cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recalibrating Vaccination Laws

The United States is in the midst of a vaccine crisis. States utilize their police power to establish vaccine mandates, but the federal government — via the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (“Vaccine Act”) — maintains responsibility for incentivizing vaccine innovation, ensuring a stable vaccine market, and affording compensation for vaccine-related injuries. Although the Vaccine Act may have been the cure for the vaccine woes of the 1980s, the law has failed to keep pace with technological advancements and evolving public policy concerns. As was the case during the 1980s, today’s vaccine market is highly consolidated and the public depends on one or two manufacturers for most childhood vaccines. This has led to vaccine shortages and a lack of competition in vaccine design. Rather than incentivizing timely adjustments to vaccine formulas, the Vaccine Act’s broad legal immunities for vaccine manufacturers have created a regulatory vacuum whereby manufacturers are not obligated to incorporate scientific developments into marketed vaccines. Furthermore, the Act’s complex compensation mechanism has failed to resolve vaccine-injury claims fairly and expeditiously. Meanwhile, declining public trust in government and industry fuels vaccine hesitancy and creates population health challenges for public health officials. Recalibrating vaccination laws can help remedy these imbalances. While the Vaccine Act may not be a primary cause of vaccine hesitancy, amendments to the law can be part of the solution. Grounded in a comprehensive analysis of the historical context preceding the enactment of the Vaccine Act, this Article details how statutory levers can address modern-day concerns in vaccine policy and provides draft legislation that furthers the Vaccine Act’s public health, compensation, and market stabilization goals. Using law as a means of furthering the public health and building public trust in vaccines, the proposals focus on increasing safety and efficacy research, adjusting preemption provisions, and expanding the safety net for vaccine-related injuries.
Pembrolizumab-axitinib-induced tumor lysis syndrome in a patient with metastatic renal cancer

Tumor lysis syndrome is uncommon in solid tumors but with the use of immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors) their incidence is increasing. Physicians need to take adequate precautions while treating patients with immunotherapy. The findings of our case report will help improve our current understanding of tumor lysis syndrome specially in solid tumors and will help in developing multidisciplinary treatment and prophylaxis strategies for this uncommon, but potentially fatal complication.
The Endocardium as a Master Regulator of Ventricular Trabeculation

Ventricular chamber morphogenesis, characterized by trabeculae formation, is crucial for cardiac function and embryonic viability and depends on cellular interactions between the endocardium and myocardium. The ang1-Tie2 pathway is required for normal heart chamber development, but its molecular effectors are not well defined. Here we show that loss of Tie2 in endocardial cells (EC) results in mid-gestation lethality due to heart defects including hyperplastic myocardium trabeculation (fewer but thicker trabeculae), thinner compact myocardium and simplified endocardial network. The thicker trabeculae phenotype results from enhanced proliferation of trabecular cardiomyocytes. Meanwhile, endocardial loss of Tie2 reduces proliferation and production of ECs and impairs endocardial sprouting, which provides necessary support for trabecular assembly and extension, thus resulting in a dramatically simplified trabecular meshwork. These findings reveal two seemingly apposing functions of Tie2 in myocardium trabeculation: ensuring normal trabeculation by supporting EC proliferation and sprouting while preventing hypertrabeculation by inhibiting trabecular cardiomyocyte proliferation.
Spirituality Beats It All: A Quick Conservation Overview, Self-Organization and the Great Value of (Indigenous) Religions for Hindu Kush-Himalaya Landscapes, Its Geo-Parks, Species, Ecological Processes and Watersheds

In times of ‘globalization’ the western world uniquely declared at least two global warefares and then subsequently imposed its limited and one-sided value-system – including so-called modern concepts – onto the entire world bringing much of the environment and atmosphere into shambles. However, Asia and its remote pockets in the mountains has a very deep culture and that now blends with the ‘new’ approach to life. Here I show why and how conservation – based on a ‘modern’ but narrow and not really yet holistic science – can benefit and extent its efforts for a wider and more effective outcome. This is achieved by valuing and implementing some of the major Asian schools of thoughts, their ethics and behaviors such as Shamanism, Hinduism, Bon, Buddhism, Dao’ism, Jain’ism and related concepts that are based on sacred sites, power places, and ‘taboos’, e.g. accepted limits of finite natural resources (‘carrying capacity’). They are based on a deep respect of Mother Earth, of its components and a harmony with the wider connected universe. This approach can be more voluntary and bottom-up, is virtually free of governmental interference for centuries, gets a high buy-in, and it relies less on rigid and dominating mono-theist legal policy tools and governance from ‘the west’. At minimum, it provides protection for Mother Earth that is otherwise globally stressed, harassed and modified due to biased, one-sided destructive efforts that benefit just a few. Instead, spirituality provides us with for a long-term vision and guidance to live well and remain sustainable in the universe.
Erasmus on Tyranny in the Education of a Christian Prince

