cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vehicular Traffic Density Forecasting through the Eyes of Traffic Cameras; a Spatio-Temporal Machine Learning Study

Forecasting vehicular mobility and density is essential to a wide array of mobile applications, including VANETs, crowd-sourcing, participatory sensing, network provisioning, and shared transportation. Forecasting is intrinsically complex and scarcity and lack-of-scale of vehicular mobility data is adding to the challenge. In this paper, relying on traffic cameras as the main data acquisition tool and the traffic densities extracted from the images, we explore trends pertaining to density data for the purposes of temporal and spatial forecasting. We investigate the promise of deep learning by conducting a comparative analysis of conventional (seasonal) models, and multiple variants of recurrent neural models, based on 40 day-long traffic density data from 58 cameras in London. Our findings show a dramatic reduction in forecast error using deep learning, where the best seasonal model gets 0.0176 mean squared error, and our proposed neural model achieves 0.0067 (62% less error). This is 10.5% in percentage error, down from 19.3%. We also design an end-to-end multivariate architecture that forecasts all the cameras which achieves 0.0125 error (14.1% in percentage error), but is trained in half the time needed to train 58 cameras individually. Finally, to forecast locations without explicit monitoring, we build on these insights and investigate spatial relationships between cameras. We introduce a spatial forecast model similar to the multivariate model. This results in an average reconstruction error of 0.0169 when every camera is reconstructed based on only one camera, and goes down to 0.0125 when 8 cameras are used to predict others (on par with that of the multivariate model with all 58 cameras as input). Moreover, a set of 23 cameras is found that can forecast the other cameras with an error of 0.0086. These results provide great promise for prediction in future vehicular-based networks and services.
Lysosome lipid storage disorder in NCTR-BALB/c mice: Spleen and lung lysosomes store unesterified cholesterol but differ in their phospholipid composition

A strain derived from a colony of BALB/c mice at the National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA (NCTR-BALB/c) suffers from an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by proliferation of secondary lysosomes with accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in several tissues. The unesterified cholesterol content of spleens and lungs from the affected mice were elevated 8- and 3-fold respectively over age- and sex-matched controls. Postnuclear supernatants of tissue homogenates were fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and the fractions were analyzed for unesterified cholesterol, protein and marker enzyme activities for lysosomes (N-acetyl-b-D-glucosaminidase, β-D-glucuronidase), plasma membrane (alkaline phosphodiesterase I), endoplasmic reticulum (glucose-6-phosphatase) and mitochondria (cytochrome oxidase). The enzyme distribution profile showed that lysosomes of affected tissues floated at low density regions (density 1.05-1.08) of the gradient and contained substantial amount of tissue unesterified cholesterol. These low density lysosomes were purified about 17-fold (58% yield) from spleen and about 6-fold (32% yield) from lungs with minimal contamination by other organelles They were mostly intact as judged by high latency for N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activity (70-100%). Lysosomes of control tissues were not found at the low density regions. The distribution profiles for other organelles were similar between affected and control tissues. Phospholipid composition of low density lysosomes were distinctly different from their respective tissue homogenates. Spleen and lung lysosomes were enriched in sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine respectively. The results suggest that these lysosomes acquire their low densities due to accumulation of unesterified cholesterol, the retention of which may be aided by sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine content of the lysosomes.
Biliary atresia: Potential for a new decade

