cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Resting-State Functional Connectivity Between Two Culturally Distinct Populations of Prairie Vole.

Abstract Background We used the highly prosocial prairie vole to test the hypothesis that higher-order brain structure—microarchitecture and functional connectivity (FC)—would differ between males from populations with distinctly different levels of prosocial behavior. Specifically, we studied males from Illinois (IL), which display high levels of prosocial behavior, and first generation males from Kansas dams and IL males (KI), which display the lowest level of prosocial behavior and higher aggression. Behavioral differences between these males are associated with overexpression of estrogen receptor alpha in the medial amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and neuropeptide expression in the paraventricular nucleus. Methods We compared apparent diffusion coefficient, fractional anisotropy, and blood oxygen level–dependent resting-state FC between males. Results IL males displayed higher apparent diffusion coefficient in regions associated with prosocial behavior, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, paraventricular nucleus, and anterior thalamic nuclei, while KI males showed higher apparent diffusion coefficient in the brainstem. KI males showed significantly higher fractional anisotropy than IL males in 26 brain regions, with the majority being in the brainstem reticular activating system. IL males showed more blood oxygen level–dependent resting-state FC between the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, paraventricular nucleus, and medial amygdala along with other brain regions, including the hippocampus and areas associated with social and reward networks. Conclusions Our results suggest that gray matter microarchitecture and FC may play a role the expression of prosocial behavior and that differences in other brain regions, especially the brainstem, could be involved. The differences between males suggests that this system represents a potentially valuable model system for studying emotional differences and vulnerability to stress and addiction.
MHC class I loss in endometrial carcinoma: a potential resistance mechanism to immune checkpoint inhibition

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I is a membrane-bound protein complex expressed on nucleated human cells. MHC class I presents intracellular protein fragments to cytotoxic T cells and triggers an activation cascade upon neoantigen detection by these cells. MHC class I loss by tumor cells decreases tumor neoantigen presentation to the immune system and therefore represents a possible mechanism of immunotherapeutic resistance even among cancers that otherwise appear to be good candidates for checkpoint inhibition, such as mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient and PD-L1-positive malignancies. We herein assess MHC class I expression in a range of endometrial carcinomas, including MMR-deficient and PD-L1-positive cancers. Immunohistochemical staining for combined MHC class I A-, B-, and C-heavy chains was performed on 76 cases of endometrial carcinoma and was classified as present, subclonally lost, or diffusely lost. Tumoral PD-L1 expression, PD-L1 combined positive score, and CD3-positive T lymphocytes were also quantified. Forty-two percent of tumors showed loss of MHC class I expression, either in a subclonal (26%) or diffuse (16%) pattern. This included 46% of MMR-deficient and 25% of PD-L1-positive cancers. These findings suggest that tumoral MHC class I status may be an important factor to consider when selecting endometrial cancer patients for checkpoint inhibition.
Grid Analysis of Visitor Travel Patterns in a Dispersed Outdoor Recreation Setting

Understanding visitor travel patterns within parks and protected areas has continually been recognized as beneficial for managers. This information can identify high-use areas and locations of potential conflicts. However, visitor travel patterns can be difficult to understand in parks and protected areas that lack organizational infrastructure, such as trails, roads, or signs (e.g., open deserts and marine environments). In this article, we demonstrate a digital grid analysis of travel patterns at the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area, Utah, a vast desert expanse where trails, roads, or wayfinding signs do not exist and there is no vehicular speed limit. Data were collected using GPS data loggers and analyzed using ArcGIS. We first conducted spatial descriptive analysis to understand mean center point, median center point, directional distribution, and central line feature. Mean center point and median center point were reported in decimal degrees, which can be inputted into any smartphone or GPS unit for navigation. Using ArcMap, we designed a digital grid that overlaid the study site. The grid provided insight into spatial variations of visitor use and vehicle speeds. Using hot spot analysis, we determined areas where high use and high vehicle speeds were coinciding, which informed a spatial grouping analysis to identify areas for future monitoring. Monitoring areas are reported using navigation directions for easy location. We identified two areas where high use and high vehicle speeds coincide. Both of these areas are near the end of the access road, which suggests some visitors drive fast immediately upon entering the Bonneville Salt Flats. This finding led us to recommend managers put a speed limit zone near the access road for visitor safety. The findings of this study demonstrate the utility of grid analysis for advancing understanding of spatial variations, visitor travel patterns, and identifying priority areas to monitor in a dispersed recreation environment.Subscribe to JPRA
A versatile turbulence simulator for high-resolution imaging studies of astronomical targets

We describe versatile turbulence simulator for testing and calibration of new techniques for high-resolution imaging of objects outside the Earth’s atmosphere using ground-based instrumentation. Examples here include: dynamic aperture diversity, wave front sensing using multi-aperture phase retrieval, and free-space beam propagation for rapidly re-configurable interferometers. Used in the testing of all of these, the simulator uses a high resolution spatial light modulator in tandem with a lower resolution deformable mirror to simulate atmospheric phase distortions over a wide range of turbulence conditions.
Semi-supervised Calibration of Risk with Noisy Event Times (SCORNET) Using Electronic Health Record Data

