cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Risk in Value

This article provides evidence consistent with the hypothesis that the value risk premium results, at least in part, from investors’ incremental forecast difficulty for value stocks. The evidence includes the findings that (1) analysts’ uncertainty about earnings is consistently higher and their earnings forecast accuracy is consistently lower for value stocks, (2) value returns are higher when relative forecast difficulty for value stocks is greater, and (3) trading volume is greater for value stocks. If the relative difficultly in forecasting earnings for value stocks is consistent over time, the value stock premium should also be fairly consistent over time. Indeed, using a more refined definition of value, the author finds that the value stock return premium is far more consistent over time than is commonly believed and that it has been positive in recent years. TOPICS:Performance measurement, style investing, statistical methods Key Findings • Earnings are more difficult to predict for value stocks than for growth stocks. • The difficulty in forecasting earnings for value stocks is related to the value stock premium. • The value stock premium is larger and more consistent after controlling for industry.
Chronic myeloid leukemia with insertion-derived BCR-ABL1 fusion: redefining complex chromosomal abnormalities by correlation of FISH and karyotype predicts prognosis.

Chromosomal insertion-derived BCR–ABL1 fusion is rare and mostly cryptic in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Most of these cases present a normal karyotype, and their risk and/or prognostic category are uncertain. We searched our database and identified 41 CML patients (20 M/21 F, median age: 47 years, range 12–78 years) with insertion-derived BCR–ABL1 confirmed by various FISH techniques: 31 in chronic phase, 1 in accelerated phase, and 9 in blast phase at time of diagnosis. Conventional cytogenetics analysis showed a normal karyotype (n = 19); abnormal karyotype with morphologically normal chromosomes 9 and 22 (n = 5); apparent ins(9;22) (n = 2) and abnormal karyotype with apparent abnormal chromosomes 9, der(9) and/or 22, der(22) (n = 15). The locations of insertion-derived BCR–ABL1 were identified on chromosome 22 (68.3%), 9 (29.3%), and 19 (2.4%). Complex chromosomal abnormalities were often overlooked by conventional cytogenetics but identified by FISH tests in many cases. After a median follow-up of 58 months (range 1–242 months), 11 patients died, and 3 lost contact, while the others achieved different cytogenetic/molecular responses. The locations of BCR–ABL1 (der(22) vs. non-der(22)) and the karyotype results (complex karyotype vs. noncomplex karyotype) by conventional cytogenetics were not associated with overall survival in this cohort. However, redefining the complexity of chromosomal abnormality by correlating karyotype and FISH findings, CML cases with simple chromosomal abnormalities had a more favorable overall survival than that with complex chromosomal abnormalities. We conclude that insertion-derived BCR–ABL1 fusions often involve complex chromosomal abnormalities which are overlooked by conventional cytogenetics, but can be identified by one or more FISH tests. We also suggest that the traditional cytogenetic response criteria may not apply in these patients, and the complexity of chromosomal abnormalities redefined by correlating karyotype and FISH findings can plays a role in stratifying patients into more suitable risk groups for predicting prognosis. (Word count: 292)
Diagnostic paths for a mouth-breathing patient.

Introduction The clinical choice of diagnostic tests or treatment options is determined by the probability that the value of their execution (called the warrant for the test) exceeds their cost, and by their usefulness. The purpose of this study was to determine the warrant and usefulness of STOP-Bang, an obstructive sleep apnea screening questionnaire, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) information about the minimal cross-sectional area for referring a mouth-breathing patient to a sleep specialist and for modifying planned orthodontic treatment. Methods A branching survey was used to identify the prominence of paths between the presenting situation, 2 diagnostic tests, and 2 referral and/or treatment options. A description was given of a hypothetical patient: an overweight, mouth-breathing female teenager. Path analysis was used as a method for quantifying diagnostic warrant and usefulness. Results There was a wide variation among the 125 orthodontists who responded to the survey. All paths were chosen. The use of tests altered the referral (χ2 = 8.039; P = 0.03) and/or treatment decisions (χ2 = 12.636; P = 0.005). Ownership of a CBCT system significantly influenced the use of this diagnostic test, with owning a CBCT system resulting in greater use in-office (χ2 = 50.416; P Conclusions Wide variation in the choice and interpretation of diagnostic tests for referral and orthodontic treatment modification relative to airway condition exists among orthodontists. Diagnostic path analysis is a potentially useful model for studying how practitioners make decisions independent of research evidence.
A Novel Technique for Reconstruction of a Congenitally Absent Earlobe.