Biliary atresia is characterised as an obliterative cholangiopathy of both extra-and intra-hepatic bile ducts. There is marked aetiological heterogeneity with a number of different variants, some syndromic and others perhaps virally-mediated. Current research aims to try and define possible mechanisms and pathogenesis though an actual breakthrough remains elusive. There has been little in the way of surgical advances beyond subtle variations in the Kasai portoenterostomy and laparoscopic equivalents have no declared advantage and have yet to prove equivalence in measures of outcome. The next target has been to maximise potential with better adjuvant therapy, though the evidence base for most currently available therapies such as steroids and ursodeoxycholic acid remains limited. Still high-dose steroid use is widespread, certainly in Europe and the Far East. Clearance of jaundice can be achieved in 50-60% of those subjected to portoenterostomy at <70 days and should be an achievable benchmark. Transplantation is a widely available "rescue" therapy though whether it should be an alternative as a primary procedure is arguable but becoming increasingly heard. The aim of clinical practice remains to get these infants for surgery as early as is possible though this can be difficult to accomplish in practice, and "low-cost" screening projects using stool colour charts have been limited outside of Taiwan and Japan. Centralisation of resources (medical and surgical) is associated with a diminution of time to portoenterostomy but application has been limited by entrenched health delivery models or geographical constraints.
Sentinel joint scoring in rheumatoid arthritis: an individualized power Doppler assessment strategy.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound quantifies the total synovial inflammatory burden in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but is time consuming when scanning numerous joints. This study evaluated a novel patient-centered method for constructing a longitudinal ultrasound score in RA patients. Fifty-four RA patients starting intravenous tocilizumab were evaluated with power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) of 34 joints and DAS28-ESR was assessed at baseline and weeks 4, 12, 16, and 24. The sentinel joint score (SJS) was derived from the reduced subset of joints with PDUS ≥ 1 at baseline. Total PDUS (tPDUS) score and US7 were also calculated. Changes in tPDUS and SJS were correlated. Effect sizes were calculated for tPDUS, SJS, and US7. The proportion of “flipped” joints without baseline PDUS signal that later developed PDUS signal was estimated. At baseline, 1236/1829 joints scanned (67.5%) did not have PDUS signal. The proportion of “flipped” joints at 24 weeks was 5.6% for ≥ 1, 2.9% for ≥ 2, and 1.0% for = 3 PD. tPDUS and SJS scores were highly correlated (r = 0.91 to 0.97). Overall the effect sizes for tPDUS, SJS, and US7 increased over 24 weeks, where SJS was the highest (SJS 1.00 4-week, 1.07 12-week, 1.26 24-week) and tPDUS and US7 were comparable (tPDUS 0.32 4-week, 0.52 12-week, 0.84 24-week; US7 0.23 4-week, 0.52 12-week, 0.74 24-week). In RA patients starting a biologic, scanning only joints with baseline PDUS signal can substantially reduce the number of joints requiring follow-up scanning by 67.5% and improves feasibility. “Flipped” joints are infrequently seen after starting therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01717859
A pilot study of a school lunchroom intervention in a predominately Latinx sample.

Abstract Objective The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of an environmental school lunchroom intervention (‘Smarter Lunchrooms’) and test initial efficacy within a predominately Latinx population. Design We collected baseline and intervention lunchroom food consumption and waste data in a pre-post, single group design. Meal consumption data was analyzed using Nutrition Data System for Research software to obtain estimates of nutritional content. Main outcome measures Feasibility. Secondary measures Plate Waste, Nutrient Intake. Results Participants were 88 1st-4th graders (51% female; 77% Latinx). Our recruitment rate was 45%, we were able to implement 8 Smarter Lunchroom strategies, and we were able to collect 82 baseline plate photos (93%) and 80 intervention photos (90%) of school lunches. On average, students threw away more than half of their meals on both days. Fruit consumption and fiber per 1000 kcal were significantly poorer at intervention compared to baseline. Conclusions Our findings highlight challenges in collecting consumption data in a real-world setting. We describe directions for future research taking into consideration our “lessons learned” from this formative work.
Severe Acute Cellular Rejection With High-Grade Lymphocytic Bronchiolitis Following Transition from Tacrolimus to Belatacept in a Lung Transplantation Recipient: A Case Report

This case report describes a lung transplantation recipient who developed severe acute cellular rejection with high-grade lymphocytic bronchiolitis after transition to a calcineurin-free regimen using belatacept. A 53-year-old man who had undergone lung transplantation 3 years prior developed progressive chronic kidney disease related to tacrolimus. He was transitioned off tacrolimus to belatacept to prevent the need for dialysis. He was admitted 2 months later with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Video-assisted thoracic surgery biopsy showed acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia and A4B2 rejection. He subsequently developed chronic lung allograft dysfunction. This case illustrates the potential increased risk of acute rejection associated with belatacept maintenance immunosuppression.
A Novel Modular, Reconfigurable Battery Energy Storage System Design

In this paper, a new modular, reconfigurable battery energy storage system is presented. The presented structure integrates power electronic converters with a switch-based reconfigurable array to build a smart battery energy storage system (SBESS). The proposed design can dynamically reconfigure the connection between the battery modules to connect a module in series/parallel or bypass a faulty module. The reconfigurability along with the use of the converters will bring a few important advantages, including better safety, robust power supply despite faults, variable voltage or power output, flexible individual control of battery modules, and balanced use of batteries. Further, the modular design allows to scale up to construct large-size SBESS. This work also elaborates the operation principles for the proposed SBESS design and illustrates its effectiveness through simulation study.
Darfur and the Crime of Genocide: While Criminology Slept with Heather Schoenfeld

Finding the Victims From Vietnam to civil rights and baseball, there is perhaps no more revered chronicler of recent American history than the late David Halberstam. So it is striking that the index of Halberstam's exhaustive account, The Fifties , does not contain a single entry for international criminal law, war crimes, Nuremberg, or the Holocaust. Americans in the middle years of the twentieth century simply gave little thought to these issues. Criminologists joined other Americans in moving on with the postwar baby boom and its concerns about the next generation's rather than the last generation's problems. In the case of criminology, this meant a preoccupation with postwar adolescence and the problems of juvenile delinquency. Edwin Sutherland's student Albert Cohen spoke to these new concerns with his landmark book, Delinquent Boys , and Sheldon Glueck began and ended the decade with research monographs on delinquency. Audiences flocked to see West Side Story and Rebel without a Cause . Americans in the immediate postwar period feared the threats posed by communism and delinquency more than crimes against humanity and genocide. Yet, Sutherland awakened Americans to new problems of white-collar crime. At about the same time, Sutherland's neighbor and colleague at Indiana University in Bloomington, Alfred Kinsey, fascinated Americans with his interviews with samples of college students and adults about their sexual behavior. This work provided an entertaining as well as informative diversion from memories of World War II; it also popularized new social scientific methods of population sampling and survey research.
Mild cognitive impairment: is it Alzheimer's disease or not?