Abstract Leveraging large-scale electronic health record (EHR) data to estimate survival curves for clinical events can enable more powerful risk estimation and comparative effectiveness research. However, use of EHR data is hindered by a lack of direct event times observations. Occurrence times of relevant diagnostic codes or target disease mentions in clinical notes are at best a good approximation of the true disease onset time. On the other hand, extracting precise information on the exact event time requires laborious manual chart review and is sometimes altogether infeasible due to a lack of detailed documentation. Current status labels – binary indicators of phenotype status during follow up – are significantly more efficient and feasible to compile, enabling more precise survival curve estimation given limited resources. Existing survival analysis methods using current status labels focus almost entirely on supervised estimation, and naive incorporation of unlabeled data into these methods may lead to biased results. In this paper we propose Semi-supervised Calibration of Risk with Noisy Event Times (SCORNET), which yields a consistent and efficient survival curve estimator by leveraging a small size of current status labels and a large size of imperfect surrogate features. In addition to providing theoretical justification of SCORNET, we demonstrate in both simulation and real-world EHR settings that SCORNET achieves efficiency akin to the parametric Weibull regression model, while also exhibiting non-parametric flexibility and relatively low empirical bias in a variety of generative settings.
Arthropod Assemblages in Invasive and Native Vegetation of Great Salt Lake Wetlands

Wetlands provide essential habitat for shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl. Invasive species can disrupt trophic interactions within wetlands by altering the arthropod assemblages on which birds rely. An invasive grass species, Phragmites australis (common reed), has invaded wetlands across North America, including those surrounding the Great Salt Lake, Utah, U.S.A. Phragmites outcompetes native vegetation and alters habitat for resident and migratory birds, yet how Phragmites affects arthropod assemblages is unclear. To address these knowledge gaps, this study investigated how arthropod assemblages differ between native and invasive vegetation in Great Salt Lake wetlands. We examined the arthropod assemblages found within three native habitats as well as in Phragmites-invaded areas. There were few differences in arthropod assemblages between Phragmites and two native habitats (hardstem bulrush, Schoenoplectus acutus and alkali bulrush, Bolboschoenus maritimus). Arthropod assemblages differed between Phragmites and the native Salicornia rubra (pickleweed), which differed markedly from the other plant species in structure, biomass, and related site conditions. Identifying how arthropods interact with Phragmites and native vegetation is critical to recognizing how to effectively manage wetlands for bird habitat. By gaining an understanding of these relationships, arthropod biomass, abundance, diversity, and assemblage composition could serve as assessment metrics for determining wetland management success.
A learning-based projection method for model order reduction of transport problems.

The Kolmogorov $n$-width of the solution manifolds of transport-dominated problems can decay slowly. As a result, it can be challenging to design efficient and accurate reduced order models (ROMs) for such problems. To address this issue, we propose a new learning-based projection method to construct nonlinear adaptive ROMs for transport problems. The construction follows the offline-online decomposition. In the offline stage, we train a neural network to construct adaptive reduced basis dependent on time and model parameters. In the online stage, we project the solution to the learned reduced manifold. Inheriting the merits from both deep learning and the projection method, the proposed method is more efficient than the conventional linear projection-based methods, and may reduce the generalization error of a solely learning-based ROM. Unlike some learning-based projection methods, the proposed method does not need to take derivatives of the neural network in the online stage.
Locomotion in elongate fishes: A contact sport.

Abstract Despite the physical differences between water and air, a number of fish lineages are known to make terrestrial excursions on land. Many of these fishes exhibit an elongate body plan. Elongation of the body can occur in several ways, the most common of which is increasing the number of vertebrae in one or both regions of the axial skeleton – precaudal and/or caudal. Elongate species are often found in three-dimensionally complex habitats. It has been hypothesized that elongate fishes use this structure to their locomotor advantage. In this study, we consider how elongation and differences in vertebral regionalization correspond with the use of wooden pegs, which are provided as analogs to vertically oriented substrate, structures that protrude above the ground. We compare aquatic and terrestrial locomotor behaviors of Polypterus senegalus , Erpetoichthys calabaricus , and Gymnallabes typus as they move through a peg array. When considering axial elongation we find that the highly elongate species, E. calabaricus and G. typus , contact more pegs but on average move slower in both environments than P. senegalus . When considering axial regionalization, we find that the precaudally elongate species, P. senegalus and E. calabaricus , differ in the patterns of peg contact between the two environments whereas the caudally elongate species, G. typus , exhibits similar peg contact between the two environments. Our study highlights the importance of incorporating body shape and vertebral regionalization to understand how elongate fishes move in water and on land.
El Bulli: Contemporary Intersections Between Food, Science, Art and Late Capitalism

