cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Experimental Design on the Detection of Performance Differences

ABSTRACTWe demonstrate the effect of sample and trial size on statistical outcomes for single-subject analyses (SSA) and group analyses (GA) for a frequently studied performance activity and common intervention. Fifty strides of walking data collected in two blocks of 25 trials for two shoe conditions were analyzed for samples of five, eight, 10, and 12 subjects and five, 10, 25, and 50 trials. SSA revealed a greater number of differences (p < .05) than GA for all sample and trial sizes. Increasing sample size resulted in consistent increases in the number of differences for GA; differences for SSA were independent of sample size. Increasing trial size from five to 50 resulted in increased differences for SSA; GA were independent of trial size. Detecting significant differences in group designs is more dependent on the number of subjects, while SSA are more dependent on the number of trials.
Privacy preservation for V2G networks in smart grid

Vehicle to grid (V2G) network is a crucial part of smart grid. An electric vehicle (EV) in a V2G network uses electricity instead of gasoline, and this benefits the environment and helps mitigate the energy crisis. By using its battery capacity, the vehicle can serve temporarily as a distributed energy storage system to mitigate peak load of the power grid. However, the two-way communication and power flows not only facilitate the functionality of V2G network, but they also facilitate attackers as well. Privacy is now a big obstacle in the way of the development of V2G networks. The privacy preservation problem in V2G networks could be more severe than in other parts of Smart Grid due to its e-mobility. In this paper, we will analyze and summarize privacy preservation approaches which achieve various privacy preservation goals. We will survey research works, based on existing privacy preservation techniques, which address various privacy preservation problems in V2G networks, including anonymous authentication, location privacy, identification privacy, concealed data aggregation, privacy-preserving billing and payment, and privacy-preserving data publication. These techniques include homomorphic encryption, blind signature, group signature, ring signature, third party anonymity, and anonymity networks. We will summarize solved problems and issues of these techniques, and introduce possible solutions for unsolved problems.
Ultra-high temperature ceramics: Materials for extreme environments

Abstract This paper identifies gaps in the present state of knowledge and describes emerging research directions for ultra-high temperature ceramics. Borides, carbides, and nitrides of early transition metals such as Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta have the highest melting points of any known compounds, making them suitable for use in extreme environments. Studies of synthesis, processing, densification, thermal properties, mechanical behavior, and oxidation of ultra-high temperature ceramics have generated a substantial base of knowledge, but left unanswered questions. Emerging research directions include testing/characterization in extreme environments, composites, computational studies, and new materials.
Transformation in Plastids

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by P. Maliga, volume 1, pp. 392–402, © 2003, Elsevier Ltd.
Image-guidance technology and the surgical resection of spinal column tumors.

Precision imaging is paramount to achieving success in surgical resection of many spinal tumors, whether the goal involves guiding a surgical cure for primary tumors or improving neurological decompression for metastatic lesions. Pre-operatively, image visualization is intimately involved with defining a clear target and surgical planning. Intra-operatively, image-guidance technology allows for surgeons to maximize the probability for gross total resection of spinal cord tumors and minimize damage to adjacent structures. Through this review, it is evident that spinal surgery has undergone significant advancements with the continued technological progression of different modalities of imaging guided technologies. Sophisticated imaging techniques compliment the surgeon’s knowledge by providing an intraoperative reference to spinal column anatomy. This review discusses research efforts focusing on immersive imaging guided interactions with subject specific medical images that could enhance a surgeon’s ability to plan and perform complex spinal oncology procedures with safety and efficiency.
The effect of cash transfers and household vulnerability on food security in Zimbabwe

Abstract We study the impact of the Zimbabwe Harmonized Social Cash Transfer (HSCT) on household food security after 12 months of implementation. We investigate determinants of food security as measured by a well-known food security scale – the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) – and as measured by value of household food consumption composed of own-production, market purchases and gifts received. We find that several dimensions of household vulnerability correlate more strongly with the food security measure than with food consumption. Labor constraints, which is a key vulnerability criterion used by the HSCT to target households, is an important predictor of the food security score but not food consumption, and its effect on food security is even larger during the lean season. Impact analysis shows that the program has had statistically significant impacts on Food Security and Diet Diversity scores but null to low impacts on food consumption. However aggregate food consumption hides dynamic activity taking place within the household where the cash is used to obtain more food from the market and rely less on food received as gifts. The cash in turn gives beneficiaries greater choice in their food basket, which improves diet diversity.
Abstract 18677: Disease Progression in Human Heart Failure is Associated With Leptin Deficiency and Ketosis

