cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gravitational Waves from Black Hole Mergers

The final merger of two black holes is expected to be the strongest gravitational wave source for ground-based interferometers such as LIGO, VIRGO, and GEO600, as well as the space-based interferometer LISA. Observing these sources with gravitational wave detectors requires that we know the radiation waveforms they emit. Since these mergers take place in regions of extreme gravity, we need to solve Einstein's equations of general relativity on a computer in order to calculate these waveforms. For more than 30 years, scientists have tried to compute black hole mergers using the methods of numerical relativity. The resulting computer codes have been plagued by instabilities, causing them to crash well before the black holes in the binary could complete even a single orbit. Within the past few years, however, this situation has changed dramatically, with a series of remarkable breakthroughs. This talk will focus on new simulations that are revealing the dynamics and waveforms of binary black hole mergers, and their applications in gravitational wave detection, data analysis, and astrophysics.
Machine learning approaches for network resiliency optimization for service provider networks

Abstract Network Service Provider (NSP), loosely defined as an organization that provides IP Network Transport as a service to either direct consumers or to other value add businesses. NSPs have struggled to reduce subscriber churn which we define as customers switching from current NSP to another competitor NSP due to dissatisfaction, for our purposes specifically dissatisfaction of network performance, such as excess latencies or downtime. The focus of this paper is reliability and maintenance, in particular network resiliency and operations. In the context of this paper, network resiliency is defined as the rate of taking corrective action due to an exogenous network disturbance or event that materially impacts the network service level as experienced by users. Operators not only want to mitigate this period of unsatisfactory network service but want to avoid it altogether, at the lowest possible operational costs by proactively monitoring user network experience, to detect anomalies and resolve by automatic root cause determination and ultimately restore satisfactory network service levels. However, in contrast, today, NSPs operate reactively, by employing teams of expensive network engineers, that manually sift through massive amounts of data to determine root causes either as a result of subscribers complaining about poor service (after customer impact) or triggered network alarms that may be a symptom of a more complex underlying root cause, or often noise, not materially impacting users. In this paper we evaluate standard machine learning approaches in extracting root causes and explain a key underlying reason for poor accuracy. The proposed contribution to improve accuracy, is a novel approach using a multi-tier ensemble machine learning approach that dynamically adapts to changing network data features sets or characteristics combinations to yield accurate causal estimations. It is due the complex interactions of different characteristics combinations that impact different algorithms to yield different accurate results. Results show that our approach improves customer experience and network operations by automatically detecting customer impacting network anomalies and identifying root causes with increased accuracy of 65.3% over any single machine learning approach.
Developing a multi-level organization-public dialogic communication framework to assess social media-mediated disaster communication and engagement outcomes

Abstract Dialogic communication has long been viewed as vital for effective organization-public relations. Yet, it is under-theorized whether and how organizations’ disaster communication messages may embody dialogic communication principles, and how various dialogic features are associated with different public engagement outcomes on social media. Extending the Organization-Public Dialogic Communication (OPDC) framework to the context of social media-mediated disaster communication, we propose a multi-level framework to assess the dialogic capacity of Facebook messages sent by disaster management organizations during a natural disaster. Three levels of dialogic communication characteristics (i.e., message structure-level, topic-level, and linguistic level) are examined using content analysis and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). Results identified media richness, correcting, and confirming topics as three consistent predictors of public engagement of all types. Meanwhile, there exhibit greater variations regarding how other topical features and linguistic characteristics are related to public’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral engagement during a disaster.
The evolution of Kraepelin's nosological principles

Emil Kraepelin developed a new psychiatric nosology in the eight editions of his textbook. Previous papers have explored his construction of particular diagnoses, including dementia praecox and manic-depressive insanity. Here we are providing a close reading of his introductory textbook chapter, that presents his general principles of nosology. We identify three phases: 1) editions 1-4, in which he describes nosological principles in search of data; 2) editions 5-7, in which he declares the mature version of his nosological principles and develops new disease categories; 3) edition 8, in which he qualifies his nosological claims and allows for greater differentiation of psychiatric disorders. We propose that Kraepelin's nosology is grounded in three principles. First, psychiatry, like other sciences, deals with natural phenomena. Second, mental states cannot be reduced to neural states, but science will progress and will, ultimately, reveal how nature creates abnormal mental states and behavior. Third, there is a hierarchy of validators of psychiatric diagnoses, with the careful study of clinical features (signs, symptoms and course) being more important than neuropathologic and etiological studies. These three principles emerged over the course of the eight editions of Kraepelin's textbook and were informed by his own research and by available scientific methods. His scientific views are still relevant today: they have generated and, at the same time, constrained our current psychiatric nosology.
Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for posterior fossa neoplasms.

Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) has been increasingly used to treat a number of intracranial pathologies, though its use in the posterior fossa has been limited to a few small series. We performed a multi-institutional review of targets in the posterior fossa, reporting the efficacy and safety profile associated with laser ablation in this region of the brain. A retrospective review of patients undergoing LITT in the posterior fossa was performed from August 2010 to March 2020. Patient demographic information was collected alongside the operative parameters and patient outcomes. Reported outcomes included local control of the lesion, postoperative complications, hospital length of stay, and steroid requirements. 58 patients across four institutions underwent LITT in the posterior fossa for 60 tumors. The median pre-ablation tumor volume was 2.24 cm3. 48 patients (50 tumors) were available for follow-up. An 84% (42/50) overall local control rate was achieved at 9.5 months median follow up. There were two procedural complications, including insertional hemorrhage and laser misplacement and 12/58 (21%) patients developed new neurological deficits. There was one procedure related death. The median length of hospital stay was 1 day, with 20.7% of patients requiring discharge to a rehabilitation facility. LITT is an effective approach for treating pathology in the posterior fossa. The average target size is smaller than what has been reported in the supratentorial space. Care must be taken to prevent injury to surrounding structures given the close proximity of critical structures in this region.
A Novel E-Learning Platform for Building and Publishing Student-Driven Personalized Lessons

In this Innovative Practice Full paper, we will be presenting an instruction-based web-platform that allows instructors to create programmable text- and media-based interactive and personalized mini-lessons.The contribution presented in this paper is twofold. First, we provide a flexible and freely-accessible system that allows instructors to effectively create mini-lessons by defining a set of lesson elements, along with the order in which they should appear to students. The second primary contribution is the introduction of a novel personalization component that integrates with our system; this component allows instructors to create lessons that exhibit a "conditional flow", meaning that the order in which lesson elements are presented to students will be guided by some data-driven conditions evaluated using answers provided by students.Each mini-lesson is comprised of an ordered set of lesson elements. There are four types of lesson elements: the first type is referred to as "information", which can be a paragraph of text, an image, or an audio (or video) segment. The second type of element is a "multiple choice question", which can be either created on-the-fly along with the lesson creation, or randomly selected from a pool of pre-defined questions. The third and fourth types are "label" elements, which serve as location markers in the lesson to which we could branch to, and "jump" components, which can be used to initiate these branches. The flow of these elements are generally sequential; however, the student answers to questions can also be used to affect the flow of these elements, resulting in personalized, student-specific learning paths. At every "question" element, instructors have the ability to define a different branch (or jump) for every possible answer; for example, if one of the answers to a particular "question" element implies a misunderstanding of a topic, then the instructor may specify a branch that will alter the flow of elements’ execution such that the next displayed element (or set of elements) are meant to reinforce that topic.We tested our system using several mini-lessons covering various topics, and we collected data from students regarding their learning experience. The data collected was analyzed and the findings presented in this paper show positive results.
Long-term drainage, subirrigation, and tile spacing effects on maize production

Abstract Flooding and drought are the most damaging abiotic stresses affecting maize production in the United States. To combat these stresses, subsurface tile drainage systems were used in conjunction with water-level control structures for subirrigation of claypan soils. The objective of this research was to develop an understanding of climate and drain tile spacing on maize plant population, grain moisture, grain yield, and grain quality measured from drainage only (DO, tile spacing 6.1 and 12.2 m), drainage and subirrigation (DSI, tile spacing 6.1 and 12.2 m), non-drained delayed planting (DP), and non-drained (ND) treatments in a 17 year (2002–2018) experiment. Production data were classified into normal, wet, and dry years based on precipitation received during the 2nd quarter (Q2, Apr. to Jun.) and 3rd quarter (Q3, Jul. to Sep.). There was not a single year in 17-yr of research that received normal precipitation in Q2 and Q3 (314 ± 43 and 288 ± 34 mm) compared to 29-yr historical precipitation data. Data were collected at 3.1 m intervals above and between the 6.1 and 12.2 m tile lines and compared among drainage treatments and weather classifications (WC). A yield increase of 20–32% (2.6 to 3.9 Mg ha−1) with DSI above the tile compared to DP and ND treatments when data were averaged over WC. In years classified as dry-dry, yields above the DSI tiles were >60 % compared to DP and ND. Grain yield was highest for years that had less than average precipitation during Q2 classified (dry) followed by a normal or wet Q3 period. Grain yield variability among WC was between 10.8 to 16.2 Mg ha−1 for DSI-6.1 and -12.2 above the tile whereas it was between 2.9 to 15.1 Mg ha−1 for ND. Grain yield variability generally decreased from a dry to a normal year. Long-term yield data indicated that narrower drain tile spacings with subirrigation reduce grain yield variability in dry and wet environments; however, the cost-effectiveness of these systems needs to be determined.
Long QT Syndrome KCNH2 Variant Induces hERG1a/1b Subunit Imbalance in Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes.

