cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal interdiction of attack plans

We present a Stackelberg game model of security in which the defender chooses a mitigation strategy that interdicts potential attack actions, and the attacker responds by computing an optimal attack plan that circumvents the deployed mitigations. First, we offer a general formulation for deterministic plan interdiction as a mixed-integer program, and use constraint generation to compute optimal solutions, leveraging state-of-the-art partial satisfaction planning techniques. We also present a greedy heuristic for this problem, and compare its performance with the optimal MILP-based approach. We then extend our framework to incorporate uncertainty about attacker's capabilities, costs, goals, and action execution uncertainty, and show that these extensions retain the basic structure of the deterministic plan interdiction problem. Introduction of more general models of planning uncertainty require us to model the attacker's problem as a general MDP, and demonstrate that the MDP interdiction problem can still be solved using the basic constraint generation framework.
Systems-based Practice in Burn Care: Prevention, Management, and Economic Impact of Health Care–associated Infections

Health care-associated infections in burn patients, from ventilator-associated pneumonia to skin and soft tissue infections, can substantially compromise outcomes, because these complications are associated with longer lengths of stay, increased morbidity and mortality, and greater direct medical costs. Health care-associated infections are largely preventable, through surveillance, education, appropriate hand hygiene, and culture change, especially for device-related infections. Systems-based practice, which allows individuals and clinical microsystems to navigate and improve the macro health care system, may be one of the most powerful skill sets to effect change, permitting a shift in culture toward patient safety and quality improvement.
Assessment of USM3D Hierarchical Adaptive Nonlinear Method Preconditioners for Three-Dimensional Cases

Enhancements to the previously reported hierarchical adaptive nonlinear iteration methods implemented in a mixed-element cell-centered framework have been made to improve robustness, efficiency, an...
Toolkit for US colleges/schools of pharmacy to prepare learners for careers in academia.

Abstract Introduction The objective of this article is to provide an academic toolkit for use by colleges/schools of pharmacy to prepare student pharmacists/residents for academic careers. Methods Through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmac (AACP) Section of Pharmacy Practice, the Student Resident Engagement Task Force (SRETF) collated teaching materials used by colleges/schools of pharmacy from a previously reported national survey. The SRETF developed a toolkit for student pharmacists/residents interested in academic pharmacy. Results Eighteen institutions provided materials; five provided materials describing didactic coursework; over fifteen provided materials for an academia-focused Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE), while one provided materials for an APPE teaching-research elective. SRETF members created a syllabus template and sample lesson plan by integrating submitted resources. Submissions still needed to complete the toolkit include examples of curricular tracks and certificate programs. Discussion and conclusions Pharmacy faculty vacancies still exist in pharmacy education. Engaging student pharmacists/residents about academia pillars of teaching, scholarship and service is critical for the future success of the academy.
Cause-Related Marketing and Price Endings: Right-Digit Effect: An Abstract

Cause-related marketing (CRM) campaigns have become common features of the marketplace. CRM often involves a for-profit business agreeing to contribute a specified amount to a cause when the business’s customers engage in revenue-generating exchanges (Adkins, 1999; Varadarajan & Menon, 1988). Despite the central role that price is likely to play in a consumer’s decision to purchase or not purchase an offer associated with a CRM campaign, to our knowledge, very few have examined price-framing effects in a CRM context. This paper explores the effect of rightmost digits manipulation in prices on participation intentions for CRM campaigns.
Metallothionein structure update

Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight (2–7 kDa), cysteine-rich proteins which bind with high affinity to metal ions, such as Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(I) and Ag(I), in unusual metal-thiolate clusters [1-3]. MT biosynthesis is induced by a wide range of factors, including metal ions, oxidative stress, glucocorticoid hormones and cytokines, leading to their implication in many diverse cellular processes. However, the primary function of MTs under normal physiological conditions is in the transport and storage of the essential metals: zinc and copper.
Toe-clipping does not affect toad's short-term locomotor performance