Objective:Congenital anomalies of the external ear may present a reconstructive challenge, particularly when normal chondrocutaneous components of the auricle fail to develop. Our goal was to devel...
Diffeomorphism Groups in Quantum Theory and Statistical Physics

Symmetry groups describe invariances or partial invariances in physical systems under transformations. Locality refers to the association between physical effects and spatial or spacetime regions, with “action at a distance” forbidden. Local symmetry joins these ideas mathematically in the theory of certain infinite-dimensional groups and their representations. This chapter is an extended abstract of lectures by the author, surveying how unitary representations of diffeomorphism groups and the corresponding current algebras provide a unifying framework for understanding or predicting a wide variety of different quantum and statistical systems.
Geographic Atrophy Growth Is Strongly Related to Lesion Perimeter: Unifying Effects of Lesion Area, Number, and Circularity on Growth.

Purpose To investigate the underlying reason for the previously observed impact of baseline lesion size, number, and circularity on geographic atrophy (GA) growth rate. Design Retrospective analysis of a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Participants Age-Related Eye Disease Study participants with GA secondary to nonexudative age-related macular degeneration. Methods We manually delineated atrophic lesions on color fundus photographs of 318 eyes with GA followed up over at least 2 visits (mean follow-up duration, 5.1 ± 3.0 years). We calculated GA area growth rate for each eye based on the first and last visit. GA perimeter-adjusted growth rate was defined as the ratio between GA area growth rate and mean GA perimeter between the first and last visit for each eye. Main Outcome Measures GA area growth rate, growth rate of the square root of GA area, and GA perimeter-adjusted growth rate. Results GA area growth rate was correlated strongly with mean GA perimeter (r2 = 0.66). GA area growth rate was associated with baseline GA area (r2 = 0.39; P Conclusions The growth rate of GA area is associated strongly with lesion perimeter. This relationship explains the previously observed influences of baseline GA size, lesion number, and circularity on GA growth rate. GA perimeter-adjusted growth rate is uncorrelated with the 3 morphologic factors and may serve as a surrogate outcome measure to monitor GA progression in future studies.
Network biology to uncover functional and structural properties of the plant immune system.

In the last two decades, advances in network science have facilitated the discovery of important systems' entities in diverse biological networks. This graph-based technique has revealed numerous emergent properties of a system that enable us to understand several complex biological processes including plant immune systems. With the accumulation of multiomics data sets, the comprehensive understanding of plant-pathogen interactions can be achieved through the analyses and efficacious integration of multidimensional qualitative and quantitative relationships among the components of hosts and their microbes. This review highlights comparative network topology analyses in plant-pathogen co-expression networks and interactomes, outlines dynamic network modeling for cell-specific immune regulatory networks, and discusses the new frontiers of single-cell sequencing as well as multiomics data integration that are necessary for unraveling the intricacies of plant immune systems.
Reconstitution of human atlastin fusion activity reveals autoinhibition by the C terminus

ER network formation depends on membrane fusion by the atlastin (ATL) GTPase. In humans, three paralogs are differentially expressed with divergent N- and C-terminal extensions, but their respective roles remain unknown. This is partly because, unlike Drosophila ATL, the fusion activity of human ATLs has not been reconstituted. Here, we report successful reconstitution of fusion activity by the human ATLs. Unexpectedly, the major splice isoforms of ATL1 and ATL2 are each autoinhibited, albeit to differing degrees. For the more strongly inhibited ATL2, autoinhibition mapped to a C-terminal α-helix is predicted to be continuous with an amphipathic helix required for fusion. Charge reversal of residues in the inhibitory domain strongly activated its fusion activity, and overexpression of this disinhibited version caused ER collapse. Neurons express an ATL2 splice isoform whose sequence differs in the inhibitory domain, and this form showed full fusion activity. These findings reveal autoinhibition and alternate splicing as regulators of atlastin-mediated ER fusion.
The Detection and Minimization of Cheating During Concurrent Online Assessments Using Statistical Methods

As distance learning programs in aviation continue to evolve, a natural step in the progression is the fully online assessment of distance students. In some cases, those assessments must occur in synchronous delivery systems, where distance students view lectures and/or take online examinations concurrently. Among the questions that arise in the mind of the aviation educator in such cases are those of how to determine the magnitude of academic dishonesty occurring during concurrent assessments and how to minimize the opportunities of students being assessed to participate in such dishonesty. The author has developed a statistical algorithm to allow the use of common software to detect instances where students pass answers between themselves through various means in order to improve their assessment scores. A study conducted over a period of two semesters during the 2009 – 2010 academic year in two of the author’s distance learning classes indicates the validity of both the algorithm and the methods used to minimize the occurrences of dishonesty.
Reconstructing shape from dictionaries of shading primitives

Although a lot of research has been performed in the field of reconstructing 3D shape from the shading in an image, only a small portion of this work has examined the association of local shading patterns over image patches with the underlying 3D geometry. Such approaches are a promising way to tackle the ambiguities inherent in the shape-from-shading (SfS) problem, but issues such as their sensitivity to non-lambertian reflectance or photometric calibration have reduced their real-world applicability. In this paper we show how the information in local shading patterns can be utilized in a practical approach applicable to real-world images, obtaining results that improve the state of the art in the SfS problem. Our approach is based on learning a set of geometric primitives, and the distribution of local shading patterns that each such primitive may produce under different reflectance parameters. The resulting dictionary of primitives is used to produce a set of hypotheses about 3D shape; these hypotheses are combined in a Markov Random Field (MRF) model to determine the final 3D shape.
DRAG FORCES ON BAFFLE BLOCKS IN HYDRAULIC JUMPS