Introduction: Dysregulation of the adipocyte hormone leptin has been implicated in insulin resistance and metabolic syndromes of excess non-esterified free-fatty acids (NEFAs). We have recently identified a reliance on ketones in the human end-stage failing heart, and described a metabolic signature of decreased myocardial acylcarnitines, disrupted Krebs cycling, and increased circulating NEFAs. We hypothesize that the progression to end-stage heart failure is marked by loss of circulating leptin, as cachexia and increased lipolysis deplete the adipocyte mass sustaining the utilization of peripheral ketones by the heart. Methods: Leptin was measured for 1159 subjects in the Penn Heart Failure Study (R&D Systems ELISA). Circulating β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) was assayed utilizing a commercially available colorimetric assay (Caymen) in 16 lean, non-diabetic patients with end-stage heart failure at the time of cardiac transplantation and 18 non-failing, non-diabetic donors as controls. Results: Over a median f...
How Rice Farming Shaped Culture in Southern China

We present a detailed theory linking southern China’s history of rice farming to its modern-day culture. We explain how rice was farmed traditionally, what makes it different from other major staple crops, and why these differences could shape culture. Next we review empirical evidence that people who have grown up in the rice areas of China have different relationship styles and thought styles from people in the wheat areas. We also discuss why the rice theory is not environmental determinism—rice does not automatically lead to collectivism. Finally, we ask whether modernization is signaling the death of rice culture or whether cultures rooted in historical subsistence style can persist even after less than 2% of the population actually farms for a living.
Strong Cosserat Elasticity in a Transversely Isotropic Polymer Lattice.

Large size effects are experimentally measured in lattices of triangular unit cells: about a factor of 36 in torsion rigidity and 29 in bending rigidity. This nonclassical phenomenon is consistent with Cosserat elasticity, which allows for the rotation of points and distributed moments in addition to the translation of points and force stress of classical elasticity. The Cosserat characteristic length for torsion is ${\ensuremath{\ell}}_{t}=9.4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{mm}$; for bending, it is ${\ensuremath{\ell}}_{b}=8.8\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{mm}$; these values are comparable to the cell size. Nonclassical effects are much stronger than in stretch-dominated lattices with uniform straight ribs. The lattice structure provides a path to the attainment of arbitrarily large effects.
The Business of Fighting Cartels

The proliferation of cartels in the 1990s has generated large fees for law firms with expertise in antitrust law. Large civil settlements mean large legal fees for plaintiffs’ law firms. The antitrust revenues of major U.S. law firms reached historic highs (The National Journal July 15, 2000). At one leading firm with 120 antitrust lawyers, antitrust revenues were $64 million in 1999, up 13-fold from 1992. Five U.S. law firms employed from 100 to 150 antitrust lawyers each, most of them working in Washington, D.C. or New York City. Most of the work was generated by merger approvals; merger filings, of which there 5000 in 1999, cost the firms from $1 to $5 million in legal fees. Price fixing conspiracies probably rank second in antitrust revenues. The global scope of the cartels has stimulated U.S. law firms to expand abroad. Several U.S. firms now derive more than one-quarter of their revenues from work outside the United States.
Delayed Outcomes and Rule-Governed Behavior Among "Noncompliant" and "Compliant" Boys: A Replication and Extension

The present research investigated the effects of verbal, contingency-specifying, stimuli on compliance among two groups of preschool-aged boys. Experiment 1 assessed the joint influence of prior compliance history and reinforcement parameters on compliance, and Experiment 2 explored the utility of distinguishing between the evocative and function-altering effects of verbal stimuli. Results from Experiment 1 showed that statements specifying a behavior and an outcome controlled similar levels of compliance in "compliant" and "noncompliant" boys under conditions of immediate reinforcement, but as the opportunity for reinforcement became more delayed (or nonexistent), the performance of "noncompliant" boys deteriorated. Results from Experiment 2 showed that statements specifying immediate and delayed reinforcers, but not statements specifying no reinforcer, controlled high levels of compliance in both compliant and noncompliant boys, even after a 15-20 minute delay in the opportunity to respond. These results suggest that rules, or contingency specifying stimuli with function-altering, rather than evocative effects, reliably control the behavior of boys as young as 4 or 5 years-old.
Least Squares and the 3:40-Minute Mile.

another variable. Often the data, perhaps coming from observations, appear as sets of ordered pairs (xu yt) where there may be several >>'s for a given x. The graph of such a set of points is usually called a scatter diagram. In many cases the first approximation to the problem of estimating extrapolated val ues of y is to fit a straight line to the data, if the scatter diagram seems to warrant it. If the assumption is that, ideally, the data should lead to a straight line but, because of errors of various kinds, the known points of the scatter diagram do not fall on a straight line, then the most probable straight line is that produced by the immor tal Gauss's method of least squares. Al though the idea is well known, a few re marks might be in order. Let the equation of the line be y = a + bx. From this equation, for a given we compute the theoretical value of y, say yT. The square of the difference between yT and y0, the observed value of y, is (yT ? y0)2\ and to get the line of best fit, we must determine the a and b that make 2(yT yo)2 a minimum. Where is the number of ordered pairs (x, y), the elemen tary problem in calculus of minimizing this sum leads to the normal equations for a and b:
Summary of Recommendations from the American College of Gastroenterology Celiac Disease Guidelines

Patients with symptoms, signs, or laboratory evidence suggestive of malabsorption, such as chronic diarrhea with weight loss, steatorrhea, postprandial abdominal pain, and bloating, should be tested for CD (Strong recommendation, high level of evidence). Patients with symptoms, signs, or laboratory evidence for which CD is a treatable cause should be considered for testing for CD (Strong recommendation, moderate level of evidence). Patients with a first-degree family member who has a confirmed diagnosis of CD should be tested if they show possible signs or symptoms or laboratory evidence of CD.
Impact of Schedule IV controlled substance classification on carisoprodol utilization in the United States: An interrupted time series analysis.

