cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abemaciclib with or without fulvestrant for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following prior treatment with palbociclib.

e12533Background: Abemaciclib is a selective inhibitor of CDK4 and CDK6 kinase activity. It is approved for patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (H...
The 1.9 Å crystal structure of the extracellular matrix protein Bap1 from Vibrio cholerae provides insights into bacterial biofilm adhesion

Growth of the cholera bacterium Vibrio cholerae in a biofilm community contributes to both its pathogenicity and survival in aquatic environmental niches. The major components of V. cholerae biofilms include Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS) and the extracellular matrix proteins RbmA, RbmC, and Bap1. To further elucidate the previously observed overlapping roles of Bap1 and RbmC in biofilm architecture and surface attachment, here we investigated the structural and functional properties of Bap1. Soluble expression of Bap1 was possible only after the removal of an internal 57-amino-acid-long hydrophobic insertion sequence. The crystal structure of Bap1 at 1.9 A resolution revealed a two-domain assembly made up of an eight-bladed β-propeller interrupted by a β-prism domain. The structure also revealed metal-binding sites within canonical calcium blade motifs, which appear to have structural rather than functional roles. Contrary to results previously observed with RbmC, the Bap1 β-prism domain did not exhibit affinity for complex N-glycans, suggesting an altered role of this domain in biofilm-surface adhesion. Native polyacrylamide gel shift analysis did suggest that Bap1 exhibits lectin activity with a preference for anionic or linear polysaccharides. Our results suggest a model for V. cholerae biofilms in which Bap1 and RbmC play dominant but differing adhesive roles in biofilms, allowing bacterial attachment to diverse environmental or host surfaces.
Polarization, reflection, and transmission states of plane electromagnetic propagation through a reciprocal chiral slab

Following up on recent work involving investigation of polarization states and Fresnel coefficients (FCs) at an achiral/chiral (ACC) interface, this paper will consider extensions to the case of two interfaces whereby the front end will be ACC and the back end chiral/achiral (CAC) leading to entirely different optical characteristics. Specifically, the work examines the FCs for ACC and CAC, and explores the corresponding changes in the polarization states of the reflected and transmitted light-waves. Additionally, the paper tracks the nature of the transmission through the chiral slab and the emerging fields corresponding to linear as well as arbitrary input polarizations. Keeping in mind that left- and right-circular modes are characteristic of propagation in a chiral material, amplitude and power reflection and transmission characteristics are also examined for the device.
Aesthetics, ethics and trauma in the cinema of Pedro Almodóvar

Some time ago, psychoanalytic film theory fell out of favour in the field of film and media studies, relegated to the margins, accused of having ‘little to say,’ focusing ‘on desires and pleasures,...
Long-term follow-up after staged reconstruction or transplantation for patients with functionally univentricular heart

As recently as 35 years ago, children born with a functionally single ventricle were destined to a lifetime of multiple palliative operations, and disrupted growth and development. Physical signs of their cardiac disease were evidenced by chronic hypoxemia, polycythemia, clubbing, small stature, and severely reduced exercise ability. A normal lifestyle, with typical landmarks such as uninterrupted adolescence and potential childbearing, was unlikely. The successful application of right heart bypass by Fontan and Kreutzer in the early 1970s heralded an era of multiple medical and surgical breakthroughs that have systematically improved the quality of life and long-term outlook for these children.
Food Habits, Stressors, and Use of Complementary Medicine Therapies Among Pediatric Patients Who Attend an Integrative Medicine Pediatric Pain Clinic.

Purpose: Chronic pain is a growing problem among children and adolescents, and is more prevalent in low-income families. This observational study was conducted to describe the demographics and vari...
#BlackLivesMatter in Religious Education: The REA Statement on the Murder of George Floyd

In the past few months it has become so commonplace to name the year 2020 as strange or unusual that we have almost run out of meaningful ways to state the obvious: the world in which we live has b...
Correction to: Prosthesis design influences segmental contribution to total cervical motion after cervical disc arthroplasty

Unfortunately, figures 1 and 2 have been incorrectly published in the original publication. The complete correct figures are given below with the captions.
Awake minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with a pedicle-based retraction system.

Abstract Objective Recently there has been increasing interest in the use of regional anesthesia for minimally-invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and laminectomy, with the goal of reducing the side effects and risks associated with general anesthesia and also to improve patient satisfaction. The goal of this technical note is to describe important perioperative aspects to safely perform an awake spine surgery and to describe a novel technique to preform minimally-invasive TLIF using a pedicle-based retraction system. Methods We report our patient selection criteria, perioperative anesthesia protocol and surgical technique for awake TLIF with the Maximum Access Surgery (MAS) TLIF Retraction System. We describe an illustrative case of a 66-year-old female that presented with leg pain, lumbar MRI revealed a grade one spondylolisthesis at L4−5 with severe canal stenosis. She underwent a L4−5 Awake MIS TLIF using the MAS TLIF Retraction System. Results The first 10 awake TLIF we performed with the MAS TLIF Retraction System had a mean procedure time of 117.3 min with a standard deviation (SD) of 13, and a mean total OR time of 151 min, SD 14.5. No surgery was converted under general anesthesia. No intraoperative complications were reported. Average length of stay was 1.3 ± 0.46 days. Conclusion Awake MAS TLIF is a safe and effective technique, with the advantage of reducing the risk and side effect of general anesthesia and the approach-associated damage to soft tissues and morbidity. The pedicle-based distraction allows easier access to the intervertebral disc space for both disc preparation and cage placement.
Hematite reconstruction of Late Triassic hydroclimate over the Colorado Plateau

