cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pancreas-Specific Ablation of β1 Integrin Induces Tissue Degeneration by Disrupting Acinar Cell Polarity

Background & Aims Integrin contact with basement membrane is a major determinant of epithelial cell polarity. β1 integrin heterodimers are the primary receptors for basement membrane in pancreatic acinar cells, which function to synthesize and directionally secrete digestive enzymes into a central lumen. Aberrant acinar secretion and exposure of the parenchyma to digestive enzyme activity lead to organ damage and pancreatitis. Methods β1 integrin conditional knockout mice were crossed to Ptf1a-Cre mice to ablate β1 integrin in the pancreas. Histopathology of aged and cerulein-treated mice were assessed by histology and immunocytochemistry. Directional secretion was determined in vitro by FM1-43 loading with cerulein stimulation. Results Pancreas-specific ablation of β1 integrin led to progressive organ degeneration, associated with focal acinar cell necrosis and ductal metaplasia along with widespread inflammation and collagen deposition. β1 Integrin-null pancreata were highly susceptible to cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis, displaying an enhanced level of damage with no loss in regeneration. Degenerating β1 integrin-null pancreata were marked by disruption of acinar cell polarity. Protein kinase C e, normally localized apically, was found in the cytoplasm where it can lead to intracellular digestive enzyme activation. β1 Integrin-null acinar cells displayed indiscriminate secretion to all membrane surfaces, consistent with an observed loss of basolateral membrane localization of Munc18c, which normally prevents basal secretion of digestive enzymes. Conclusions Ablation of β1 integrin induces organ atrophy by disrupting acinar cell polarity and exposing the pancreatic parenchyma to digestive enzymes.
Preferences for emotional information in older and younger adults: A meta-analysis of memory and attention tasks.

The authors conducted a meta-analysis to determine the magnitude of older and younger adults' preferences for emotional stimuli in studies of attention and memory. Analyses involved 1,085 older adults from 37 independent samples and 3,150 younger adults from 86 independent samples. Both age groups exhibited small to medium emotion salience effects (i.e., preference for emotionally valenced stimuli over neutral stimuli) as well as positivity preferences (i.e., preference for positively valenced stimuli over neutral stimuli) and negativity preferences (i.e., preference for negatively valenced stimuli to neutral stimuli). There were few age differences overall. Type of measurement appeared to influence the magnitude of effects; recognition studies indicated significant age effects, where older adults showed smaller effects for emotion salience and negativity preferences than younger adults.
Ion-trapping saturation of the Brillouin instability

The ion acoustic wave and harmonics driven by stimulated Brillouin scattering are probed by space- and time-resolved ruby-laser Thomson scattering. Corresponding to the 6% backscatter observed, the ion wave is seen to saturate at (5--10)% amplitude, a level quantitatively predictable from the nonlinear frequency shift caused by ion trapping.
Algorithm 795: PHCpack: a general-purpose solver for polynomial systems by homotopy continuation

Polynomial systems occur in a wide variety of application domains. Homotopy continuation methods are reliable and powerful methods to compute numerically approximations to all isolated complex solutions. During the last decade considerable progress has been accomplished on exploiting structure in a polynomial system, in particular its sparsity. In this article the structure and design of the software package PHC is described. The main program operates in several modes, is menu driven, and is file oriented. This package features great variety of root-counting methods among its tools. The outline of one black-box solver is sketched, and a report is given on its performance on a large database of test problems. The software has been developed on four different machine architectures. Its portability is ensured by the gnu-ada compiler.
Little Magazine Interview Index 2002

Abstract This is the seventeenth issue of our annual index of interviews, compiled from currently received journal titles in the Sukov Collection of Little Magazines, Department of Special Collections, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin–Madison. The list for 2002 includes 645 interviews with a mix of well-known and new writers and artists. The slight increase in number over past installments reaffirms the importance of a format that allows writers to speak freely about their work. As previously, the index follows a list of journal titles currently received by the library, but not included in the thirty-eighth edition of the International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses (Dustbooks). The titles are organized alphabetically by country of publication, with addresses for further reference. Many of the titles now have their own Websites. Given their often ephemeral nature, we do not attempt to provide valid URLs for those sites. Serials Review 2003; 29:127–136.
Automated Suprathreshold Static Perimetry

Automated (Fieldmaster) and manual kinetic perimetry were performed in 1,019 eyes with various visual disorders. tunder appropriate test conditions, automated Fieldmaster evaluations showed a 96.1% detection rate and a 4.7% false alarm rate for detection of visual field defects. Preliminary results for 168 eyes showed that sequential follow-up testing with the Fieldmaster correctly identified progression or regression of visual field loss in more than 94% (34 of 36) of the eyes with visual field changes. The Fieldmaster correctly determined no change in visual field characteristics for 99% (131 of 132) of the eyes with stable visual fields. These data indicate that the Fieldmaster is an excellent device for detecting visual field defects, and also has some capabilities for monitoring progression or regression of visual field loss.
Cortisol responses to psychosocial stress predict depression trajectories: social-evaluative threat and prior depressive episodes as moderators.