Background - Inherited long QT syndrome type 2 (LQT2) results from variants in the KCNH2 gene encoding the hERG1 potassium channel. Two main isoforms, hERG1a and hERG1b, assemble to form tetrameric channel. The N-terminal Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain, present only on hERG1a subunits, is a hotspot for pathogenic variants, but it is unknown whether PAS domain variants impact hERG1b expression to contribute to the LQT2 phenotype. We aimed to use patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) to investigate the pathogenesis of the hERG1a PAS domain variant hERG1-H70R. Methods - Human iPSCs were derived from a LQT2 patient carrying the PAS domain variant hERG1-H70R. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing produced isogenic control iPSC lines. Differentiated iPSC-CMs were evaluated for their electrophysiology, hERG1a/1b mRNA expression, and hERG1a/1b protein expression. Results - Action potentials from single hERG1-H70R iPSC-CMs were prolonged relative to controls, and voltage clamp studies showed an underlying decrease in IKr with accelerated deactivation. In hERG1-H70R iPSC-CMs, transcription of hERG1a and hERG1b mRNA was unchanged compared to controls based on nascent nuclear transcript analysis, but hERG1b mRNA was significantly increased as was the ratio of hERG1b/hERG1a in mRNA complexes, suggesting post-transcriptional changes. Expression of complex glycosylated hERG1a in hERG1-H70R iPSC-CMs was reduced due to impaired protein trafficking, whereas the expression of the complex glycosylated form of hERG1b was unchanged. Conclusions - Patient-specific hERG1-H70R iPSC-CMs reveal a newly appreciated mechanism of pathogenesis of the LQT2 phenotype due to both impaired trafficking of hERG1a and maintained expression of hERG1b that produces subunit imbalance and reduced IKr with accelerated deactivation.
Identification of the novel HLA-B*35:03:01:22 allele in an individual of Nepalese origin.

The novel HLA-B*35:03:01:22 allele differs from HLA-B*35:03:01:01 by a nucleotide change at gDNA 125 C → T.
HIV in the Brain: Identifying Viral Reservoirs and Addressing the Challenges of an HIV Cure

Advances in antiretroviral therapy have prolonged the life of people living with HIV and diminished the level of virus in these individuals. Yet, HIV quickly rebounds after disruption and/or cessation of treatment due to significant cellular and anatomical reservoirs for HIV, which underscores the challenge for HIV cure strategies. The central nervous system (CNS), in particular, is seeded with HIV within 1-2 weeks of infection and is a reservoir for HIV. In this review, we address the paradigm of HIV reservoirs in the CNS and the relevant cell types, including astrocytes and microglia, that have been shown to harbor viral infection even with antiretroviral treatment. In particular, we focus on developmental aspects of astrocytes and microglia that lead to their susceptibility to infection, and how HIV infection propagates among these cells. We also address challenges of measuring the HIV latent reservoir, advances in viral detection assays, and how curative strategies have evolved in regard to the CNS reservoir. Current curative strategies still require optimization to reduce or eliminate the HIV CNS reservoir, and may also contribute to levels of neuroinflammation that lead to cognitive decline. With this in mind, the latent HIV reservoir in the brain should remain a prominent focus when assessing treatment options and overall viral burden in the clinic, especially in the context of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND).
Who Monitors Corporate Pension Risks? Board Co-option and Corporate Pension Policies

A board’s ability and disposition to monitor management, estimated as Board Co-option, affects the firm’s pension policy. I implement a novel board monitoring measure as the percentage of directors appointed after the CEO assumes office, Board Co-option, and find that as Board Co-option increases, board monitoring decreases, and risk shifting through pension plan underfunding and pension assets allocation towards risky securities intensifies. Within independent board of directors, my results indicate that only non-coopted independent board members are effective monitors of the corporate pension policies. I identify these effects through the firm-fixed effect model and difference-in-differences estimations. Overall, my findings suggest that not all directors are effective monitors in the context of corporate pension policies. It seems only non-co-opted independent directors are mindful of their obligations toward pension plan beneficiaries.
PSa Causes Oncogenic Suppression of Agrobacterium by Inhibiting VirE2 Protein Export