In this discussion, the status of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will be addressed from several perspectives. While some investigators maintain that MCI or its equivalent states actually represent fully developed Alzheimer’s disease (AD), others suggest that there must be an intermediate stage between the cognitive changes of aging and the very earliest manifestations of AD. Since AD is a degenerative disorder, by definition, it likely evolves over a period of months to years, or perhaps even longer. As such, there must be a prodromal state during which some of the clinical features of the disease are manifested but the fully developed syndrome is not present. Even if these mild features turn out to be related to neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, by current definitions, these persons do not yet meet accepted criteria for AD. We will address this topic from several different perspectives: clinical, neuroimaging, biomarkers, and neuropathology. We contend that this transitional state exists and the several lines of evidence demonstrated in the literature are consistent with this position.
Reflex Control of Cutaneous Vasoconstriction during Whole-body Cooling in Aged Humans

Reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction (VC) is impaired in human aging; however, the relative causative contributions of altered skin sympathetic nervous system activity (SSNA), signal transduction, and...
Mental Illness and Suicide

Most suicides are marked by two or more mental disorders; 87 percent of suicides involve at least one. The most common of these disorders is depression; major depression increases the odds of suicide by fully 20 times that of comparison groups. However, few works rigorously analyze both mental disorders and social strains simultaneously; instead, they tend to focus on one or the other. As a result, the relative importance of mental disorders compared to social strains is not fully clear. Social strains can also foster mental illness, a pathway that needs further exploration. Available evidence suggests that social factors such as intimate partner problems and economic strain have strong associations with suicide, independent of mental illness. The relative effectiveness of pharmacological and psychological treatment of mental illness for suicide prevention is understudied. However, it is known that some treatment strategies (e.g., lithium for mood disorders such as manic depression) significantly reduce the risk of suicide. Keywords: depression; mental health; schizophrenia
Psychosocial Functioning of Mothers of Malnourished Children

The relationship between infant malnutrition and maternal psychosocial behavior was explored by comparing mothers of malnourished children with mother whose children were matched for age and family income but were not malnourished. The mothers were interviewed and asked to describe their relationships with their children, their children's fathers, extended families, friends, and employers. The mothers of malnourished children described more chronically disrupted lives. Their housing conditions and employment records reflected disorganization. They had fewer social contacts except with extended families who supervised excessively. The fathers of their babies were either not present or unsupportive. Relationships were more stereotyped, transient, and focused on material aspects. The mothers narcissistic concerns took precedence over the needs of their children. Nearly all the mothers, including the controls, had suffered severe deprivation in childhood. Some mothers of malnourished children were apathetic and dependent, whereas others were manipulative and evasive. These findings were consistent with those previously described for mothers of children with "failure-to-thrive" in affluent countries.
Political Versus Administrative Justice

This comment responds to an essay by Rachel Barkow, which insightfully links the decline of mercy in American criminal justice to the rise of a rule-of-law ideal inspired by administrative law. This comment notes the dangers of the administrative, rule-focused, judiciocentric approach to criminal justice. Instead, it suggests a more political approach, with more judicial deference to political actors and less judicial policing of equal treatment.
IMMUNOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF HUMAN ORAL STRAINS OF FUSOBACTERIUM AND LEPTOTRICHIA

