cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of J. M. Keynes’s Logical Approach to Probability and Any ‘Objective Bayesian’ Approach to Probability Needs to Incorporate All Five Parts of Keynes’s a Treatise on Probability, Not Just Part I

Philosophers, historians, economists, decision theorists, and psychologists have been repeating a very severe error of omission for nearly a hundred years that was originally made by the French mathematician Emile Borel in his 1924 review of the A Treatise on Probability, 1921. Borel decided to skip Parts II through V of the A treatise on Probability. He explicitly apologized to Keynes at the beginning of his review for his decision involved in skipping Part II, acknowledging to Keynes, correctly, that Part II was the most important part of the A Treatise on Probability. Borel’s acknowledgment and apology are, in fact, an understatement, because without an understanding of Part II,it is impossible to understand Keynes’s theory of decision making and the role played by that theory in the General Theory(1936). This all comes out in the Keynes-Townshend exchanges of 1937 and 1938, where Keynes makes it crystal clear to Townshend that his theory of liquidity preference is built on his non numerical probabilities, which a reading of Part II makes clear are interval valued probabilities, each with an upper bound and a lower bound. These probabilities are non additive. Keynes’s definition of uncertainty on page 148 of chapter 12 in footnote 1 defines uncertainty as an inverse function of Keynes’s evidential weight of the argument, defined on the unit interval between 0 and 1. Any probability with a w < 1 is an interval valued probability that is non additive. The only way to discuss Keynesian uncertainty is by non additive, interval valued probability or by decision weights like Keynes’s c coefficient. D. P. Rowbottom attempts a defense of Keynes’s position against J. Williamson’s intellectual attacks which I view as correct. However, Rowbottom badly handicaps himself by providing a defense of Keynes’s position that is limited to the use of Part I of the A Treatise on Probability. Rowbottom could have presented an overwhelming counter argument against Williamson if he had understood Keynes’s concepts of interval valued, non additive theory of imprecise probability from Part II of the A Treatise on Probability, Keynes’s finite probabilities from Part III, Keynes’s decision weight translation of imprecise probability in chapter 26 of Part IV and Keynes’s inexact, approximation approach to statistics in Part V that Keynes combined with his application of Chebyshev’s Inequality for establishing the lower bound of a probability estimate. Starting with the 1940 work of Koopman and continuing through the work of,for example H. Kyburg,Jr.,I. Levi, I. J. Good,and then on to the work of for example, B.Weatherson, D. Rowbottom, B. Hill, S. Bradley and practically all other academics who have written on Keynes and imprecise probability, the exact same error of omission has kept on repeating itself over and over again for a 100 years.
Antibody Evolution after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection produces B-cell responses that continue to evolve for at least one year. During that time, memory B cells express increasingly broad and potent antibodies that are resistant to mutations found in variants of concern1. As a result, vaccination of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent individuals with currently available mRNA vaccines produces high levels of plasma neutralizing activity against all variants tested1, 2. Here, we examine memory B cell evolution 5 months after vaccination with either Moderna (mRNA-1273) or Pfizer- BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccines in a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 naive individuals. Between prime and boost, memory B cells produce antibodies that evolve increased neutralizing activity, but there is no further increase in potency or breadth thereafter. Instead, memory B cells that emerge 5 months after vaccination of naive individuals express antibodies that are similar to those that dominate the initial response. While individual memory antibodies selected over time by natural infection have greater potency and breadth than antibodies elicited by vaccination, the overall neutralizing potency of plasma is greater following vaccination. These results suggest that boosting vaccinated individuals with currently available mRNA vaccines will increase plasma neutralizing activity but may not produce antibodies with breadth equivalent to those obtained by vaccinating convalescent individuals.
Encyclopedia of the Underground Railroad/John Todd and the Underground Railroad: Biography of an Iowa Abolitionist

Review of: "Encyclopedia of the Underground Railroad," by J. Blaine Hudson and "John Todd and the Underground Railroad: Biography of an Iowa Abolitionist," by James Patrick Morgans.
FILES: Automated Engineering Data Management System

One approach to engineering data base management has been presented herein. The problem is a complex one and has no apparent correct or incorrect solution. Various techniques have been tried by other investigators. Each generation brings new ideas and hopefully better approaches to engineering data management. FILES is a relatively new system that incorporates ideas from predecessor systems and includes features that were not present in the earlier systems. Among these are flexibility, a separate data definition language, a distinct data management compiler, data management execution system, and machine independence. Its use through POLO grammars is extremely simple. Grammar references to information which resides in data bases are very similar to FORTRAN data references. If one had to point to the one major advantage of using a system such as FILES, it would clearly be that the integration of independently developed modules is possible and apparently extremely effective as has been demonstrated in the development of the FINITE system.
New standard measures for clinical voice analysis include high speed films