When coresident with the Ti (tumor-inducing) plasmid, the 21-kDa product of the osa gene of the plasmid pSa can suppress crown gall tumorigenesis incited by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Neither T-DNA processing nor vir (virulence) gene induction is affected by the presence of osa in the bacterium. We used Arabidopsis thaliana root segments and tobacco leaf discs to demonstrate that Osa inhibits A. tumefaciens from transforming these plants to the stable phenotypes of tumorigenesis, kanamycin resistance, and stable β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression. When A. tumefaciens contained osa, the lack of expression of transient GUS activity in infected plant tissues, as well as the lack of systemic viral symptoms following agroinfection of Nicotiana benthamiana by tomato mottle virus, suggested that oncogenic suppression by Osa occurs before T-DNA enters the plant nucleus. The extracellular complementation of an A. tumefaciens virE2 mutant (the T-DNA donor strain) by an A. tumefaciens strain lacking T-DNA but containing a wild-type virE2 gene (the VirE2 donor strain) was blocked when osa was present in the VirE2 donor strain, but not when osa was present in the T-DNA donor strain. These data indicate that osa inhibits VirE2 protein, but not T-DNA export from A. tumefaciens. These data further suggest that VirE2 protein and T-DNA are separately exported from the bacterium. The successful infection of Datura stramonium plants and leaf discs of transgenic tobacco plants expressing VirE2 protein by an A. tumefaciens virE2 mutant carrying osa confirmed that oncogenic suppression by osa does not occur by blocking T-DNA transfer. Overexpression of virB9, virB10, and virB11 in A. tumefaciens did not overcome oncogenic suppression by osa. The finding that the expression of the osa gene by itself, rather than the formation of a conjugal intermediate with pSa, blocks transformation suggests that the mechanism of oncogenic suppression by osa may differ from that of the IncQ plasmid RSF1010.
Market Access Liberalization for Food and Agricultural Products: A General Equilibrium Assessment of Tariff-Rate Quotas

A global trade, economy-wide framework is used to assess the implications of improvements in market access through quota expansion and lowering of in- and out-of-quota tariffs. Special features include recent estimates of applied tariffs and TRQs and explicit treatment of those policies in the model. Estimates of welfare impacts suggest that policy reform agreed in the URAA and continuation of such reform would lead to significant welfare gains for the world as a whole and for most regions. Further work may include alternative liberalization scenarios to identify and prioritize policy options regarding market access.
History of Respiratory Mechanics

The sections in this article are: 1 Respiratory Mechanics from Ancient Times Through the Seventeenth Century 2 Respiratory Muscles and their Action 3 Lung Elasticity and Pleural Pressure 4 Pressure-Volume Relationships 5 Integrated View of Respiratory Mechanics 6 Instrumentation 7 Literature of Respiratory Mechanics 8 Conclusion
Romanticism and the rise of the mass public

Acknowledgements Introduction: the regime of publicity 1. Public opinion from Burke to Byron 2. Wordsworth's audience problem 3. Keats and the review aesthetic 4. Shelley and the politics of political poetry 5. The art of printing and the law of libel 6. The right of private judgement Notes Bibliography Index.
Variability of evolutionary rates of DNA.

A statistical analysis of DNA sequences from four nuclear loci and five mitochondrial loci from different orders of mammals is described. A major aim of the study is to describe the variation in the rate of molecular evolution of proteins and DNA. A measure of rate variability is the statistic R, the ratio of the variance in the number of substitutions to the mean number. For proteins, R is found to be in the range 0.16 < R < 35.55, thus extending in both directions the values seen in previous studies. An analysis of codons shows that there is a highly significant excess of double substitutions in the first and second positions, but not in the second and third or first and third positions. The analysis of the dynamics of nucleotide evolution showed that the ergodic Markov chain models that are the basis of most published formulas for correcting for multiple substitutions are incompatible with the data. A bootstrap procedure was used to show that the evolution of the individual nucleotides, even the third positions, show the same variation in rates as seen in the proteins. It is argued that protein and silent DNA evolution are uncoupled, with the evolution at both levels showing patterns that are better explained by the action of natural selection than by neutrality. This conclusion is based primarily on a comparison of the nuclear and mitochondrial results.
Targeted brain hypothermia induced by an interstitial cooling device in human neck: theoretical analyses

In this study, the feasibility of a newly developed interstitial cooling device inserted into the neck muscle and placed on the surface of the common carotid artery is evaluated. A combination of vascular model and continuum model is developed to simulate the temperature fields in both the neck and brain regions. Parametric studies are conducted to test the sensitivity of various factors on the temperature distribution. It has been shown that the length of the device, temperature of the device, and the tissue gap between the device and the blood vessel are the dominant factors that determine the effectiveness of this cooling approach. Under the current design parameters, the device is capable of inducing a temperature drop of 2.8°C along the common carotid artery and it results in a total of 90 W of heat carried away from the arterial blood. Although the degree of the cooling in the arterial blood is inversely proportional to the blood flow rate of the arteries, the total heat loss from the arterial blood does not vary significantly if the blood flow rate changes during the cooling. After the cold arterial blood is supplied to the brain hemisphere, temperature reduction in the brain tissue is almost uniform and up to 3.1°C temperature drop is achieved within 1 hour. In addition to the possible benefits of brain hypothermia for stroke or head injury patients, the device has the potential to control fever as well as to improve patients’ outcome during open neck and head surgery.
Simian T-cell leukemia virus type I infection in captive baboons.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type (HTLV-I) is a type C retrovirus that has been linked to both adult T-cell leukemia and neurological disorders in humans. Baboons and other Old World non-human prima...
Reactions of sodium pentacyanonitrosylferrate(II) with some thioureas in methanol solution