de Araujo, Wilson C. (National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, Md.), Eileen Varah, and Stephan E. Mergenhagen. Immunochemical analysis of human oral strains of Fusobacterium and Leptotrichia. J. Bacteriol. 86:837–844. 1963.—Lipopolysaccharides, isolated by phenol-water extraction of 27 strains of oral gram-negative bacteria conforming either to Fusobacterium polymorphum or Leptotrichia buccalis, were shown to be endotoxic by their ability to alter dermal reactivity to epinephrine and to be serologically specific by hemagglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition tests. Numerous serotypes of these organisms were detected by hemagglutination tests with purified lipopolysaccharides. A F. polymorphum lipopolysaccharide produced two visible precipitin bands in agar gel with antiserum prepared against the homologous organism. Each of the immunologically distinct components of the endotoxin, isolated by differential centrifugation, altered dermal reactivity to epinephrine and acted as a hapten in hemagglutination tests. Crude antigens from F. polymorphum strains, released in supernatant fluids of heat-killed bacterial suspensions, showed broad serological cross-reactivity with antiserum prepared against homologous and heterologous strains of F. polymorphum but not with antiserum prepared against L. buccalis strains. Broad serological cross-reactivity of these crude F. polymorphum antigens could be eliminated by prior treatment with phenol or trypsin, indicating that the common antigen or antigens in these organisms are protein. Double-diffusion tests in agar identified and differentiated type-specific lipopolysaccharide from other antigens extracted by heat from these organisms. Similarly prepared crude antigens from L. buccalis had broad serological activity with antiserum prepared against various strains of L. buccalis but not with F. polymorphum. In contrast to the crude antigens from F. polymorphum, this serological cross-reactivity could not be eliminated by treatment with phenol or trypsin. Images
Speaker verification over long distance telephone lines

The authors present the results of speaker-verification technology development for use over long-distance telephone lines. A description is given of two large speech databases that were collected to support the development of new speaker verification algorithms. Also discussed are the results of discriminant analysis techniques which improve the discrimination between true speakers and imposters. A comparison is made of the performance of two speaker-verification algorithms, one using template-based dynamic time warping, and the other, hidden Markov modeling. >
DNA-binding-domain fusions enhance the targeting range and precision of Cas9

The CRISPR-Cas9 system is commonly used in biomedical research; however, the precision of Cas9 is suboptimal for applications that involve editing a large population of cells (for example, gene therapy). Variations on the standard Cas9 system have yielded improvements in the precision of targeted DNA cleavage, but they often restrict the range of targetable sequences. It remains unclear whether these variants can limit lesions to a single site in the human genome over a large cohort of treated cells. Here we show that by fusing a programmable DNA-binding domain (pDBD) to Cas9 and attenuating Cas9's inherent DNA-binding affinity, we were able to produce a Cas9-pDBD chimera with dramatically improved precision and an increased targeting range. Because the specificity and affinity of this framework can be easily tuned, Cas9-pDBDs provide a flexible system that can be tailored to achieve extremely precise genome editing at nearly any genomic locus.
Survival of Preterm Singleton Deliveries: A Population-Based Retrospective Study

Aim. To identify sociodemographic and medical characteristics associated with preterm birth survival. Methods. A retrospective study of singleton births was performed using Missouri linked data for the years 1978 to 2005. We computed hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Cox proportional hazards model. Results. High rates of infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality were observed among preterm as compared to term births. White are at low risk for postneonatal (HR = 0.77, CI: 0.65, 0.90) and infant mortality (HR = 0.90, CI: 0.81, 0.99) compared to blacks. We observed increased risks of all mortality types for preterm deliveries by caesarean section (neonatal HR = 1.53, CI: 1.40, 1.68; postneonatal HR = 1.39, CI: 1.22, 1.58; infant HR = 1.37, CI: 1.27, 1.48). As compared to nonsmokers, preterm singletons born to smoking mothers are 69% more likely to experience postneonatal mortality and have a 17% increased risk for infant death. Conclusions. Caesarean section is associated with increased risk of all types of mortality. Racial disparity is still a concern. Further research is required to identify the detailed differences in structure and procedures that result in the disadvantage associated with preterm birth especially with respect to caesarean section and race.
Aneurysm hemodynamics: an experimental study.

PURPOSE To study the flow of blood in aneurysms. METHODS A canine model was used to study the hemodynamics of lateral, bifurcation, and terminal aneurysms with angiography and color Doppler techniques. FINDINGS Flow within experimental aneurysms, although not laminar, is seldom if ever turbulent, but rather is highly predictable, varying primarily according to the relationship of the aneurysm to its parent artery. CONCLUSIONS These studies support earlier in vitro work and provide further evidence that not all aneurysms share similar stresses. A more complete understanding of these hemodynamic features will be useful in the establishment of criteria that allow recognition of those aneurysms that are more or less likely to rupture, to grow, or to thrombose.
Sequelae of Cannabis as Medicine.

Dear Editor, Cannabis has been used for a variety of reasons for thousands of years, including as a medication; however, the term “medical marijuana” has been a more recent term used to describe its potential medical benefit. Currently 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis in some form, with Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska being the only states which have approved cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes. The most common diagnosis people use cannabis for medical purposes is “pain” ⇓. From a physiological perspective, we know how the most recognized component of cannabis (THC) works in the human body and there is some evidence that there are components of cannabis may work for certain painful conditions ⇓. The endocannabinoid system has been well described in the medical literature and it is felt that cannabis exerts its primary effects on the cannabinoid1 (CB1) receptor. These receptors are found in high concentrations in the central nervous system but are also found in the peripheral nervous system and have multiple effects (coordination, appetite, sedation), including potential pain-relieving effects. Cannabinoid2 (CB2) receptors are found on immune cells and tissues and may be associated with potential anti-inflammatory effects ⇓. There are synthetic cannabinoids that have been used for several years, particularly in chemotherapy-associated nausea (dronabinol) as well as AIDS-related cachexia (nablione). Sativex, a nonsynthetic combination of THC and cannabidiol (CBD) has been used in Europe for several years …
The Plight of the Bees