In the clinical work with patients in a medical voice clinic it is important to have a normal updated reference for the data used. Several new parameters have to be correlated to older traditional measures. The older ones are stroboscopy, eventually coordinated with electroglottography (EGG), the Multi- Dimensional-Voice Program and airflow rates. Long Time Averaged Spectrograms (LTAS) and phonetograms (voice profiles) are calculating the range and dynamics of tones of the patients. High-speed films, updated airflow measures as well as area calculations of phonotograms add information to the understanding of the glottis closure in single movements of the vocal cords. A multivariate analysis was made to study the connection between the measures. This information can be used in many connections, also in the otolaryngological clinic.
Long-term survival of Plasmodium sporozoites in vitro

PIasmodium sporozoites in mosquitoes are adapted for long-term survival in the salivary glands; however, they quickly lose their infectivity when removed. Previous studies show that the type of media used for holding sporozoites during experimental manipulations is critical for maintenace of short-term infectivity (Tonkin 1947; Whitman 1948; Porter et al. 1952; Vanderberg 1974). In the mosquito the development of sporozoite infectivity is time-dependent rather than site-dependent (Vanderberg 1975), and sporozoite infectivity progressively decreases over time (Boyd et al. 1936; Porter et al. 1954). Furthermore, sporozoite motility is associated with infectivity and circumsporozoite-precipitate (CSP) reactivity (Vanderberg 1974). Beyond these few key studies, little is known about factors in the mosquito that promote sporozoite survival and the maintenance of infectivity. As a step toward evaluating the biologic basis of sporozoite infectivity, we initiated this study to define further in vitro conditions that promote sporozoites' viability and infectivity. Laboratory-reared Anopheles stephensi (Dutch strain) mosquitoes were fed blood mixed with P. falciparum NF54 gametocyte cultures using standard methods (Ponnudurai et al. 1982), with modifications (Beier et al. 1991). Briefly, a suspension of P. falciparum gametocyte-enriched blood was diluted 1:8 in equal volumes of washed human red cells and heat-inactivated human sera and then placed in a prewarmed (38~ water-jacketed membrane feeder. Mosquitoes fed readily within 15 rain and were subsequently held at 27~ (70% relative humidity) with access to sugar solution. Two rodent malaria parasites used in this study, P. berghei (ANKA) and P. yoelii (17XNL), were maintained in BALB/c mice by blood and sporozoite passage. After feeding on gametocytemic mice, P. bergheiand P. yoelii-infected A. ste-
Abstract 18280: Induced Hypothermia After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Body Habitus and Survival

Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated an obesity paradox suggesting that overweight and mildly obese patients with cardiovascular disease may have better outcomes when compared with their underweight or normal weight counterparts. Hypothesis: The present study sought to test the hypothesis that body habitus is associated with survival in the setting of induced hypothermia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: We evaluated 90 patients (51 men, 39 women, mean age 60) with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who underwent induced hypothermia using a target esophageal temperature of 33.5 °C with specific reference to the association between body mass index (BMI) and survival to hospital discharge for shockable and non-shockable electrocardiographic (ECG) rhythms. Pearson’s chi-square tests and Mantel-Haenszel statistics were used to control for associated variables and to test outcomes. Results: 44 patients presented with shockable ECG rhythms (ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia) and 29 survived to hospital discharge (OR, 10.77; 95% CI: 3.55, 34.7; P Conclusions: These data are the first to show that rates of survival to hospital discharge differ across BMI categories for patients who undergo induced hypothermia after experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Among patients presenting with shockable ECG rhythms, overweight and moderately obese patients had the highest rates of survival. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between body habitus and survival in this cohort of patients.
Action of Douglas Fir Tussock Moth Larvae and Their Microflora on Dietary Terpenes

A single type of bacterium, tentatively identified as a member of the genus Bacillus, was isolated from 2 of 20 midguts of Douglas fir tussock moth larvae being fed a diet of fir needles. No bacteria could be isolated from most midguts. Although spherically shaped bodies were present in the food bolus, these bodies, if microorganisms, could not be distinguished from spherical bodies associated with the plant tissue. The Douglas fir tussock moth dietary terpenes were altered during their passage through the insects, with two new terpenes being detected in the feces. One of these was identified as isoborneol. The relative significance of the insect and gut microflora with respect to terpene modification is unresolved. The well-established toxicity of terpenes may account for the near absence of common gut microflora in the insects.
Heuristics and Their Use in Military Modeling

The military establishment uses many types of models during the planning and execution of military operations. Optimization models have always been an important class of models. However, as military systems, the scenarios in which those military systems are employed, and the impact of operations involving those military systems become more complex, classic optimization techniques based on mathematical programming can become impractical. Advances in computing capabilities have helped advance the use of heuristics to quickly find reasonable solutions to complex optimization problems. This article provides an overview of the more popular and powerful modern heuristics, most of which have analogies to natural systems. We also provide a representative survey of how these heuristics have been applied to specific classes of military optimization applications. Keywords: military modeling; simulated annealing; genetic algorithm; tabu search; heuristics; search methods
Linking resident behavior to dementia care communication: effects of emotional tone.