Background Alterations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function are well-established in adults with current depression. HPA alterations may persist into remission and confer increased risk for recurrence.
Exploring the limits: A low-pressure, low-temperature Haber–Bosch process

Abstract The Haber–Bosch process for ammonia synthesis has been suggested to be the most important invention of the 20th century, and called the ‘Bellwether reaction in heterogeneous catalysis’. We examine the catalyst requirements for a new low-pressure, low-temperature synthesis process. We show that the absence of such a process for conventional transition metal catalysts can be understood as a consequence of a scaling relation between the activation energy for N 2 dissociation and N adsorption energy found at the surface of these materials. A better catalyst cannot obey this scaling relation. We define the ideal scaling relation characterizing the most active catalyst possible, and show that it is theoretically possible to have a low pressure, low-temperature Haber–Bosch process. The challenge is to find new classes of catalyst materials with properties approaching the ideal, and we discuss the possibility that transition metal compounds have such properties.
The β-cys-γ-Glu thiolester bond in human C3, C4, and α2-macroglobulin

The third and fourth components of complement, C3 and C4, are integral components of the complement system and play a significant role in host resistance to infection. Two primary pathways of activation are known, the classical and alternative, which are each subject to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic controls. Both pathways proceed initially by the sequential self-assembly of multimacromolecular enzyme complexes. C4 consists of three polypeptide chains, α, β, and γ, with respective molecular weights of 94 000, 70 000, and 32 000. Cleavage of C4 by the classical pathway enzyme, \(Cl\bar s\), results in the formation of two fragments, a vasoactive peptide (C4a) and a macromolecular fragment (C4b), having an α′βγ chain structure. A bimolecular complex \((C\overline {4b2a} )\) constitutes the C3 cleaving enzyme. In contrast to C4, C3 is an active participant in both pathways of activation. C3 consists of two polypeptide chains, α and β, with respective molecular weights of 115 000 and 75 000. Cleavage of C3 by the classical pathway convertase \((C\overline {4b2a} )\) also results in the formation of two fragments. Again, a vasoactive peptide (C3a) is removed from the amino end of the α-chain leaving a disulfide-bridged protein (C3b), having an α′β chain structure. A bimolecular complex of activated forms of C3 and Factor B \((C\overline {3bBb} )\) further functions in the alternative pathway as a C3 convertase, thereby providing a positive feedback amplification mechanism for further C3 consumption [for reviews see 46, 52, 54, 64, 68].
Dretske's dreadful question

Can a reliability theory of knowledge fare any better than a reliability theory of justification? For some philosophers, such as Fred Dretske and D. M. Armstrong, reliability theories of justification are demonstrably false, but a reliability theory of knowledge is quite a different story.' Dretske, for example, has argued that epistemic justification is primarily an activity of giving, or being able to give, reasons and, as such, is simply not necessary for anybody's knowing that p. For Dretske, human knowledge requires only reliably produced true belief, or, true belief caused by appropriate information. Consequently, for Dretske, human knowledge does not require of the subject any cognitive grasp or awareness that the belief is reliably produced (or caused by appropriate information). Nor does it ever require of the subject a capacity to show, or give reasons showing, that the belief is reliably produced, or caused by appropriate information. 2 Incidentally, Dretske believes that his definition of knowledge has certain remarkable advantages over the traditional definition offered in terms of justified-true-belief. For one thing, it avoids the '"oag of tricks" offered by philosophers to deal with Gettier-type counterexamples to the classical definition of knowledge. And it supposedly does this because it blocks the basic assumption behind all Gettier-type counterexamples, namely the belief that a person can be completely justified in believing a false proposition. For Dretske, if a true belief is caused by appropriate information, the information
An evaluation of nonresponse and coverage errors in a prerecruited probability web panel survey

This study examines nonresponse and coverage errors separately in a probability Web panel survey by applying traditional postsurvey adjustments. This was done by using variables whose estimates were obtainable at both the survey respondent and the full survey sample levels and whose values were known for both the full survey sample and the target population. Nonresponse error measured by the differences between the estimates from the respondents and the known full sample values was not found to be large, implying that nonresponse error in this Web survey data may not be critical. However, coverage properties of the full survey sample show some problems, and traditional postsurvey adjustments were limited in alleviating the unequal coverage of the survey sample. This coverage problem was more evident for the subpopulation-level estimates.
Transoral flexible laryngoscopy in the newborn.