The loss of biodiversity is a trend that is garnering much concern. As organisms have evolved mutualistic and synergistic relationships, the loss of one or a few species can have a much wider environmental impact. Since much pollination is facilitated by bees, the reported colony collapse disorder has many worried of widespread agricultural fallout and thus deleterious impact on human foodstocks. In this Feature, Spivak et al. review what is known of the present state of bee populations and provide information on how to mitigate and reverse the trend.
Comparison between Dual-Doppler and EnKF Storm-Scale Wind Analyses: Observing System Simulation Experiments with a Supercell Thunderstorm

AbstractKinematical analyses of mobile radar observations are critical to advancing the understanding of supercell thunderstorms. Maximizing the accuracy of these and subsequent dynamical analyses, and appropriately characterizing the uncertainty in ensuing conclusions about storm structure and processes, requires thorough knowledge of the typical errors obtained using different retrieval techniques. This study adopts an observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) framework to explore the errors obtained from ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) assimilation versus dual-Doppler analysis (DDA) of storm-scale mobile radar data. The radar characteristics and EnKF model errors are varied to explore a range of plausible scenarios.When dual-radar data are assimilated, the EnKF produces substantially better wind retrievals at higher altitudes, where DDAs are more sensitive to unaccounted flow evolution, and in data-sparse regions such as the storm inflow sector. Near the ground, however, the EnKF analyses are compara...
The use of inferential models for estimating nitric acid vapor deposition to semi-arid coniferous forests

Abstract Urban areas emit significant amounts of pollutants that impact forest ecosystems. One of the most important of these is nitric acid vapor (HNO3), a nitrogen-containing gas that deposits efficiently to forest canopies. Since measuring HNO3 fluxes directly is often impractical and costly in remote forest locales, inferential techniques are most often used to estimate HNO3 flux. Given the highly efficient deposition of HNO3, many of these inferential models assume that leaf surfaces are a ‘perfect sink’ for HNO3 (i.e., that resistance to HNO3 deposition is negligibly small or zero). This study tests the ‘perfect sink’ assumption in an open gas exchange system by exposing Abies magnifica, Abies concolor, and Pinus jeffreyi seedlings to concentrations of 1–13 ppb at 4–20% relative humidity. We find that, at these humidities and concentrations, cuticles are not perfect sinks for HNO3, with cuticular resistance values ranging from 20 to 184 s m−1. In addition, our results indicate that accumulating HNO3 on leaf cuticles at these concentrations leads to higher cuticular resistance over 8–12 h exposure periods. Based on this laboratory data, we then parameterized cuticular resistance using a single-layer inferential model for semi-arid forests in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Modeled fluxes using this modification were 33% lower during well-mixed daytime conditions than the fluxes from an identical model run using the perfect sink assumption. Since HNO3 can often account for more than half of atmospheric deposition, we conclude that inferential models that assume foliage to be perfect HNO3 sinks are inaccurate, especially in semi-arid forests where significant amounts of HNO3 can accumulate on leaf surfaces during dry periods.
A multidisciplinary approach to assessing the abused youngster

(1984). A multidisciplinary approach to assessing the abused youngster. Early Child Development and Care: Vol. 14, No. 1-2, pp. 93-108.
The Role of Organic Colloids in Dewatering

Sludge conditioning and dewatering tests were conducted for a variety of sewage sludges that were anaerobically and aerobically digested. The data were compared to solution proteins, polysaccharides, and biopolymers (combined proteins and polysaccharides). It was found that for anaerobically digested sludges, the polymer conditioning requirements correlated well with the protein concentration. For aerobically digested sludges, the polymer conditioning requirements were best described by the combined protein and polysaccharides. The dewatering rate was found to correlate with the combined proteins and polysaccharides for both the anaerobically and aerobically digested sludges. The specific fraction of biopolymer that influenced both the polymer conditioning dose and dewatering rate was the size fraction between 1.5 μm and 30,000 Daltons, operationally defined as the colloidal fraction. The size fraction less than 30,000 Daltons was unimportant with regard to sludge dewatering properties.
Glycolysis in the African Trypanosome: Targeting Enzymes and Their Subcellular Compartments for Therapeutic Development