Care for older adults with dementia is complicated by behaviors such as verbal and physical aggression and withdrawal that disrupt and increase the costs of providing care. These behaviors, referred to as resistiveness to care (RTC), have been linked to staff elderspeak communication, measured by behaviorally coded explicit behaviors. This study examined videotapes of nursing home (NH) residents with dementia interacting with staff during bathing to explore the relationships between implicit messages communicated by nursing staff and resident RTC behavior. Implicit messages in nursing staff communication were rated using the Emotional Tone Rating Scale by naive coders. Associations between implicit ratings of care, respect, and control were analyzed in relation to RTC scale scores. Highly controlling communication was significantly correlated with increased resident RTC (r = .49, p < .05). Associations between the care and respect dimensions of communication were not significantly correlated with RTC; however, trends in hypothesized directions were identified. The association between emotional tone and RTC found in this study suggests that it is an important factor in care. Understanding affective messages is a first step in modifying these implicit messages conveyed during staff-resident communication. Research is needed to confirm these findings and to identify and test interventions to teach staff to reduce controlling messages that will to reduce RTC and improve care.
The Computer Triangle: Hardware, Software, People

From the Publisher: This absorbing book provides a unique perspective on how the three major elements of the computer triangle--hardware, software, and people--work together for the advancement and sometimes debasement of society.
Synthetic Biology Approaches to Cell Therapy

Changing the body's cellular composition through the introduction of new cellular constituents has been dramatically successful as a medical intervention over the past century. The underlying biological signaling pathways and cellular interactions that control these successful cell therapies are of significant interest. In particular, it would be ideal if these pathways and interactions could be tuned to enhance cellular therapy. Fortunately, synthetic biology has emerged as a field that specializes in re-engineering cellular behaviors with synthetic networks. Synthetic biologists have developed engineered gene and protein circuits in microbial and mammalian cells by re-engineering novel phenotypes from across the phylogenic kingdoms. Together, these initial synthetic components and circuits – and the novel capabilities they control – have allowed biomedical scientists and engineers to create enhanced cellular therapies. Ultimately, these efforts to combine synthetic biology with cellular therapy are poised to make significant breakthroughs in the coming decades. Keywords: synthetic circuits; cell therapy; microbiome; toggle switch; nanofactory
Rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends for generation of full-length complementary DNAs: thermal RACE.

Publisher Summary The generation of a full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) can represent the most challenging part of a cloning project, particularly with respect to obtaining the 5' end of the cDNA. The initial step––reverse transcription of messenger RNA (mRNA)—is also the most critical one, and many variations on it is described to maximize the likelihood of obtaining fully extended cDNA. Thermal rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique through which previously unobtained 3' and 5' ends of a cDNA can be amplified starting with the knowledge of a small stretch of sequence from within an internal region of the cDNA. This technique provides an alternative to constructing and screening conventional libraries to obtain the remainder of the sequence for a partially cloned cDNA. Partial cDNAs are generated using PCR to amplify the copies of the region between a single point in a mRNA transcript and its 3' or 5' end. To use the RACE protocol, a short, internal stretch of sequence must already be known from the mRNA of interest.
Effect of varying dosages of ethynodiol diacetate upon serum luteinizing hormone

Abstract Alterations in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) produced by administration of the potent progestogen ethynodiol diacetate, in dosages ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 mg., were determined in a group of ovulating women. The highest dosages of drug, 1 and 2 mg., generally caused suppression of the mid-cycle surge of LH. When less than 1 mg. of the drug was administered, a variable response in the pattern of LH concentrations was noted. These patterns included suppression of the LH peak and no change in the mid-cycle LH surge, as well as the occurrence of a surge of LH within a few days of starting the progestogen. These studies suggest that the mechanism whereby low-dose progestogens prevent fertility may be complex and result from several actions.
Data and Structural k-Anonymity in Social Networks

The advent of social network sites in the last years seems to be a trend that will likely continue. What naive technology users may not realize is that the information they provide online is stored and may be used for various purposes. Researchers have pointed out for some time the privacy implications of massive data gathering, and effort has been made to protect the data from unauthorized disclosure. However, the data privacy research has mostly targeted traditional data models such as microdata. Recently, social network data has begun to be analyzed from a specific privacy perspective, one that considers, besides the attribute values that characterize the individual entities in the networks, their relationships with other entities. Our main contributions in this paper are a greedy algorithm for anonymizing a social network and a measure that quantifies the information loss in the anonymization process due to edge generalization.
Impact of slot location on thermoelastic dissipation in micromechanical resonators