The otolaryngologist is often asked to evaluate newborns with stridor or upper airway obstruction. Although awake nasopharyngolaryngoscopy, direct laryngoscopy, and bronchoscopy in the operating suite remain the gold standard for complete airway assessment, many children can be diagnosed less invasively. Supraglottic mass lesions, laryngomalacia, and unilateral or bilateral vocal fold movement impairments can often be identified with bedside laryngoscopy. Unfortunately, the small-diameter endoscopes required to perform transnasal endoscopy in premature infants and term neonates are expensive and fragile, and sturdier, adult instruments are too large to pass through the nose in very small babies. We have used the technique of transoral flexible laryngoscopy to visualize the airways of conscious infants for the past 15 years; it requires no special instrumentation nor is topical anesthesia required.
Polarized and Unpolarized Inclusive Electron Scattering in Nuclei and the Inclusive Neutrino Cross-Section

The unpolarized and parity violating polarized inclusive inelastic electron scattering cross-sections are calculated for incident electrons from threshold to 100 MeV, for the 12C nucleus. The relationship between these cross-sections and the inclusive neutrino cross-section on this same nucleus is discussed. The possibility of using the parity violating polarized electron scattering interaction to obtain the average nuclear excitation is also discussed.
Deceleration of relative streaming between proton components among nonlinear low-frequency Alfvén waves

[1] Proton distributions in fast solar winds often have a beam component with a differential streaming speed near the local Alfven speed. The Alfven speed and differential streaming speed decrease with increasing distance from the Sun. Thus the beam decelerates, especially within 1 AU where β (which is ratio of plasma to magnetic pressure) can be significantly smaller than unity. We present 2 1/2-dimensional hybrid numerical simulation results of the evolution of particle proton components streaming relative to each other for moderate relative beam densities (up to 50%) for initially isotropic distributions with mostly equal beam and main proton temperatures and small plasma β(=0.2). Electrons are treated as a fluid. We consider cases without and with initial nonlinear low-frequency (nearly dispersionless) shear Alfven waves propagating in the direction of the beam. Without initial waves, a strong linear beam instability can occur for streaming speeds above the Alfven speed generating oblique proton-proton cyclotron waves through both cyclotron and Landau resonances. The initial beam speed can decelerate and saturate at speeds below the Alfven speed. When nonlinear Alfven waves are included in simulations, we find that the deceleration rates are enhanced. Deceleration is especially strong for initial super-Alfvenic speeds where we interpret the results with initial waves to be due to a wave amplification of the linear beam instability.
Desorption Kinetics in Modeling of Toxic Chemicals

Two models describing the sorption of hydrophobic organic pollutants are compared. The models describe interactions in the water column between the fraction adsorbed on suspended sediments and the fraction in solution. They differ in that one considers desorption kinetics while the other assumes the adsorbed and dissolved fractions are always in equilibrium. The study shows that as the time constant of the system expressing the relative importance of sorption and elimination rate increases, the results of the models converge to the same value. The octanol‐water partition coefficient has a strong and positive correlation with this ratio. This means that for organic compounds with a high octanol‐water partition coefficient, equilibrium models will probably be more accurate than for compounds with a low octanol‐water partition coefficient. Relationships are developed whereby a modeler may determine if the kinetic approach is necessary or if the equilibrium approach is satisfactory.
Safety design for smart Electric Vehicle charging with current and multiplexing control

As Electric Vehicles (EVs) increase, charging infrastructure becomes more important. When during the day there is a power shortage, the charging infrastructure should have the options to either shut off the power to the charging stations or to lower the power to the EVs in order to satisfy the needs of the grid. This paper proposes a design for a smart charging infrastructure capable of providing power to several EVs from one circuit by multiplexing power and providing charge control and safety systems to prevent electric shock. The safety design is implemented in different levels that include both the server and the smart charging stations. With this smart charging infrastructure, the shortage of energy in a local grid could be solved by our EV charging management system.
The effect of epinephrine on myocardial synchronization and diastolic filling time. 1.

SummaryExperiments performed on open-chest dogs indicated that epinephrine affects the synchronization of myocardial units both during the contraction and relaxation phases of cardiac activity. This increased synchronization may contribute significantly to the prolongation of the diastolic filling time which was observed in these experiments at increased heart rates.
Fatigue fracture behaviour of PEEK: 1. Effects of load level

Abstract Results of experimental studies on fatigue fracture behaviour of PEEK are reported. Experiments are conducted on injection moulded single edge notched specimens of 2.68 mm in thickness. At low crack speeds the crack tip is relatively round. At relatively higher crack speeds, the crack tip geometry changes to a triangular shape with an angle of 90° which remains constant until close to unstable fracture. Optical microscopy observations of fracture surfaces and of transverse sections show that at relatively short crack lengths growth occurs in a ‘brittle’ manner. Subsequently necking or lateral contraction of the specimen around the crack tip is observed and is associated with a ‘ductile’ mode of growth. The point of transition from ‘brittle’ to ‘ductile’ fracture is dependent upon the level of the stress. Fatigue striations are observed throughout the fracture surface. Correlation of the striations and the number of cycles indicates a one cycle crack growth mode. The critical crack length is assumed to correspond to the point of minimum thinning which is shortly after the last striation. Hysteretic losses during fatigue crack growth are negligible until a few cycles prior to unstable fracture. Energy release rates evaluated from load displacement curves are practically equal to J1 = δσy (σy is the yield stress of the material and σ is the crack opening displacement). The ‘brittle’ phase of crack propagation is well described by linear elastic fracture mechanics parameters. For the entire phase of propagation and for the same level of J1 (= δσy), the crack speed is practically independent of the stress level.
2.22 The deposition by evaporation of CuAl alloy films