Large bluff-shaped objects (baffle blocks) placed in the jump improve the hydraulic jump performance characteristics. Knowledge of the drag force on the blocks would aid in determining the optimum block geometry. The highly turbulent and nonuniform flow in the jump prevent a theoretical solution to the problem. An experimental technique similar to that employed by aerodynamicists was used to directly measure the drag forces. Block location, height, width, spacing, second-row location, and shape were the geometrical variables investigated. The study was limited to nonsubmerged jumps in wide, rectangular, horizontal channels. A drag force ratio using the free jump, sequent depth pressure force proved more practical for data correlation than a classical drag coefficient. Resultant downstream water depths computed using the measured drag force compared favorably with experimentally measured values. The results enable the designer to calculate the drag force for a wide range of block geometries and jump inlet Froude numbers from 3 to 10.
Effects of leading edge erosion on wind turbine blade performance

This paper presents results of a study to investigate the effect of leading edge erosion on the aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine airfoil. The tests were conducted on the DU 96-W-180 wind turbine airfoil at three Reynolds numbers between 1 million and 1.85 million, and angles of attack spanning the nominal low drag range of the airfoil. The airfoil was tested with simulated leading edge erosion by varying both the type and severity of the erosion to investigate the loss in performance due to an eroded leading edge. Tests were also run with simulated bugs on the airfoil to assess the impact of insect accretion on airfoil performance. The objective was to develop a baseline understanding of the aerodynamic effects of varying levels of leading edge erosion and to quantify their relative impact on airfoil performance. Results show that leading edge erosion can produce substantial airfoil performance degradation, yielding a large increase in drag coupled with a significant loss in lift near the upper corner of the drag polar, which is key to maximizing wind turbine energy production. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Sperm Penetration Assay for the Assessment of Fertilization Capacity

The sperm penetration assay, or zona-free hamster oocyte penetration assay, is utilized to measure the ability of sperm to undergo capacitation, fuse with the egg membrane, and decondense the sperm head within the cytoplasm of the oocyte, resulting in the formation of the male pronucleus. The test is scored by calculation of the percentage of ova that are penetrated (the original assay developed) or the average number of sperm penetrations per ovum (the sperm capacitation index of the optimized assay). The sperm penetration assay identifies those couples that will have a high likelihood of success with in vitro fertilization.
Long-Term Variations of the Compact Radio Source Sgr A* at the Galactic Center

We investigate the long-term flux density variations of the compact radio source Sgr A* at the galactic center by combining recent VLA observations with previous Green Bank interferometer data. We present radio flux density light-curves for Sgr A* at 20, 11, 6 and 3.7 cm from 1974 to 1987. Long-term variability with a timescale of at least 5 years is seen at 20 cm and there is evidence for more rapid variations at the shorter wavelengths. The variability timescales at 20, 11 and 6 cm fit the λ2 scaling predicted by the theory of refractive scintillation suggesting that the variability could be due to this cause. However, the timescales are relatively short, implying an unusually high velocity in the scattering screen. The modulation index of the variability is large and relatively independent of wavelength.
Standing By to Help: Transforming Online Reference with a Proactive Chat System

Abstract In July 2013, the University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries implemented a proactive, context-sensitive chat system developed for online businesses. Chat questions immediately increased from eight questions daily to eight questions hourly on average, resulting in an increase of 340% from 2013 to 2014. This paper describes the system characteristics, explaining how the chat client was configured to provide convenient, context-sensitive help that engages many more users than the previous system. An analysis showed that most questions received were reference questions requiring the expertise of a librarian. The system has lowered the bar of inquiry for reference users, transforming chat from a low-use option to a heavily used service with an important role in supporting academic research and information literacy.
High resolution electrical, optical, and thermal metrology for sub-micron optoelectronic devices

We demonstrate a commercialization-ready metrology tool for electrical, optical, and thermal characterization of operating optoelectronic devices, with a spatial resolution of 250nm. Applications are demonstrated to a wide range of electrical and photonic devices.
How Large is a Point Source

A source of light having many times the angular subtense of the sun or moon can usually be treated as a point when making photometric calculations based on the inverse square law. When viewed by the eye, such sources are not perceived as points (like stars) but rather as extended surfaces. In this paper, some typical data on contrast thresholds for targets, both large and small, are converted into threshold stellar magnitudes. This is done for two important cases which, unless carefully distinguished, can lead to erroneous results.
Central opiate modulation of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I.