Subspecies of the African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, which cause human African trypanosomiasis, are transmitted by the tsetse fly, with transmission-essential lifecycle stages occurring in both the insect vector and human host. During infection of the human host, the parasite is limited to using glycolysis of host sugar for ATP production. This dependence on glucose breakdown presents a series of targets for potential therapeutic development, many of which have been explored and validated as therapeutic targets experimentally. These include enzymes directly involved in glucose metabolism (e.g., the trypanosome hexokinases), as well as cellular components required for development and maintenance of the essential subcellular compartments that house the major part of the pathway, the glycosomes.
Modeling of laser welding - a metallurgical perspective

The interaction of a high power laser beam and a solid metallic material is discussed, leading to the formation of a keyhole in steel. The requirements for a laser to produce a keyhole are stated. Surrounding the keyhole is a molten pool, whose flow can be calculated by the appropriate equations. The use of time-temperature-transformation curves for steels superimposed by the cooling curves from different laser beam welding conditions is presented
Cerebrospinal Fluid from Patients with Parkinson's Disease Alters the Survival of Dopamine Neurons in Mesencephalic Culture

Abstract We have previously demonstrated that extracts of striatal tissue from patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) increase the survival of dopamine neurons in mesencephalic cultures relative to striatal extracts from control patients. In the present study, ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (vCSF) from patients with PD, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and age-matched controls was similarly assessed. vCSF samples were separated into >10-kDa and 10-kDa fractions from PD and AD patients contained 73 and 13%, respectively, more tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons than cultures incubated with vCSF from age-matched controls. This trophic activity was positively correlated with the trophic activity present in striatal extracts from the same patients. The
Expression of human topoisomerase I with a partial deletion of the linker region yields monomeric and dimeric enzymes that respond differently to camptothecin.

Human topoisomerase I is a 765-residue protein composed of four major domains as follows: the unconserved and highly charged NH2-terminal domain, a conserved core domain, the positively charged linker region, and the highly conserved COOH-terminal domain containing the active site tyrosine. Previous studies of the domain structure revealed that near full topoisomerase I activity can be reconstituted in vitro by fragment complementation between recombinant polypeptides approximating the core and COOH-terminal domains. Here we demonstrate that deletion of linker residues Asp660 to Lys688 yields an active enzyme (topo70ΔL) that purifies as both a monomer and a dimer. The dimer is shown to result from domain swapping involving the COOH-terminal and core domains of the two subunits. The monomeric form is insensitive to the anti-tumor agent camptothecin and distributive during in vitro plasmid relaxation assays, whereas the dimeric form is camptothecin-sensitive and processive. However, the addition of camptothecin to enzyme/DNA mixtures causes enhancement of SDS-induced breakage by both monomeric and dimeric forms of the mutant enzyme. The similarity of the dimeric form to the wild type enzyme suggests that some structural feature of the dimer is providing a surrogate linker. Yeast cells expressing topo70ΔL were found to be insensitive to camptothecin.
Structure and orientation of propargyl chloride partially oriented in a nematic mesophase

Abstract The proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, including 13C satellites at natural abundance, of propargyl chloride partially oriented in a nematic phase were analyzed. The direct coupling constants obtained were corrected for harmonic vibrations and used to calculate geometrical and orientational information. A variation in the temperature at which the NMR spectra were recorded had a negligible effect upon the structure. The difference between the vibrationally uncorrected and corrected distance ratios is substantial.
The oxidation of metals

A detailed review of the principles governing the oxidation of metals is presented. It covers the initial stages of oxidation, oxide film formation, thick film and scale formation and oxide structure.
Analytic approach to quantum-mechanical time averages

We show that the time-averaged density matrix which involves the solution of any Liouville equation with a specified initial condition is also the steady-state solution of an appropriately constructed Bloch equation taken in the weak-damping limit. This leads to new explicit expressions for the time-averaged density matrix which, unlike expressions in general use, give a completely analytic relation between the time average and the initial condition and contain no numerically determined eigenvector components. We apply this approach to driven multilevel systems to find new expressions for the time-averaged level populations in a three-level system. A strong initial-condition dependence is exhibited even for an equally spaced resonantly driven system. Analytic forms specifically showing a Stark-shifted multiphoton resonance and the associated line shape are also derived.
Factors associated with sexually transmitted infections in men and women.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains a serious healthcare problem costing approximately 13 billion dollars annually to treat. Men and women who contract STIs have a higher risk for reinfection and for developing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Determining the risk factors associated with STIs in a community would be helpful in designing culturally appropriate tailored interventions to reduce spread of STIs. Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective chart review was to determine the frequency and type of STIs, as well as to determine the predictor variables associated with STIs among those seeking treatment at a local inner city health unit. Method: A total of 237 medical records were reviewed from a STI clinic. The sample comprised 119 men and 118 women, of whom 70.9% were African American. The mean age was 27, and 38% had a prior STI. Men used significantly more condoms (χ2 = 24.28, p = 0.000), had more sexual partners (χ2 = 18.36, p = 0.003), and had more prior infections of g...
Counterintuitive ground states in soft-core models