Erasmus on tyranny in the Education of a Christian Prince. Writing advice for the future Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Erasmus begins by characterizing the prince who governs in accord with Christian principles, especially avoiding war. Tyrants are monsters who lose their humanity. Erasmus remarks that a boy who displays bullying behavior must be given special attention to bring him around to gentle social conduct, lest he grow up to be a tyrant.
Osteopontin and Integrin Mediated Modulation of Post-Synapses in HIV Envelope Glycoprotein Exposed Hippocampal Neurons

The advent of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antiretrovirals have reduced the severity of HIV related neurological comorbidities but they nevertheless remain prevalent. Synaptic degeneration due to the action of several viral factors released from infected brain myeloid and glia cells and inflammatory cytokines has been attributed to the manifestation of a range of cognitive and behavioral deficits. The contributions of specific pro-inflammatory factors and their interplay with viral factors in the setting of treatment and persistence are incompletely understood. Exposure of neurons to chemokine receptor-4(CXCR4)-tropic HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) can lead to post-synaptic degradation of dendritic spines. The contribution of members of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and specifically, of perineuronal nets (PNN) toward synaptic degeneration, is not fully known, even though these structures are found to be disrupted in post-mortem HIV-infected brains. Osteopontin (Opn, gene name SPP1), a cytokine-like protein, is found in abundance in the HIV-infected brain. In this study, we investigated the role of Opn and its ECM integrin receptors, β1- and β3 integrin in modifying neuronal synaptic sculpting. We found that in hippocampal neurons incubated with HIV-1 Env protein and recombinant Opn, post-synaptic-95 (PSD-95) puncta were significantly increased and distributed to dendritic spines when compared to Env-only treated neurons. This effect was mediated through β3 integrin, as silencing of this receptor abrogated the increase in post-synaptic spines. Silencing of β1 integrin, however, did not block the increase of post-synaptic spines in hippocampal cultures treated with Opn. However, a decrease in the PNN to βIII-tubulin ratio was found, indicating an increased capacity to support spine growth. From these results, we conclude that one of the mechanisms by which Opn counters the damaging impact of the HIV Env protein on hippocampal post-synaptic plasticity is through complex interactions between Opn and components of the ECM which activate downstream protective signaling pathways that help maintain the potential for effective post-synaptic plasticity.
Extracellular tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase cleaved by plasma proteinases and stored in platelet α-granules: Potential role in monocyte activation.

Author(s): Won, Eric; Morodomi, Yosuke; Kanaji, Sachiko; Shapiro, Ryan; Vo, My-Nuong; Orje, Jennifer N; Thornburg, Courtney D; Yang, Xiang-Lei; Ruggeri, Zaverio M; Schimmel, Paul; Kanaji, Taisuke | Abstract: BackgroundTyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (YRS) belongs to the family of enzymes that catalyzes the tRNA aminoacylation reaction for protein synthesis, and it has been recently shown to exert noncanonical functions. Although database results indicate extremely low levels of YRS mRNA in platelets, YRS protein is abundantly present. The source of YRS in platelets, as well as the physiological role of platelet-stored YRS, remains largely unknown.ObjectivesTo clarify how YRS accumulates in platelets and determine the potential role of platelet-stored YRS.MethodsRecombinant YRS proteins with epitope tags were prepared and tested in vitro for proteolytic cleavage in human plasma. Fluorescent-labeled YRS was examined for uptake by platelets, as demonstrated by western blotting and confocal microscopy analysis. Using RAW-Dual reporter cells, Toll-like receptor and type I interferon activation pathways were analyzed after treatment with YRS.ResultsFull-length YRS was cleaved by both elastase and matrix metalloproteinases in the plasma. The cleaved, N-terminal YRS fragment corresponds to the endogenous YRS detected in platelet lysate by western blotting. Both full-length and cleaved forms of YRS were taken up by platelets in vitro and stored in the α-granules. The N-terminal YRS fragment generated by proteolytic cleavage had monocyte activation comparable to that of the constitutive-active mutant YRS (YRSY341A) previously reported.ConclusionPlatelets take up both full-length YRS and the active form of cleaved YRS fragment from the plasma. The cleaved, N-terminal YRS fragment stored in α-granules may have potential to activate monocytes.
COMPUTATION OF VISCOUS FLOW AROUND PROPELLER-BODY CONFIGURATIONS: IOWA AXISYMMETRIC BODY

Further validation of a viscous flow method for predicting propeller-hull interaction is provided through detailed comparisons with recent experimental data for the practical configuration of the Iowa axisymmetric body. Modifications are made to the k-e turbulence model and wall functions for axisymmetric bodies. Close agreement is demonstrated between the calculations and the data, which supports the conclusion that the present procedures can accurately simulate the steady part of the combined propeller-hull flow field. However, the present extensive comparisons also point out the critical role of turbulence modelling and detailed numerical treatments. Also, comparisons are made with Huang's inviscid flow method. Although both methods show similar trends, there are some important differences; for example, Huang's method predicts reduced propeller loading and larger axial velocities in the propeller plane near the body surface and propeller tip. Near the propeller tip, the present method exhibits a velocity defect region, which is absent in Huang's method. In consideration of the greater rigour of the present method, such differences imply that viscous effects play an important role in propeller-hull interaction even for the relatively simple case of an axisymmetric body and should be accounted for in the design procedures of wake-adapted propellers. However, part of the differences may be due to some of the present detailed numerical treatments, which indicate the need for continued refinement of comprehensive methods such as the present one, and more detailed experimental information for validation purposes.
Clinical update on the hybrid comprehensive stage II operation