Abstract The effects of central administration of morphine-sulfate (MOR:80 μg) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G:1 μg) on the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system were assessed. MOR and M6G were injected intracerebroventricularly (ICV) in chronically catheterized 24 h fasted rats; time-matched control animals received H2O (5 μl). MOR increased plasma GH concentrations 3-fold 2 h after ICV injection, and transiently increased the plasma concentration and liver content of IGF-I (60% and 90%, respectively) 30 min after ICV injection. M6G did not produce any significant alterations in plasma GH and IGF-I levels at the time-points measured. Both MOR and M6G increased the concentration of IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in plasma and liver 2 h after injection. However, MOR showed 2- to 2.5-fold greater effect than M6G in stimulating plasma and liver IGFBP-1. MOR and M6G produced similar increases in plasma epinephrine (5-fold), norepinephrine (3-fold) and corticosterone (1.5-fold). Neither opiate significantly altered circulating insulin levels. These findings suggest that opiate modulation of GH and IGF may be hormone-independent and centrally modulated. We speculate that differential affinities of MOR and M6G to the different opiate receptor subtypes might be responsible for their distinct effects on GH/IGF-I system.
Green microstructure effects on densification and distortion in liquid phase sintering

Microstructure attributes such as solid volume fraction, dihedral angle, initial porosity, and initial pore size are important to densification and distortion control in liquid phase sintering (LPS). In our experiments, these parameters were varied to measure densification and distortion behavior during LPS using W–Ni–Cu alloys. Green compacts were formed using ethylene-bis-stearamide (EBS) as a pore-forming agent with the amount of polymer controlling the initial porosity. Different initial pore sizes were generated by varying the polymer particle size. Dihedral angle was varied by changing the Ni:Cu ratio in the alloys. Finally, the solid:liquid ratio was adjusted via the tungsten content. Dilatometry was employed to measure shrinkage and shrinkage rate during heating. Real time video imaging and quenching experiments isolated the sequence of densification and distortion events in LPS. Distortion was quantified using profiles determined with a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) to calculate a distortion parameter. Sintering results showed that at full densification, initial porosity and pore size have no observable effect on distortion for 80W–16Ni–4Cu alloy while distortion reduces with increasing solid volume fraction and dihedral angle. Microgravity experiments are proposed for further understanding of microstructure effects on densification and distortion in LPS.
Circadian control of the immune system

Circadian rhythms, which have long been known to play crucial roles in physiology, are emerging as important regulators of specific immune functions. Circadian oscillations of immune mediators coincide with the activity of the immune system, possibly allowing the host to anticipate and handle microbial threats more efficiently. These oscillations may also help to promote tissue recovery and the clearance of potentially harmful cellular elements from the circulation. This Review summarizes the current knowledge of circadian rhythms in the immune system and provides an outlook on potential future implications.
Human Sexuality: Past, Present and Future*

The historical impact of times, people, and events on the foundation and development of the human sexuality profession is presented. The present status of the field and the efforts of some of today's leading contributors are also surveyed. Some recent research findings and trends in the direction sex research is taking are briefly discussed.
Commissioning and quality assurance of an optically guided three-dimensional ultrasound target localization system for radiotherapy.

Recently, there has been proliferation of image-guided positioning systems for high-precision radiation therapy, with little attention given to quality assurance procedures for such systems. To ensure accurate treatment delivery, errors in the imaging, localization, and treatment delivery processes must be systematically analyzed. This paper details acceptance tests for an optically guided three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system used for patient localization. While all tests were performed using the same commercial system, the general philosophy and procedures are applicable to all systems utilizing image guidance. Determination of absolute localization accuracy requires a consistent stereotactic, or three-dimensional, coordinate system in the treatment planning system and the treatment vault. We established such a coordinate system using optical guidance. The accuracy of this system for localization of spherical targets imbedded in a phantom at depths ranging from 3 to 13 cm was determined to be (average ± standard deviation) AP = 0.2 ± 0.7 mm, Lat = 0.9 ± 0.6 mm, Ax = 0.6 ± 1.0 mm. In order to test the ability of the optically guided 3D ultrasound localization system to determine the magnitude of an internal organ shift with respect to the treatment isocenter, a phantom that closely mimics the typical human male pelvic anatomy was used. A CT scan of the phantom was acquired, and the regions of interest were contoured. With the phantom on the treatment couch, optical guidance was used to determine the positions of each organ to within imaging uncertainty, and to align the phantom so the plan and treatment machine coordinates coincided. To simulate a clinical misalignment of the treatment target, the phantom was then shifted by different precise offsets, and an experimenter blind to the offsets used ultrasound guidance to determine the magnitude of the shifts. On average, the magnitude of the shifts could be determined to within 1.0 mm along each axis.
Cladistics Is Useful for Reconstructing Archaeological Phylogenies: Palaeoindian Points from the Southeastern United States