Ferran AdriA , chef principal del restaurante catalan y ahora fundacion elBulli, participo en 2007 en la exposicion de arte contemporaneo Documenta 12 . Mi trabajo analiza este evento como la interseccion de tres elementos: el trabajo y performance de AdriA como cocinero, la incorporacion de la ciencia y la tecnologia en la cocina en lo que se conoce como la “tecno-cocina” de AdriA , y el cruce entre arte contemporaneo y comida. En mi analisis, describo algunos de los platos de AdriA asi como su relacion con el campo artistico. En lugar de centrarme en la cuestion polemica sobre si un chef puede considerarse un artista o no, mi ensayo reflexiona sobre el significado de la aproximacion de AdriA al mundo del arte contemporaneo en relacion a la disolucion de fronteras artisticas y de otros campos culturales y sociales. Me acerco al caso de AdriA como un ejemplo de lo que Fredric Jameson llama la “desdiferenciacion” de espacios, disciplinas y esferas sociales producida por las fuerzas economicas del capitalismo tardio.
The elastic properties of PECVD silicon oxynitride films on gallium arsenide

The elastic constants of low-stress plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) grown silicon oxynitride on GaAs are calculated from surface acoustic wave (SAW) measurements. Films from 1000 to 4000 nm in thickness are shown to have very consistent densities and SAW velocity dispersion characteristics. The density of the films is below that of bulk fused quartz, but the elastic moduli are similar to those of fused quartz. The low density indicates that low-temperature PECVD silicon oxynitride is inherently porous compared to an equivalent bulk material. >
The effect of sample size on the steady state creep characteristics of Ni-6 pct W

The effects of sample size and grain morphology on the steady state creep properties of Ni-6 pct W in the temperature range of 0.55Tm to 0.74Tm have been studied. It is shown that a decrease in sample thickness results in a corresponding decrease in the number of grains per thickness and gives rise to a decrease in the measured values of bothQcreep andn when compared to existing data on thick samples with many grains per thickness. The observed effects of sample configuration on the creep properties are explained with a model for creep deformation which is based on the interaction of free surfaces with grain boundary sliding and grain deformation. Using this model, an expression for the stress and temperature dependence of the total steady state strain rate is obtained as a function of the grain matrix strain rate and the grain boundary sliding strain rate. The results of this model are shown to correlate well with the observed deformation characteristics of the thin samples and to explain the variations ofQ{creep} andn with sample morphology.
The long modified extended sliding trochanteric osteotomy

The modified extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) preserves the posterior capsule and short external rotators through a lateral approach to the hip. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of long ETOs, measuring 18 cm and above. Fifty three long ETOs were reviewed. The mean length of the osteotomy was 20.0 cm (range, 18–26). Mean scratch-fit length was 6.5 cm. Average follow-up was 57 months (range, 14–114 months). The Harris hip score improved from 37 preoperatively to 73 at last follow-up. Subsidence occurred in 12 (22.6%) cases. Eleven stems stabilised over the first year. One stem (1.9%) was revised for subsidence and loosening, one for a periprosthetic fracture and one for a fractured stem. Two (3.8%) cups had postoperative dislocations. Fifty two (98.1%) osteotomies united well. This series shows a low failure rate, with revision and union rates comparable to those reported for shorter ETOs. Performing the osteotomy through a lateral approach to the hip will enhance posterior stability.
Photoelectron spectroscopic and thermodynamic studies of the free surface of benzyl alcohol

Abstract He(I) photoelectron spectra of the liquid surface and the vapour of benzyl alcohol (C 6 H 5 CH 2 OH) are reported. The gas-phase spectrum resembles that of benzene except that between the 1 e 1g (π) and the 3 e 2g benzenoid bands there is an additional peak in benzyl alcohol at 10.69 eV. In the spectrum of the liquid the additional peak is either absent or of much reduced intensity and this, together with consideration of the spectra of related molecules, leads to its assignment as the ionization of a “lone pair” orbital. In the condensed phase the lone pair electrons become involved in hydrogen bonding. Considerations of the excess energy and entropy of the surface of liquid benzyl alcohol point to a surface in which the hydrogen bonds are not broken, in agreement with the spectroscopic result.
Conflict and Number of Choice Alternatives

A comparison was made between the degree of conflict (decision time) with two choice alternatives and that with four choice alternatives. Data were presented utilizing an index of conflict which di...
Accelerated solvent extraction of lignin from Aleurites moluccana (candlenut) nutshells.