Abstract Background In January 2012, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classified carisoprodol as a Schedule IV controlled substance at the US federal level. We aimed to examine the effect of this policy on the use of carisoprodol in a commercially-insured population. Methods This interrupted time series study included individuals with musculoskeletal disorders in the IBM MarketScan Commercial Database between December 2009 and February 2014. We used comparative segmented linear regression to assess changes in the proportions of patients who filled/newly filled carisoprodol each month. Results A total of 13.3 million patients were included. 29 states with no scheduling prior to the DEA classification had lower baseline prevalence of carisoprodol use compared to 17 states that had scheduled carisoprodol individually before 2010 (11.0 vs. 21.1 patients with fills per 1000 patients). The federal scheduling was associated with an immediate decline (–1.12 per 1000 patients, p Conclusions Schedule IV controlled substance classification at the federal level was associated with a moderate reduction in the dispensing of carisoprodol regardless of whether scheduling was already present at the state level.
Review of The Psychological Journey to and from Loneliness: Development, Causes, and Effects of Social and Emotional Isolation

Ami Rokach’s book The Psychological Journey To and From Loneliness: Development, Causes, and Effects of Social and Emotional Isolation is an outstanding work that should be considered one of psycho...
Reclaiming the discarded: life and labor on Rio’s garbage dump

In a seminal work of twentieth-century anthropology, Mary Douglas writes that waste is “matter out of place”. Waste is entangled in our social order: sometimes defined as dangerous, worthless, or e...
Fenomenologia e Hermenêutica: um desafio para a educação?

This paper develops the challenge that the creative imagination points out to the reductionism position of the mere association of technology in the core of education. We analyze the works of Ricoeur, Gadamer, and Habermas on phenomenology and hermeneutics to surpass the descriptive position and the self-statements of the Pedagogy discourses. The hermeneutics asks for a comprehensive position to link the traditional knowledge about e education and the complexity of the new paradigms that state the introduction of the virtual resources on education.
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Assembly of Hyperbranched Supra Quantum Dot CdE (E = S, Se, Te) Nanocrystals

Dichalcogenides are alternatives for synthesis of nanometal chalcogenides, which provides a variety of precursors with different reactivities. Using disulfide, diselenide, and ditelluride and their...
Restricting the Gendered Body: Understanding the Trans-masculine Adolescent with Anorexia

In recent years, researchers discovered that transgender and gender expansive (TGE) individuals had elevated rates of eating disorders when compared with their cisgender peers. TGE clients experience an increased risk for developing eating disorders due to co-occurring gender dysphoria and trauma from gender minority stressors. An inspection of the literature reveals a gap when searching for the trans-masculine adolescent experience of eating disorder treatment, including nominal research targeting TGE clients with eating disorders and minimal exploration of treating these phenomena concurrently. Gender dysphoria creates unique challenges to body image, prompting some TGE clients to use eating disorder behaviors to change their bodies. Gender minority stressors, such as gender-based victimization and identity non-affirmation, increase vulnerability to identity-based traumas. As eating disorder behaviors can be used to cope with trauma, TGE clients are at further risk when experiencing co-occurring identity-based trauma and gender dysphoria. This composite case study seeks to contribute to the literature by providing a description of the therapy provided over the course of two years with a trans-masculine adolescent using restrictive behaviors to change his body to alleviate symptoms of gender dysphoria, as well as to numb against identity-based traumas. Interventions across each treatment phase are grounded in the gender affirmative model, suggesting opportunities to expand this approach to serve TGE clients in traditional eating disorder and trauma therapy.
The impact of world assumptions on the association between discrimination and internalizing and substance use outcomes

This study investigated whether core beliefs about the world being safe and predictable (i.e. world assumptions) mediated the association between discrimination and internalizing and substance use ...
Lung dysfunction in a mouse model of inflammation is dependent on T-cell-independent IL-13 expression (54.18)