Hematite is the most abundant surficial iron oxide on Earth resulting from near-surface processes that make it important for addressing numerous geologic problems. While red beds have proved to be excellent paleomagnetic recorders, the early diagenetic origin of hematite in these units is often questioned. Here, we validate pigmentary hematite (“pigmentite”) as a proxy indicator for the Late Triassic environment and its penecontemporaneous origin by analyzing spectrophotometric measurements of a 14.5-My–long red bed sequence in scientific drill core CPCP-PFNP13-1A of the Chinle Formation, Arizona. Pigmentite concentrations in the red beds track the evolving pattern of the Late Triassic monsoon and indicate a long-term rise in aridity beginning at ∼215 Ma followed by increased oscillatory climate change at ∼213 Ma. These monsoonal changes are attributed to the northward drift of the Colorado Plateau as part of Laurentia into the arid subtropics during a time of fluctuating CO2. Our results refine the record of the Late Triassic monsoon and indicate significant changes in rainfall proximal to the Adamanian–Revueltian biotic transition that thus may have contributed to apparent faunal and floral events at 216 to 213 Ma.
The politics of urban trees: Tree planting is associated with gentrification in Portland, Oregon.

Abstract This study evaluated the hypothesis that urban-tree planting increases neighborhood gentrification in Portland, Oregon. We defined gentrification as an increase in the median sales price of single-family homes in a Census tract compared to other tracts in the city after accounting for differences in the housing stock such as house size and number of bathrooms. We used tree-planting data from the non-profit Friends of Trees, who have planted 57,985 yard and street trees in Portland (1990–2019). We estimated a mixed model of gentrification (30 years and 141 tracts) including random intercepts at the tract level and a first-order auto-regressive residual structure. Tract-level house prices and tree planting may be codetermined. Therefore, to address potential endogeneity of tree planting in statistical modeling, we lagged the number of trees planted by at least one year. We found that the number of trees planted in a tract was significantly associated with a higher tract-level median sales price, although it took at least six years for this relationship to emerge. Specifically, each tree was associated with a $131 (95% CI: $53–$210; p-value = 0.001) increase in tract-level median sales price six years after planting. The magnitude of the association between the number of trees planted and median sales price generally increased as the time lag lengthened. After twelve years, each tree was associated with a $265 (95% CI: $151–$379; p-value
The Holocaust as an Environmental Problem

Is the human relationship with the natural world a necessary part of the meaning of the Holocaust? My work as an environmental philosopher leads me to answer this question affirmatively: the Holoca...
Hot carriers in plasmonic structures: another look

Recent years have seen growing interest to the applications of hot carriers generated in plasmonic structures for photodetection and photocatalysis. Many questions, however, still remain waiting for answer, starting from exactly what is the physical mechanism enabling these applications and culminating in what is the ultimate efficiency of hot carrier plasmonic processes. In my talk I will attempt to answer at least some of these questions.
Chat-XAI: A New Chatbot to Explain Artificial Intelligence.

Explaining artificial intelligence (AI) to people is crucial since the large number of AI-generated results can greatly affect people’s decision-making process in our daily life. Chatbots have great potential to serve as an effective tool to explain AI. Chatbots have the advantage of conducting proactive interactions and collecting customer requests with high availability and scalability. We make the first-step exploration of using chatbots to explain AI. We propose a chatbot explanation framework which includes proactive interactions on the explanation of the AI model and the explanation of the confidence level of AI-generated results. In addition, to understand what users would like to know about AI for further improvement on the chatbot design, our framework also collects users’ requests about AI-generated results. Our preliminary evaluation shows the effectiveness of our chatbot to explain AI and gives us important design implications for further improvements.
Heat Shock Proteins and Antigen Processing and Presentation