Abstract Objective We previously described the hybrid comprehensive stage II operation as an alternate surgical procedure for a subset of patients with single ventricle congenital heart disease with adequate native ascending aortic outflow. Here we provide a clinical update on the 4 patients who have undergone this procedure. Methods After undergoing a hybrid approach to the stage I Norwood palliation, the hybrid comprehensive stage II procedure was performed with an incision to the main pulmonary artery (PA), dilation of the ductal stent, creation of a stented baffle between the branch PAs, and a bidirectional Glenn connection. With this approach, dissection of the distal arch and creation of a Damus-Kaye-Stansel anastomosis was avoided. A standard Fontan procedure was planned after the usual period of growth. Results The first patient, who had trisomy 21 and elevated PA pressures, died postoperatively due to left PA thrombosis. The subsequent 3 patients survived the procedure and remain clinically well. All have required catheterizations for reintervention on their stented intrapulmonary baffles and ductal arches, and all have undergone successful completion of their Fontan procedures. Conclusions The hybrid comprehensive stage II is a feasible, less complex alternative to the conventional comprehensive stage II operation in a subset of patients with single ventricle physiology. Early postoperative anticoagulation therapy to avoid PA thrombosis is recommended, and restenting of the ductal arch is anticipated. Although the long-term consequences of separate outflow tracts supplying the upper and lower body is unknown, the 3 surviving patients with this circulation are doing well with their Fontan circulation at midterm follow-up.
Negligible Nux Vomica: Homeopathic Nux Vomica remedies don't contain strychnine?

Abstract Introduction The St. Ignatius bean of the Strychnos ignatii tree and Nux Vomica homeopathic products presumably could contain the toxic alkaloids strychnine and brucine. This study aimed to determine the amount of these toxic alkaloids in some commercially available Nux Vomica products and the St. Ignatius bean and to determine if overdose of these products could result in clinically significant toxicity. Methods Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, various formulations of Nux Vomica products and St. Ignatius beans were analyzed for strychnine, and brucine with detection limits set at 0.1 ng/g. Results None of the analyzed Nux Vomica products contained any detectable strychnine or brucine, while the expected strychnine dose from a St. Ignatius bean would be Conclusions Overall, our study reveals that the amount of strychnine in homeopathic Nux Vomica products or St. Ignatius beans are not likely to result in clinically significant strychnine toxicity.
Pre-diagnostic plasma metabolomics and the risk of exfoliation glaucoma

ObjectiveTo identify pre-diagnostic plasma metabolomic biomarkers associated with risk of exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). MethodsWe conducted a metabolomic study using a 1:1 matched nested case-control study design within the Nurses Health Study (NHS) and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS). Participants provided blood samples in 1989-90 (NHS) and 1993-95 (HPFS); we identified 205 participants who newly developed XFG during follow-up to 2018 (average time to diagnosis from blood draw =11.8 years); XFG was confirmed with medical record review. We profiled plasma metabolites using liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry and identified 379 known metabolites that passed quality control checks. Metabolites were transformed using probit scores for normality. We used multivariable-adjusted logistic regression adjusting for matching factors (such as age, residential latitude, season and time of blood draw), glaucoma family history and other covariates. Metabolite Set Enrichment Analysis was used to identify metabolite classes associated with risk of XFG. Number of effective tests (NEF) and False Discovery Rate (FDR) were used to adjust for multiple comparisons. ResultsMean age of cases (n=205) at diagnosis was 71 years; 84% were women and >99% were Caucasian; matched controls (n=205) all reported eye exams as of the matched cases index date. A total of 33 metabolites were nominally significantly associated with XFG risk (p<0.05) and 4 metabolite classes were significantly associated (FDR<0.05). Overall, adverse associations were observed for the classes of lysophosphatidylcholines (FDR=0.02) and phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogens (FDR=0.004). Inverse associations were observed for triglycerides (FDR<0.001) and steroid and steroid derivatives (FDR=0.03); in particular, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for XFG risk associated with each 1 standard deviation increase in plasma cortisone levels was 0.49 (95% CI=0.32-0.74; NEF=0.05). Results did not differ materially by time between blood draw and diagnosis, latitude of residence (< or [≥]41{degrees}N latitude), age (< or [≥]60 years), sex or glaucoma family history. ConclusionsFour broad classes of metabolites (including steroids such as cortisone and 3 lipid classes) in pre-diagnostic plasma collected almost a decade before diagnosis were associated with XFG risk; these results should be confirmed in future studies.
What are empirical consequences? On dispensability and composite objects

Philosophers sometimes give arguments that presuppose the following principle: two theories can fail to be empirically equivalent on the sole basis that they present different “thick” metaphysical pictures of the world. Recently, a version of this principle has been invoked to respond to the argument that composite objects are dispensable to our best scientific theories. This response claims that our empirical evidence distinguishes between ordinary and composite-free theories, and it empirically favors the ordinary ones (Hofweber, 2016, 2018). In this paper, I ask whether this response to the dispensability argument is tenable. I claim that it is not. This is because it presupposes an indefensible thesis about when two empirical consequences are distinct or the same. My argument provides some insight into what our empirical consequences are, and I conclude that empirical evidence is radically metaphysically neutral. This gives us some insight into the significant content of our scientific theories—the content that a scientific realist is committed to—and I show how this insight relates to questions about theoretical equivalence more broadly.
Regulation of transporters by perfluorinated carboxylic acids in HepaRG cells.

Perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) are environmental pollutants for which human exposure has been documented. PFCAs at high doses were known regulate xenobiotic transporters partly through PPARα and CAR in rodents. Less is known regarding how various PFCAs at a lower concentration modulate transporters for endogenous substrates such as amino acids in human hepatocytes. Such studies are of particular importance because amino acids are involved in chemical detoxification and their transport system may serve as promising therapeutic targets for structurally similar xenobiotics. The focus of this study was to further elucidate how PFCAs modulate transporters involved in intermediary metabolism and xenobiotic biotransformation. We tested the hepatic transcriptomic response of HepaRG cells exposed to 45 mM PFOA, PFNA, or PFDA in triplicates for 24 h (vehicle: 0.1% DMSO), as well as the prototypical ligands for PPARα (WY-14643, 45 µM) and CAR (CITCO, 2 µM). PFCAs with increasing carbon chain lengths (C8-C10) regulated more liver genes, with amino acid metabolism and transport ranked among the top enriched pathways and PFDA ranked as the most potent PFCA tested. Genes encoding amino acid transporters, which are essential for protein synthesis, were novel inducible targets by all 3 PFCAs, suggesting a potentially protective mechanism to reduce further toxic insults. None of the transporter regulations appeared to be through PPARα or CAR but potential involvement of Nrf2 is noted for all 3 PFCAs. In conclusion, PFCAs with increasing carbon chain lengths up-regulate amino acid transporters and modulate xenobiotic transporters to limit further toxic exposures in HepaRG cells. Significance Statement Little is known regarding how various PFCAs modulate the transporters for endogenous substrates in human liver cells. Using HepaRG cells, this study is among the first to show that PFCAs with increasing carbon chain lengths up-regulate amino acid transporters, which are essential for protein synthesis, and modulate xenobiotic transporters to limit further toxic exposures at concentrations lower than what was used in literature.
Chapter 3 Contextual Feature Activation and Meaning Access

Publisher Summary This chapter (1) proposes the context critical in determining what aspects of word meaning becomes activated during reading comprehension; (2) critically evaluates a task currently accepted as least problematic for the study of meaning access, followed by a discussion of an alternate methodology; and (3) describes research that makes use of normatively derived stimuli that represent the features activated by specific sentences. The chapter also discusses that current efforts to specify the locus of context effects on meaning retrieval by prematurely considering the greater issue of what is activated by context in general.
Precise multielemental ratios in small foraminiferal samples determined by sector field ICP‐MS

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) holds two main advantages over other techniques for the measurement of foraminiferal elemental ratios: (1) numerous trace metals may be precisely and simultaneously measured, and (2) smaller samples may theoretically be used. Methods are presented for the precise determination of Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Cd/Ca, Zn/Ca, Li/Ca, U/Ca, Mn/Ca, and Fe/Ca by sector field ICP-MS. Analytical precision is largely independent of sample size over the range of ∼5 to 125 μg CaCO3, eliminating the need for narrow target dilutions. Long-term 1σ precisions are as follows: Mg/Ca = 0.54%, Sr/Ca = 0.57%, Cd/Ca = 1.8%, Zn/Ca = 3.2%, Li/Ca = 0.88%, U/Ca = 1.9%, Mn/Ca = 0.97%, and Fe/Ca = 1.4%. For Mg/Ca, actual foraminiferal samples appear to give reliable results below 10 μg CaCO3 (postcleaning mass).
Influence of Meaningfulness, Picture Detail, and Presentation Mode on Visual Retention.

The present study investigated the relationships of meaningfulness, picture detail, and presentation mode on visual learning. Subjects, 123 broadcasting students at Brooklyn College, viewed slides of animal pictures previously classified by judges into high-and low-meaningful groups. All Ss saw both high-and low-meaningful stimulus items. Half saw the stimulus items as full-color pictures while the other half saw them as line drawings. In addition, one-third saw the stimulus items as pictures presented alone, one-third saw them as pictures with each animal name printed underneath its picture, and one-third saw the pictures (without printed names) accompanied by the spoken animal name as each slide was shown. Following presentation of stimulus slides, Ss were shown a series of full-color test slides containing dummy items randomly intermixed with stimulus items. During two showings of test slides, Ss first indicated those animals recognized from the learning trial and second, wrote down those animal names they knew.
Comparing the Relative Role of Perforin/Granzyme Versus Fas/Fas Ligand Cytotoxic Pathways in CD8 + T Cell-Mediated Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