Abstract The kinetics of the reaction between photolysed sodium pentacyanonitrosylferrate(II) and some thioureas in methanol solution are reported. The reactions are first order in both complex ion and thiourea. A mechanism is proposed and the activation parameters are reported.
A chemotaxonomic analysis of terpenoid variation in Cannabis

To determine whether the terpenoid composition of the essential oil of Cannabis is useful for chemotaxonomic discrimination, extracts of pistillate inflorescences of 162 greenhouse-grown plants of diverse origin were analyzed by gas chromatography. Peak area ratios of 48 compounds were subjected to multivariate analysis and the results interpreted with respect to geographic origin and taxonomic affiliation. A canonical analysis in which the plants were pre-assigned to C. sativa or C. indica based on previous genetic, morphological, and chemotaxonomic studies resulted in 91% correct assignment of the plants to their pre-assigned species. A scatterplot on the first two principal component axes shows that plants of accessions from Afghanistan assigned to the wide-leaflet drug biotype (an infraspecific taxon of unspecified rank) of C. indica group apart from the other putative taxa. The essential oil of these plants usually had relatively high ratios of guaiol, isomers of eudesmol, and other unidentified compounds. Plants assigned to the narrow-leaflet drug biotype of C. indica tended to have relatively high ratios of trans-β-farnesene. Cultivars of the two drug biotypes may exhibit distinctive medicinal properties due to significant differences in terpenoid composition.
Regulated flushing in a gravel-bed river for channel habitat maintenance: A Trinity River fisheries case study

The operation of Trinity and Lewiston Dams on the Trinity River in northern California in the United States, combined with severe watershed erosion, has jeopardized the existence of prime salmonid fisheries. Extreme streamflow depletion and stream sedimentation below Lewiston have resulted in heavy accumulation of coarse sediment on riffle gravel and filling of streambed pools, causing the destruction of spawning, nursery, and overwintering habitat for prized chinook salmon (Salmo gairdnerii) and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha). Proposals to restore and maintain the degraded habitat include controlled one-time remedial peak flows or annual maintenance peak flows designed to flush the spawning gravel and scour the banks, deltas, and pools. The criteria for effective channel restoration or maintenance by streambed flushing and scouring are examined here, as well as the mechanics involved.
Field Performance of Modified Asphalt Binders Evaluated with Superpave Test Methods: I-80 Test Project

In the early 1980s heavy-duty pavements in Pennsylvania showed evidence of excessive rutting. As a consequence, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation adopted several changes in its materials specifications and mixture design procedures. In addition, a number of modified binders were evaluated in an experimental test road that was constructed in 1989 in Clearfield County on Interstate 80. The construction was a 175-mm thick asphalt concrete overlay over an existing portland cement concrete pavement. Although the construction predated Superpave, original samples of the asphalt binder and loose asphalt mix were retained and were characterized using Superpave test methods. Field performance evaluations were performed immediately after construction and in subsequent years, giving a record of rutting, cracking, raveling, and overall visual performance. Overall, the mixtures have performed well during their 9 years of service. However, differences in the performance of the mixtures with the different bin...
Antenna radiation pattern effects on a short-range vibration-detection radar system

This paper presents a 5.8 GHz Doppler noncontact vibration-detection radar system with 2×2 patch array antennas and single patch antennas. Two different types of antennas are used on both transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) sides, alternately. An actuator is connected with a 16 cm × 14 cm metal plate and generates a 1 Hz sinusoidal movement with 1 mm peak-to-peak displacement. The system can successfully detect a target's vibration when it is vertically misaligned with the target by 31° and placed at 0.5 m away. The system with the broad beamwidth antennas shows the best result.
Measurement of the conjunction error in social judgment: Answer choice and answer justification

People often judge the probability of two events occurring together to be more probable than the less probable of each of these events occurring separately, thereby demonstrating the conjunction error. “Correct” responses are those in which participants rank a single-element statement of low probability as more probable than a conjunction consisting of a low-probability statement and an additional statement. We demonstrated in two studies that task structure was related to the number of people who chose the single-element statement as more probable. However, relatively few participants provided a rationale for their answer choice based on the conjunction rule. In a third study, responses on the answer choice and answer justification measures converged. In addition to serving as a sensitive dependent measure, participants’ justifications when answering conjunction problems may provide insight into their reasoning.
Community Development and the Politics of Deracialization: The Case of Denver, Colorado, 1991-2003

This article examines the mayoralty of Wellington Webb, 1991 to 2003, the first black mayor of Denver, Colorado, as a case study for testing the idea that “deracialization” produces benefits for the black community. Deracialization is essentially a political current within neoliberalism that argues black leaders should deemphasize race in favor of certain political styles and symbols. Upon examining Mayor Webb’s administrations—from the perspective of community development—municipal employment, public schools, police accountability, and affordable housing are found to have worsened, or reflected ambiguous change, for Denver’s poor and working-class neighborhoods. Supported with social and economic data, as well as interviews with community activists, the study concludes that race remains a significant issue for understanding how community development is pursued in black neighborhoods in some cities.
Polymeric hydrogel thin film synthesis via diffusion through a porous membrane