T lymphocytes recognize antigen through their cell surface immune receptor, the T cell receptor (TCR). In several respects the TCR is similar to the B cell immune receptor, antibody. Both are composed of two different protein chains which associate to form a combining site for antigen. These chains have variable and constant regions encoded in separate genes which rearrange during the development of the individual cells. Indeed, TCR and antibody are members of the same super gene family and based on amino acid sequence similarity the TCR is predicted to have a similar three dimensional structure as antibody (reviewed in Davis and Bjorkman, 1988). Despite such similarities the T cell and B cell recognition of antigen differs fundamentally. Antibody binds to protein antigens in their native conformations in an exquisitely specific, lock and key fashion as revealed by recent determinations of the crystal structures of antibodies bound to protein antigens (Amit etal., 1986). In contrast, the TCR has no apparent affinity for native protein antigens but requires that the antigen be denatured, most likely by proteolysis, yielding a peptide or peptide-like fragment containing the T cell antigenic determinant. In general, antigenic peptides alone do not bind to TCRs but require an association with an MHC molecule on the surface of an antigen presenting cell (APC) to activate antigen-specific T cells. This appears to be the case both for helper T cells which recognize antigen in association with MHC class II molecules and for cytolytic T cells which recognize antigen bound to MHC class I molecules.
Relationship of the c-fms Protooncogene Product to the CSF-1 Receptor

The genomes of RNA tumor viruses contain viral oncogene sequences derived by recombination from protooncogenes present in all normal cells.(1) As the biochemical functions of protooncogene products are elucidated, we are beginning to formulate a better understanding of the processes that govern cell proliferation and are gaining parallel insights into how aberrant stimuli for growth predispose to malignancy. The products of at least two classes of retroviral oncogenes, including those encoding tyrosine-specific kinases (e.g., v-src, v-abl, v-fes) and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (the v-ras genes), exert their transforming functions at the plasma membrane. These products are thought to act by emulating the functions of cell surface proteins that transduce extracellular hormonal signals. The fact that two members of the tyrosine kinase gene family (v-erbB and v-fms) encode aberrant forms of cell surface receptors for polypeptide growth factors(2,3) has underscored the possibility that critical alterations in receptor function might directly contribute to neoplasia.
Activation of p53 gene expression in premalignant lesions during head and neck tumorigenesis

With the goal of identifying a potential intermediate biomarker in the multistep process of head and neck cancer development, we conducted immunohistochemical analyses for p53 expression in 33 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas whose tissue sections contained adjacent normal epithelium, hyperplastic, and/or dysplastic lesions. Fifteen of 33 (45%) squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck expressed p53, but none of four normal control patients (cancer-free nonsmokers) expressed detectable p53 in oral mucosa specimens. To determine when p53 expression is initiated during head and neck tumorigenesis, we examined the normal and premalignant lesions adjacent to the tumors. Five of 24 (21%) samples of normal epithelium adjacent to tumors, 7 of 24 (29%) samples of hyperplasia, and 9 of 20 (45%) samples of dysplasia expressed p53. Quantitative image analysis demonstrated not only a gradual increase in the amount of p53 expression as tissue abnormalities progressed but also a topological change in expression. Whereas p53 expression, when present, was limited to the basal layer in normal epithelium adjacent to tumor, the expression of p53 expanded into the parabasal and superficial layers in hyperplasia and dysplasia. We conclude that p53 expression can be altered in very early phases of head and neck tumorigenesis. Thus, it may be an excellent candidate for risk assessment and may serve as an intermediate biomarker in chemoprevention trials.
Ten-year survival after autologous stem cell transplantation for immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis

BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to determine characteristics distinguishing the 10-year survivor group in patients with systemic immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT). METHODS: The study group included all 74 patients with AL amyloidosis who underwent high-dose melphalan treatment supported by autologous SCT since the beginning of the Mayo Clinic's SCT program until prior to August 2001. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients (43%) patients survived for > 10 years. Statistically significant baseline differences in the 10-year survivor group included: 1) the number of organs involved; 2) septal thickness; 3) total cholesterol; and 4) urine total protein. The number of organs involved was the only predictor found on multivariable analysis. Depth of the response to therapy, as measured by the lowest posttransplantation serum free light chain level, was found to be the most significant indicator of durability of response. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous SCT can offer durable benefit for patients with AL amyloidosis. The number of organs involved offers the greatest pretreatment prognostic value, whereas the lowest posttransplantation serum free light chain level offers the best posttreatment prognostic value. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
The Gravitational Field of a Circulating Light Beam

Exact solutions of the Einstein field equations are found for the exterior and interior gravitational field of an infinitely long circulating cylinder of light. The exterior metric is shown to contain closed timelike lines.
EPR evidence for nickel-substrate interaction in carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from Clostridium thermoaceticum.

Abstract Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from Clostridium thermoaceticum contains two different Fe 4 S 4 rhombic-type EPR resonances with g-values at 2.04, 1.94, 1.90 and 2.01, 1.86, 1.75, respectively. The enzyme after reacting with CO or HCO 3 − /CO 2 also reveals in EPR signal at g = 2.07 and 2.02. This signal, readily observed at 95K, is attributed to a Ni(III) interaction with a radical species formed from CO or HCO 3 − /CO 2 .
Simultaneous HDN/HDS of model compounds over Ni-Mo sulfide catalysts