Abstract Cladistics, a method used to create a nested series of taxa based on homologous characters shared only by two or more taxa and their immediate common ancestor, offers a means of reconstructing artifact lineages that reflect heritable continuity as opposed to simple historical continuity. Although cladistically derived trees are only hypotheses about phylogeny, they are superior both to trees created through phenetics, which employs characters without regard as to whether they are analogous or homologous, and to trees created by using undifferentiated homologous characters. To date, cladistics is an unused approach to constructing archaeological phylogenies but one that holds considerable potential for resolving some of archaeology's historical problems. For example, it has long been noted that the southeastern United States exhibits the greatest diversity in fluted-point forms in North America—an observation that prompted Mason (1962) to propose that fluted points originated in the Southeast and then spread to other areas. However, because of a paucity of such points from well-dated contexts in the Southeast, it is difficult to ascertain chronological, let alone phylogenetic, relations among the various forms. Evolutionary trees derived from cladistical analysis are testable hypotheses about those phylogenetic relations.
Technical and scientific advances in general thoracic surgery

The purpose of this report to identify some of the major advances in noncardiac thoracic surgery during the first 25 years of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. To place this discussion in perspective, it is necessary to consider the state of our specialty at the time of the founding of The Society in 1964
High-speed mapping of intertransistor overlay variations using active electrical metrology

Integrated circuits are becoming more sensitive to overlay errors between the most critical layers. This paper focuses on inter-transistor overlay variations, which are defined as the short-range variations of overlay between transistors separated by distances of 1 micrometers to 100 micrometers . Many circuits are particularly sensitive to these inter- transistor variations. However, inter-transistor variations are difficult to measure using conventional techniques of metrology. We have developed an active electrical metrology method using on-chip test circuitry to map inter-transistor overlay variations. Test chips were designed and fabricated on a commercial HP 0.35 micrometers process. An array of 127 x 64 active electrical overlay test structures was measured. The array has an area of 856.8 micrometers x 705.6 micrometers , with uniform sampling spacing of 6.8 micrometers x 11.2 micrometers . A measurement speed of 5 microsecond(s) per site was achieved with an accuracy of 6.5 nm (3-sigma). The measured overlay variations between gate poly and diffusion were found to be made up of alignment errors probably associated with the wafer stepper operation combined with short-range overlay variations probably contributed primarily by the mask. With 3-sigma values of 20-30 nm, the inter-transistor overlay variations are surprisingly large when viewed in the context of the typical overall overlay budget for a 0.35 micrometers process. Contour plots and Fourier analysis show that they have an obvious periodicity of 102.4 micrometers in y direction, which can be related to the writing stripes of the raster-scanned mask lithography system used to fabricate the masks. Intra- stripe and stripe-to-stripe overlay variations are then decomposed by spatial frequency filtering, and the intra- stripe variations are further analyzed.
ENHANCEMENT OF MTX CYTOTOXICITY BY URACIL ANALOGUES THAT INHIBIT CELLULAR dUTPase ACTIVITY: 10

Ample evidence indicates that the cytotoxicity of MTX depends on an increase in [dUTP]/[dTTP], uracil misincorporation into DNA, and uracil excision without adequate repair. The result is extensive DNA fragmentation and cell death. In a survey of many cell lines we found notable differences in their levels of dUTPase activity. When 7 cell lines selected for their wide differences in dUTPase content were assayed for (1) misincorporation of uracil due to MTX, (2) sensitivity to growth inhibition by MTX, and (3) effect of MTX on [dUTP]/[dTTP], the data suggested an apparent inverse correlation between dUTPase levels and sensitivity to MTX. The evidence that low dUTPase level may be associated with higher MTX sensitivity led to a search for dUTPase inhibitors that would enhance the cytotoxicity of MTX. Studies were performed on 44 uracil analogues (mainly 5- and 6-substituted derivatives). Many inhibited dUTPase in cells and sonicates at concentrations of 0.25-3.0 mM. A few were effective inhibitors at 0.1 mM. The most interesting compounds did enhance MTX cytotoxicity as measured by cell growth, uracil misincorporation, and alkaline elution of DNA fragments. No uracil analogue tested inhibited purified dUTPase but added ATP increased inhibition of dUTPase by analogues in sonicates. Thus active inhibitors are probably nucleotide derivatives of uracil analogues.
491 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, ANP MORAL PROBLEMS IN PROVIDING PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE

A pilot observational and interview study was undertaken to determine if the medical staff of a pediatric intensive care unit experiences difficulty working in an area noted for psychosocial and ethical ambiguity. It was determined that physicians focus their attention on data about patients rather than on patients directly. The team has little difficulty discussing or acting on technical matters. However, they have minimal patience for or skill with ethical dilemmas. In interviews, 14 of 15 pediatric house officers praised the education in the unit. All 15 felt the unit was an especially difficult place to work compared to other areas of the hospital. Nine reported feelings of depression. Hight reported signs or symptoms of that disorder, including problems in relationships with spouses or friends, irritability, poor performance, as well as sleep and appetite disturbances. Twelve residents sought emotional support from peers or attending physicians to a greater extent than usual. The residents were especially bother by frequent deaths, interactions with patients' distressed families, ethical problem solving, unfamiliarity with the unit's technology and drugs, and the work load. The staffs of intensive care units are ill prepared for the variety of biomedical, emotional, and moral problems they encounter. More attention to psychosocial and ethical issues is likely to improve patient care and staff adaptation.
41.5L: Late‐News Paper: Deposition of PEDOT:PSS Films by Infrared Laser Vaporization