Chronic asthma is characterized by pulmonary remodeling and sustained lung dysfunction. The expression of IL-13 has been demonstrated as sufficient and necessary to induce these pathologies. Despite the common assumption that T cells are the primary source of IL-13 in the lung following allergen provocation, the mechanistic events leading to IL-13 expression are unclear, including the potential importance of other cells (i.e., non-T cells). Methods: Co-expression of IL-5 and eotaxin-2 induces pulmonary histopathologies and lung dysfunction that are eosinophil-dependent (i.e., they are absent in triple transgenic I5/hE2/PHIL) animals. IL-13 knockout and CD4 knockout mice were crossed with I5/hE2 mice to assess the effects of these deficiencies on the induced pathologies occurring in this double transgenic model. Conclusions: The Th2 pulmonary pathologies associated with I5/hE2 mice included recruitment of pulmonary effector T cells and increased brochoalveolar Th2 cytokine levels. Conversely, I5/hE2/CD4-/- had only a ~50% reduction in IL-13 levels as compared to I5/hE2 mice, suggesting that a significant portion of IL-13 is non-T cell derived in these mice. I5/hE2/IL-13-/- mice are improved in lung dysfunction and mucus production as compared to I5/hE2 mice. All mice had similar levels of eosinophil degranulation. These results demonstrate a role for non-T cell derived IL-13 that contributes to mucus production and lung dysfunction in a mouse model of chronic severe asthma.
Use of an ultrasound imaging device within the applicator to evaluate placement and support treatment planning for breast brachytherapy and intraoperative radiation therapy.

Abstract Purpose We evaluated the use of ultrasound imaging within a brachytherapy applicator as a method for applicator positioning, evaluation, and treatment planning in a series of in vitro, cadaver, and human studies. Methods and Materials We evaluated the performance of a prototype system comprising a small ultrasound imaging catheter inserted within the lumen of a balloon brachytherapy catheter. We tested the device in an ultrasound phantom, in human breast tissue, and in an endoscopic ultrasound catheter in cadaveric breast tissue. We evaluated the visualization of adjacent tissue to consider future development of a similar system for use in brachytherapy and intraoperative radiation therapy. Results Based on the ultrasound images obtained in an ultrasound phantom, cadaveric breast, and human participants, we observed that an ultrasound imaging catheter placed within the lumen of a brachytherapy applicator can effectively image adjacent tissue, ribs, and air voids, with appropriate quality to support clinical use. We observed high correlation in clinically useful information detected on ultrasound and comparative CT, with ultrasound spatial resolution near 1 mm (spatially variant). Conclusions The findings from our pilot work suggest that real-time ultrasound imaging, operated from within the applicator, is a promising technique for image guidance and treatment planning during brachytherapy and intraoperative radiation therapy. Further expansion of this technology for clinical use will require development of a cohesive system of components to suit specific clinical applications.
Teach What You Preach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Policy Memo as a Methods Teaching Tool

Students and instructors alike have lamented the nature of methods instruction in political science curricula. Existing research has presented a number of innovative approaches to engage students i...
To Disclose or Deceive? Sharing Secret Information between Aligned States

Why do aligned states sometimes disclose secret information about their miitary plans to use force, whereas other times they choose to deceive their partners? The state initiating these plans may c...
Urology Workforce Changes and Implications for Prostate Cancer Care Among Medicare Enrollees.

Abstract Objective To characterize national trends in urologist workforce, practice organization, and management of incident prostate cancer. Methods Using Medicare claims data from 2010 to 2016, we identified all urologists billing Medicare and the practice with which they were affiliated. We characterized groups as solo, small single specialty, large single specialty, multispecialty, specialist, or hospital-owned practices. Using a 20% sample of national Medicare claims, we identified all patients with incident prostate cancer and identified their primary treatment. Results The number of urologists increased from 9,305 in 2010 to 9,570 in 2016 (P = .03), while the number of practices decreased from 3,588 to 2,861 (P Conclusion We characterized shifts in urologist membership from smaller, independent groups to larger, multispecialty or hospital-owned practices. This trend coincides with higher utilization of observation and surgical treatment for prostate cancer.
Land of wondrous cold: the race to discover antarctica and unlock the secrets of its ice: by Gillen D’Arcy Wood, Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2020, 287 pp., $27.95USD (hardcover), ISBN 9780691172200

Gillen D’Arcy Wood’s Land of Wondrous Cold is driven by the two central themes that make up the book’s subtitle. The first is to recuperate ‘the resolute and forgotten icemen of the Victorian Age’,...
Skeletal Muscle-Resident Pericyte Responses to Conditions of Use and Disuse