It is well known that statistical mechanics systems exhibit subtle behavior in high dimensions. In this paper, we show that certain natural soft-core models, such as the Gaussian core model, have unexpectedly complex ground states even in relatively low dimensions. Specifically, we disprove a conjecture of Torquato and Stillinger, who predicted that dilute ground states of the Gaussian core model in dimensions 2 through 8 would be Bravais lattices. We show that in dimensions 5 and 7, there are in fact lower-energy non-Bravais lattices. (The nearest three-dimensional analog is the hexagonal close-packing, but it has higher energy than the face-centered cubic lattice.) We believe these phenomena are in fact quite widespread, and we relate them to decorrelation in high dimensions.
Interprocedural analysis for loop scheduling and data allocation

Abstract In order to reduce remote memory accesses on CC-NUMA multiprocessors, we present an interprocedural analysis to support static loop scheduling and data allocation. Given a parallelized program, the compiler constructs graphs which represent globally and interprocedurally the remote reference penalties associated with different choices for loop scheduling and data allocation. After deriving an optimal solution according to those graphs, the compiler generates data allocation directives and schedules DOALL loops. Experiments indicate that the proposed compiler scheme is efficient and simulation results show good performance of the parallel code.
New endocranial values for the East African early hominids.

THIS is a preliminary report on research carried out during 1971 and 1972 on the endocranial values of some East African hominids from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, and East Lake Rudolf, Kenya. The cranial remains suitable for the reconstruction of volumetrically accurate endocranial casts are as follows: from Olduvai Gorge, hominids OH 7, 9, 12, 13 and 24; from East Lake Rudolf, KNM-ER 732 and 406. Each set of hominid remains required its own reconstructive procedures; a full description of each is unnecessary here but will be published elsewhere. In this communication I report only the results and make some preliminary observations as to their significance. Table 1 shows the cranial capacities found for each hominid. Not all of these results should be equally regarded; some results are only approximations but others are stated with more confidence.
The Absorption Coefficient for Slow Electrons in Thallium Vapor

The absorption coefficient $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ has been observed by sending a beam of electrons through thallium vapor and measuring the decrease in intensity of the beam as a function of the pressure of the vapor. $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, plotted as a function of the velocity of the electrons, decreases rapidly to a minimum of 15 at 1.4 volts, rises less rapidly to a maximum of 51 at 4.5 volts, and then slopes off gradually to 20 at 100 volts.
A note on the association between systematic risk and common stock and bond rating classifications

Abstract Relative risk classifications for both common stock and bonds are provided by several financial services, based upon their analysis of the financial and operating data of the issuer. Systematic risk, on the other hand, is a quantitative measure of relative risk based upon market-generated data. Using several multivariable statistical techniques and a sample of 443 listed companies, this note provides empirical evidence of the association between 1) systematic risk and common stock rankings, 2) systematic risk and bond ratings, 3) two popular common stock ranking classification systems, and 4) common stock rankings and bond ratings.
Both Sides of the Coin: Randomization from the Perspectives of Physician-Investigators and Patient-Subjects

Randomization is the "gold standard" design for clinical research trials, and is accepted as the best way to reduce bias. Although some controversy remains over this matter, we believe equipoise is the fundamental ethical requirement for conducting a randomized clinical trial. Despite much attention to the ethics of randomization, the moral psychology of this study design has not been explored. This paper analyzes the ethical tensions that arise from conducting these studies, and examines the moral psychology of this design from the perspectives of physician-investigators and patient-subjects. We conclude with a discussion of the practical implications of this analysis.
Conflict Resolution in Team Teaching: A Case Study in Interdisciplinary Teaching

The authors discuss the challenges of creating an integrated, interdisciplinary team-taught course. This case study focuses on conflict arising from interdependency, when interdisciplinary teams determine course content and negotiate identity, relationship, and process issues. Although no formulaic solutions can resolve such conflicts, the study makes suggestions that can help achieve integration and collaboration when disciplines join forces.
Dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages mediate IL-13–induced airway inflammation and chemokine production