Abstract Reaction studies of model compounds are combined with pre- and postreaction characterization of the alumina-supported monometallic Ni, Mo and bimetallic Ni-Mo sulfide catalysts to acquire a better understanding of the catalytic phenomena involved in the hydrodenitrogenation catalysis over Ni-Mo system. The catalytic job distribution of Ni and Mo centers and the form of active sites for hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis steps in HDN reactions are examined. The effect of sulfur compounds on the catalytic sites and on the individual steps of the HDN network are discussed.
The effects of functional oils on sensory attributes of beef ribeye steaks

The effect of feeding EssentialTM, a product of functional oils, on the meat quality of finishing cattle was observed in two one-year trials . Year one included 120 steer calves (average initial weight 322kg). Year two included 120 steer calves (average initial weight 344kg). In each year five treatments were utilized with four replications and six animals in each replication. Treatments were control (C), monensin (223 mg/hd/d; M), monensin (223 mg/hd/d) + EssentialTM (250 mg/kg DMI; ME), EssentialTM Low (250 mg/kg DMI; EL), and EssentialTM High (500 mg/kg DMI; EH). In year one all steers were fed the same diet (0.29 Mcal of NEg/kg DM, 0.41 Mcal of NEm/kg DM) on an ad libitum basis, treatments M and EL for 172 days and treatments C, ME, and EH for 179 days. Steers were harvested at an average weight of 617kg. In year two all steers were fed the same diet (0.29 Mcal of NEg/kg DM, 0.41 Mcal of NEm/kg DM) on an ad libitum basis, treatments M and ME for 154 days and treatments C, EL, and EH for 161 days. Steers were harvested at an average weight of 596kg. At the conclusion of the feeding trial, cattle were harvested and a ribeye steak was removed from each carcass for sensory evaluation. In year one, hot carcass weight showed no evidence of a difference among treatments. Quality grades (1=low standard, 7=low choice, 12=high prime) for C, ME and EL treatments were, 6.46, 6.50, and 6.57, respectively, and were higher (P<0.05) than the M treatment and lower (P<0.05) than the EH treatment, 6.25, and 7.06, respectively. There was no evidence of differences in ribeye area, backfat,
Promising Interventions for Promoting STEM Fields to Students Who Have Disabilities

This study compared two groups of transition program participants—those with reported strengths and career goals in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) and those without—regarding their characteristics and perceptions of the social, academic, and career benefits of program interventions. Consistent with previous research on gender and STEM, more males than females reported strengths and goals in STEM. Results suggest that type of disability may play a role in the perception of STEM fields as career options, perhaps resulting in less interest in these fields on the part of students with mobility/orthopedic impairments. While the STEM group expressed more interest in technology-related activities, non-STEM participants consistently rated themselves higher in self-advocacy skills and perceived that program participation improved their social skills more than did STEM participants. Regarding motivation to attend college, academic interest and love of learning/challenges was cited more often by members of the STEM group, while job/career preparation was identified by more of the non-STEM students. As far as motivation for employment, financial security was selected by significantly more of the STEM-oriented participants and pursuit of independent living was chosen by more of the non-STEM participants. Results suggest that program interventions may help change college study and career plans of those who do not initially have STEM interests. Based on the responses of the two groups in this study, the authors make program recommendations for increasing the representation of people with disabilities in STEM fields.
General Equilibrium Theory: Convex sets, separation theorems, and nonconvex sets in R N

Definition A set of points S in R N is said to be convex if the line segment between any two points of the set is completely included in the set, that is, S is convex if x, y ∈ S implies { z | z = α x + (1 - α) y , 0 ≤ α ≤ 1} ⊆ S . S is said to be strictly convex if x, y ∈ S, x ≠ y , 0 implies α x + (1 - α) y ∈ interior S . The notion of convexity is that a set is convex if it is connected, has no holes on the inside, and has no indentations on the boundary. Figure 8.1 displays convex and nonconvex sets. A set is strictly convex if it is convex and has a continuous strict curvature (no flat segments) on the boundary. Properties of convex sets Let C 1 and C 2 be convex subsets of R N . Then C 1 ∩ C 2 is convex , C 1 + C 2 is convex , C 1 is convex . Proof See Exercise 8.1. QED The concept of convexity of a set in R N is essential in mathematical economic analysis. This reflects the importance of continuous point-valued optimizing behavior. To understand the importance of convexity, consider for a moment what will happen when it is absent. Suppose widgets are consumed only in discrete lots of 100. The insistence on discrete lots is a nonconvexity. Suppose a typical widget eater at some prices to be indifferent between buying a lot of 100 and buying 0.
Smooth-Pursuit Eye Movement Representation in the Primate Frontal Eye Field

Physiological and behavioral data reported here show an involvement of the primate frontal eye field (FEF) cortex in smooth-pursuit eye movements, in addition to its well-established role in saccadic eye movements. Microstimulation just ventral to the small saccade representation of the FEF elicits eye movements that, in contrast to elicited saccades, have low velocities, continue smoothly without interruption during prolonged stimulation, and are usually directed ipsilaterally to the stimulated hemisphere. Neurons in this region respond in association with smooth-pursuit eye movements and visual motion. Tracking deficits following experimental lesions of the FEF depend critically upon the status of this ventral region: superficial lesions sparing it leave smooth-pursuit eye movements intact, whereas lesions removing it produce substantial deficits in the anticipatory initiation, motion-induced acceleration, asymptotic velocity, and predictive continuation of ipsilateral smooth pursuit.
Efficient nonparametric testing by functional estimation