The effect of thermoelastic dissipation as an energy loss mechanism in micromechanical resonators is described. Specifically, we demonstrate that slots in resonant beams disrupt the heat flow from thermoelastic dissipation and alter the quality factor. Fully coupled finite element solutions and experimental verification are used to show that the location of slots micromachined into the beams has a strong impact on the quality factor. Slots machined near the anchors and near the center of the beams are shown to have the strongest influence on quality factor. This is an indication of the complex interaction between the thermal and mechanical domains.
Sponsorship and shareholder value: A re-examination and extension

Abstract A stream of studies investigates shareholder wealth effects of marketing investments into sport sponsorship properties. While research generally upholds a positive relationship between sponsorship agreements and shareholder wealth, the relationship remains unclear for several sponsorship categories. With more specific attention to research design issues, this paper replicates and extends prior research in two of these areas: official product and Olympic sponsorship announcements. This paper notes that inclusion of observations with potentially confounding events materially affects results reported by the original authors. The first study identifies a significant positive shareholder wealth effect associated with initial official product sponsorship announcement but not for renewal of such announcements. The second study resolves conflicting views from prior research regarding Olympic sponsorships. Although a negative overall relationship exists for sponsors of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the market's negative view of costly, top-tier global sponsorships largely drives this result.
Weekend and Holiday Exercise Testing in Patients with Chest Pain

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome, safety, and possible cost savings of patients undergoing weekend or holiday exercise treadmill testing. DESIGN: Medical records of all 195 patients scheduled for weekend and holiday exercise testing were reviewed, and 77.9% of patients were contacted by telephone to ascertain medical outcomes and need for further emergency department or inpatient care. Costs were calculated from estimates of days of hospitalization saved and incremental costs incurred in conjunction with weekend or holiday testing. SETTING: Urban tertiary care academic medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 195 patients were scheduled for testing, and 181 tests were performed. Over three quarters (75.1%) of patients underwent testing for assessment of chest pain. Other indications included risk stratification after myocardial infarction or coronary angioplasty or prior to noncardiac surgery, or evaluation for arrhythmias, dyspnea, or syncope. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Outcomes included results and complications of testing, hospital course after testing, subsequent emergency department visits and readmissions, myocardial infarction, need for cardiac catheterization or revascularization, and mortality. No complications were noted during testing. In 136 patients tested for the indication of chest pain, 90 (66.2%) had negative tests, 39 (28.7%) were intermediate, and 6 (4.4%) were positive for ischemia. Same day discharge occurred in 115 (84.6%) of the patients, saving an estimated 185 days of hospitalization ($316.83 per patient tested). Event rates over the 6 months following discharge were low. CONCLUSIONS: Weekend and holiday exercise testing is a safe and effective means of risk stratification prior to hospital discharge for patients with chest pain. It also reduces length of stay and is cost saving.
Estimating and disclosing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease: challenges, controversies and future directions

With Alzheimer’s disease increasing in prevalence and public awareness, more people are becoming interested in learning their chances of developing this condition. Disclosing Alzheimer’s disease risk has been discouraged because of the limited predictive value of available tests, lack of prevention and treatment options, and concerns regarding potential psychological and social harms. However, challenges to this status quo include the availability of direct-to-consumer health risk information (e.g., genetic susceptibility tests), as well as a growing literature suggesting that people seeking risk information for Alzheimer’s disease through formal education and counseling protocols generally find it useful and do not experience adverse effects. This paper reviews current and potential methods of risk assessment for Alzheimer’s disease, discusses the process and impact of disclosing risk to interested patients and consumers, and considers the practical and ethical challenges in this emerging area. Anticipat...
Variance in abdominal wall anatomy and port placement in women undergoing robotic gynecologic surgery.

Abstract Study Objectives To estimate whether variability in the size and ratios of the lower and upper abdomen exist in women undergoing robotic gynecologic surgery and whether demographic variables are significantly associated, and to determine the association between abdominal wall dimensions and supraumbilical robotic port placement. Design Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting University teaching hospital. Patients Seventy-eight women undergoing robotic surgery between May 2008 and March 2009. Intervention Measurements from the symphysis pubis to the umbilicus (lower abdomen), umbilicus to the xyphoid process (upper abdomen), and distance between the anterior superior iliac crests were obtained at surgery. A multiple linear regression model was created to determine the relationships between abdominal wall measurements, demographic variables, and need for supraumbilical robotic port placement. Measurements and Main Results Fifty-six white and 22 black women were enrolled. Mean lower abdominal length was significantly affected by body mass index (BMI) (p [ 1.36] vs 18.55 [ 2.21]; p Conclusions Significant variability in abdominal wall anatomy exists in women undergoing robotic gynecologic surgery, and the need for supraumbilical robotic port placement is common.
Low-temperature electronic transport and the Coulomb blockade in oxidized films of bismuth