Skeletal muscle structure and function are dependent on the presence or absence of mechanical cues in the tissue microenvironment. High intensity or sustained contractions can build muscle mass with exercise training, whereas bedrest or limb immobilization result in loss of muscle mass. Molecular signaling pathways, such as mTORC1 and induction of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), regulate intrinsic myofiber growth and atrophy respectively, yet the extent to which mononuclear cells outside the fiber contribute to muscle structure remodeling remains unclear. The skeletal muscle microenvironment is enriched with mononuclear cells, including progenitor and stem cells, fibroblasts, immune cells, and vascular stromal cells. All possess the potential to sense mechanical cues and contribute to structural remodeling, but the intricate positioning of vascular stromal cells around vessels make these cells particularly receptive to changes in mechanical stimuli due to alterations in both blood perfusion and contraction. Recent studies suggest that pericytes, a population of vascular stromal cells supporting capillaries and venules, are highly responsive to conditions of use and disuse. This chapter discusses the characteristics and behavior of skeletal muscle-derived pericytes as well as the specific responses to physiological stimuli with which muscle can be subjected. Determining how pericytes behave in situations of muscle activation and immobilization is important for the development of cell-based therapies for the treatment of skeletal muscle disorders.
Screening for health-related social needs in the emergency department: Adaptability and fidelity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Background and objectives We sought to evaluate a screening and referral program for health-related social needs (HRSN) in our ED. Our goals were to (1) quantify successful screenings prior to and during the initial peak of the pandemic, and (2) describe the HRSNs identified. Methods We performed an observational analysis of ED-based screening for HRSN in Medicare and Medicaid patients at our large urban safety-net hospital. Screening was performed by patient navigators utilizing the ten question, validated Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Screening Tool, which screens for food insecurity, housing instability, transportation needs and utility assistance and interpersonal safety. Patients who screened positive for HRSN were provided with handouts listing community resources. For patients with two or more self-reported ED visits in the last 12 months and any identified HRSN, ongoing navigation after discharge was provided utilizing community resource referrals. During the pre-pandemic period from November 1, 2019 – January 31, 2020, screening occurred in-person. Screening during the pandemic from March 1, 2020 – May 31, 2020 occurred remotely via telephone. Descriptive statistics including frequency rates and percentages were calculated. Successful screening was defined as completing the screening survey with a navigator and being triaged to either no assistance, resource handouts, or navigation services. Results Among the adult and pediatric patients screened for HRSN, 158 (16%) qualified for community resource handouts and 440 (44.4%) qualified for patient navigator services. The proportion of patients receiving both resources and care navigation remained similar in the pre- and post-periods of the study, at 227 (45%) and 213 (43.9%) respectively. However, the proportion of ED patients with a HRSN need doubled from 56 (11.1%) in the pre-period to 102 (21%) in the post-period. Food insecurity was the most identified HRSN in both the pre-pandemic period (27.3%) and during the pandemic (35.8%). Conclusion We found that remote HRSN screening for ED patients during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in similar proportions of successfully completed screenings compared to pre-pandemic efforts. This demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing alternative methods of screening and referral to community resources from the ED, which could facilitate this type of intervention in other EDs. During the pandemic HRSN increased, likely reflecting the economic impact of the pandemic.
An Interactive Approach to Multiple Objective Multiple Decision Maker Problems

Situations in which two or more decision makers (DMs) are actively involved in reaching a final decision involving multiple objectives are a reality in many decision making environments. Most previous attempts at designing multiple objective decision making models have assumed that a single DM will be responsible for a given decision (Cohon, 1978). Several researchers have begun to consider the nature of the multiple decision maker, multiple objective problem, however (Korhonen et. al., 1982; Tell, 1978; Thiriez and Houri, 1976).
Tandem insults of prenatal ischemia plus postnatal raised intrathoracic pressure in a novel rat model of encephalopathy of prematurity

Object Encephalopathy of prematurity (EP) is common in preterm, low birth weight infants who require postnatal mechanical ventilation. The worst types of EP are the hemorrhagic forms, including choroid plexus, germinal matrix, periventricular, and intraventricular hemorrhages. Survivors exhibit life-long cognitive, behavioral, and motor abnormalities. Available preclinical models do not fully recapitulate the salient features of hemorrhagic EP encountered in humans. In this study, the authors evaluated a novel model using rats that featured tandem insults of transient prenatal intrauterine ischemia (IUI) plus transient postnatal raised intrathoracic pressure (RIP). Methods Timed-pregnant Wistar rats were anesthetized and underwent laparotomy on embryonic Day 19. Intrauterine ischemia was induced by clamping the uterine and ovarian vasculature for 20 minutes. Natural birth occurred on embryonic Day 22. Six hours after birth, the pups were subjected to an episode of RIP, induced by injecting glycerol (50%, ...
Solar Implications of Ulysses Interplanetary Field Measurements

Recent observations by the Ulysses magnetometer team have shown that the strength of the radial interplanetary field component, |B|, is essentially independent of latitude, a result which implies that the heliospheric currents are confined entirely to thin sheets. Using such a current sheet model, we extrapolate the observed photospheric field to 1 AU and compare the predicted magnitude and sign of Br with spacecraft measurements during 1970-1993. Approximate agreement can be obtained if the solar magnetograph measurements in the Fe I λ5250 line are scaled upward by a latitude-dependent factor, similar to that derived by Ulrich from a study of magnetic saturation effects. The correction factor implies sharply peaked polar fields near sunspot minimum, with each polar coronal hole having a mean field strength of 10 G.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PEPTIDE SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITIES OF INTERSTITIAL COLLAGENASE AND 92-KDA GELATINASE : IMPLICATIONS FOR SUBSTRATE OPTIMIZATION