Abstract 3hin films of CuAl alloys from pure Cu to pure Al were deposited by vacuum evaporation from single alloyed sources heated by electron bombardment. Information about the composition of the films obtained by electron microprobe was completed by lattice parameter measurements and structure information obtained by X-ray diffraction, as well as electrical resistivity measurements. The anticipated compositions of the films were calculated from the vapor pressures of the pure elements and thermodynamic data for liquid CuAl alloys at 1373 K. The agreement between the calculated values and the experimentally observed compositions is good only for alloys with low Al concentrations: less than 20 at.% Al in the source material. For the remainder of the CuAl system with more than 20 at.% Al in the source, the films were found to contain less Al than was calculated. This discrepancy might be due to too high values for the reported vapor pressures of Al.
A Problem in Data Analysis: Implications for Organizational Behavior Research

Research testing the relative predictive accuracy of various combinations of variables in three areas of organizational behavior research is reviewed. Failures to obtain clear results favoring specific combinations in the three areas may not be separate problems, but rather manifestations of a single, more general one—the inability of widely used research methods and analytical techniques to detect differences in predictive accuracies under conditions common in organizational behavior research.
A new technique to compute polygonal schema for 2-manifolds with application to null-homotopy detection

We provide a new technique for deriving optimal sized polygonal schema for triangulated compact 2-manifolds without boundary in O(n) time, where n is the size of the given triangulation T. We first derive a polygonal schema P embedded in T using Seifert-Van Kampen's theorem. A reduced polygonal schema Q of optimal size is computed from P, where a surjective mapping from the vertices of P is retained to the vertices of Q. This helps detecting null-homotopic (contractable to a point) cycles. Given a cycle of length k we determine if it is null-homotopic in O(n+gk) time where g is the genus of the given 2-manifold. The actual contraction for a null-homotopic cycle can be computed in O(gkn) time and space. This is an improvement of a factor of g over the previous best-known algorithms for these problems.
Coacervate-like microspheres from lysine-rich proteinoid

Microspheres form isothermally from lysine-rich proteinoid when the ionic strength of the solution is increased with NaCl or other salts. Studies with different monovalent anions and with polymers of different amino acid composition indicate that charge neutralization and hydrophobic bonding contribute to microsphere formation. The particles also form in sea water, especially if heated or made slightly alkaline. The microspheres differ from those made from acidic proteinoid but resemble coacervate droplets in some ways (isothermal formation, limited stability, stabilization by quinone, uptake of dyes). Because the constituent lysine-rich proteinoid is of simulated prebiotic origin, the study is interpreted to add emphasis to and suggest an evolutionary continuity for coacervation phenomena.
A Computational Method for Stress Analysis of Adaptive Elastic Materials With a View Toward Applications in Strain-Induced Bone Remodeling

A computational method has been developed to obtain numerical results in the stress analysis of adaptive elastic materials. The method is based on a 3-dimensional finite element model that can change geometry and material properties based on the local strain. The solution procedure is iterative; the model is updated in time steps based on the current remodeling to provide incremental remodeling predictions. The method provides a vehicle for examination of different continuum models and their corresponding parameters for strain-induced remodeling in long bone. Use of the method with simple models of theoretical interest is presented. Results show agreement with available analytical results as well as the importance of coupled remodeling effects not previously examined.
Reassessing the U.S. Aviation Policy Agenda in the Wake of September 11

Abstract Much has been written in the past four years about the impact that the tragic events of September 11, 2001 will have on how Americans travel, especially by air. Heightened security, and its consequences for air travelers and air carriers, has come to dominate the policy agenda in aviation. This paper looks at three important aviation policy debates that were disrupted by September 11 and the shifting of the aviation policy agenda: airport safety standards, debate on which began well before September 11; fractionally owned business aircraft regulation; and airport expansion projects intended to address costly congestion and delays.
Equivalent Estimates of Borderline Group Performance in Standard Setting.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a linear procedure, typically applied to an entire examination when equating scores and reseating judges' standards, could be used with individual item data gathered through Angoffs standard-setting method (1971). Specifically, experts estimates of borderline group performance on one form of a test were transformed to be on the same scale as experts' estimates of borderline group performance on another form of the test. The transformations were based on examinees' responses to the items and on judges' estimates of borderline group performance. The transformed values were compared to the actual estimates provided by a group of judges. The equated and reseated values were reasonably close to those actually assigned by the experts. Bias in the estimates was also relatively small. In general, the reseating procedure was more accurate than the equating procedure, especially when the examinee sample size for equating was small.
The Place of Musical Novices in Music Science