We present low-temperature (0.2< T< 10 K) transport measurements on semicontinuous films of bismuth which form a network of coupled Bi grains. Bysequentially oxidizing such films we have observed a change in the character of transport that may be associated with the emergence of a finite charging energy and Coulomb blockade for single-electron tunneling between grains. This transition is manifested most dramatically as a divergence of the thermoelectric power with decreasing temperature. Magnetoresistance measurements indicate that the crossover in the thermopower occurs abruptly when the average oxide barrier resistance exceeds a fundamental value near h/e2. Granular metal films have been the focus of con- quentially oxidizing individual films. Our focus is on siderable attention for the past decade in the study the crossover regime where we observe a new and of the metal—insulatortransition [1]. These systems striking behavior of the thermopower. We propose a generally consist of metallic grains separated by in- possible explanation based on the Coulomb blocksulating barriers, the electronic coupling through ade in small-capacitance tunnel junctions. Magnewhich governs the character of the low-temperature toresistance data suggest that a sharp charging enresistance [2]. The limits of strong and weak cou- ergy onset occurs when the average intergrain tunnel pling are well documented. In the former case the resistance exceeds —~h/e2. barriers have negligibleactivation energy and the low- Samples were prepared by vapor deposition of temperature resistance exhibits small quantum cor- 99.9999% purity Bi onto room temperature glass rections due to weak localization [31 and Coulomb substrates in an oxygen atmosphere of 50 mTorr. The interaction [4] effects. In the weak-coupling limit films were deposited in a four-probe bridge pattern electrons are localized to individual grains and the (0.8x 10 mm2) with nominal thickness 55—70A as resistance depends exponentially on temperature determined by a quartz crystal monitor. A 300 ASiO [5,61. Not understood as well is the physics at the layer was then deposited over the conduction chancrossover between these regimes, where neither weak nel, allowing for slower, controllable oxidation. Films nor strong localization theories are appropriate and prepared in this fashion had post-deposition (dc) where transport properties other than the tempera- sheet resistances, RE, of <1 k~. Transmission electure dependence of resistance [71 have rarely been tron and scanning tunneling microscopies indicate addressed. [8,91 that the films are composed of closely packed In this Letter we report low-temperature measure- crystalline Bi grains which form a multiply conments of resistance, magnetoresistance and ther- nected, filamentary structure. The grains are irregmoelectric power in semicontinuous bismuth films. ularly shaped with diameters ranging from 200 to The coupling between grains is controlled by Se- 1000 A. Exposing the films to air at room temperature promotes the growth of insulating Bi203 at the
Ramanujan's “Lost” Notebook V: Euler's partition identity

On examine deux identites de Ramanujan etroitement liees a l'identite d'Euler relative aux partitions
Cultural Assimilation versus Cultural Pluralism.

(1981). Cultural Assimilation versus Cultural Pluralism. The Educational Forum: Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 323-332.
Characterizing the kinetics of volume recovery in glasses by instantaneous temperature-jump experiments

This article proposes a temperature-jump (T-jump) approach for characterizing the kinetics of volume recovery in glassy materials. The kinetic characterization is based on the Kovacs-Aklonis model. This incorporates a retardation-time spectrum which shifts according to both the temperature and the instantaneous volume. The proposed experiments involve measuring the change in recovery rate caused by an abrupt temperature jump. Although an analogous procedure has been used to determine the activation energy for linear viscoelastic creep, the analysis for volume recovery is complicated by its inherent nonlinearity. Nevertheless, accounting for the nonlinearity by a reduction of the time scale permits the T-jump results to be analyzed. In particular, the T-jump approach can be used to: (i) test a particular functional form for the shift factor and (ii) determine the previously unmeasurable parameter x, which defines the relative importance of the temperature dependence and the volume dependence in this function. In addition, numerical simulations indicate that the proposed method can be implemented in the laboratory.
Gonadotropin specificity of acute testicular androgen secretion in birds

Abstract Highly purified gonadotropin preparations from chicken, turkey, and ostrich were tested in in vivo and in vitro experiments with domestic cockerels, turkeys, ducks, and Japanese quail to evaluate the hypothesis that acute testicular androgen secretion in birds is highly specific for LH, as suggested by previous studies with only Japanese quail. The results of these experiments uniformly supported this hypothesis. Results of heterologous tests were qualitatively the same as results of homologous incubations of immature turkey testes with turkey gonadotropins and of cockerel testes with chicken gonadotropins. The same high degree of LH specificity of androgen secretion was as apparent with sheep gonadotropins as with avian gonadotropins, and as apparent in tests with sexually immature cockerels, turkeys, and ducks as in tests with sexually mature quail. In vitro results were qualitatively the same whether testes were incubated whole or after being quartered, mechanically dissociated, or dissociated with collagenase. In addition to being essentially inactive in acutely stimulating testicular androgen secretion by itself, FSH was also inactive in increasing acute responses when given concomitantly with LH in an in vivo experiment with 4-day-old cockerels and ovine gonadotropins and in an in vitro incubation of immature turkey testes with turkey gonadotropins. Thus, with regard to gonadotropin specificity of acute testicular androgen secretion, birds seem to have diverged from reptiles in the same way as mammals.
Iron deficiency during early development in the rat: behavioral and physiological consequences.