Thin films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) were deposited by resonant infrared laser vaporization from a frozen PEDOT:PSS target. The deposited films were continuous, and exhibited morphological and structural properties similar to those of the starting material, as measured by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, suggesting that vacuum phase deposition may be practical.
Markers of inflammation, vascular endothelial dysfunction, and age-related cataract

Purpose To examine the associations of systemic markers of inflammatory disease and vascular endothelial dysfunction with three types of age-related cataract. Design Cross-sectional analyses of data from a population-based sample of adults. Methods Standardized protocols for blood collection, measurement of markers, administration of a questionnaire, and grading of lens photographs to determine cataract were used. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. settings: Cohort in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. study population: A random sample of 396 persons who were ≥50 years of age. main outcome measure: Prevalent age-related nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular cataract. Results Interleukin-6 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 were associated significantly with prevalent nuclear cataract (odds ratio for each quartile, 1.45 and 2.17, respectively). Many of the associations of markers with cataract types were not linear. There were no significant associations between the markers and cortical or posterior subcapsular cataract. Conclusion Two serum markers of systemic inflammation and vascular endothelial dysfunction were associated with nuclear cataract.
A FUZZY MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF NUCLEAR STABILITY

We use techniques from fuzzy mathematics to develop metrics for measuring how well the US is achieving its overarching national security goal: to protect itself, its allies and its friends from both nuclear attack and coercive pressures by states possessing nuclear weapons. The metrics are linear equations assigning weights to each of the six components of the overarching goal. These weights are based on expert opinions. We determine the degree to which the experts consider certain goals as the most important. We conclude by examining the degree of agreement among experts.
Computer science—seminars for undergraduates

In recent years a number of curricula for computer science education have been proposed. Most notable among these are [1-4]. The results from these four studies were unbalanced oriented educational programs each with a different primary emphasis on various aspects of computer science and its application. None offered a prescription within the undergraduate framework for a satisfactory synthesis of hardware, software, and abstract theory.
Intervention effects on tobacco use in Arab and non-Arab American adolescents.

A quasi-experimental design was used to test a modified Project Towards No Tobacco (TNT) use program on cigarette smoking in 380 Arab American and 236 non-Arab American 9th graders in the Midwest. Tenth grade Non-Arab American students given the intervention as 9th graders were 23% less likely to experiment (Odds Ratio = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.64) or to have smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days (Odd Ratio = 1.43 times, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.01) compared to Arab American youth. Arab American students reported greater experimentation with water pipe smoking than cigarettes (38% vs. 22%), and more current (16% vs. 6%) and regular (7% vs. 3%) use of water pipes than cigarettes, respectively. The intervention designed to focus on cigarette smoking had non-significant effects on water pipe smoking. These findings provide support for a school-based intervention revised to focus on prevention as well as cessation and to be culturally consistent. They also call for further research and intervention tailoring to address the problem of water pipe smoking in a growing Arab American adolescent population.
Fine structure of gametes of Nereis limbata (Annelida) before and after interaction.

The acrosome of the Nereis limbata spermatozoon is a vesicular body which is shaped in the form of a double-walled hollow cone. As such it encloses an axial chamber housin the anterior part of a rod-like structure which, posteriorly, fits into a deep invagination in the nucleus. When the acrosome undergoes reaction preparatory to and during penetration of the egg envelope, it opens anteriorly, discharging its contents, and the axial chamber, together with its contained rod, is expanded and portruded as the acrosome filament. The chorion of the egg is about 0.7 μ thick, and is traversed completely by microvilli which project at intervals. Numerous broad canals extend about three-quarters through the chorion. It is by one of these canals that the acrosome filament passes in the initial stages of sperm penetration. The cortex of the egg has a wide zone of densely packed alveoli which contain moderately electron-dense material, the jelly precursor. Cortical reaction to sperm entry involves fusion between adjacent alveoli and opening up of alveoli onto the cytoplasmic surface of the egg. Released jelly precursor, evidently becoming hydrated, flows into the perivitelline space and thence through the pores in the chorion that accommodate the microvilli (flowing around the microvilli which persist), so as to form a thick layer about the egg.
Betaine does not improve performance of laying hens when the diet contains adequate choline.