Music science typically and naturally focuses on experts9 perceptual, cognitive, and aesthetic responses to music. Novices receive far less empirical and theoretical attention. This asymmetry could eventually constrain or limit the discipline. To illustrate this point, existing data are used to compare the performance of experts and novices in a variety of music paradigms. Experts are sensitive to music9s tonal materials (e.g., octaves, intervals) and their listening preferences and evaluative standards reflect this sensitivity. In contrast, novices are often less sensitive to music9s tonal materials, and their listening preferences and evaluative standards reflect this insensitivity. A music science that included novices more fully would be more comprehensive and better prepared to address basic questions about music9s evolution and its universal structure.
A Residue in Loop 9 of the β2-Subunit Stabilizes the Closed State of the GABAA Receptor

In γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors, the structural elements that couple ligand binding to channel opening remain poorly defined. Here, site-directed mutagenesis was used to determine if Loop 9 on the non-GABA binding site interface of the β2-subunit may be involved in GABAA receptor activation. Specifically, residues Gly170-Gln185 of the β2-subunit were mutated to alanine, co-expressed with wild-type α1- and γ2S-subunits in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and assayed for their activation by GABA, the intravenous anesthetic propofol and the endogenous neurosteroid pregnanolone using whole cell macroscopic recordings. Three mutants, G170A, V175A, and G177A, produced 2.5-, 6.7-, and 5.6-fold increases in GABA EC50 whereas one mutant, Q185A, produced a 5.2-fold decrease in GABA EC50. None of the mutations affected the ability of propofol or pregnanolone to potentiate a submaximal GABA response, but the Q185A mutant exhibited 8.3- and 3.5-fold increases in the percent direct activation by propofol and pregnanolone, respectively. Mutant Q185A receptors also had an increased leak current that was sensitive to picrotoxin, indicating an increased gating efficiency. Further Q185E, Q185L, and Q185W substitutions revealed a strong correlation between the hydropathy of the amino acid at this position and the GABA EC50. Taken together, these results indicate that β2 Loop 9 is involved in receptor activation by GABA, propofol, and pregnanolone and that β2(Q185) participates in hydrophilic interactions that are important for stabilizing the closed state of the GABAA receptor.
The Balance Point: Where is the Column? In Search of the “Balance Point”

The “Balance Point” column has been published regularly in Serials Review since 1988. Trying to locate the column in online databases is challenging. In this investigation, the author searches ScienceDirect and Library Literature and Information Science Index/Full Text to see if “Balance Point” columns are indexed by titles, editors, and contributors and then compares to the print version of Serials Review for differences that may influence indexing.
VICTIMOLOGY REVISITED A Critique and Suggestions for Future Direction

Recent theoretical and research contributions related to victimology generally have supported earlier ideas of victim precipitation implied by von Hentig, Mendelsohn, Ellenberger, and others. Here we identify and evaluate some of the underlying assumptions of victim precipitation. In addition, suggestions are offered for the future development of victim-precipitation explanatory formulations in victimology.
Solvent exchange method: a novel microencapsulation technique using dual microdispensers.

Purpose. A new microencapsulation method called the “solvent exchange method” was developed using a dual microdispenser system. The objective of this research is to demonstrate the new method and understand how the microcapsule size is controlled by different instrumental parameters. Methods. The solvent exchange method was carried out using a dual microdispenser system consisting of two ink-jet nozzles. Reservoir-type microcapsules were generated by collision of microdrops of an aqueous and a polymer solution and subsequent formation of polymer films at the interface between the two solutions. The prepared microcapsules were characterized by microscopic methods. Results. The ink-jet nozzles produced drops of different sizes with high accuracy according to orifice size of a nozzle, flow rate of the jetted solutions, and forcing frequency of the piezoelectric transducers. In an individual microcapsule, an aqueous core was surrounded by a thin polymer membrane; thus, the size of the collected microcapsules was equivalent to that of single drops. Conclusions. The solvent exchange method based on a dual microdispenser system produces reservoir-type microcapsules in a homogeneous and predictable manner. Given the unique geometry of the microcapsules and mildness of the encapsulation process, this method is expected to provide a useful alternative to existing techniques in protein microencapsulation.
Dynamic Shear Fracture at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds in a Compressible Neo-Hookean Material Under Compressive Prestress