Lignin from candlenut shells was isolated using an ethanol−water accelerated solvent extraction method. Yields (based on Klason lignin) increased from about 14 to 33% as temperature increased from ...
EXPRESSED STUDENT ATTITUDE TOWARD CONVENTIONAL VERSUS COMPUTER SUPPLEMENTED INSTRUCTION

This paper describes studies concerning computer supplemented exercises using an exponentially weighted moving average forecast simulator. Student attitudes toward the concepts school, lecture method of teaching, the computer supplementary exercises, and the value of the computer are examined. The fact that students perceive the computer as the vehicle for bringing more realistic problems to the classroom suggests that the future “mix” of pedagogical approaches will include more computer supplemented instruction.
Atmospheric deposition to the Chesapeake Bay watershed : Regional and local sources

Abstract Atmospheric deposition is an important source of mercury to the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Estimates from our collections at four sites around the Chesapeake Bay and in western Maryland show that the regional wet flux is between 10 and 20 μg m −2 yr −1 with higher concentrations being found close to local sources. The Hart-Miller Island site, in close proximity to Baltimore, had a wet flux of 25 μg m −2 yr −1 Amount of rainfall is also important. At Frostburg, in western Maryland, the flux estimate of 23 μg m −2 yr −1 is largely a result of the higher than average rainfall during the study period. Our measurements of total throughfall deposition in western Maryland and our measurements of particulate mercury at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory indicate that dry deposition is not a dominant source of mercury at either site. Direct deposition to the Chesapeake Bay contributes more than half the mercury entering the Bay and our preliminary estimates for watershed retention suggest that most of the mercury deposited to the watershed (90% or greater) is retained in the terrestrial domain. For methylmercury, atmospheric deposition is not the most important flux to the Bay. Additionally, our results suggest that methylmercury is being generated within the watershed and transported to the Bay in river runoff. Where comparisons can be made, our results confirm that deposition to the Chesapeake Bay is elevated compared to that of other regions of the U.S.A. except perhaps Florida.
Efficient Translation of Distal Cistrons of a Polycistronic mRNA of a Plant Pararetrovirus Requires a Compatible Interaction between the mRNA 3′ End and the ProteinaceousTrans-Activator

Caulimoviruses, a type of plant pararetrovirus, employ a highly unusual mechanism to express the multiple cistrons of their pregenomic RNA. It involves translation of a polycistronic mRNA utilizing cis-acting viral RNA sequences and a transacting virus-encoded protein (P6). In addition to its role in polycistronic translation, the translational trans-activator protein P6 also activates its own expression from a monocistronic subgenomic RNA. Using Nicotiana Edwardsonii cell suspension protoplasts, we analyzed the ability of P6 proteins from three different caulimoviruses to activate viral RNA-based reporter constructs. Cis-acting elements present in figwort mosaic caulimovirus (FMV) are functional not only in the presence of the cognate P6 activator protein, but also in the presence of the heterologous activators from cauliflower mosaic caulimovirus (CaMV) and peanut chlorotic streak caulimovirus (PCISV). However, when 3' cis-acting elements essential for efficient polycistronic expression of FMV are replaced by their counterparts from PCISV, reporter gene expression is only observed in the presence of PCISV P6. Derepression of monocistronic reporter constructs tailed with FMV or CaMV 3' proximal sequences is less efficient in the presence of PCISV P6 than with either FMV or CaMV P6, but more efficient when the constructs contain a cognate PCISV 3' cis-element. Efficient expression of polycistronic and monocistronic caulimovirus mRNAs in plant cells thus requires compatible interactions between P6, a translational trans-activator, and its cognate cis-element at the 3' end of the mRNA.
Long-term clinical results of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor use in a patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Abstract We report the case of a 49-year-old woman with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and a complicated cardiovascular history, treated for 5 years with a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor in addition to her other lipid-lowering therapy.
Automatic handwriting identification based on the external properties of the samples

A handwriting sample is identified by comparing its features to the corresponding features of a list of handwriting samples contained in a reference library. Some of the needed features are extracted from the structure of specific parts of the handwriting's sample which have to be identified first (e.g., specific letters). Other features are extracted from the external structure of the handwriting (e.g., margins). Due to their described property, these features are extracted automatically with relative ease. Techniques for extracting features of the described kind are presented in this work. Experimental results obtained when using the extracted features for identification purposes are then given.
Effect of Manure Application Timing on Potato Yield, Quality, and Disease Incidence