Abstract An experiment was conducted with Hy-Line W36® hens to determine possible benefits from adding betaine to the diet of commercial laying hens. There was no benefit from the substitution of betaine for choline as measured by egg production, egg weight, egg content, or weight gain.
Menstrual patterns in women with congenital heart disease

To examine the extent to which congenital heart disease (CHD) influences ovarian function, 98 women (mean age 32.7 years) were asked to complete a mailed questionnaire regarding their menstrual patterns. Patients were divided into acyanotic (60%) and cyanotic (38.8%) groups. Cycle lengths, duration of menstrual cycle, regularity of menses, amount of flow, and breakthrough bleeding were compared in these two groups and against agematched controls. The mean age of menarche for the sample (13.4 years) was significantly different (p<0.004) when compared to their controls (12.5 years). With the exception of breakthrough bleeding, statistical differences were not found between the study population and the controls. When the menstrual histories of cyanotic women were compared with those of acyanotic women, differences were found for all categories of menstrual patterns with the exception of the amount of menstrual flow. Menstrual patterns of cyanotic women compared to controls were found to be significantly different for all categories with the exception of amount of flow. In general, women with CHD have menstrual patterns similar to those in the general population.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Severe Albright Hereditary Osteodystrophy

Context: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) enables the selection of embryos without mutations for implantation and has not been described to our knowledge for mutations in GNAS. Phocomelia in a patient with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) has also not been previously described. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify a GNAS mutation in a patient with a severe form of AHO and pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a with phocomelia and to perform PGD on embryos derived by in vitro fertilization to deliver an unaffected infant. Design: A proband and his family are described clinically, the GNAS gene was sequenced to identify a novel mutation in the proband, and PGD was performed on embryos. Setting: The setting was in a tertiary-care hospital. Patients: The patients were from a single family in which the proband has a severe form of AHO. Interventions: Interventions were PGD and in vitro fertilization. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were the clinical phenotypes and GNAS gene sequences of the proband, embryos, and family members. Results: After PGD, three genotypically normal embryos were transferred back to the mother. Pregnancy ensued, and a healthy male infant was delivered at 36.5 wk gestation. The GNAS genes in the baby were confirmed as wild-type, and the infant is free of any signs of AHO. Conclusions: We describe herein a proband with AHO and severe skeletal deformities (including phocomelia) related to a novel GNAS mutation and the delivery of a male infant with homozygous normal GNAS genotype after PGD.
A Modified Suture Technique for Fixation of the Akin Osteotomy

The Akin osteotomy is a frequently performed medial closing wedge osteotomy of the proximal phalanx of the hallux. It is usually used as a complimentary procedure in the correction of hallux valgus. Various implants and techniques have been described for fixation. Suture fixation has the advantage of a lower implant signature and a reduction in cost. However, the thin cortex of the phalanx can be prone to failure during suture application. We describe a new technique for suture fixation, which we have found to be reliable and to reduce the risk of phalangeal cortical failure.
REFROMING WRITING AMONG STUDENTS IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES

ABSTRACT The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) movement, which swept through all levels of American education during the 1960s and 1970s, seemed a logical remedy for student writing deficiencies. However, the impact of WAC has not lived up to its promise. The WAC movement, as currently implemented in many community colleges, may be ineffective at best. To significantly improve student writing, systemic reform in pedagogical practice in English composition courses and throughout the disciplines is imperative. With no reform, we may unintentionally rob writing of its ability to be a tool for learning, thus negating the movement's primary goal. This article provides an historical perspective of writing across the curriculum, alongside a suggested reform model that includes essential components.
Effects of the Nature and Concentration of Salt on the Interaction of the HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Protein with SL3 RNA

The mature nucleocapsid protein of HIV-1, NCp7, and the NC domains in gag precursors are attractive targets for anti-AIDS drug discovery. The stability of the 1:1 complex of NCp7 with a 20mer mimic of stem-loop 3 RNA (SL3, also called psi-RNA, in the packaging domain of genomic RNA) is strongly affected by changes in ionic strength. NC domains recognize and specifically package genomic HIV-1 RNA, while electrostatic attractions and high concentrations of protein and RNA drive NCp7 to completely coat the RNA in the mature virion. The specific interactions of NCp7 binding to loop bases of SL3 produce 1:1 complexes in solutions that have a NaCl concentration of >or=0.2 M, while the electrostatic interactions can dominate at <or=0.15 M NaCl, leading to complexes that have a mainly 1:2 RNA:protein ratio. Persistent, nonequilibrium mixtures of 1:1 and protein-excess complexes can exist at these lower salt concentrations, where the distribution of complexes depends on the order of addition of RNA and protein. Adding salt causes rapid rearrangement of metastable multiprotein complexes to a 1:1 ratio. The stability of complexes is also affected by the nature of the added salt, with 0.018 M MgCl(2) and added 0.200 M NaCl producing the same K(d) (21 +/- 2 nM); acetate ion stabilizes the 1:1 complex by a factor of more than 2 compared to the same concentration of chloride ion. Maintaining a salt concentration of 0.2 M NaCl or 18 mM MgCl(2) is sufficient for experiments to distinguish drug candidates that disrupt the specific SL3-NCp7 interactions in the 1:1 complex.
Miz-1 activates gene expression via a novel consensus DNA binding motif.