Abstract We report here a simple, versatile bi-cell-based platform for preparing crosslinked polymeric hydrogel thin films. Briefly, a nanoporous membrane is used to separate two solutions: one containing crosslinking molecules and the other containing oligomers. The crosslinking molecule diffuses through the membrane and reacts with the oligomer to form a polymeric film at the surface of the nanopore membrane. In this paper, a proof-of-concept experiment is described using crosslinkers with imidoester moieties (dimethyl 3,3′-dithiobispropionimidate (DTBP) or dimethyl suberimidate (DMS)) and chitosan oligomers. Crosslinking with DTBP or DMS also conferred degradability to the chitosan film. The film formation was confirmed and its morphology examined with electron microscopy. The chitosan film degradation was quantified by monitoring the transport of gold nanoparticles through the chitosan film after a degradation treatment. The film synthesis method presented here can potentially be used to prepare functional hydrogel thin films for biosensors, coatings and drug delivery systems in an inexpensive, high-throughput manner.
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis: a clinicopathologic study.

Summary Light and electron microscopic changes are described in three children with apparently diffuse glomerulonephritis in the subacute and chronic stages. Case 1 is a classic case of membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPG) with low serum complement and predominantly subendothelial osmiophilic deposits with mesangial interposition as well as immunologically proven deposits of complement. In spite of massive morphological changes and metamorphosis to lobular glomerulonephritis the patient recovered clincally. The second case is considered to be an atypical form of MPG there is great similarity to membranous (epimembranous) glomerulonephritis. However, the pronounced proliferative changes, especially in the subacute phase, do not allow this diagnosis. Classification of the third case with little cellular proliferation and few deposits as well as severe lesions of the glomerular basement membrane was first difficult. The electron microscopic changes proove an Alport' Syndrome. In all three cases no previous disease was known. Streptococcal and viral infections are suggested as the cause in the available literature. However, an agent must be considered that is active over a long period of time while being of low pathogenicity. In many cases diagnosis can only be made by electron microscopy.
Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics with Neutrons: The View from Simulation

The characterization of the structure and internal dynamics of biomolecules is essential to understanding their biological function. Neutron scattering probes similar time- and length-scales to molecular dynamics simulation. Hence, simulation models of biomolecules have become invaluable in the interpretation of experimental neutron data. Here, we report on advances in the application of simulation in developing neutron scattering to investigate internal protein motions and, as an example of industrial relevance, in the derivation of physical models of use in biofuel renewable energy research.
High CD8+ T cell activation marks a less differentiated HIV-1 specific CD8+ T cell response that is not altered by suppression of viral replication.

Background The relationship of elevated T cell activation to altered T cell differentiation profiles, each defining features of HIV-1 infection, has not been extensively explored. We hypothesized that anti-retroviral suppression of T cell activation levels would lead to alterations in the T cell differentiation of total and HIV-1 specific CD8+ T cell responses among recently HIV-1 infected adults.
Effect of diet, age and sex on the renal response to immune injury in the rat

Effect of diet, age and sex on the glomerular response to immune injury in the rat. We investigated the effect of three factors, namely dietary protein intake, age and sex, on the susceptibility of the renal glomerulus to the binding of antiglomerular basement membrane antibody (anti-GBM) in the early (heterologous) phase of anti-GBM nephritis, and the consequent reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as measured by inulin clearance (C In ). The effect of diet was examined in ≈ 8 week-old female Munich-Wistar rats fed a 40% high (HP) or a 6% low (LP) protein diet, and that of sex and age in male and female rats, 6 week or 10 month old. Following an intravenous dose (3 to 20 µg/g body wt) of radiolabeled nephritogenic anti-GBM, assessment of glomerular function was followed by quantitation of anti-GBM binding (values corrected for GBM surface area) in isolated glomeruli. At a given plasma level of antibody, the degree of binding of anti-GBM was slightly but significantly higher in HP than LP-fed rats; the decrease in GFR was significantly more pronounced in HP than LP-fed animals. The amount of anti-GBM binding was significantly greater in adult than young animals; however, the consequent decrease in GFR was more pronounced in the young than adult animals. Sex dependency was not discernible in anti-GBM binding or reduction in GFR. In all of the above experimental groups, the degree of anti-GBM binding was closely correlated with the plasma level of anti-GBM, but not with effective renal plasma flow rate, measured by PAH clearance. Separate groups of rats were subjected to experimental manipulation of single nephron GFR, glomerular capillary hydraulic pressure and glomerular plasma flow rate, by partial aortic constriction and saralasin administration. This set of experiments, using a tracer amount of non-nephritogenic anti-GBM, revealed that glomerular anti-GBM binding is independent of any of the above parameters. The studies indicate that dietary protein intake and age, but not sex, are among the factors determining the susceptibility of the glomerulus to acute immune injury. Since the binding of anti-GBM is determined by the affinity property of the glomerulus per se, and not by the prevailing hemodynamic pattern, the observed dependence of susceptibility to functional impairment on age and protein intake appears to also reflect a property of the glomerulus, which is influenced by age and the degree of dietary protein intake.
The glass transition temperature of mixed glass former 0.35Na2O + 0.65[xB2O3 + (1 − x)P2O5] glasses