In this work, I assessed the effects of toe-clipping on sprint speed and run rate (number of runs per meter) of Epidalea calamita toads from agricultural land and their natural habitat. I videotaped toads in individual trials along a linear runway. Afterwards, I randomly assigned toads to two groups: control toads, which were not clipped, and experimental toads, whose third toe in each hind limb was immediately clipped. One hour later, I videotaped a second trial. Sprint speed in the first and second trials was similar in both groups. Likewise, run rate was not affected by toe-clipping. Sex and habitat had no effect on the effect of toe-clipping on locomotor performance. These findings suggest that toe-clipping should not increase toads' risk to become prey or hinder searching for prey or mates.
Latino Immigrant Parents’ Experiences With Discrimination: Implications for Parenting in a Hostile Immigration Policy Context:

A growing anti-immigrant context has increased the discrimination Latino immigrant families confront in the United States. This study examines the relationship between discrimination and Latinos’ p...
Ethnotheatre: Research from Page to Stage. By Jonny Saldaña.

Arizona State University professor of theater Johnny Saldana coins a new genre of performance titled “ethnotheatre.” His text provides a thorough introduction to theory, method, and practical conce...
Mediator Condensates Localize Signaling Factors to Key Cell Identity Genes

The gene expression programs that define the identity of each cell are controlled by master transcription factors (TFs) that bind cell-type-specific enhancers, as well as signaling factors, which bring extracellular stimuli to these enhancers. Recent studies have revealed that master TFs form phase-separated condensates with the Mediator coactivator at super-enhancers. Here, we present evidence that signaling factors for the WNT, TGF-β, and JAK/STAT pathways use their intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) to enter and concentrate in Mediator condensates at super-enhancers. We show that the WNT coactivator β-catenin interacts both with components of condensates and DNA-binding factors to selectively occupy super-enhancer-associated genes. We propose that the cell-type specificity of the response to signaling is mediated in part by the IDRs of the signaling factors, which cause these factors to partition into condensates established by the master TFs and Mediator at genes with prominent roles in cell identity.
Survey on Intelligent Truck Parking: Issues and Approaches

The truck industry transports most of the shipments in the USA. Nevertheless, the available parking infrastructure is considerably below the industry needs. The combination of parking shortage and scarcity of timely availability information hinders accurate trip planning, leading to unexpected situations and pushing drivers to park in illegal and potentially dangerous locations or to drive beyond the legal time limit. While there have been considerable efforts and technology developments in smart parking for passenger vehicles, truck parking technologies are lagging behind when it comes to development and implementation. This paper gives an overview of the current state of research on intelligent truck parking, including related studies on urban passenger vehicle parking. The surveyed work includes sensing infrastructure, resource allocation, demand and prediction models, and routing and scheduling. In addition, real data was used to compare simple historical average methods with some predictive models and illustrate the latter’s advantage.
Genetic Basis Underlying the Hyperhemolytic Phenotype of Streptococcus agalactiae Strain CNCTC10/84.

ABSTRACT Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus [GBS]) is a major cause of infections in newborns, pregnant women, and immunocompromised patients. GBS strain CNCTC10/84 is a clinical isolate that has high virulence in animal models of infection and has been used extensively to study GBS pathogenesis. Two unusual features of this strain are hyperhemolytic activity and hypo-CAMP factor activity. These two phenotypes are typical of GBS strains that are functionally deficient in the CovR-CovS two-component regulatory system. A previous whole-genome sequencing study found that strain CNCTC10/84 has intact covR and covS regulatory genes. We investigated CovR-CovS regulation in CNCTC10/84 and discovered that a single-nucleotide insertion in a homopolymeric tract in the covR promoter region underlies the strong hemolytic activity and weak CAMP activity of this strain. Using isogenic mutant strains, we demonstrate that this single-nucleotide insertion confers significantly decreased expression of covR and covS and altered expression of CovR-CovS-regulated genes, including that of genes encoding β-hemolysin and CAMP factor. This single-nucleotide insertion also confers significantly increased GBS survival in human whole blood ex vivo. IMPORTANCE Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis. GBS strain CNCTC10/84 is a highly virulent blood isolate that has been used extensively to study GBS pathogenesis for over 20 years. Strain CNCTC10/84 has an unusually strong hemolytic activity, but the genetic basis is unknown. In this study, we discovered that a single-nucleotide insertion in an intergenic homopolymeric tract is responsible for the elevated hemolytic activity of CNCTC10/84.
The Cellular Immunity Agent-Based Model (CIABM): A computational model to examine the role of cellular immunity in viral infection