CD8+ cytotoxic T cells play a critical role in initiating insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The relative contribution of each of the major cytotoxic pathways, perforin/granzyme and Fas/Fas ligand (FasL), in the induction of autoimmune diabetes remains controversial. To evaluate the role of each lytic pathway in beta cell lysis and induction of diabetes, we have used a transgenic mouse model in which beta cells expressing the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) are destroyed by HA-specific CD8+ T cells from clone-4 TCR-transgenic mice. Upon adoptive transfer of CD8+ T cells from perforin-deficient clone-4 TCR mice, there was a 30-fold increase in the number of T cells required to induce diabetes. In contrast, elimination of the Fas/FasL pathway of cytotoxicity had little consequence. When both pathways of cytolysis were eliminated, mice did not become diabetic. Using a model of spontaneous diabetes, which occurs in double transgenic neonates that express both clone-4 TCR and Ins-HA transgenes, mice deficient in either the perforin or FasL/Fas lytic pathway become diabetic soon after birth. This indicates that, in the neonate, large numbers of autoreactive CD8+ T cells can lead to destruction of islet beta cells by either pathway.
Anodic oxidation pathways of phenolic compounds Part 2. Stepwise electron transfers and coupled hydroxylations

Abstract The studies herein mainly illustrate the overall nature of the electro-oxidation pathways of phenols and naphthols in aqueous media. It can be shown that either one or two electrons are transferred, depending on the magnitude of the anodic potential. Coupling products (dimers) result from the phenoxy radical production. If the phenoxonium cation is the initial product, rapid hydroxylation is the predominant chemical follow-up reaction. These results apply to dilute aqueous solutions employing carbon electrodes. Our investigations do not identify the initial electrode reactant, i.e., phenol, phenoxide, phenoxy radical, etc. These important factors with detailed interpretation of the electron transfer process are contained in an excellent recent study by Evans et al. [20]. The present results are, we believe, in overall accord with the thorough investigations of Evans and co-workers.
SU-C-110-02: Reducing 4D CT Artifacts Using Optimized Sorting Based on Anatomic Similarity

Purpose: Four‐dimensional (4D) computed tomography(CT) has been widely used as a tool to characterize respiratory motion in radiotherapy. The two most commonly used 4DCT algorithms sort images by respiratory phase or displacement into a predefined number of bins, and are prone to image artifacts at transitions between bed positions. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate a method of reducing motion artifacts in 4DCT by incorporating anatomic similarity into phase or displacement based sorting protocols. Methods: Ten patient datasets were retrospectively sorted using both displacement and phase based sorting algorithms. Conventional sorting methods allow selection of only the nearest neighbor image in time or displacement within each bin. In our method, for each bed position either the displacement or the phase defines the center of a bin range about which several candidate images are selected. The two dimensional correlation coefficients between slices bordering the interface between adjacent couch positions are then calculated for all candidate pairings. Two slices have a high correlation if they are anatomically similar. Candidates from each bin are then selected to maximize the slice correlation over the entire data set using Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm. To assess the reduction of artifacts, two thoracic radiationoncologists independently compared the re‐sorted 4D datasets pair‐wise with conventionally sorted datasets, blinded to the sorting method, to choose which had the least motion artifacts. Agreement between reviewers was evaluated using the weighted kappa score. Results: Anatomically based image selection resulted in 4DCT datasets with significantly reduced motion artifacts with both displacement (P=0.0063) and phase sorting (P=0.00022). The reviewers agreed 34 times and disagreed 6 times. Conclusions: Sorting using anatomic similarity significantly reduces 4DCT motion artifacts compared to conventional phase or displacement based sorting. This improved sorting algorithm is a straightforward extension of the two most common 4DCT sorting algorithms.
Paper electrophoresis of proteins in acid buffer.

Abstract An acid buffer solution (pH 2.3 to 2.6) has been devised, which permits paper electrophoresis of α-casein complex and its components. This buffer consists of lactic acid and propionic acid; it minimizes adsorption of protein to filter paper and produces sharp bands, which are characteristic of calcium-sensitive and calcium-insensitive α-caseins. Electrophoresis is carried out at 25° at 250 V for 5 hours.
A new electroweak and strong interaction unification scheme

Abstract I explore the consequences of requiring the electroweak gauge group to contain an SU(2) subgroup rotating the charged fermions to their antiparticles. This is implemented by coupling the leptons l L , l L c , ν L of each family as a 3 L representation of an electroweak SU(3) gauge group, and coupling the corresponding quarks as a second 3 L and two 3 R 's or 3 L ∗ 's. In the absence of strong interactions, the model predicts sin 2 θ w = 1 4 at the electroweak unification energy. Since the electroweak SU(3) does not commute with the color SU(3) group, the minimal consistent electroweak-strong gauge group is obtained from the closure of their commutator algebra. This has been determined to be the 151-generator semi-simple Lie algebra SU(3) × SU(12), and gives a corrected formula sin 2 θ w = 1 4 + 1 3 α/α s at the SU(3) × SU(12) unification energy, which is computed to be 10 10.8±0.8 GeV. Unification in the simple group SU(15) is attained at an energy approximately a factor of 10 higher. To cancel anomalies in the closure group, it is necessary to double the fermion content by adding “mirror” families with the roles of left- and right-handed electroweak couplings reversed with respect to the original families. Extension of the model and embeddings in SO(32) are discussed; in particular, the group SU(15) with two families of fermions and mirror fermions can be embedded in SO(32) with all fermions in the adjoint 496 representation.
de Boor-Fix dual functionals and algorithms for Tchebycheffian B-spline curves