Many nonparametric tests admit improvement by identifying a functional on a set of probability measures ℱ, of which the test statistic is an estimator. We call such a functional a gauge for the problem if it induces the partition of ℱ into null and alternative and enjoys certain invariance properties. Two nonparametric testing problems are explored here: a dependency problem and an equidistribution problem. In each a dual smoothing problem is posed and optimally solved in the estimation framework, and a corresponding testing procedure gives a consistency rate improvement over the original test.
Bilateral interactions within the vocal control pathway of birds: two evolutionary alternatives.

Bilateral interactions between the right and left sides of the vocal control pathway of three avian species, the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), the zebra finch (Poephila guttata), and the canary (Serinus can-arius), were compared by using microstimulation. Stimulation of the neo-striatal nucleus, hyperstriatum ventrale pars caudale (HVc), caused a constant-latency increase in neural activity of the tracheosyringeal (ts) nerve. This nerve supplies the avian vocal organ, the syrinx. Unilateral stimulation of HVc in budgerigars caused equal responses in both right and left ts nerves, whereas in canaries and zebra finches, much larger responses with lower thresholds and shorter latencies were evoked in the ipsilateral ts nerve than in the contralateral ts nerve. Furthermore, contralateral responses in the oscines were seen only at high rates of stimulation, whereas ipsilateral responses could be evoked by a single stimulus pulse. Simultaneous bilateral stimulation of HVc in budgerigars evoked a greater than linear summation of responses on each ts nerve, evidence for convergence of ipsi- and contralateral inputs onto the same set of motor neurons. No such summation was detected in zebra finches or canaries. The bilateral distribution of excitation within the song control pathway of budgerigars should lead to coactivation of bilaterally paired muscles on each side of the syrinx. This type of interaction should ensure that the two sides of the parrot syrinx operate as parts of a unitary, or single-voiced, syrinx. In contrast, the two sides of the song control pathway in canaries and zebra finches are almost completely isolated from each other, and are thus free to act independently. This type of organization lends itself to the separate control of simultaneously produced, harmonically unrelated sound elements by the two independent sound sources present in the songbird's two-voiced syrinx.
P‐157: A Single Cell‐Gap Transflective VA LCD using Positive Liquid Crystal Materials

We propose a single cell gap vertical-alignment transflective LCD with patterned electrodes using a positive dielectric anisotropic liquid crystal. As compared to prior attempts using a positive LC in VA configurations, our new design significantly reduces the threshold and on-state voltages to a range reachable by portable electronic displays. In addition, the light efficiency is also enhanced and it only requires a single gamma curve for both transmissive and reflective modes.
The PAMELA and ATIC Signals From Kaluza-Klein Dark Matter

In this letter, we study the possibility that Kaluza-Klein dark matter in a model with one universal extra dimension is responsible for the recent observations of the PAMELA and ATIC experiments. In this model, the dark matter particles annihilate largely to charged leptons, which enables them to produce a spectrum of cosmic ray electrons and positrons consistent with the PAMELA and ATIC measurements. To normalize to the observed signal, however, large boost factors ({approx}10{sup 3}) are required. Despite these large boost factors and significant annihilation to hadronic modes (35%), we find that the constraints from cosmic ray antiproton measurements can be satisfied. Relic abundance considerations in this model force us to consider a rather specific range of masses (approximately 600-900 GeV) which is very similar to the range required to generate the ATIC spectral feature. The results presented here can also be used as a benchmark for model-independent constraints on dark matter annihilation to hadronic modes.
Adsorption and reaction of propanal, 2-propenol and 1-propanol on Ni/Pt(111) bimetallic surfaces

Abstract The hydrogenation of acrolein (CH 2 CH CH O) can lead to the formation of three hydrogenation products, 2-propenol (CH 2 CH CH 2 OH), propanal (CH 3 CH 2 CH O), and 1-propanol (CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 OH). In the current study the adsorption and reaction of these three molecules were investigated on Ni/Pt(111) surfaces to understand the different hydrogenation pathways of acrolein, using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). TPD experiments showed that 2-propenol underwent isomerization toward propanal on Pt(111) and the Pt Ni Pt(111) bimetallic surface, with a dominant decarbonylation pathway on the Pt(111) surface. A self-hydrogenation (disproportionation) pathway toward 1-propanol was observed on the Ni(111) film, however, the decarbonylation pathway was found to be the most dominant on this surface. Unlike 2-propenol, propanal did not undergo isomerization or self-hydrogenation pathways on any of the surfaces, with the dominant pathway being primarily the decarbonylation on Pt(111) and Ni(111). In contrast, 1-propanol underwent mainly molecular desorption from all three surfaces. These results provided additional understanding of previous studies of hydrogenation pathways of acrolein on the Ni/Pt(111) surfaces.
A new computation scheme for triangular quantum billiards