The transcription factor Miz-1 can either activate or repress gene expression in concert with binding partners including the Myc oncoprotein. The genomic binding of Miz-1 includes both core promoters and more distal sites, but the preferred DNA binding motif of Miz-1 has been unclear. We used a high-throughput in vitro technique, Bind-n-Seq, to identify two Miz-1 consensus DNA binding motif sequences—ATCGGTAATC and ATCGAT (Mizm1 and Mizm2)—bound by full-length Miz-1 and its zinc finger domain, respectively. We validated these sequences directly as high affinity Miz-1 binding motifs. Competition assays using mutant probes indicated that the binding affinity of Miz-1 for Mizm1 and Mizm2 is highly sequence-specific. Miz-1 strongly activates gene expression through the motifs in a Myc-independent manner. MEME-ChIP analysis of Miz-1 ChIP-seq data in two different cell types reveals a long motif with a central core sequence highly similar to the Mizm1 motif identified by Bind-n-Seq, validating the in vivo relevance of the findings. Miz-1 ChIP-seq peaks containing the long motif are predominantly located outside of proximal promoter regions, in contrast to peaks without the motif, which are highly concentrated within 1.5 kb of the nearest transcription start site. Overall, our results indicate that Miz-1 may be directed in vivo to the novel motif sequences we have identified, where it can recruit its specific binding partners to control gene expression and ultimately regulate cell fate.
Temporal inhibition in character identification

Models of information processing tasks such as character identification often do not consider the nature of the initial sensory representation from which task-relevant information is extracted. An important component of this representation is temporal inhibition, in which the response to a stimulus may inhibit, or in some cases facilitate, processing of subsequent stimuli. Three experiments demonstrate the existence of temporal inhibitory processes in information processing tasks such as character identification and digit recall. An existing information processing model is extended to account for these effects, based in part on models from the detection literature. These experiments also discriminate between candidate neural mechanisms of the temporal inhibition. Implications for the transient deficit theory of dyslexia are discussed.
ADDITIVE SUMMATION FOLLOWING INTRADIMENSIONAL DISCRIMINATION TRAINING

Rats were exposed to intradimensional composite stimuli presented on the response lever that varied in both light intensity and flicker rate. For all subjects, pressing the lever was reinforced when it was illuminated at a high intensity and flickered at a low rate (I + f) or when it was illuminated at a low intensity and flickered at a high rate (i + F). For half the subjects, lever responding was not reinforced when it was illuminated at a low intensity and flickering at a low rate (i + f). For the remaining subjects, lever presses were not reinforced when the lever was illuminated at a high intensity and flickered at a high rate (I + F). When the composite stimulus composed of the light intensity and flicker rates that had been associated only with reinforced responding was displayed (I + F for half the subjects and i + f for the remaining subjects), it controlled the highest response rate of all stimuli (additive summation). The results demonstrated that similar attentional processes control intra- and interdimensional composite-stimulus discriminations in a manner consistent with Weiss' (1972) analysis of summation.
The Effects of Atropine and Glycopyrrolate on Heart Rates in Conscious Mature Goats

The effects of intravenously administered atropine (0.2 mg/kg) and glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg/kg) on heart rate were studied in 10 conscious mature goats. In a drug cross-over fashion, either atropine, glycopyrrolate, or 0.9% saline solution was administered using the same volume (0.05 mL/kg). Atropine and glycopyrrolate caused a significant increase in heart rate (P < .05), whereas saline solution (0.09%) did not. The mean percent changes in heart rate from baseline were similar for atropine and glycopyrrolate up to 14 minutes after administration. Thereafter, glycopyrrolate had a significantly greater mean change in heart rate than atropine, ie, up to 29 minutes (P < .05). Within the atropine group, the mean percentage changes in heart rate became significantly lower compared with the initial increase (1 minute) starting at 11 minutes. For the glycopyrrolate group, the mean percent changes became significantly lower starting at 27 minutes. Glycopyrrolate and atropine had a mean percentage change in heart rate of greater than 1.0%, up to 31 and 22 minutes, respectively. At the doses used, glycopyrrolate had longer duration of action than atropine but the magnitude of increase was similar.
Sex Differences in Use of Indoor Space by Preschool Children

Indoor spatial movements, activity choices, social interaction, and motoric behavior in play were observed in a sample of 34 4-yr.-old children. No sex differences in amount or rate of use of space were obtained. However, sex differences in preferences for activity, patterns of social interaction, and motoric behavior within activity areas indicated that girls distributed their attention among social and nonsocial stimuli more evenly than did boys. Support for the energizing effect of play with other boys was also obtained.