Abstract An iron deficient diet regimen from birth through 28 to 30 days of age produced animals with decreases levels of brain non-heme iron as well as decreased brain weight and hematocrit. Weight gain was also somewhat slower. In contrast, brain levels of cytochrome c were not reduced. During subsequent testing iron deficient animals were less responsive than controls in a mildly aversive novel situation (the open field), and ambulated less in an exploratory task (the hole-board). Iron deficient males also exhibited longer response latencies when first exposed to the passive avoidance platform, but following shock, iron deficient animals of both sexes exhibited longer reentry latencies. Measurement of plasma levels of corticosterone indicated that although iron deficient animals had elevated basal levels of corticoids, they exhibited a smaller stress increment than controls when exposed to the combined stress of ether and cardiac puncture. Data from the three behavioral tasks taken together with the pituitary-adrenal response to ether and cardiac puncture suggest that iron deficiency may reduce an animal's general responsiveness to environmental stimuli.
Identification of novel tick salivary gland proteins for vaccine development

Methods currently used to control Ixodes scapularis ticks rely principally on acaricidal applications which suffer from a number of limitations. Recently, host vaccination against ticks has been shown to be a promising alternative tick control method. In tick salivary glands, numerous genes are induced during the feeding process. Many of these newly expressed proteins are secreted in tick saliva and may play a role in modulating host immune responses and pathogen transmission. We have performed suppression subtraction hybridization to identify unique I. scapularis salary gland proteins specifically expressed during engorgement. We have cloned and sequenced ten unique salivary gland-associated cDNAs that are up-regulated during feeding. The protein products of these genes represent potential vaccine candidates for use in the control of ticks and to prevent transmission of tick-borne diseases.
Melittin-stimulated arachidonic acid metabolism by cultured malignant human epidermal keratinocytes

Upon melittin stimulation, cultured SCC-13 keratinocytes release prostaglandins E2, F2 alpha, 6-keto-F1 alpha, thromboxane B2, leukotriene B4, and 6-sulfido-peptide-containing leukotrienes (SRS) into serum free medium. Release of prostaglandins E2, F2 alpha, and SRS, normalized to cell protein, is 3- to 10-fold higher from rapidly growing than confluent cultures. Cells growing with hydrocortisone in the medium produce approximately twice the level of the cyclooxygenase-mediated metabolites PGE2 and PGF2 alpha as those without hydrocortisone, but similar levels of the lipoxygenase-mediated metabolite SRS. The results demonstrate the potential utility of squamous carcinoma lines for investigating biochemical pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism in keratinocytes.
IL-6 is produced by splenocytes derived from CMV-infected mice in response to CMV antigens, and induces MCP-1 production by endothelial cells: a new mechanistic paradigm for infection-induced atherogenesis.

Abstract Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. One of the candidate inflammatory triggers is infection. To further characterize the interaction between infection, cytokine induction, and atherosclerosis, we tested the hypothesis that cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection induces the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), which in turn induces "pro-atherosclerotic" changes in vascular endothelial cells (ECs). ELISA was used to determine the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the supernatant of mouse and human ECs incubated with IL-6, and IL-6 levels in supernatants of splenocytes, derived from CMV-infected and uninfected mice, stimulated with mice CMV antigens. IL-6 induced, in a dose response fashion, MCP-1 expression in human ECs: 0, 2, 10, and 50pg/ml IL-6 increased MCP-1 levels in EC conditioned medium from 1120±65 to 1148±105, 1395±40, and 2119±130pg/ml, respectively ( P P P
Time and space dependent variations of extreme suction pressures on a tall building

Abstract Measured full-scale on-site facade pressure data from one of two areas on a Tall Building that experience high suction has been analysed and compared with wind tunnel measurements. While over most of the facade the measured pressures are adequately simulated in the wind tunnel, they are not in the areas of extreme suction. In fact, both the average and peak pressure coefficients measured in the wind tunnel appear to be too low by up to a factor of two. The measured maximum peak suction pressure coefficient would imply 100 year return period design load of about 250 psf for the high suction area of the facade. However, because of the small area over which these pressures act, and the rates at which vortices apparently travel, the design pressures probably could be much less than 250 psf. ANSI 58.1 1982 code estimates the 100 year return period design pressure at that point to be 105 psf. That is the same value that would be obtained if the peak average pressure coefficient had been used. The results given above provide a beginning to understanding the how and why of these extreme suction pressures, but much remains to done. The data from the Tall Building provides a unique opportunity for investigating these extreme high suction loads.
A return difference stability criterion for discrete-time feedback systems