Abstract The mixed glass former effect (MGFE) is defined as the non-linear and non-additive change in the ionic conductivity with changing glass former fraction at constant modifier composition between two binary glass former compositions. In this study, sodium borophosphate glasses, 0.35Na2O + 0.65[xB2O3 + (1 − x)P2O5] with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, have been prepared and their glass transition temperatures (Tg) have been examined as an alternative indicator of the MGFE and as an indicator of changes in the short range order (SRO) structural network units that could cause or contribute to the MGFE. The changes in Tg show a positive non-additive and non-linear trend over the changing glass former fraction, x. The increase in Tg is related to the increasing number of bridging oxygens (BO) in the glass samples, which is caused by the increase in the number of tetrahedral boron, B4, units in the SRO structure.
Decrease of the Surface Area of Raney-type Catalysts in the Aluminium dissolution Process

Variations of the surface area in the dissolution process were investigated on a Raney copper catalyst “No. 16” (for dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol) and a Raney nickel catalyst. It has been found that nascent bare atoms of copper or nickel formed at the initial step move rapidly, perhaps particularly in alkali solution, to reconfigurate the surface-structure to a more stable one. That is to say, the surface area reaches a maximum at an initial step, where only a small quantity of aluminium is dissolved out, then rapidly decreases to a stable value in spite of successive dissolution of aluminium. The rate of decrease is much greater than that recognized on reserving the catalyst in its dried state or in water. By calculating reliable “n” values, the number of adsorbed molecular layers on the surface area from the modified B.E.T. equation, it has been deduced that the average catalytic activity per unit area of the surface may be decreased in process of dissolution of aluminium.
Odontogenic keratocysts arise from quiescent epithelial rests and are associated with deregulated hedgehog signaling in mice and humans

Odontogenic keratocysts in humans are aggressive, noninflammatory jaw cysts that may harbor PTCH1 mutations, leading to constitutive activity of the embryonic Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. We show here that epithelial expression of the Hh transcriptional effector Gli2 is sufficient for highly penetrant keratocyst development in transgenic mice. Mouse and human keratocysts expressed similar markers, leading to tooth misalignment, bone remodeling, and craniofacial abnormalities. We detected Hh target gene expression in epithelial cells lining keratocysts from both species, implicating deregulated Hh signaling in their development. Most mouse keratocysts arose from rests of Malassez—quiescent, residual embryonic epithelial cells that remain embedded in the periodontal ligament surrounding mature teeth. In Gli2-expressing mice, these rests were stimulated to proliferate, stratify, and form a differentiated squamous epithelium. The frequent development of keratocysts in Gli2-expressing mice supports the idea that GLI transcription factor activity mediates pathological responses to deregulated Hh signaling in humans. Moreover, Gli2-mediated reactivation of quiescent epithelial rests to form keratocysts indicates that these cells retain the capacity to function as progenitor cells on activation by an appropriate developmental signal.
Inhibition of Blood-brain Barrier (BBB) P-glycoprotein (PGP) Function by Various Drugs Enhances Acute Bilirubin (B) Entry into Brain 1020

Background Entry of B into brain is significantly increased in the absence of BBB PGP expression, while efflux is not affected (Watchko J et al, Pediatr Res 1997;41:186A). PGP may block the entry of amphipatic compounds, or enhance their efflux. PGP function is inhibited by a number of common drugs. We postulated that pretreatment with such drugs would increase the entry of B into brain. Materials and methods Young adult SPRD rats were anesthetized and pretreated with IV bolus doses of: verapamil (1 mg/kg; n=11), propanolol (0.15 mg/ kg; n=7), ceftriaxone (100 mg/kg; n=7), erythromycin (10 mg/kg; n=6), or rifampin (10 mg/kg; n=6). Controls (n=12) received saline. Ten min after the drug injection the rats received 50 mg/kg B over 5 min. They were sacrificed 5 min after the end of the B infusion. Brain bilirubin was measured by acid chlorform extraction. Results were compared with unpaired t-tests. Results The overall mean serum B concentration for the groups at sacrifice was 554±62 μmol/L (mean±SD). Fortuitously there were significant differences between group mean serum B values. Therefore brain:serum B ratios (x 1000) were calculated for all rats and used in the comparisons. Unbound B concentrations were not significantly different between any groups (overall mean±SD = 36±18 nmol/L). There were significant increases of brain:serum B ratio in all but the erythromycin group (see table; * denotes p<0.05 vs control). Discussion It has long been known that drugs which displace B from its albumin binding will increase brain B influx. Ceftriaxone has been reported to be a displacer of B. However, the lack of difference in unbound B concentrations between the groups suggests that displacement of B did not play a significant role in the present study. These findings show that a number of drugs known to inhibit PGP function will significantly increase the acute influx of B into brain. This further supports the role of PGP in modulating B entry into brain, and also raises new concerns regarding the use of drugs in jaundiced infants.
Analysis of defect distribution in transistor structures with reflection and transmission x-ray topography