The peptide substrate specificities of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), interstitial collagenase (MMP-1), and 92-kDa gelatinase (MMP-9), have been examined. Starting with the parent substrate, Dnp-Pro-Leu-Gly approximately Leu-Trp-Ala-D-Arg-NH2, four separate substrate mixtures were synthesized at subsites P2(Leu) through P2′(Trp). These mixtures contained either naturally occurring L-amino acids, D-amino acids, or either of two distinct sets of miscellaneous amino acids. Combined, these mixtures gave 88 unique substitutions at each position and, over the four subsites, represented 352 potential substrates. Optimal substrates were identified using a combined high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis as previously reported. The results gave an extended profile of the substrate specificities for both MMP-1 and MMP-9 at subsites P2(Leu) through P2′(Trp). Using the data obtained from the mapping, a new peptide substrate, Dnp-Pro-Cha-Abu approximately Smc-His-Ala-D-Arg-NH2 (where Dnp is 2,4-dinitrophenyl, Cha is cyclohexylalanine, Abu is alpha-aminobutyric acid, and Smc is S-methylcysteine) was designed and characterized. This peptide showed a 36-fold improvement in turnover (kcat/Km) versus the parent substrate by interstitial collagenase. In addition, some collagenase subsite specificities described here were found to be different from those previously reported. Experimental data show that the observed selectivity is dependent on the original peptide template employed, which has broader implications for substrate specificity studies.
Sapir‐Whorf Hypothesis

The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, also known as the linguistic relativity hypothesis, states that the language one knows affects how one thinks about the world. The hypothesis is most strongly associated with Benjamin Lee Whorf, a fire prevention engineer who became a scholar of language under the guidance of linguist and anthropologist Edward Sapir. The claim that language influences thought predates both Whorf and Sapir. Wilhelm von Humboldt addressed the relation between the structure of one's language and one's worldview as early as the 1820s. Keywords: linguistics; Sapir, Edward; Whorf, Benjamin
An Overview of the Principles of Corporate Governance

In 1978, The American Law Institute (ALI) formally initiated the Corporate Governance Project (Project), in furtherance of the ALI's mission "to promote the clarification and simplification of the law and its better adaptation to social needs."1 Although some commentators have connected the initiation of a corporate governance project by the ALI principally to transient social events of the late 1970s, in fact such a project had been central to the ALI's agenda since it was organized in 1923. From 1928 to 1932, three Tentative Drafts of a Restatement of the Law of Business Associations were produced. William Draper Lewis, the first Director of the ALI, served as the Reporter for that Restatement, but the project was never consummated. Nevertheless, a corporate-law project continued to remain high on the ALI's agenda both before and after the war. Indeed, given the ALI's mission, it became increasingly anomalous that by the late 1970s the ALI should have consummated projects on agency, contracts, tax, and eventually securities regulation, while its projects in the corporate-law area had aborted.2
Rigorous Pattern-recognition Methods for DNA Sequences Analysis of Promoter Sequences from Escherichia coli

Abstract The basic nature of the sequence features that define a promoter sequence for Escherichia coli RNA polymerase have been established by a variety of biochemical and genetic methods. We have developed rigorous analytical methods for finding unknown patterns that occur imperfectly in a set of several sequences, and have used them to examine a set of bacterial promoters. The algorithm easily discovers the “consensus” sequences for the −10 and −35 regions, which are essentially identical to the results of previous analyses, but requires no prior assumptions about the common patterns. By explicitly specifying the nature of the search for consensus sequences, we give a rigorous definition to this concept that should be widely applicable. We also have provided estimates for the statistical significance of common patterns discovered in sets of sequences. In addition to providing a rigorous basis for defining known consensus regions, we have found additional features in these promoters that may have functional significance. These added features were located on either side of the −35 region. The pattern 5′, or upstream, from the −35 region was found using the standard alphabet (A, G, C and T), but the pattern between the −10 and the −35 regions was detectable only in a sub-alphabet. Recent results relating DNA sequence to helix conformation suggest that the former (upstream) pattern may have a functional significance. Possible roles in promoter function are discussed in this light, and an observation of altered promoter function involving the upstream region is reported that appears to support the suggestion of function in at least one case.
Scaling of thermal stresses in passivated nano-interconnects

Much work has been done in the approximation of the stress state of microelectronics interconnects-on-chips. The thermally induced stresses in passivated interconnects are of interest as they are used as input in interconnect reliability failure models (stress-driven void growth, electromigration driven void growth). The typically used classical continuum mechanics and physics is, however, intrinsically size-independent. This is in contradiction to the physical fact that at the size-scale of a few nanometers, the elastic state is size-dependent and a departure from classical mechanics is expected. In this work, we address the various physical causes (and the affiliated mathematical modeling) of the size-dependency of mechanical stresses in nano-interconnects. In essence, we present scaling laws for mechanical stresses valid for nano-sized interconnect.
Considerations for implementing IEEE 1149.1 on system-on-a-chip integrated circuits