This study was established to determine whether the timing of liquid dairy manure application prior to planting potatoes influenced potato crop performance and the occurrence and severity of common scab (Streptomyces spp.) and verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae). Four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties with varying levels of resistance to common scab and verticillium wilt were planted on a site treated with manure applied at 280,500 L ha−1 to separate plot areas 18, 6, or 1 month before potato planting in each of 2 years. Total tuber yield for 2001 showed a significant interaction between time of manure application and variety, with more scab-susceptible varieties (Russet Norkotah and W-1151R) showing lower yields compared to the fertilizer control when the manure application was made 1 month before planting. In 2002, the proportion of U.S. No. 1 tubers was significantly lower when manure was applied 1 month before planting, especially for W-1151R. Tuber dry matter was significantly reduced by manure application in both years, but was not consistently related to time of manure application. Total yield was significantly decreased as common scab levels increased, and this relationship was primarily driven by the low yield/high scab levels associated with W-1151R and Russet Norkotah planted 6 or 1 month after manure application in 2001. Late-season verticillium evaluations showed highest levels in 2001 when manure was applied 1 month before planting to susceptible varieties Superior and Russet Norkotah. This experiment showed that when manure was applied immediately ahead of potato planting yields, and quality of some varieties decreased in 1 of 2 years. Therefore, it may be safer to apply manure at least 18 months prior to planting potatoes.
Assessment of Different Threshold Preoperative Glomerular Filtration Rates as Markers of Outcomes in Lung Transplantation

Background The evidence behind the widely used pre-lung transplant glomerular filtration rate (GFR) cutoff of 50 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 is limited. This study reviews data from a large cohort to assess outcomes associated with this historical cutoff and to estimate other possible cutoffs that might be appropriate in lung transplantation. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of lung recipients at a single center. Recursive partitioning and receiver operating characteristics analysis were used to estimate other potential GFR cutoffs with 1-year mortality as the outcome. Postoperative outcomes around the various cutoffs, including survival, acute kidney injury, and dialysis, were assessed using χ 2 , Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression methods. Results A total of 794 lung recipients met study inclusion criteria. Compared with 778 patients with GFR 50 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 or greater at time of transplant, 16 patients with GFR below this cutoff were older and more likely to have restrictive disease. One-year mortality below the cutoff was 31.3% compared with 15.1% above the cutoff ( p = 0.021). Recursive partitioning estimated potential GFR cutoff values between 46 and 61 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 . Patients with GFR below these cutoffs were at significantly higher risk for adverse outcomes ( p Conclusions Study results support the practice of requiring candidate GFR 50 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 or greater for lung transplantation. Future work should focus on reproducing the analysis in a larger cohort of patients including more individuals with low GFR.
Electromagnetic radiation from a vibrating quartz plate

Abstract The linear equations of piezoelectromagnetism are solved for the case of thickness-shear vibrations of a quartz plate. For an AT-cut plate vibrating near resonance, the radiation from each face is about 25μW/cm 2 for a shear strain of 10 −5 .
Exponential interpolation: theory and numerical algorithms

We consider the problem of exponential interpolation and show that in some cases it can be solved with effective numerical procedures. We show that the problem is closely related to Gaussian quadrature and to the problem of partial realization in linear control theory.
Identification and characterization of a myomodulin-like peptide in the leech.

Abstract Wang, Y., D. A. Price and C. L. Sahley. Identification and characterization of a myomodulin-like peptide in the leech. Peptides 19(3) 487–493, 1998.—A novel myomodulin-like peptide, GMGALRLamide, has been purified and sequenced from extracts of 1000 medicinal leech nerve cords. Synthetic leech myomodulin-like peptide blocked the specific staining pattern of leech ganglia by the antiserum against Aplysia myomodulin A PMGMLRLamide. Moreover, the synthetic leech myomodulin-like peptide GMGALRLamide showed identical neuronal modulation effect on the giant leech Retzius cell compare to that by the synthetic Aplysia myomodulin A PMGMLRLamide.
Pacemaker twiddler's syndrome: an important cause of diaphragmatic pacing.

Ce syndrome est du a la stimulation electrique du nerf phrenique qui entraine un mauvais fonctionnement du stimulateur cardiaque. Etude d'un cas
Mobile Jabber IM: a wireless-based text chatting system

With the rapid advancement of wireless network technologies, wireless communications and mobile-based information services are changing people's life style. How to provide mobile users with cost-effective wireless information services is becoming a hot topic for wireless vendors. Although there are a number of Internet-based instant messaging solutions, there are no published articles addressing how to develop wireless Internet instant messaging solutions. This paper reports recent research and development efforts in constructing a wireless-based text chatting system, Mobile Jabber IM. It discusses the system architecture, design, and technologies. The paper demonstrates the system application examples and shares the development and implementation experiences.
Leveraging the complementary nature of RNA-Seq and shotgun proteomics data

RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and MS-based shotgun proteomics are powerful high-throughput technologies for identifying and quantifying RNA transcripts and proteins, respectively. With the increasing affordability of these technologies, many projects have started to apply both to the same samples to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of biological systems. A major analytical challenge for such integrative projects is how to effectively leverage the complementary nature of RNA-Seq and shotgun proteomics data. RNA-Seq provides comprehensive information on mRNA abundance, alternative splicing, nucleotide variation, and structure alteration. Sample-specific protein databases derived from RNA-Seq data can better approximate the real protein pools in cell and tissue samples and thus improve protein identification. Meanwhile, proteomics data provide essential confirmation of the validity and functional relevance of novel findings from RNA-Seq data. At the quantitative level, mRNA and protein levels are only modestly correlated, suggesting strong involvement of posttranscriptional regulation in controlling gene expression. Here, we review recent studies at the interface of RNA-Seq and proteomics data. We discuss goals, accomplishments, and challenges in RNA-Seq-based proteogenomics. We also examine the current status and future potential of parallel transcriptome and proteome quantification in revealing posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms.
Whisker Prevention Using Hard Metal Cap Layers