The de Boor-Fix dual functionals are a potent tool for deriving results about piecewise polynomial B-spline curves. In this paper we extend these functionals to Tchebycheffian B-spline curves and then use them to derive fundamental algorithms that are natural generalizations of algorithms for piecewise polynomial B-spline algorithms. Then, as a further example of the utility of this approach, we introduce “geometrically continuous Tchebycheffian spline curves,” and show that a further generalization works for them as well.
A new methodology for analyzing non-Newtonian fluid flow tests

Abstract Conventional treatment of oil flow in porous media assumes that oil is in the typical range of flow velocity and pressure, and it behaves as a Newtonian fluid. This assumption, however, may not be accurate, especially for heavy oil. It is also not accurate in modeling injection behavior for fluids such as fracturing fluids, or polymer fluids for secondary recovery of oil. The literature contains articles that formulated and presented solutions of the posed fluid flow problem. When trying to apply the proposed solution methodology, the limitations of those techniques became apparent. Many authors have already pointed out the inapplicability of the presented techniques and suggested some corrections. Moreover the presented techniques are not valid for non-Newtonian fluids that have a power law index ( n ) greater than 0.6. In this paper we examine the solutions presented in the literature showing their limitations. We will examine the mathematical reasons for the problems and demonstrate rigorously that these (published) analysis techniques are impractical not only for real world problems but also for simulated data. Our in depth analysis explains away the problems analysts have had with the existing methodology. We also present a new reliable methodology for determining reservoir properties. The new methodology was tested on six real field data and two simulated datasets. The examples showed that the previously presented methodologies under-predict the permeability by at least 40%.
Stress masks the hypothermic effect of naloxone in rats.

Abstract The specific opiate antagonist, naloxone, produced marked, dose-related, hypothermia both in intact, unstressed rats and in hypophysectomized rats. Similar injections given to naive rats after the stress of experimental handling or to rats subjected to a noise stressor, had little, if any, effect on rectal temperature. Naloxone administered to naive rats prior to the onset of stress produced a dose-related suppression of the stress-induced hyperthermia. Taken together these findings suggest that in unstressed and in hypophysectomized animals naloxone acts by antagonizing brain-derived opioids that normally participate in tonic thermoregulation, and that opioids of pituitary origin mediate the masking effects of stress on naloxone induced hypothermia.
Looking back: how practical experience in the classroom taught me a professional approach on the job

The author discusses his experience as a graduate student in the Technical Communication Program at Oklahoma State University (OSU). He discusses activities that he found particularly valuable being an intern, namely, participating in the Society for Technical Communication (STC), writing for publication, and giving oral presentations. >
Marine hydrogeology: recent accomplishments and future opportunities

Marine hydrogeology is a broad-ranging scientific discipline involving the exploration of fluid–rock interactions below the seafloor. Studies have been conducted at seafloor spreading centers, mid-plate locations, and in plate- and continental-margin environments. Although many seafloor locations are remote, there are aspects of marine systems that make them uniquely suited for hydrologic analysis. Newly developed tools and techniques, and the establishment of several multidisciplinary programs for oceanographic exploration, have helped to push marine hydrogeology forward over the last several decades. Most marine hydrogeologic work has focused on measurement or estimation of hydrogeologic properties within the shallow subsurface, but additional work has emphasized measurements of local and global fluxes, fluid source and sink terms, and quantitative links between hydrogeologic, chemical, tectonic, biological, and geophysical processes. In addition to summarizing selected results from a small number of case studies, this paper includes a description of several new experiments and programs that will provide outstanding opportunities to address fundamental hydrogeologic questions within the seafloor during the next 20–30 years.
NETHERLANDISH MAPS: A DECORATIVE ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF ART

The following arlicle prepared by a member of the School of tho Arts, The Pennsylvania State University presents an artist's analyst's of the character and function of Renaissance maps. The viewpoint of a non-geographer on this niatter may be of interest to the modem day cartographergeographer.
S diffusivity in Fe–Ni–S–P melts

Soret diffusion rise times were observed and resolved for Fe–Ni–S–P melts at 10 kbar in thermal gradients between 1300 and 1450°C. A steady-state separation of S-rich components to the hot end of the ∼2 mm long liquid charges is achieved in about 20 minutes. Chemical diffusivities of about 10−5 cm2/s are consistent with these observations and those of the compaction velocity of aggregates of crystalline Fe metal against the cold end of our experiments. These rapid diffusivities are not rapid enough for diffusion to be an important agent of bulk mass transfer in the addition or extraction of light elements in the Earth's core.
Diffraction of a Parallel- and Perpendicular-Polarized Wave from an Echelette Grating*