This paper addresses four issues associated with using IEEE Standard 1149.1 on system-on-a-chip integrated circuits (SOC ICs). First, a new, simplified method for accessing debug registers in processor cores embedded within ICs is presented. Second, structural information required by hardware/software processor development tools is presented. Third, issues associated with boundary-scan description language (BSDL) are discussed. Finally, high-speed boundary-scan cells that avoid a multiplexer delay are presented.
Coordinated power conservation for ad hoc networks

Existing ad hoc routing protocols assume all nodes within the network to participate in the routing process. By conditionally selecting a subset of nodes is an appropriate approach to limiting the number of nodes participating in routing such that nodes not selected may be turned off to conserve power and extend network lifetime. However, not all non-routing-related nodes will be able to be turned off (suspended) at the same time. Sufficient bandwidth and forwarding capacity are still necessary in case of changing network topology and environment. We describe the coordinated power conservation (CPC) algorithm to facilitate power conservation for ad hoc networks. The algorithm constructs a backbone infrastructure to have CPC servers running on backbone nodes to coordinate suspending schedules among their local non-backbone nodes running CPC clients. Simulation results demonstrate that CPC-enabled ad hoc networks exhibit performance closely equivalent to ad hoc networks without CPC, while consuming less power.
Molecular and Morphological Species Boundaries in the Gorgonian Octocoral Genus Pterogorgia (Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae).

Most gorgonian octocoral species are described using diagnostic characteristics of their sclerites (microscopic skeletal components). Species in the genus Pterogorgia, however, are separated primarily by differences in their calyx and branch morphology. Specimens of a morphologically unusual Pterogorgia collected from Saba Bank in the NE Caribbean Sea were found with calyx morphology similar to P. citrina and branch morphology similar to P. guadalupensis. In order to test morphological species boundaries, and the validity of calyx and branch morphology as systematic characters, a phylogenetic analysis was undertaken utilizing partial gene fragments of three mitochondrial (mtMutS, cytochrome b, and igr4; 726bp total) and two nuclear (ITS2, 166bp; and SRP54 intron, 143bp) loci. The datasets for nuclear and mitochondrial loci contained few phylogenetically informative sites, and tree topologies did not resolve any of the morphological species as monophyletic groups. Instead, the mitochondrial loci and SRP54 each recovered two clades but were slightly incongruent, with a few individuals of P. guadalupensis represented in both clades with SRP54. A concatenated dataset of these loci grouped all P. anceps and P. guadalupensis in a clade, and P. citrina and the Pterogorgia sp. from Saba Bank in a sister clade, but with minimal variation/resolution within each clade. However, in common with other octocoral taxa, the limited genetic variation may not have been able to resolve whether branch variation represents intraspecific variation or separate species. Therefore, these results suggest that there are at least two phylogenetic lineages of Pterogorgia at the species level, and the atypical Pterogorgia sp. may represent an unusual morphotype of P. citrina, possibly endemic to Saba Bank. Branch morphology does not appear to be a reliable morphological character to differentiate Pterogorgia species (e.g., branches “flat” or “3–4 edges” in P. guadalupensis and P. anceps, respectively), and a re-evaluation of species-level characters (e.g., sclerites) is needed.
Oogenesis in the Female Sterile (1)42 Mutant of Drosophila melanogaster

The sex-linked mutation fs(1)42 was induced by ethyl methane sulfonate. It has no effect on either the external morphology or longevity of adult hemizygotes or homozygotes. Heterozygotes and hemizygotes are fertile, but homozygotes are sterile. Egg chamber development proceeds through stages 8, and thereafter chambers degenerate. Dying follicle cells are seen in chambers at all positions in the ovarioles. Profollicle cells also die within germaria, and clusters of sister cystocytes take longer than normal to receive their coverings of follicle cells. Egg chambers in the vitellarium contain only about 60% the normal number of follicle cells, these generally have greater lateral dimensions, and their nuclei and nucleoli are also larger than normal. The follicular envelope of mutant chambers often contains gaps through which cystocytes send cytoplasmic projections. Abnormalities seen in development of the fs(1)42 oocyte are likely to be due to its envelope of defective follicle cells.
Do questions help? The impact of audience response systems on medical student learning: a randomised controlled trial.

Background Audience response systems (ARSs) are electronic devices that allow educators to pose questions during lectures and receive immediate feedback on student knowledge. The current literature on the effectiveness of ARSs is contradictory, and their impact on student learning remains unclear. Objectives This randomised controlled trial was designed to isolate the impact of ARSs on student learning and students’ perception of ARSs during a lecture. Methods First-year medical student volunteers at Johns Hopkins were randomly assigned to either (i) watch a recorded lecture on an unfamiliar topic in which three ARS questions were embedded or (ii) watch the same lecture without the ARS questions. Immediately after the lecture on 5 June 2012, and again 2 weeks later, both groups were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their knowledge of the lecture content and satisfaction with the learning experience. Results 92 students participated. The mean (95% CI) initial knowledge assessment score was 7.63 (7.17 to 8.09) for the ARS group (N=45) and 6.39 (5.81 to 6.97) for the control group (N=47), p=0.001. Similarly, the second knowledge assessment mean score was 6.95 (6.38 to 7.52) for the ARS group and 5.88 (5.29 to 6.47) for the control group, p=0.001. The ARS group also reported higher levels of engagement and enjoyment. Conclusions Embedding three ARS questions within a 30 min lecture increased students’ knowledge immediately after the lecture and 2 weeks later. We hypothesise that this increase was due to forced information retrieval by students during the learning process, a form of the testing effect.
Signs of iron deficiency in copper-deficient rats are not affected by iron supplements administered by diet or by injection.