Application of conformal coatings has shown promise as a practical scheme for preventing whisker growth in electronic assemblies. Coatings have been proposed utilizing elastomeric, ceramic, and metallic materials. The ability to prevent whiskers is particularly important in assemblies containing Pb-free materials and finishes. Further, many otherwise desirable COTS (commercial off the shelf) electronic components and assemblies are available only with Pb-free tin as the termination finish or Pb-free SAC solder balls under BGAs. In this work we have investigated a variety of proposed whisker-impenetrable hard metal caps through use of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) and discuss plausible reasons why only certain metals are effective in blocking Sn whiskers.
Studies on the mode of action of glyceollin in soybean incompatibility to the root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Isomers I, II, and III of glyceollin isolated from Glycine max (L.) Merr. inhibited the motility of Meloidogyne incognita with ED 50 values of 22, 22 and 12μg ml −1 , respectively; however none of the isomers inhibited motility of the related nematode, M. javanica . Glyceollin also inhibited oxygen uptake by M. incognita . Glyceollin did not inhibit choline esterase activity but was a potent inhibitor of oxygen uptake by isolated mitochondria from soybeans and table beets ( K 1 =2·2×10 −6 M ). At effective concentrations, glyceollin did not function as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation but inhibited the electron transport system at some point after the succinate dehydrogenase site.
Social informatics in information science: an introduction

Social informatics (SI) refers to a multidisciplinary research field that examines the design, uses, and implications of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in ways that account for their interactions with institutional and cultural contexts. This Special Issue presents seven articles that illustrate the range and depth of research in SI. This essay outlines the concerns of SI researchers and briefly describes the articles that follow. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Scalable Scheme for Bulk Loading Large RDF Graphs into Oracle

The growth of RDF data makes it imperative that an efficient mechanism for bulk-loading RDF graphs be supported. Thus, the paper proposes a bulk-load scheme that allows fast loading of arbitrarily large RDF graphs into a database. Specifically, three modes of load are supported: i) loading into an empty RDF graph, ii) appending to a non-empty RDF graph, and iii) concurrent loads into multiple graphs. The bulk-load scheme is implemented as part of Oracle database semantic technologies and the performance experiments conducted with a variety of RDF graphs (from UniProt and synthesized data of Lehigh University Benchmark) demonstrate the scalability of the approach. The paper outlines the challenges involved in bulk- loading of large RDF graphs, describes the bulk-load scheme, discusses its implementation, and presents a performance study.
Phototoxicity and photoallergy in man.

Photosensitivity is the broad term used to denote adverse reactions to the sun. These reactions may be phototoxic or photoallergic. Phototoxic reactions are much more common than photoallergic reactions. Phototoxic reactions may be photodynamic or nonphotodynamic in nature, the primary difference being that photodynamic reactions require oxygen. Porphyrins are examples of molecules which produce photodynamic responses. The 8-rnethoxypsoralen photobinding to DNA is an example of a nonphotodynamic reaction. The UVB sunburn response is the most common phototoxic reaction, and it appears to be nonphotodynamic in nature. Photoallergy is uncommon. As with all allergies it is an acquired, altered reactivity dependent on an antigen-antibody or cell-mediated hypersensitivity response. Solar urticaria due to UVB rays is an example of a circulating antibody-dependent reaction, and allergic photocontact dermatitis induced by the halogenated salicylanilides is an example of a cell-mediated response, The mechanisms of these reactions are discussed.
Creating the Right Reality: Communication Message Strategies and the Republican Party:

This critical essay explores the parallels between the communicative strategies and methods of totalitarian movements and those of the modern American conservative movement. The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt (1968) serves as the standard by which the authors investigate the properties of such strategies. The authors find that the conservative movement in general and the Republican Party specifically, though not totalitarian, exhibit numerous common characteristics in the sphere of communication such as the suspension of reality, propaganda techniques, and the use of movement opinion to subvert, transform, and replace fact. Through a commitment to an independent press and civic responsibility, the authors believe it is possible to counter these effects and preserve a society where the free exchange of ideas and the freedom of thought are not threatened by rigid doctrines parading as objective facts.
Role of Cycloplegics in Progressive Myopia