A new scheme for computing the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the Laplacian with Dirichlet boundary conditions on arbitrary triangular domains is presented. Its reliability is tested by comparing numerical results with analytical ones whenever possible. The computation of eigenvalues shows a good agreement with analytical results. The procedure is shown to give accurate results also in the case of eigenfunctions computation. Finally, the sensitivity of our scheme to the geometry of the domain is discussed and the algorithm is shown to detect small changes in the shape of the domain.
The Hackenbush number system for compression of numerical data

The Hackenbush number system is a method of representing numbers by expressing the integer part in unary and the fractional part in binary. The representation absorbs the sign bit and binary point into the string of binary digits which represents the number. Conversion between the Hackenbush representation and the more conventional fixed and floating point representations requires approximately the same small amount of computation as is required to convert between the fixed and floating representations. If the numbers to be represented are selected from a known zero-mean distribution which has bounded height and tails that fall off exponentially or faster, the m-bit Hackenbush representation is typically more accurate than any floating point representation. For example, if the numbers are selected from the normal Gaussian distribution, the mean-square error of the m-bit Hackenbush representation is less than the mean-square error of any (arbitrarily complex) (m − 1)-bit representation, and it is comparable to the mean square quantization error of the (m + n)-bit normalized floating point representation which has 1 bit of sign, n + 1 bits of exponent, and (m − 2) bits of characteristic, for all n.
Dual-label immunocytochemistry of the active multiple sclerosis lesion: major histocompatibility complex and activation antigens.

Fresh-frozen autopsy material containing active inflammatory lesions from 9 different patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was analyzed by immunocytochemistry using a panel of monoclonal antibodies, and a dual-label immunocytochemical method was developed which permitted the simultaneous detection of two different surface Marchkers on a single cell. We now report the following. (1) The predominant T-cell phenotype within MS lesions is CD2,3,8. This phenotype Marchks the suppressor-cytotoxic subset. (2) These cells do not express the natural killer cell Marchker NKH-1, which is present on a subset of CD8-positive cells in peripheral blood. (3) The infiltrating cell expresses class I (HLA A, B, C), but not class II (DR and DQ), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. (4) Other T-cell surface molecules, including the activation antigens interleukin-2 receptor, Ta1, and Tll-3, as well as the Marchker 2H4, are largely not expressed. (5) Endothelial cells express both class I and class II MHC molecules and the 4B4 molecule in both MS and control tissue. (6) Astrocytes within the vicinity of MS lesions are predominantly class II MHC—negative. These results demonstrate that the T-cell infiltrate present in MS tissue on autopsy has a restricted phenotypic profile, but they also raise the possibility that, within this population, few activated effector cells are present.
Testing the Power of Belief

The profile of cardiologist Herbert Benson by Wade Roush (Research News, [18 Apr., p. 357][1]) and the review by Irwin and Jack Tessman of his book Timeless Healing in the same issue (p. 369) devote extensive discussion to Benson’s intentions to demonstrate the power of belief in health and healing. One might also consider the pioneering work in this field more than a century ago by the biometrician Sir Francis Galton ([1][2]). Although his proposals were refused to directly test the efficacy of prayer for patients in one wing of a hospital as compared with those not prayed for in another wing, Galton performed a statistical analysis of the question from existing data by considering the effect of collective prayer on the life expectancy of different classes of English society. As summarized by Haldane ([2][3])He considered that of all classes of society in England those most prayed for were the sovereigns and the children of the clergy. If prayer is effective they should live appreciably longer than other persons exposed to similar risks of death. So kings were compared with lords, and the children of the clergy with those of other professional men. The conclusion to which his numbers led was that these much-prayed-for persons had slightly shorter lives than those with whom he compared them. Galton also determined the frequency with which ships carrying missionaries experienced disaster at sea and compared this with the frequency of disaster experienced by other ships. He found that missionary ships sank with a frequency and loss of life only slightly greater than that of less-blessed ships. The important conclusion reached by Haldane, and one perhaps important to gain also from Benson’s work, is that in neither analysis were the differences great enough to make it probable that prayers have any harmful effect. 1. [↵][4]F. Galton, Fortnight Rev. 12 , 125 (1872). 2. [↵][5]J.B.S. Haldane, in Possible Worlds and Other Papers (Chatto and Windus, London, 1928), pp. 237–252. # {#article-title-2} Benson needs to include a group of coronary bypass patients who know they are not being prayed for, along with the group who think they might be being prayed for and those who know they are being prayed for. The controls could then be coronary bypass atheists who adamantly doubt the efficacy of prayer, even after a good outcome. The controls required of this study would thus never benefit, and the others always would. By Benson’s protocol, prayer always works, it’s probably working right now, and that’s why we’re all not a whole lot sicker. # {#article-title-3} Debating whether humans are “hardwired for prayer” misses the point. Whether an individual copes with the dilemma of mortality by using prayer, exercise, a walk in the countryside, or the enjoyment of higher math and astrophysics, the end result can be the same. From an evolutionary perspective, individuals who do not give up hope would be expected to be more fecund. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.276.5311.357 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [5]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text"
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE AND THE NUCLEON--NUCLEON INTERACTION.