Background IL-13 in the airway induces pathologies that are highly characteristic of asthma, including mucus metaplasia, airway hyperreactivity (AHR), and airway inflammation. As such, it is important to identify the IL-13–responding cell types that mediate each of the above pathologies. For example, IL-13's effects on epithelium contribute to mucus metaplasia and AHR. IL-13's effects on smooth muscle also contribute to AHR. However, it has been difficult to identify the cell types that mediate IL-13–induced airway inflammation. Objective We sought to determine which cell types mediate IL-13–induced airway inflammation. Methods We treated the airways of mice with IL-13 alone or in combination with IFN-γ. We associated the inhibitory effect of IFN-γ on IL-13–induced airway inflammation and chemokine production with cell types in the lung that coexpress IL-13 and IFN-γ receptors. We then evaluated IL-13–induced responses in CD11c promoter–directed diphtheria toxin receptor–expressing mice that were depleted of both dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages and in CD11b promoter–directed diphtheria toxin receptor–expressing mice that were depleted of dendritic cells. Results Dendritic cell and alveolar macrophage depletion protected mice from IL-13–induced airway inflammation and CCL11, CCL24, CCL22, and CCL17 chemokine production. Preferential depletion of dendritic cells protected mice from IL-13–induced airway inflammation and CCL22 and CCL17 chemokine production but not from IL-13–induced CCL11 and CCL24 chemokine production. In either case mice were not protected from IL-13–induced AHR and mucus metaplasia. Conclusions Pulmonary dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages mediate IL-13–induced airway inflammation and chemokine production.
A Modified Method for Extraction and Identification of Abscisic Acid and Gibberellin‐like Substances from the Olive (Olea europaea)

A procedure for extracting and identifying plant hormones, particularly abscisic acid (ABA) and the gibberellins (GA) was developed through modification of methods described in the literature. The procedure is particularly useful for studying more than one hormone simultaneously in a given sample, and when the supply of plant material is limited. The procedure was used to isolate ABA and GA-like substances from olive tissue (i.e., leaves, buds and inflorescences). Gibberellin-like substances were identified by their action on α-amylase release from embryoless barley half-seeds. Characterization of an acidic inhibitor extracted from olive inflorescences by thin-layer chromatography, fluorescence under ultraviolet light, gas chromatography, and physiological effects on wheat coleoptile sections indicate that this inhibitor, or at least a component of it, is very similar if not identical with at least one isomeric form of synthetic abscisic acid.
High resolution infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy with a continuously tunable infrared laser

Abstract A new, continuously tunable high resolution infrared laser has been applied to Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (IRAS) of molecular adsorbates on well defined metal surfaces. The sensitivity, resolution and continuous tunability of the laser are demonstrated with vibrational spectra of gas-phase methane and of submonolayer CO adsorbed on Ru(001).
Electronic structures of zigzag graphene nanoribbons with edge hydrogenation and oxidation

Using the ab initio density-functional theory method and local spin-density approximation, we calculated the electronic band structures of H or H2 edge-hydrogenated zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) as well as COH, CO, or C2O edge-oxidized ZGNRs. We found that the OH group yields almost the same band structure as the $s{p}^{2}$ hybridization of H edge, and that the ketone (CO) and ether (C2O) groups result in band structures similar to those of $s{p}^{3}$ hybridization of H2 edge. Compared to H passivation, edge oxidation by the ketone or the ether group is energetically more favorable, suggesting that the GNR's edges will be oxidized in the presence of oxidizing species. Edge oxidized GNRs show metallic band structures caused by the larger electronegativity of oxygen relative to carbon, and these findings raise a question about the physical origins of the experimental observations of semiconducting GNRs. Such discrepancy suggests that more realistic modeling of GNR edge structures will be necessary to understand the experimental findings.
Arachidonic acid and other fatty acids inhibit secretion from sea urchin eggs.

Massive secretion at the egg surface follows fertilization of sea urchin eggs or parthenogenetic activation by the calcium ionophore A23187. The secretory products are used to construct the fertilization envelope around the egg. Arachidonic acid prevents the raising of the fertilization envelope induced by either sperm or A23187. We developed a secretion assay based on the ability of A23187 to raise fertilzation envelopes from the surface of unfertilized eggs. Arachidonate delays the onset of this reaction in a dose-dependent fashion. 5 μM arachidonate produces a two-fold delay in the standard assay. In contrast, the propagation of secretion over the surface of the egg is unaffected at all concentrations that have been tested. Some closely related fatty acids (e.g. 11, 14, 17 C20:3 and linoleate, 9, 12 C18:2) share with arachidonate the ability to inhibit secretion, whereas others (e.g., 8, 11, 14 C20:3 and linolenate. 9, 12, 15 C18:3) do not. The results are not easily reconciled with a cyclooxygenase- or a lipoxygenase-mediated action. Despite the sensitivity of this phenomenon to small changes in fatty acid structure, it is suggested that the fatty acids exert their effect by altering the structure or dynamics of the membrane lipid bilayer.
Vibrational frequencies and structural determination of trimethylgallium

Abstract The normal mode frequencies and corresponding vibrational assignments of trimethylgallium are examined theoretically using the gaussian 98 set of quantum chemistry codes. All normal modes were successfully assigned to one of six types of motion predicted by a group theoretical analysis (C–H stretch, Ga–C stretch, H–C–H bend, C–Ga–C bend, CH3 wag, and CH3 twist) utilizing the C3h symmetry of the molecule. By comparing the vibrational frequencies with IR and Raman spectra available in the literature, a set of scaling factors is derived. Theoretical IR and Raman intensities are reported.