CD8 T-cells are a critical component of adaptive cellular immunity in response to viral infection, representing the primary cytotoxic T-cell subgroup that is responsible for viral clearance. The dynamics of CD8 T-cell populations as they move from naive to effector to memory subtypes is highly complex, consisting of multiple branching lineage paths governed by a series of tipping points. Agent-based modeling is a computational modeling method that has been effectively used to represent multi-cellular systems and is particularly well suited to characterizing the complexities of population dynamics. Herein we present an initial implementation of the Cellular Immunity Agent-based Model (CIABM) that represents the basic functions of the initial response to viral infection and the role of CD8 effector T-cell function in the face of a viral infection. Simulations of the CIABM demonstrate plausible population trajectories of viral and CD8 T-cells, as well as capturing biological heterogeneity through its incorporation of stochastic processes in the cellular rule sets.
A multidisciplinary ED-based fall prevention intervention reduced subsequent ED visits in older adults.

SOURCE CITATION Goldberg EM, Marks SJ, Resnik LJ, et al. Can an emergency department-initiated intervention prevent subsequent falls and health care use in older adults? A randomized controlled trial. Ann Emerg Med. 2020;76:739-50. 32854965.
Tumor-Derived Exosomes (TEX) and Their Role in Immuno-Oncology

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in health and disease, including cancer. Tumors produce a mix of EVs differing in size, cellular origin, biogenesis and molecular content. Small EVs (sEV) or exosomes are a subset of 30-150 nm (virus-size) vesicles originating from the multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and carrying a cargo that in its content and topography approximates that of a parent cell. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) present in all body fluids of cancer patients, are considered promising candidates for a liquid tumor biopsy. TEX also mediate immunoregulatory activities: they maintain a crosstalk between the tumor and various non-malignant cells, including immunocytes. Effects that EVs exert on immune cells may be immunosuppressive or immunostimulatory. Here, we review the available data for TEX interactions with immunocytes, focusing on strategies that allow isolation from plasma and separation of TEX from sEV produced by non-malignant cells. Immune effects mediated by either of the subsets can now be distinguished and measured. The approach has allowed for the comparison of molecular and functional profiles of the two sEV fractions in plasma of cancer patients. While TEX carried an excess of immunosuppressive proteins and inhibited immune cell functions in vitro and in vivo, the sEV derived from non-malignant cells, including CD3(+)T cells, were variably enriched in immunostimulatory proteins and could promote functions of immunocytes. Thus, sEV in plasma of cancer patients are heterogenous, representing a complex molecular network which is not evident in healthy donors' plasma. Importantly, TEX appear to be able to reprogram functions of non-malignant CD3(+)T cells inducing them to produce CD3(+)sEV enriched in immunosuppressive proteins. Ratios of stimulatory/inhibitory proteins carried by TEX and by CD3(+)sEV derived from reprogrammed non-malignant cells vary broadly in patients and appear to negatively correlate with disease progression. Simultaneous capture from plasma and functional/molecular profiling of TEX and the CD3(+)sEV fractions allows for defining their role as cancer biomarkers and as monitors of cancer patients' immune competence, respectively.
LiAISON-Supplemented Navigation for Geosynchronous and Lunar L1 Orbiters

A high-fidelity simulation is developed to test the theory that relative range and range-rate measurements between a satellite in a geosynchronous orbit and a satellite in orbit about the Earth-Moon L1 point may be used to improve the navigation accuracy of both satellites, compared with ground-only tracking. Recent research has determined that satellite-to-satellite range measurements between these two orbits are su cient to perform absolute state estimation as well as relative state estimation of both satellites - a technology known as LiAISON (Linked Autonomous Interplanetary Satellite Orbit Navigation). This study quanties the improvement in accuracy when LiAISON is used to supplement ground tracking of one or both satellites in a very realistic simulation. Orbit determination techniques show that the inclusion of LiAISON measurements with ground tracking observations can greatly improve absolute position and velocity estimates for both satellites in geosynchronous orbit and about the Earth-Moon L1 point.
Diabetic Truncal Neuropathy-Clinical and Radiological Image.