The Nyquist criterion for diScrete-time feedback systems uses the return ratio function to determine the stability. The new criterion uses the return difference function. A formula in terms of phase change is rigorously derived and graphically interpreter. The new criterion is particularly suitable for mini-computer aided analysis and design.
Atmospheric Chemistry: Wyoming winter smog

Surface ozone levels are expected to be high in polluted regions during summer months. Observations from Wyoming in February 2008 indicate that equally high concentrations of ozone can be produced during winter.
Some methods for computing component distribution probabilities in relational structures

On presente quelques methodes simples pour determiner la probabilite qu'une structure relationnelle aleatoire ait un nombre donne de composantes et determiner la moyenne de ces composantes
Development, validation, and application of a method for quantification of methylmercury in biological marine materials using gas chromatography atomic emission detection.

A gas chromatographic method was developed for the quantification of alkylmercury species using microwave-induced plasma atomic emission detection (GC-AED). The column conditioning and analyte derivatization required for previous methods were found to be unnecessary for stable, accurate, and sensitive element-specific detection using GC-AED. Chromatographic and detection parameters such as stationary phase type, stationary phase film thickness, GC column dimensions, helium mobile phase column head pressure, detector makeup gas flow rate, and detector reagent gas type and flow rate were found to significantly affect analyte response. The detection limit for the optimized GC-AED conditions was 0.8 pg (0.1 pg/s) of methylmercury chloride (as mercury). A solid−liquid extraction procedure with preparative gel permeation chromatography cleanup and GC-AED analysis was used to quantify methylmercury in a variety of complex matrix marine materials. The methylmercury quantification method was validated with four ma...
Validation of the composite autonomic symptom scale 31 (COMPASS-31) in patients with and without small fiber polyneuropathy

Background and purpose The recently developed composite autonomic symptom score 31 (COMPASS-31) is a questionnaire that assess symptoms of dysautonomia. It was distilled from the well-established Autonomic Symptom Profile questionnaire. COMPASS-31 has not yet been externally validated. To do so, its psychometric properties and convergent validity in patients with and without objective diagnosis of small fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN) were assessed. Methods Internal validity and reliability of COMPASS-31 were assessed in participants with or without SFPN spanning the full range of severity of autonomic symptoms. Convergent validity was assessed by comparing results of the COMPASS-31 with the “gold standard” autonomic function testing that measures cardiovagal, adrenergic and sudomotor functions. Additionally, relationships between COMPASS-31 and the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Short Form Health Survey and 0–10 numeric pain scale were measured. COMPASS-31 and all other questionnaire results were compared between patients with or without evidence of SFPN, objectively confirmed by distal-leg PGP9.5-immunolabeled skin biopsy. Results Amongst 66 participants (28 SFPN+, 38 SFPN−), COMPASS-31 total scores had excellent internal validity (Cronbach's α = 0.919), test–retest reliability (rs = 0.886; P < 0.001) and good convergent validity (rs = 0.474; P < 0.001). COMPASS-31 scores differed between subjects with or without SFPN (Z = −3.296, P < 0.001) and demonstrated fair diagnostic accuracy. Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was 0.749 (P = 0.01, 95% confidence interval 0.627–0.871). Conclusions COMPASS-31 has good psychometric properties in the population of patients being evaluated for SFPN and thus it might be useful as an initial screening tool for the more expensive SFPN objective tests.
Anomalous paramagnetic‐state μSR in spin‐glass AgMn

Muon spin rotation (μSR) experiments have been carried out in the paramagnetic state (T≳Tg) of a dilute AgMn spin glass, to probe internal field distributions during the onset of impurity‐spin freezing. μ+ resonance frequencies and depolarization rates were measured in a 1.6 at.% Mn sample in transverse fields between 0.15 and 5 kOe for temperatures up to ∼3Tg. The depolarization rate Λ increased well above the value Λd expected in the absence of impurity‐spin exchange coupling as Tg was approached from above. The largest relative increase of Λ was obtained for lowest fields. The average precession frequency was constant to within 0.2% down to 1.1Tg. The data scale roughly with T/Tg and H/Tg when compared to recent μSR studies of CuMn. Although a case has been made for attributing this anomamous increase in Λ to dynamic broadening (spin‐lattice relaxation), evidence exists which argues that static inhomogeneity in the muon hyperfine field is the origin of Λ. If this is the case, the absence of muon environments with weak hyperfine couplings conflicts with the notion that clustering or percolative effects are involved in the spin‐glass transition. The μSR results may be relevant to recent interpretations of ESR data.
Earth's Viscosity.