This paper summarizes very briefly the results of some nuclear structure calculations using realistic two-body interactions which fit nucleon-nucleon scattering data. Using realistic interactions, and many-body techniques such as the reference spectrum and an approximate treatment of three-body correlations the binding energy and density of nuclear matter are quantitatively accounted for. Realistic interactions have also been used in Hartree-Fock calculations and results for the ground state of ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$ are briefly discussed. Finally there are some remarks concerning the effective interaction to be used in shell-model calculations and in particular, the need to include core excitation in order to fit quantitatively the spectrum of two-particle nuclei such as ${\mathrm{O}}^{18}$.
Magnetocentrifugal Launching of Jets from Accretion Disks. II. Inner Disk-driven Winds

We numerically follow the time evolution of axisymmetric outflows magnetocentrifugally driven from the inner portion of accretion disks from their launching surface to large observable distances. Special attention is paid to the collimation of part of the outflow into a dense, narrow jet around the rotation axis after a steady state has been reached. For parameters typical of T Tauri stars, we define a fiducial jet as that outlined by the contour of constant density at 104 cm-3. We find that the jet, so defined, appears nearly cylindrical well above the disk, in agreement with previous asymptotic analyses. Closer to the equatorial plane, the density contour can either bulge outward or pinch inward, depending on the conditions at the launching surface, particularly the mass flux distribution. We find that even though a dense, jetlike feature is always formed around the axis, there is no guarantee that the high-density axial jet would dominate the more tenuous, wide-angle part of the wind. Specifically, on the 100 AU scale, resolvable by the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based adaptive optics for nearby T Tauri winds, the fraction of the wind mass flux enclosed by the fiducial jet can vary substantially, again depending on the launching conditions. We show two examples in which the fraction is ~20% and ~45%. These dependences may provide a way to constrain the conditions at the launching surface, which are poorly known at present.
Fracture Analysis of Unidirectional Composites

The concept of fracture mechanics is applied to analyze the brittle fracture of unidirectional composites. The analytical prediction based on the newly developed Sc-theory agrees well with the experimental data on Scotchply 1002 where crack propagation occurs along the fiber direction. The Sc-theory represents a departure from the classical stress-intensity factor Kc concept in that it is designed to treat the mixed mode fracture problem while the Kc-theory is limited to Mode I crack extension.
Trypanosoma cruzi: reversal of inhibition of host muscle differentiation after exposure to elevated temperatures.

Abstract The L6E9 myoblast cell line can be grown as individual cells in “growth medium,” or can be induced to fuse and differentiate to form multinucleated myotubes either at 37 C or at 40.5 C in “differentiation medium.” It has previously been shown that myoblasts with infected Trypanosoma cruzi (Brazil strain) cannot differentiate to form myotubes. Moreover, the mRNAs for contractile proteins are not induced in these infected cells. Infected myoblasts grown in “differentiation medium” at 37C were unable to differentiate by 7 days. The infection was maintained at 100%, and the number of trypomastigotes in the supernatant increased with time (peak > 106/ml). At 40.5C, however, infected myoblasts gradually eliminated their infection. The percentage of parasitized cells was reduced to
Potential applications of an alcohol-aldehyde/ketone oxidoreductase from thermophilic bacteria

Practical uses of a novel alcohol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobium brockii have been examined in crude and purified form. Stoichiometric reduction of NADP (50 mg) was demonstrated with agarose-immobilized enzyme and 0.3 (v/v) 2-propanol solution as reductant. A coenzyme recycle number of 20000 was achieved in enzymatic reactions that employed the alcohol dehydrogenase for NADPH/NADP regeneration. Gram-scale synthesis of chiral R(+) 2-pentanol was shown in a system composed of enzyme, 2-pentanone and 2-propanol as reductant. The effect of temperature, reaction time and substrate concentration on alcohol optical purity was examined. An optical purity of 80% was achieved in the enzymatic synthesis of R(+) 2-pentanol. The enzyme was easily immobilized and stable on an enzyme electrode for analytical detection of alcohols and carbonyls. T. brockii enzyme has potential applications as a commercial alcohol dehydrogenase because of broad substrate specificity and activity at high temperature or high solvent concentration, rare carbonyl si-face stereo-specificity in hydrogen transfer, and high stability and activation of immobilized enzyme.
Robustness of Non-Ideal Decision Procedures