A 59-year-old man with a 13-year history of diabetes treated with metformin developed the sudden onset of excruciating and unrelenting right abdominal pain. Initially, he had hypersensitivity to light touch over both sides of the abdomen. An extensive workup revealed no identifiable intra-abdominal
Rheological and kinetic study of the ultrasonic degradation of locust bean gum in aqueous saline and salt-free solutions

Abstract The ultrasonic degradation of locust bean gum (LBG) in aqueous solutions has been studied at 25 °C for ultrasonication times up to 120 min. Although LBG is not a polyelectrolyte, the degradation extent and kinetics were found to be somewhat sensitive to the ionic conditions in solution, and this is attributed to changes in molecular conformation that can occur in different salt environments. Ultrasonic degradation was tracked by rheological measurements that lead to the determination of intrinsic viscosity for the LBG molecules. A kinetic model was also developed and successfully applied to characterize and predict the degradation results.
Quantitative Effects of Vehicle Parameters on Fuel Consumption for Heavy-Duty Vehicle

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Fleet Test and Evaluations team recently conducted chassis dynamometer tests of a class 8 conventional regional delivery truck over the Heavy Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck (HHDDT), West Virginia University City (WVU City), and Composite International Truck Local and Commuter Cycle (CILCC) drive cycles. A quantitative study was conducted by analyzing the impacts of various factors on fuel consumption (FC) and fuel economy (FE) by modeling and simulating the truck using NREL's Future Automotive Systems Technology Simulator (FASTSim). Factors used in this study included vehicle weight, and the coefficients of rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag. The simulation results from a single parametric study revealed that FC was approximately a linear function of the weight, coefficient of aerodynamic drag, and rolling resistance over various drive cycles. Among these parameters, the truck weight had the largest effect on FC. The study of the impact of two technologies on FE suggested that, depending on the circumstances, it may be more cost effective to reduce one parameter (such as coefficient of aerodynamic drag) to increase fuel economy, or it may be more beneficial to reduce another (such as the coefficient of rolling resistance). It also provided a convenient way tomore » estimate FE by interpolating within the parameter values and extrapolating outside of them. The simulation results indicated that the FC could be reduced from 38.70 L/100 km, 50.72 L/100 km, and 38.42 L/100 km in the baseline truck to 26.78 L/100 km, 43.14 L/100 km and 29.84 L/100 km over the HHDDT, WVU City and CILCC drive cycles, respectively, when the U.S. Department of Energy's three targeted new technologies were applied simultaneously.« less
Phosphoproteins From Teeth and Bone

The anionic non-collagenous proteins of the extracellular matrices of bone and dentine have been proposed as important participants in the mineralization of these tissues. Phosphorylated protein components have been implicated as mediators of the specific nucleation of the growth of hydroxyapatite crystals on the matrix collagen fibrils. However, the phosphoproteins of bone and dentine are quite different and it is difficult to postulate a common mechanism for the nucleation. If there is a common mechanism some particular domain on each molecule is likely to be involved. Therefore, we have initiated studies of the domain structure of the most highly phosphorylated dentine protein, phosphophoryn. At least three sequence domains with different character have been found, and studies are under way to relate these domains to the antigenic, collagen-binding and calcium ion-binding properties of phosphophoryn. The collagen- and calcium ion-binding regions appear to be localized within the same domains.
Clustering technical documents by stylistic features for authorship analysis

While previous research has demonstrated the ability to discriminate between authors using purely stylistic features, the majority of studies have been conducted on large corpora of non-technical literature. We investigate the ability of unsupervised methods to recover the authorial structure of a collection of technical documents labeled by primary author. Experiments were conducted using 23 submitted conference and journal papers containing almost 100,000 words from a local engineering research group with papers authored by both the Principal Investigator and by graduate students. Stylistic information was extracted from the body of each text forming a feature vector representing the document. Spectral clustering was applied to the feature vectors and the resulting clustering had an Adjusted Rand Index of .306 which is significantly better than chance (p < .05).
Synthetic micro-scale habitats emulating microbial system function