The boundary-value problem of diffraction of a parallel- or perpendicular-polarized wave from an echelette grating is numerically solved. Parallel and perpendicular Wood’s anomalies are investigated. A very strong anomaly for negative incident angle into a back-scattering order is found.
The microscopic mechanisms of dimer opening in the early stages of Si deposition on Si(100)-(2 × 1)

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations using the Stillinger-Weber potential show that a thermal Si atom sticking on the Si(100)-(2 × 1) surface is able to open a surface dimer at the very earliest stages of deposition. How this takes place depends on the impact parameter and the coverage. An incident atom that hits an area located around the middle of a dimer bond is trapped there with high probability, and inserts itself into the dimer. The atoms that belonged initially to the dimer move, upon trimerization, into the bulk equilibrium positions. Many of the incident atoms stick between dimers and are not able to open them if they are alone; however the dimers could be opened by the joint action of two adsorbed atoms. Thus, the dimer opening process, which will ultimately force the surface to undergo a transition from the (100)-(2 × 1) structure to the (100) structure, is a local phenomenon rather than a collective effect.
An algorithm to equiprobably generate all directed trees withk labeled terminal nodes and unlabeled interior nodes

A computer algorithm is presented which equiprobably generates any member of the set of all directed trees withk labeled terminal nodes and unlabeled interior nodes. The algorithm requires roughlyk2/2 storage locations. The one-time initialization requiresO(k2) time, while generating each tree requiresO(k) time.
Dipolar and electronic effects on charge transport through single transition metal complexes

Charge transport through single molecular neutral mono- and di-cobalt(II) complexes with π-conjugated macromolecular wire was investigated. Scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS) studies revealed that the mono-cobalt(II) complex showed a pronounced rectifying effect with a large rectification ratio and finely featured NDR peaks, while the di-cobalt(II) complex showed a relatively symmetric electron transport without clear NDR peaks. The results are explained based on the dipolar and electronic effects.
Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of gastrointestinal wall lesions with image guidance.

The fear of complications related to transgression of the bowel wall has limited the application of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in gastrointestinal wall masses. We have undertaken a study examining our use of image-guided FNA in this setting, and evaluated diagnostic outcome and procedural risk. Twenty patients underwent percutaneous computed topography (CT) or ultrasound (U/S)-guided FNA biopsy of gastrointestinal wall masses over a 3-yr period. Hollow-bore needles were used to aspirate 8 gastric wall masses, 5 perirectal/distal sigmoid masses, 4 colonic masses, and 3 small-bowel masses. Lesions ranged in size from 1.5–13.0 cm (mean, 3.9 cm). One to five passes were made into each lesion (mean, 2.4). Immediate assessment for adequacy by a cytopathologist was performed in all cases. Neoplastic processes were identified in 15 cases (8 primary adenocarcinomas, 2 gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 3 metastases to the bowel wall, 1 Kaposi's sarcoma, and 1 primary lymphoma). Eleven of these 15 patients had histologic confirmation (all neoplastic lesions, excepting patients with metastases or Kaposi's sarcoma). Negative diagnoses (no evidence of malignancy) were obtained in the remaining 5 patients (2 benign colonic epithelium, 1 benign lymphoid population, 1 benign stroma, and 1 acute inflammatory process). A benign clinical course was followed in 4 patients, with 1 patient lost to follow-up. No acute or chronic postprocedural complications were identified. The earlier literature as well as this current study suggest that complications of FNA in this setting are rare. Diagnostic material may be obtained in a less invasive manner than open surgical biopsy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2001; 24:16–20. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Symptom substitution: A rational-emotive perspective

Theorists who endorse the concept of symptom substitution reject treatments of psychopathology that do not address the underlying causes of symptoms. They hypothesize that such treatments lead to worsening or relapsing of original symptoms, or the substitution of new for old symptoms. In contrast to behavioristic approaches that dispute this hypothesis, Ellis accepts the concept of symptom substitution. Unlike the psychodynamic positions which are credited with the concept, however, rational-emotive therapy (RET) focuses on changing underlying irrational philosophies and beliefs. Symptom substitution is believed to be prevented in RET by teaching clients to dispute irrational thinking in an ongoing way.
Candida albicans Mannan Extract—Protein Conjugates Induce a Protective Immune Response against Experimental Candidiasis

Candida albicans mannan extracts encapsulated in liposomes were previously used to stimulate mice to produce antibodies protective against candidiasis. In the present study, mannan-protein conjugates without liposomes were tested as vaccine candidates. Mannan extracts were coupled to bovine serum albumin, and isolated conjugates consisted of carbohydrate and protein at a ratio of 0.7-1.0. Vaccination of mice with the conjugate and an adjuvant yielded antiserum that contained Candida agglutinins. Vaccinated mice challenged with yeast cells had a mean survival time of 56 days, compared with <13 days for control groups. The antiserum protected naive animals against disseminated disease. Naive mice given the antiserum intravaginally developed 79% fewer fungal colony-forming units, compared with control groups. The serum-protective factor was stable at 56 degrees C and was removed by adsorption with yeast cells. It is concluded that the conjugate vaccine can induce protective antibody responses against experimental disseminated candidiasis and Candida vaginal infection.
Factors associated with insulin resistance among children and adolescents perinatally infected with HIV-1 in the pediatric HIV/AIDS cohort study.