Reflection and transmission x-ray topography can be combined to isolate and identify dislocations that penetrate the active junctions of transistor structures in integrated circuit wafers. This is accomplished by reconstructing the defect distribution normal to the surface as viewed in transmission (volume-sensitive) and reflection (surface-sensitive) x-ray topography. The combination of surface and bulk observations is exploited to demonstrate the effect of dislocation density on pipes (low-resistance paths from emitter to collector). A method is also described for estimating the depth of defect visibility in reflection x-ray topography.
Incoherent time evolution on a grid of Landau-Zener anticrossings

The mixing of Rydberg manifolds, induced by a ramped electric field F(t)=F\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}t, is modeled by interactions among two intersecting groups of parallel energy levels. The levels form a grid, each node of which is treated as an isolated two-level Landau-Zener anticrossing, characterized by probabilities D=exp(-2\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\gamma}) and A=1-D for diabatic and adiabatic transitions, respectively. The model assumes a core with one nonvanishing quantum defect ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{0}$ and with extremal Stark-level slopes, so that \ensuremath{\gamma}=\ensuremath{\Vert}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{0}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Vert}}}^{2}$/3F\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}${\mathit{n}}^{10}$ for all anticrossings, where the manifolds have principal quantum numbers n and n+1. Interference effects are ignored, which allows analytical treatment of the system's evolution using path statistics or recursion relations. An initially populated edge state leads to a single-humped distribution of level populations. Analytical expressions are found for the probability distribution as a function of time, as well as its average and standard deviation. Limiting forms of the distribution at large times and in the diabatic (D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1) and adiabatic (D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0) limits are also given. These features are contrasted with those of a random walk. The relevance of the model to selective-field ionization is discussed.
Using virtual lectures to educate students on plagiarism

Plagiarism is a concern on all university campuses. Some of the main issues pertaining to plagiarism violations are student misunderstanding or inconsistent and lack of instruction. Virtual lectures are an electronic resource available to students throughout the semester to aid them in proper citation and avoiding academic integrity violations. The technological tool of virtual lectures is also useful for communicating rules of ethics and other regulations for industry or other areas of employment outside of academia.
Effect of propylene glycol on methemoglobin-forming capacity of p-chloroacetanilide in rat and guinea pig.

SummaryRats and guinea pigs injected with propylene glycol, 4 ml/kg, with or without p-chloroacetanilide, showed a uniform increase in hematocrit to 51% as compared with a normal value of 42-45%. Animals receiving no propylene glycol showed no increase in hematocrit above the normal value. p-Chloroacetanilide, 100 mg/kg, dissolved in propylene glycol, 4 ml/kg, produced methemoglobinemia in both species; to a greater extent in the rat than in the guinea pig: 8.1% and 4.2% of the total blood pigment, respectively. Propylene glycol alone, 4 ml/kg, produced no increase in methemoglobin above normal range: 1.5% for rats, and 2.2% for guinea pigs. p-Chloroacetanilide, 100 mg/kg, in aqueous suspension increased the methemoglobinemia in both species; the increase more pronounced in the rat than in the guinea pig: 40.8% and 6.9% of the total blood pigment, respectively. These results indicate a decrease in production of the methemoglobin-producing metabolite of p-chloroacetanilide in the presence of propylene glyc...
cDNA Cloning and Characterization of the Human Interleukin 13 Receptor α Chain

Abstract We have cloned cDNAs corresponding to the human interleukin 13 receptor α chain (IL-13Rα). The protein has 76% homology to murine IL-13Rα, with 95% amino acid identity in the cytoplasmic domain. Only weak IL-13 binding activity was found in cells transfected with only IL-13Rα; however, the combination of both IL-13Rα and IL-4Rα resulted in substantial binding activity, with a Kd of approximately 400 pM, indicating that both chains are essential components of the IL-13 receptor. Whereas IL-13Rα serves as an alternative accessory protein to the common cytokine receptor γ chain (γc) for IL-4 signaling, it could not replace the function of γc in allowing enhanced IL-2 binding activity. Nevertheless, the overall size and length of the cytoplasmic domain of IL-13Rα and γc are similar, and like γc, IL-13Rα is located on chromosome X.
Tables for computing shortest confidence intervals involving the f-distribution

Tables of multipliers necessary for computing the shortest confidence interval in situations involving the F-distribution are presented. Such situations are illustrated with several examples.