Abstract A general discussion of the robustness of decision procedures with respect to use of the wrong prior distribution emphasizes the possible usefulness of non-ideal procedures which, placing restrictions on the class of decision procedures, do not require full specification of the prior probability distribution. Applications are made to minimum mean square error estimation of a general mean and a normal variance, using non-ideal estimators linear in the sample mean and variance, respectively.
Chapter 13 Satisficing DEA models under chance constraints

DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) models and concepts are formulated here in terms of the “P-Models” of Chance Constrained Programming, which are then modified to contact the “satisficing concepts” of H.A. Simon. Satisficing is thereby added as a third category to the efficiency/inefficiency dichotomies that have heretofore prevailed in DEA. Formulations include cases in which inputs and outputs are stochastic, as well as cases in which only the outputs are stochastic. Attention is also devoted to situations in which variations in inputs and outputs are related through a common random variable. Extensions include new developments in goal programming with deterministic equivalents for the corresponding satisficing models under chance constraints.
A covariant action for the SU(2) spinning string as a hyperkähler or quaternionic nonlinear sigma model

Abstract The general conformal coupling of an arbitrary number of scalar multiplets to d = 2, N = 4 supergravity is given. The supersymmetric nonlinear sigma models can be either hyperkahler or quaternionic, unlike in the analogous case in d = 4. This model is the long-ago predicted SU(2) spinning string.
Property relations and economic development: the other land reform.

Abstract Continued concern for development has led to the suggestion that private property rights should be created to stimulate economic development. This suggestion derives from an incomplete understanding of the property relations on the public domain lands in the arid tropics, and from a confusion of cause and effect between property and economic productivity. A model of the private-public boundary in land is developed that challenges the view that wealth would increase if land at the extensive margin were privatized. The various types of property regimes in land are defined and explained.
Surface-Confined Monomers on Electrode Surfaces. 7. Synthesis of Pyrrole-Terminated Poly(propylene imine) Dendrimers

Poly(propylene imine) dendrimers containing a diaminobutane core with pyrrole groups at the dendrimer periphery have been synthesized for the first time. The fully functionalized (as determined by mass spectrometry and NMR), pyrrole-terminated dendrimers (DAB-PyX (X = 4, 8, 16)) were synthesized from 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran and commercially available poly(propylene imine) dendrimers containing a diaminobutane core (DAB-AmX). Adsorption of the pyrrole-terminated dendrimers on Au surfaces is evidenced by the reflection−absorption infrared (RAIR) spectra of Au surfaces exposed to micromolar solutions of the dendrimers.
CHANGES IN BRAIN GENE EXPRESSION DURING MIGRATION IN THE WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW

Long-term recordings of seasonal sleep patterns in captive white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) have shown that these birds markedly reduce sleep time during the migratory period relative to the non-migratory period. It was also found that, despite this sleep reduction, sparrows showed no evidence of neurobehavioral deficits in a standard operant task used to assess the effects of sleep loss. In this study, we performed an extensive microarray analysis of gene expression in the sparrow telencephalon during the migratory season (M), relative to a 78-h period of enforced sleep restriction during the non-migratory season (SR), and a 6-h period of normal wakefulness during the non-migratory season (W). Of the estimated 17,100 transcripts that were reliably detected, only 0.17% changed expression as a function of M (relative to both SR and W), and 0.11% as a function of SR (relative to both M and W). Brain transcripts whose expression increased during M include the facilitated glucose transporter GLUT1, the presenilin associated rhomboid-like protein PARL, and several members of the heat shock protein family, such as HSP70, HSP90, GRP78 and BiP. These data suggest that migration is associated with brain cellular stress and enhanced energetic demands.
Adiabatic lower bounds for the Helmholtz function

A class of projective adiabatic approximations is described that enables a variety of lower bounds to be determined for the partition function of a system and, hence, upper bounds for its Helmholtz function. In one extreme, this class of approximations embraces the well-known Peierls inequality, while, in another extreme, it yields the statistical thermodynamic analog of the upper-bound property exhibited by the Born-Huang approximation for the lowest-energy eigenvalue of a system. An examination is made of the variational characteristics of the present class of approximations, for the Hamiltonians ordinarily encountered, and for those adiabatic projections that are restricted to be a real, complete, and irreducible set that depends only parametrically on certain of the degrees of freedom of the system having classical counterparts. It is established, in these circumstances, that any greatest lower bounds for the partition function that may be generated by these approximations cannot generally be associated with a stationary value of that quantity.
Discharge-plasma-x-ray-laser resonant couples for x-ray nonlinear optics.

We demonstrate the feasibility of x-ray resonant nonlinear effects (absorption saturation and nonlinear refractive index) for the radiation of some of existing x-ray lasers (XRL's) when it propagates in relatively low-temperature discharge plasmas different from those used in the respective XRL. We identified 12 resonant ``XRL-plasma'' couples suitable for such effects.
Relationship of bariatric surgery to Müllerian-inhibiting substance levels

Sixteen women who underwent bariatric surgery were enrolled in a prospective study to evaluate Mullerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) levels preoperatively and postoperatively. We found that MIS decreased significantly in women younger than 35 years of age.