Abstract Atropine sulfate 1% was instilled in both eyes of 86 children (172 eyes) on a daily basis for a period of two to eight years. No untoward changes in intraocular pressure, pupillary response, accommodation, or appearance of the ocular fundi were noted. A comparison with a similar group of children having only glasses prescribed during a similar time span revealed that atropine is effective in reducing the progression of myopia in children; a permanent reduction in the degree of myopia may be achieved. Relaxation of accommodation by means of cycloplegic drugs may be a safe and effective treatment of myopia.
A technique for interstitial nasopharyngeal brachytherapy

Abstract Two patients have recently been seen with recurrent epidermoid carcinoma in the nasopharynx. Both have achieved local control and are disease-free after a brachytherapy procedure. Here we describe our technique for interstitial Naopharyngeal brachytherapy.
Does administration of transdermal dihydrotestosterone gel before hypospadias repair improve postoperative outcomes

In an effort to improve the outcome of hypospadias repair, Kaya et al. performed a prospective, randomized study of transdermal dihydrotestosterone (DHT) gel as a preoperative adjunct to surgery. They found that patients who received DHT gel had fewer complications and better cosmesis than patients who underwent surgery alone. The authors attribute the differences between the two groups to an increased blood flow produced by the gel. The series of patients was small, and a larger sample size might have produced different results. Some of the outcomes measured were subjective, and the methods used to assess these outcomes were not clear. If a larger study confirms the results obtained by Kaya and colleagues, transdermal DHT gel might prove to be a valuable adjunct to hypospadias surgery.
Prevalence of dental caries and dental care utilisation in preschool urban children enrolled in a comparative-effectiveness study

AIM: To assess dental caries prevalence and dental care utilisation in pre-school children enrolled in urban childcare centres that participated in a comparative-effectiveness study. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Caries prevalence was determined in a cohort of children 12–60 months of age. Eligible children were randomised into two groups: group one received a traditional visual/tactile oral examination and group two received a teledentistry examination. Questionnaires were administered to the children’s parents/guardians to gather demographics and information about using dental and medical services. RESULTS: Of 234 children examined, approximately 28% had caries experience. The mean dfs score was 1.56 with a range of 0–34 carious surfaces. The mean dfs score for the children examined by means of teledentistry was 1.75 and for the children examined by means of the traditional visual/tactile method mean dfs was 1.40; the means between the two groups were not significantly different. Twenty-six children showed evidence of being treated for dental caries. According to the parents, 31.5% of the children had never had a dental check-up before, only 3% of the children were lacking dental insurance and majority of the parents (92%) did not perceive accessing dental care for the children as a problem. STATISTICS: The Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to assess statistical differences among groups of children. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that 28% of the children had caries and, of these, 61% had never been treated for caries, thus indicating that continued efforts are needed to improve oral health care utilisation by inner-city preschool children.
A test for the difference of means

This paper offers A new test for the difference of means when the ratio of variances is unknown (the Behrens Fisher problem). The proposed test is akin to the familiar z-test, which is sometimes used when the sample sizes are large, with the exception (hat there is a variance correction factor. Evidence is presented which indicates the proposed test significantly outperforms the test.
A Bayesian test of a parameter shift and an application

Abstract The paper formulates a Bayesian test of a parameter shift in two regressions whose error terms have multivariate student-t distributions with zero location vectors. The test is derived first with diffuse and then with natural conjugate prior probability density functions. The Bayesian test is then applied to examine whether or not a parameter shift in expenditure on vitamins and other nutritional supplements can be observed since 1969 in Japan. The empirical test implies that there is a sudden parameter shift in 1971 due to a consumer protection movement.
Le Pari De Pascal Et Ses Ambigüités

The author rereads Pascal's Wager in all of its complexities and contradictions, rejecting Manichean readings as being far too schematic. Pascal, through pragmatic argument, attempts to demonstrate the rationality of belief. In thinking that he can direct his (imaginary) conversation partner to faith, Pascal gains some autonomy over Jansenist principles. Inexplicably, Pascal's position seems to contradict his vision of Christianity. First, he shows the libertine that gambling on God is rational. Then he reminds him that, according to the principles of Catholicism, even if he places a wager in favor of the existence of God, his eternal salvation is by no means assured. The wager can end only in disappointment, and indeed it fails to provide substantiated proof. The author explores why Pascal chose to use such an imperfect device.
A user's guide to design arguments

We argue that there is a tension between two types of design arguments: the fine-tuning argument (FTA) and the biological design argument (BDA). The tension arises because the strength of each argument is inversely proportional to the value of a certain currently unknown probability. Since the value of that probability is currently unknown, we investigate the properties of the FTA and BDA on different hypothetical values of this probability. If our central claim is correct this suggests three results: (1) It is not very plausible that a cumulative case for theism include both the FTA and the BDA (with one possible qualification); (2) Self-organization scenarios do not threaten theism but in fact provide the materials for a good FTA; (3) A plausible design argument of one sort or another (either FTA or BDA) will be available for a wide variety of values of the key probability.
Subnanosecond spectroscopy of disorder-localized excitons in Cd S 0.53 Se 0.47