A crack driven by shear forces translating on its surfaces grows in an isotropic compressible neo-Hookean material that is initially in uniform compression. The material replicates a linear isotropic solid at small deformations, and preserves as a limit case for all deformations the incompressibility that occurs in the linear case when Poisson's ratio becomes 1/2. A plane-strain steady state is assumed such that the crack and surface forces move at the same constant speed, whether subsonic, transonic, or supersonic. An exact analysis is performed based on superposition of infinitesimal deformations upon large, both for frictionless crack surface slip, and slip resisted by friction. The pre-stress induces anisotropy and increases the Rayleigh, rotational and dilatational wave speeds from their classical values. A positive finite fracture energy release rate arises for crack speeds below the Rayleight value and at two transonic speeds. In contrast, the transonic range in a purely linear analysis exhibits only one speed. It is found that friction enhances fracture energy release rate, and that compressive pre-stress enhances the rates for small crack speeds, but decreases it for speeds near the Rayleigh value. ©2002 ASME
Synthesis of Superlattices of Intercalated Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Thin films of oriented Fe and Cr intercalated (NbSe2)x(TiSe2)y superlattices have been synthesized by controlled annealing of elementally modulated reactants. Analytic techniques have been developed to extract the average c-axis structure of the unit cell, the distribution of c-axis crystal sizes, and the distribution of structural defects from X-ray diffraction data. High-resolution synchrotron source X-ray diffraction data were collected from a [(Fe0.33NbSe2)8(Fe0.33TiSe2)8]12 sample (i.e., 12 superlattice unit cells in the film, each cell containing 8 layers of Fe0.33NbSe2 followed by 8 layers of Fe0.33TiSe2) at three anomalously scattering wavelengths. Analysis determined structural parameters within 2% of published values for the parent compounds, typical crystal sizes of 200−500 A, and typical coherence losses over a unit cell of ±1%. Theoretical diffraction profiles calculated directly from the model structure are shown to agree satisfactorily with experiment. The flexibility offered by our growth ...
Hard-wired for good?

Recent scientific data suggests that human prosocial behavior is more than just a product of education, culture, and religion. Instead, it seems that the seeds of morality may have a long history in our brains. Frans B. M. de Waal welcomes an accessible introduction to the biology and neuroscience of prosociality in a review of The Altruistic Brain: How We Are Naturally Good.
The strychnine spike as a physiological indicator of cortical maturity in the postnatal rabbit

Abstract The strychine spike was recorded under constant conditions in 70 immature rabbits distributed over the first postnatal month. The following conclusions appear justified: 1. 1. The strychnine spike has already acquired its mature triphasic form at birth. However, it has an extremely long duration in comparison with the highly synchronized adult spike; and very long intervals occur between. 2. 2. Between 1 and 30 days the increase in synchronization of the strychnine spike approximates an exponential curve. Increase in frequency of spikes approximates an S-shaped curve. 3. 3. The most rapid postnatal change in duration of the strychnine spike correlates histologically with the early phase of maturation of the axonal and dendritic plexuses of the cortex and definitely precedes the first appearance of myelin, even in the internal capsule and subcortical white matter. 4. 4. A discrepancy was observed between the time myelin was first detected by the Weil modification of the Weigert method and by the polarized light method. This was attributed to the myelin acquiring its stainaibility by hematoxylin before it acquires its doubly refractile character.
Free energy of liquid water on the basis of quasichemical theory and ab initio molecular dynamics

We use ab initio molecular dynamics as a basis for quasichemical theory evaluation of the free energy of water near conventional liquid thermodynamic states. The Perdew-Wang-91 (PW91), Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE), and revised PBE (rPBE) functionals are employed. The oxygen radial density distribution using the rPBE functional is in reasonable agreement with current experiments, whereas the PW91 and PBE functionals predict a more structured oxygen radial density distribution. The diffusion coefficient with the rPBE functional is in reasonable accord with experiments. Using a maximum entropy procedure, we obtain ${x}_{0}$ from the coordination number distribution ${x}_{n}$ for oxygen atoms having n neighbors. Likewise, we obtain ${p}_{0}$ from ${p}_{n},$ the probability of observing cavities of specified radius containing n water molecules. The probability ${x}_{0}$ is a measure of the local chemical interactions and is central to the quasichemical theory of solutions. The probability ${p}_{0},$ central to the theory of liquids, is a measure of the free energy required to open cavities of defined sizes in the solvent. Using these values and a reasonable model for electrostatic and dispersion effects, the hydration free energy of water in water at 314 K is calculated to be $\ensuremath{-}5.1\mathrm{k}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{l}/\mathrm{m}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}$ with the rPBE functional, in encouraging agreement with the experimental value of $\ensuremath{-}6.1\mathrm{k}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{l}/\mathrm{m}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}.$
Selection in a Population of House Mice Containing Mutant Individuals

A population of house mice, Mus musculus , containing a pink-eyed, pale-yellow pelage mutation was discovered on a farm in Missouri. A live-trapping study was conducted in a granary and its environs at regular intervals for 1½ years. Laboratory crosses revealed that the mutation was the result of a simple recessive gene (p) which produced pink eye color and pale-yellow pelage in the homozygous condition. In December 1962, 30.3% of a demonstrated population of 58 mice were pale yellow mutants. Subsequent to this time, domestic cats were allowed free access to the granary from which they had been previously excluded. The predators selected very effectively against the light mutants, and by April 1963 all mutants had been eliminated from the population. The protective coloration of the normal agouti mice prevented their total disappearance. Yellow mice were not again seen in the population until after cats had been removed from the granary. The gene ( p ) remained in the population and was occasionally expressed in the homozygous condition. In the presence of predatory selection pressure, homozygous mutant mice were rapidly eliminated.
The effect of carbon dioxide on the unidirectional transport of calcium in the isolated shell gland.

