, and causal, width-discharge relationships derived from broader samples of channels, including those in reduced-gravity (submarine) environments. Comparison of these relationships implies that causal relationships from hydraulic geometry should yield more accurate and more precise discharge estimates. Our remote analysis of a Martian-terrestrial analog channel, combined with in situ discharge data, substantiates this implication. Applied to Martian features, these results imply paleodischarges of interior channels of Noachian-Hesperian (~3.7 Ga) valley networks have been underestimated by a factor of several, whereas paleodischarges for smaller fluvial deposits of the Late Hesperian-Early Amazonian (~3.0 Ga) have been overestimated. Thus, these new paleodischarges significantly magnify the contrast between early and late Martian hydrologic activity. Width-discharge relationships from hydraulic geometry represent validated tools for quantifying fluvial input near candidate landing sites of upcoming missions.
TOPICS IN LOGISTIC REGRESSION ANALYSIS

OF DISSERTATION TOPICS IN LOGISTIC REGRESSION ANALYSIS Discrete-time Markov chains have been used to analyze the transition of subjects from intact cognition to dementia with mild cognitive impairment and global impairment as intervening transient states, and death as competing risk. A multinomial logistic regression model is used to estimate the probability distribution in each row of the one step transition matrix that correspond to the transient states. We investigate some goodness of fit tests for a multinomial distribution with covariates to assess the fit of this model to the data. We propose a modified chi-square test statistic and a score test statistic for the multinomial assumption in each row of the transition probability matrix. Multinomial logistic regression with categorical covariates can be analyzed by contingency tables. Exact p-value of goodness of fit test can be calculated based on MCMC samples. We show a hybrid scheme of the sequential importance sampling (SIS) procedure and the MCMC procedure for two-way contingency tables. We apply the SIS-MCMC procedure to the Nun Study data, a cohort of 461 participants on aging disease. The presence of the APOE-4 allele, levels of education are included as covariates in the application. Different grouping methods on age are also discussed. Separating data into four groups based on quantiles of age is recommended in the Nun Study. The traditional logistic regression model restricts the analysis on observations with complete covariate data, and ignores the incomplete observations due to missing or censored covariates. However, much information is lost in this approach. We introduce a maximum likelihood estimation based on the joint distribution of binary response variable, complete covariate and a right censored covariate. Simulation results show that the estimates with the new method are more accurate than those with the traditional complete case method when the sample size is relatively small or medium, across different censoring pattern. The proposed method is also applied to a model to analyze the relationship between the presence of arteriolosclerosis and the stay time in mild cognitive impairment of patients from SMART Study.
Musclin - a Novel Exercise Factor

Exercise remains the most effective way to promote physical and metabolic wellbeing, but molecular mechanisms underlying exercise tolerance are only partially understood. This study is focused on t...
Education Level and the Ethics of Tax Evasion

Some studies have found that the more education a person has, the more averse they are to tax evasion, while other studies have found just the opposite. Part of the reason for the differing results is because several behavioral factors are at work that pull taxpayers’ opinions in opposite directions. Richer taxpayers tend to be more educated than the general population, and they may have a tendency to have more respect for the rule of law. On the other hand, rich people are taxed more than poor people and they may resent paying so much in taxes, causing them to view tax evasion more favorably.
The Psychological and Background Characteristics Influencing Students' Success in Computer Programming

AbstractA survey questionnaire was completed by 322 students at the beginning of the initial Pascal course at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Final grades in the course were subsequently obtained for each student. A regression equation predicting the final course grades was established. Twenty-five percent of the variance in the grades is accounted for by the predictor variables. Background characteristics are the major predictors, including Knowledge of BASIC and Math SAT scores. However, attitudinal variables including expectation of difficulty in the course also are significant predictors. Furthermore, students who emphasize physical science in high school do less well in the Pascal course than students who exhibit no such emphasis.