Time-resolved luminescence spectra from excitons in Cd${\mathrm{S}}_{0.53}$${\mathrm{Se}}_{0.47}$ at 2 K with 250 psec resolution reveal line narrowing at short times, followed by broadening and a shift towards lower energy, during the first few nanoseconds. We interpret the spectral diffusion as exciton transfer between states localized as a result of random potential fluctuations of the mixed crystal. The variation of luminescence decay kinetics with temperature suggests that a gradual transition from localized to extended states exists within a disorder-broadened exciton band.
Application of Trend Analysis Methodologies on Built-in-Test (BIT) (and non-BIT) Systems in a Operational U.S. Navy Fighter/Attack Squadron

This paper will outline the process and 'real-world' experience of applying trending techniques to supporting a highly complicated system within a high pressure environment with an extremely low tolerance for errors by improving the corrective and preventative maintenance cycles. The paper will also discuss some of the key benefits realized and challenges encountered in implementing this
Continuous global optimization of structured process systems models

Abstract Nonconvex models for the optimization of process systems in chemical engineering give rise to multiple suboptimal solutions, and a number of complications that often cause failure of standard local optimization techniques. A deterministic branch and bound algorithm is presented in this paper for the global optimization of structured process systems models that include non-convexities introduced by concave univariate, bilinear and linear fractional terms. The proposed branch and contract algorithm relies on a bounds contraction operation, which consists of the solution of a finite sequence of convex bounds-contraction subproblems for the subset of nonconvex variables in a problem. The application of the proposed algorithm is illustrated with several numerical examples, which include heat exchanger networks, chemical reactors, simplified process flowsheets, and waste-water treatment systems. The results show that by executing the contraction operation at selected branch and bound nodes, large portions of the search region over which the objective function takes only values above a known upper bound are eliminated. It is shown that with the proposed approach the total number of nodes in the solution tree is kept relatively small, and for some problems, no branching is required at all.
Quantitative studies of stimulus coding in first-order vibrissa afferents of rats. 2. Adaptation and coding of stimulus parameters

Mechanosensory neurons are often classified as either rapidly adapting or slowly adapting. We examined response decay (adaptation) during constant deflection of the vibrissae with quantitative, repeatable, ad hoc measures. We found that first-order vibrissa-activated neurons of the fifth ganglion exhibit a variety of adaptation rates that appear to be distributed continuously between the rapidly and slowly adapting extremes. Also, adaptation rate is influenced markedly by stimulus magnitude. We found no evidence for a dichotomy within the more slowly adapting neurons on the basis of discharge regularity. Threshold tuning curves were used to evaluate vibration sensitivity. Both the best frequencies and 1:1 discharge thresholds for sinusoidal stimulation ranged over two orders of magnitude and were continuously distributed. First-order vibrissa-activated afferents exhibit a broad variety of response patterns to constant-velocity stimulation. The pattern of discharge varied both as a function of time during constant-velocity (ramp) deflection and as a function of stimulus velocity. Although information about the parameters of a stimulus may be conveyed by any of several features of the response pattern, it appears that few if any neurons function as "pure" encoders of any particular stimulus parameter. We examined quantitatively the relationship between discharge rate and both velocity and amplitude of vibrissa deflection with the aid of a computer-based curve-fitting procedure. We found that about half the observed rate-level functions were best described by a power function; the remainder were best fit by a logarithmic function. The parameters of the best-fitting functions varied widely and continuously, emphasizing further the diversity of coding properties of the rat's vibrissa afferents. Rate-level curves for stimulus magnitude generally exhibited saturation; some were nonmonotonic. None were described adequately by either a logarithmic function or a power function.
Characterization of an oncolytic herpes simplex virus drug candidate.

ABSTRACT The structural integrity and conformational stability of a genetically modified live, oncolytic herpes simplex virus (o-HSV) were investigated across a wide pH (5.5-8.0) and temperature (10°C–87.5°C) range. A combination of circular dichroism, intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence, and static light scattering results was visualized using an empirical phase diagram approach to provide a global assessment of physical stability. Distinct phases were identified including the native state of the virus, an intermediate phase that could represent gradual swelling and/or shedding of the viral envelope, and a highly disrupted, aggregated phase. The nature of these altered forms of the virus was further evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and viral plaque assays. The effect of freeze-thaw (F/T) stress on o-HSV was also examined. After one F/T cycle, a loss of infectious virus titers was observed. In addition, the monomeric virus particle concentration decreased during F/T stress, whereas there was a concurrent increase in larger particles (2–10 μm). The comprehensive biophysical characterization of viral stability conducted in this study identified major degradation events leading to loss of infectivity of o-HSV and represents an important step toward stabilization of the virus against thermal and F/T stresses. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 104:485–494, 2015