An in vitro technique was developed whereby the carbon dioxide (CO2) tension of the buffer bathing the isolated shell gland could be altered without changing the pH. The isolated shell gland tissue showed a steady and linear transport of calcium. When the CO2 tension of the buffer bathing the serosal side of the shell gland tissue was increased, there was approximately an 80% enhancement (P less than .05) of the unidirectional flux of 45Ca from serosal to mucosal surfaces.
How to build robots that make friends and influence people

In order to interact socially with a human, a robot must convey intentionality, that is, the human must believe that the robot has beliefs, desires, and intentions. We have constructed a robot which exploits natural human social tendencies to convey intentionality through motor actions and facial expressions. We present results on the integration of perception, attention, motivation, behavior, and motor systems which allow the robot to engage in infant-like interactions with a human caregiver.
Prevalence of the newly described human circovirus, TTV, in United States blood donors.

BACKGROUND: A novel nonenveloped single-stranded circular DNA virus (TTV) was recently identified. The prevalence of TTV in blood donors in the United States is, however, still unclear. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Viral DNA was detected in US blood donors from five cities by using two sets of TTV primers: NG059/NG061/NG063 primers, which amplified the conserved region of strains 1 and 2, and T801/T935 primers, which amplified the 5' end region of the TTV sequence. A TTV antibody assay system was based on the detection of the truncated open reading frame (ORF)-1 (amino acids 1-411) from type 1b. The truncated ORF-1 was expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli, and the fusion protein was used as the antigen in the antibody assay system. RESULTS: Viremia was detected in 21 (8.4%) of 250 donors by use of NG059/NG061/NG063 primers and 104 (41.6%) of 250 by use of T801/T935 primers. There was little correlation among the assays, which suggests the preferential detection of different strains with the different primers. TTV antibody was detected in 38 of 100 donors: 32 (84%) of 38 with concurrent TTV viremia and 6 (16%) of 38 without TTV viremia. TTV viremia and/or TTV antibody-positive samples were detected in 52 (52%) of 100 of US blood donors. CONCLUSION: Evidence of infection or exposure to TTV appears to be common among blood donors in United States.
Osteoporosis and the aging male

Osteoporosis is a major health concern in aging men. The risk of osteoporotic fracture, particularly of the hip, is increasing in men as life expectancy increases, and the health and economic costs in the future will be high. Research on the pathogenetic mechanisms of osteoporosis in men is reviewed as well as the role of systemic hormones. The usefulness of bone mineral density measurements and other diagnostic methods in screening for osteoporosis and the effectiveness of available treatments are discussed. The need for further research in this field is emphasized.
When Does the Responsibility of Our Care End: Bereavement

The Oncologist 2002;7:251-258 www.TheOncologist.com Correspondence: Richard T. Penson, M.R.C.P., M.D., Instructor in Medicine, Hematology-Oncology, Cox 548, 100 Blossom Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2617, USA. Telephone: 617-726-5867; Fax: 617-724-6898; e-mail: rpenson@partners.org Received May 6, 2002; accepted for publication May 6, 2002. ©AlphaMed Press 1083-7159/2002/$5.00/0 The Oncologist Schwartz Center Rounds
C5a and thromboxane generation associated with pulmonary vaso- and broncho-constriction during protamine reversal of heparin.

The authors conducted a study in humans to determine the mediators associated with acute pulmonary vaso- and broncho-constriction occurring episodically with protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation. Of 48 adult patients investigated prospectively after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass, two presented a sudden increase of airway pressure, acute pulmonary hypertension, and systemic hypotension 1-3 min after right atrial protamine injection. In these two subjects, plasma levels of C5a increased from 0.7 and 2.2 to 9.8 and 9.9 ng/ml, respectively, and thromboxane B2 increased from 0.26 and 0.34 to 7.5 and 16.2 ng/ml 1 minute after drug injection. A third subject not identified prospectively had an identical reaction and mediator profile (C5a, 10.2 ng/ml; TxB2, 18.6 ng/ml at 1 min). The plasma levels of these mediators were unchanged in the remaining patients (C5a, 0.7 +/- 1.1 [x +/- S.D.] to 0.6 +/- 0.9 ng/ml; TxB2, 0.16 +/- 0.12 to 0.15 +/- 0.07 ng/ml). Plasma histamine was not involved in this type of reaction, but increased from 0.7-10.4 ng/ml in a fourth patient who became hypotensive without acute pulmonary hypertension, bronchoconstriction, or elevation of C5a or TxB2. The authors' data indicate that the generation of high plasma levels of C5a anaphylatoxins and thromboxane is associated with pulmonary vaso- and broncho-constriction induced by protamine reversal of heparin in humans.
Service job lawyers are happier than money job lawyers, despite their lower income