Background/Aims: Because of prior inconsistent findings, we studied a large cohort of HIV-infected children to determine: (1) prevalence of insulin resistance (IR); (2) anthropometr
The relationship of agarose gel structure to the sieving of spheres during agarose gel electrophoresis

To understand the organization of fibers in an agarose gel, digitized electron micrographs are used here to determine the frequency distribution of interfiber distance (2Pc) in thin sections of agarose gels. For a preparation of underivatized agarose, a 1.5% gel has a Pc distribution that is indistinguishable from the Pc distribution of a computer-generated, random-fiber gel; the log of the occurrence frequency (F) decreases linearly as a function of Pc. As the agarose concentration decreases below 1.5%, the semilogarithmic F versus Pc plot becomes progressively less linear. Two straight lines represent the data; the plot is steeper at the lower Pc values. As the percentage of agarose increases above 1.5%, the semilogarithmic F versus Pc plot becomes steeper at the higher Pc values. This change in the shape of semilogarithmic F versus Pc plots is possibly explained by the existence in agarose gels of two zones, one whose Pc distribution is more sensitive to the average agarose concentration than the other. To compare the structure of agarose gels to their sieving during electrophoresis, the root mean square value of Pc (Pc) is compared to the sieving-based radius of the effective pore (PE; Griess et. al. (16)) for both underivatized agarose and a derivatized agarose that has a smaller PE at any given agarose percentage. For 0.8–2.0% gels of either underivatized or derivatized agarose, PE/Pc is a constant within experimental error. Deviations from this constant are observed at lower gel percentages. This relationship of PE to Pc constrains theoretical descriptions of the motion of spheres in fibrous networks.
Economics of Germ Preseparation for Dry-Grind Ethanol Facilities

ABSTRACT A detailed economic analysis of a 914 tonnes/day (36,000 bu/day) “Quick Germ” ethanol process was performed. The Quick Germ ethanol process is a combination of a dry-grind and a wet-milling ethanol process. The Quick Germ ethanol process increases the coproduct value in the dry-grind ethanol process by recovering germ before fermentation. Germ is recovered using the conventional wet-milling degermination process. Economic assessment of the Quick Germ process proved profitable. The savings achieved by recovering germ as a coproduct and by increasing the fermentor capacity due to removal of nonfermentables from the corn mash will reduce the manufacturing cost of ethanol by 2.69 ¢/L (10.19 ¢/gal or $0.265/bu) when compared to the conventional dry-grind ethanol process.
Seeing green: Mere exposure to money triggers a business decision frame and unethical outcomes

Can mere exposure to money corrupt? In four studies, we examined the likelihood of unethical outcomes when the construct of money was activated through the use of priming techniques. The results of Study 1 demonstrated that individuals primed with money were more likely to demonstrate unethical intentions than those in the control group. In Study 2, we showed that participants primed with money were more likely to adopt a business decision frame. In Studies 3 and 4, we found that money cues triggered a business decision frame, which led to a greater likelihood of unethical intentions and behavior. Together, the results of these studies demonstrate that mere exposure to money can trigger unethical intentions and behavior and that decision frame mediates this effect.
Effect of living alone on patient outcomes after hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction.

Considerable attention has been devoted to the effect of social support on patient outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, little is known about the relation between patient living arrangements and outcomes. Thus, we used data from PREMIER, a registry of patients hospitalized with AMI at 19 United States centers from 2003 through 2004, to assess the association of living alone with outcomes after AMI. Outcome measurements included 4-year mortality, 1-year readmission, and 1-year health status using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and the Short Form-12 Physical Health Component scales. Patients who lived alone had higher crude 4-year mortality (21.8% vs 14.5%, p
PREDICTION OF ANTICOAGULATION DURING HEMODIALYSIS BY POPULATION KINETICS AND AN ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK

All systems currently used for routine hemodialysis require heparin administration to prevent blood clotting in the extracorporeal circuit. We tested the hypothesis that population-based statistical techniques can be used to predict heparin concentrations during routine hemodialysis. Two predictive models were developed, one based on nonlinear mixed effects modeling (NONMEM) and the other on a multilayer perceptron neural network. Serial clotting time data were obtained from forty-nine patients and used to develop the models. The models were used to predict the clotting times of 70 patients in a prospective test. We determined that the neural network provided greater precision, had fewer outliers in its predictions, and did not have the model misspecification in bolus administration that the NONMEM predictions demonstrated. A final NONMEM model was developed using all data from 119 patients to identify important covariates for predicting the heparin pharmacodynamic parameters, volume of distribution, and clearance. Both the volume of distribution and clearance increased following the initiation of dialysis and as the patient's baseline clotting time increased. The volume of distribution also increased as the patient's weight increased but was decreased by smoking and diabetes. Population-based statistical techniques may provide a useful alternative to existing methods for prescribing heparin.