Seismic methods are now being used to determine not only Earth's elastic properties, but also by how much it departs from a perfectly elastic body. The seismic anelasticity (Q) varies by several orders of magnitude throughout the mantle, the main feature being an extremely dissipative zone in the upper mantle above 400 kilometers. Recent determinations of viscosity by McConnell show a similar trend. The two sets of data indicate that the ratio of viscosity to Q is roughly a constant, at least in the upper mantle of Earth. On the assumption that this relation is valid for the rest of Earth, viscosities are estimated in regions that are inaccessible for direct measurement. The implied presence of a low-viscosity zone in the upper mantle, overlying a more viscous, less deformable, lower mantle, reconciles viscosities calculated from the shape of Earth and from postglacial uplift. The mismatch of the deformational characteristics at various levels in Earth, coupled with the changing rate of rotation, may be pertinent to the rate of release of seismic energy as a function of depth.
Fundamental Limitations on Ordered Electrohydrodynamic Patterning

Studies have shown that electrohydrodynamic patterning (EHD) can produce ordered pillar arrays in polymer films at the micrometer scale in fewer processing steps than other techniques. This paper reports the limitation encountered in reducing the feature size, generally characterized by the fastest growing wavelength (λmax), to submicrometer. An experiment designed to decrease λmax well below a micrometer produced poorly ordered pillars that were considerably coarser than expected. Further experiments demonstrated that dielectric breakdown of the polymer limits the extent of feature size.
Selecting Spatial Scale of Covariates in Regression Models of Environmental Exposures

Environmental factors or socioeconomic status variables used in regression models to explain environmental chemical exposures or health outcomes are often in practice modeled at the same buffer distance or spatial scale. In this paper, we present four model selection algorithms that select the best spatial scale for each buffer-based or area-level covariate. Contamination of drinking water by nitrate is a growing problem in agricultural areas of the United States, as ingested nitrate can lead to the endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds, which are potent carcinogens. We applied our methods to model nitrate levels in private wells in Iowa. We found that environmental variables were selected at different spatial scales and that a model allowing spatial scale to vary across covariates provided the best goodness of fit. Our methods can be applied to investigate the association between environmental risk factors available at multiple spatial scales or buffer distances and measures of disease, including cancers.
Wilderness event medicine: planning for mass gatherings in remote areas.

Summary Background An increasing number of large recreational events are taking place in remote environments where medical care is far away. Such events include adventure races and large outdoor trips. Wilderness event medicine (WEM) has been previously defined as the healthcare response at any discrete event with more than 200 persons located more than 1 h from hospital treatment. However, there is little literature describing the steps for providing medical care at such events. Methods This article provides a framework for planning and executing WEM. It reviews the published data on wilderness injury and illness rates and describes the nature of injuries as they relate to specific activities. The article then discusses the three stages of WEM: pre-event planning, medical treatment at the event, and post-event tasks. Results Wilderness events include myriad activities, including orienteering, mountain biking, mountaineering, and whitewater paddling. The injury and illness rates are in the range of 1–10 per 1000 person-days of exposure, with rates one order of magnitude greater for events which last many days, include extremes of environment (heat, altitude), or are competitive in nature. Professional adventure racers may present for medical evaluation at rates as high as 1000 encounters per 1000 racer-days. Injuries depend largely on activity. Illnesses are mostly gastrointestinal, ‘flu-like’ malaise, or related to the event environment, such as humidity or altitude. Providing medical care requires the proper staff, equipment, and contingency plans. The remoteness of these events mandates different protocols than would be used at an urban mass gathering. Conclusions WEM will likely continue to grow and evolve as a specialty. Additional reports from wilderness events, perhaps facilitated through a web-based incident reporting system, will allow medical providers to improve the quality of care given at remote events. Research into wilderness activity physiology will also be useful in understanding the prevention and treatment of injuries and illnesses encountered.
An uncoupled viscoplastic constitutive model for metals at elevated temperature

An uncoupled constitutive model for predicting the transient response of thermal and rate dependent, inelastic material behavior is presented. The uncoupled model assumes that there is a temperature below which the total strain consists essentially of elastic and rate insensitive inelastic strains only. Above this temperature, the rate dependent inelastic strain (creep) dominates. The rate insensitive inelastic strain component is modeled in an incremental form with a yield function, flow rule and hardening law. Revisions to the hardening rule permit the model to predict temperature-dependent kinematic-isotropic hardening behavior, cyclic saturation, asymmetric stress-strain response upon stress reversal, and variable Bauschinger effect. The rate dependent inelastic strain component is modeled using a rate equation in terms of back stress, drag stress and exponent n as functions of temperature and strain. A sequence of hysteresis loops and relaxation tests are utilized to define the rate dependent inelastic strain rate. Evaluation of the model is performed by comparison with experiments involving various thermal and mechanical load histories on 5086 aluminum alloy, 304 stainless steel and Hastelloy-X.