Giving too much emphasis to extrinsic values and too little emphasis to intrinsic values is known to depress well-being. But is simply working in an extrinsic job also risky, even if that job delivers the money? We compared 1414 ‘Money’ (extrinsic) lawyers, 1145 ‘Service’ (intrinsic) lawyers, and 3415 ‘Other’ lawyers as to their income, values, well-being, and drinking behavior. Although service lawyers had much lower incomes, they also experienced more well-being and less negative affect compared to money lawyers, and drank less and less often. ANCOVAs showed that the intrinsic vs. extrinsic job-type effects were independent of rated intrinsic vs. extrinsic values, current income, years of work experience, and class rank at graduation, suggesting that the job-contexts themselves were operative. We discuss the difficult choice that pre-professional students face, between two versions of the American dream: one emphasizing wealth and status, and the other, service and personal development.
Environemental Planning Quarterly

The Environmental Planning Quarterly is a publication of the Environmental Planning Division of the American Planning Association (APA). Its current editor is G. William Page (Department of Urban Planning, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). A recent issue included a feature article on forest management in the state of Washington and several lengthy and informative news items about activities of the Environmental Protection Agency related to groundwater contamination and hazardous waste. Other news items contained information on air pollution and acid rain as well as on surface water pollution. Subscriptions can be obtained by writing to the Environmental Planning Division. American Planning Association, Lock Box 97774, Chicago, IL 60690. Annual fees are as follows: $ 15 (APA member), $25 (affiliate), $5 (student), $30 (subscribing).
Thermal Analysis and Control for Sputtering Deposition of High-Tc Superconducting Films

For the preparation of high-quality films of high-{Tc} superconductors (HTSC) on crystalline substrates, it is necessary to control the substrate temperature accurately during deposition. This study shows that thermal radiation heat transfer in the deposition chamber governs the substrate temperature. The application of thin-film optics yields the emittance of the substrate holder-substrate-film composite as a function of the thickness of the growing film. In a single-target off-axis sputtering system, the substrate temperature is measured during film deposition using a novel method for the attachment of a thermocouple to the substrate front surface. For constant heater power, the measurements show a decrease of the substrate temperature, in agreement with the theoretical prediction. Based on the substrate emittance variation determined in this work, a pyrometric in-situ temperature measurement technique can be developed.
Infants' knowledge of the path that animals take to reach a goal

Two experiments with the inductive generalization procedure tested whether 16- and 20-month-old infants understand that animals and not vehicles follow a rational path to reach a goal. Infants were tested with four different events and the model exemplar was either an animal or ambiguous block. Results showed that infants at 20 months of age, but not those at 16 months of age, understand that animals follow rational paths to reach a goal. However, 20-month-olds require the presence of static perceptual cues to apply a teleological interpretation to animals' actions.
Increased myocardial fatty acid metabolism in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Increased Myocardial Fatty Acid Metabolism in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes MellitusPilar Herrero, Linda R. Peterson, Janet B. McGill, Stanley Matthew, Donna Lesniak, Carmen Dence, Robert J. Grople...
Quantifying ecological thresholds from response surfaces

Ecological thresholds are abrupt changes of ecological state. While an ecological threshold is a widely accepted concept, most empirical methods detect them in time or across geographic space. Although useful, these approaches do not quantify the direct drivers of threshold response. Causal understanding of thresholds detected empirically requires their investigation in a multi-factor domain containing the direct drivers (often referred to as state space). Here, we present an approach to quantify thresholds from response surfaces modeled empirically in state space. We present two indices of shape attributes measured from response surfaces. The response surfaces are built using a regression method in state space. The indices are threshold strength (T) and diagonality (D). We use 48 simulated response surfaces of different shapes to test the efficacy of the indices in 3D. Our results show that T is sensitive to the steepness of the transition from one state to the next, with various forms of abrupt, centralized thresholds yielding the highest values among the simulated surfaces. D represents the orientation of the response surface or the simultaneous influence of more than one predictor in eliciting the response gradient. Strongly diagonal surfaces have the most diagonal surface area demonstrated by sharply undulating diagonal surfaces. Given that the success of T and D requires a regression method to accurately capture any shape of complex data structure, we also test the accuracy of empirical regression methods known to be tractable with complex data. We test classification and regression trees (CART), Random Forest, and non-parametric multiplicative regression (NPMR) for binary and continuous responses. We use the 48 simulated response surfaces to test the methods, and we find that prediction accuracy depends on both the T and D of the simulated data for each method. We choose the most accurate method among those we test for capturing any shape of response surface from real data, NPMR. Finally, we use NPMR to build response surfaces and quantify T and D from real ecological data sets. We demonstrate how measuring threshold strength and diagonality from multi-factor response surfaces can advance ecology.