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of Fe supplementation on the anemia of Cu deficiency in rats. In addition, we observed changes in serum and organ Cu and Fe during the development of Cu deficiency. In Experiment 1, weanling male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed AIN-93G diets containing either <0.3 mg Cu [Cu deficient (CuD)] or 6.0 mg Cu [Cu adequate (CuA)] per kilogram diet, and 35 mg Fe/kg. Five rats from each group were killed at intervals for the analysis of hematologic parameters and mineral content of various organs. In Experiment 2, two groups of 24 rats each were fed either the CuA diet or the CuD diet for 14 days. Then, three sets of eight rats in each group received three separate Fe treatments: (1) daily intraperitoneal injections of 400 μg Fe (Cu-free ferric citrate) per rat for another 14 days, (2) fed similar diets that contained three times the normal amount of Fe (105 mg/kg) for 14 days, or (3) received no further Fe treatment. At day 21, all rats were fed a 1-g meal labeled with 59Fe to determine Fe absorption. After 28 days, rats were killed for the analyses of Fe and Cu status. Results of Experiment 1 showed that within 14 days, CuD rats had lower blood hemoglobin (Hgb), red blood cell count, and mean corpuscular volume than CuA rats. Copper concentrations in all tissues measured were lower in the CuD rats than in controls. Serum ceruloplasmin (Cp) activity in CuD rats was only 0.8% of CuA rats at day 7. During this period, enterocyte and liver Fe concentrations were elevated and serum Fe was reduced, but there was no change in spleen Fe. Results of Experiment 2 showed that CuD rats absorbed less Fe than CuA rats. Supplemental Fe by diet or by intraperitoneal injections did not prevent anemia in the CuD rats or affect other parameters of Cu status. Serum total iron binding capacity [transferrin (Tf)] was not changed by Cu deficiency or by Fe supplementation; however, percent Tf saturation was reduced in CuD rats but was not enhanced by Fe supplementation. These data suggest that anemia of Cu deficiency occurs because of reduced Fe absorption, and it inhibits release of Fe from the liver and inefficient loading of Fe into Tf because of very low plasma Cp activity. The latter then leads to inefficient delivery of Fe to the erythroid cells for heme and Hgb synthesis.
Cross-reactivity between human and fish pituitary hormones as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry.

In this communication we describe the immunocytochemical cross-reactivity between antisera to various human pituitary hormones and specific hormone producing cell types in the pituitary gland of sexually mature male platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus). Antisera to human pituitary hormones cross-reacted either with cells known to produce corresponding hormones (or hormone subunits) in the platyfish (e.g., ACTH, prolactin, TSH β, LH α, FSH α, TSH α) or with no pituitary cells at all (e.g., LH β, FSH β). The one exception was antiserum to human growth hormone which cross-reacted with MSH and ACTH producing cells. The platyfish pituitary is proposed as a test system for immunocytochemically screening antisera for purity and specificity in order to determine their applicability in particular studies.
Recall antigen delayed-type hypersensitivity skin testing: standardization of self-reading by patients

In order to evaluate a self-reading system for the measurement of immunocompetence in cancer prognosis, a battery of delayed-type hypersensitivity skin tests with antigens including dermatophytin, candida, Varidase (streptokinase-streptodornase), mumps, and purified protein derivative (PPD) was administered to 50 cancer patients. The resulting erythema and induration were read by both technicians and patients at 24 and 48 h after placement of the tests. In addition, another group of 85 cancer patients received two identical candida skin tests placed at the same time on either the same or the opposite arm. The results from these two groups of patients indicated that patients' readings correlated well with technicians' readings, with most of the correlation coefficients being greater than 0.8. The weakest correlations were with antigens producing a large response. There was significant variability in the two identical simultaneously placed skin tests, and the correlation coefficients were much lower. The relevance of these data to serial skin testing is discussed.
A separation scheme for the analysis of multicomponent samples.

A sequential separation scheme has been devised for the quantitative analytical separation of 27 different metal ions. Five different Chromatographic and ion-exchange columns are used to separate the metal ions into groups. The metal ions of each group are eluted separately from each column by means of selective eluents. Following separation, the metal ions are determined by titrimetry, flame spectrometry or other appropriate analytical methods. The reliability of the proposed scheme has been demonstrated by extensive testing, including the analysis of U.S. National Bureau of Standards samples. The scheme can be used for macro or micro quantities.