Micro-scale habitat conditions control the composition and function of microbial communities. For example, the paunch of the eastern subterranean termite has a physical volume of just one microliter, yet is home to a complex community of bacteria, protists, archaea and fungi. Within the termite gut, steep gradients provide spatially-distinct microniches, while close proximity allows a metabolically diverse community to collaboratively convert a lignocellulosic feedstock into acetate and other useful products. Likewise, the function of the soil system emerges from the interactions of diverse microbes with various micro-structured habitats. Conventional bioengineering approaches cannot systematically replicate micro-scale features of real microbial habitats, and as a result, may fail to capture the complex or emergent properties of microbe-habitat systems. The Shor lab is developing synthetic micro-scale habitats with micro-scale physical structures, chemical gradients, and patchy microbial distributions characteristic of real microbe-habitat systems. Our synthetic micro-scale habitats are designed to implement advanced sensing, electro-chemical actuators, and molecular tools. We have shown microbially-secreted extracellular polymeric substances can regulate retention of soil moisture, but only in micro-structured settings. We have used microdevices with synthetic pore structures to accelerate the development of sustainable food production technology. Moving forward, there is a tremendous potential for engineered bio-physical systems to broaden the scope and accelerate the pace of bioengineering discovery. Applications include sustainable food and fuel production and better approaches to safeguard the environment and human health.
Some Physical Concepts in Complex Terrain Meteorology Derived from the U. S. Department of Energy S Ascot Program

In 1978 the United States Department of Energy (DOE) initiated a program directed specifically at atmospheric studies in complex terrain (ASCOT). The two broad objectives of the ASCOT program are: To improve fundamental knowledge of atmospheric transport and dispersion processes in complex terrain. Building on this improvement in the understanding of the physics to provide a methodology for performing air quality assessments.
Transfection with trk restores "slow" NGF binding, efficient NGF uptake, and multiple NGF responses to NGF-nonresponsive PC12 cell mutants

NGF binds to and activates the protein tyrosine kinase gp 140prototrk. Expression of this receptor is required for at least some responses to NGF. Three outstanding issues are addressed in the present work. First, we determined whether expression of gp 140prototrk is required for all neuronal NGF responses. Second, we examined the role of gp 140prototrk in NGF binding and internalization. Third, we addressed the utility of NGF-nonresponsive PC12nnr5 cells for study of the NGF mechanism. In contrast to wild-type PC12 cells, PC12nnr5 cells do not express endogenous gp 140prototrk. We therefore asked whether they possess other defects that compromise NGF signaling pathways. To answer these questions, we transfected PC12nnr5 cells with a cDNA encoding full-length human gp 140prototrk and isolated cell lines permanently expressing the receptor. Introduction of trk rescued all of the many and varied NGF responses assessed, including enhanced protein tyrosine phosphorylation, induction of immediate-early and neural-specific genes, neurite outgrowth and regeneration, maintenance of survival in serum-free medium, and stimulation of AChE activity. In contrast to PC12nnr5 cells, the trk-transfected lines also bind and internalize NGF with wild-type PC12 cell characteristics. These findings indicate that gp 140prototrk is required for many, if not all, responses of neuronal cells to NGF and is necessary for proper NGF binding and internalization. Additionally, as no signaling defect other than the absence of trk expression was revealed in PC12nnr5 cells, this work supports the utility of this line for genetic dissection of the NGF mechanism of action.
A Theoretical Framework for Information Systems Portfolio Management

Information systems portfolio management is a tool that is increasingly being used by large organizations to keep track of IT projects and align those projects with organizational strategy. This paper is an initial attempt to provide a theoretical lens with which to view the IS portfolio management phenomenon. Contingency theory, modern portfolio theory, and absorptive capacity serve as theoretical perspectives from which to examine IS portfolio management.
Probing for a deeper understanding of rhabdomyosarcoma: insights from complementary model systems

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a mesenchymal malignancy composed of neoplastic primitive precursor cells that exhibit histological features of myogenic differentiation. Despite intensive conventional multimodal therapy, patients with high-risk RMS typically suffer from aggressive disease. The lack of directed therapies against RMS emphasizes the need to further uncover the molecular underpinnings of the disease. In this Review, we discuss the notable advances in the model systems now available to probe for new RMS-targetable pathogenetic mechanisms, and the possibilities for enhanced RMS therapeutics and improved clinical outcomes.
Response to Piotr Sitarski's Review of Streets of Crocodiles

(2013). Response to Piotr Sitarski's Review of Streets of Crocodiles. Studies in Eastern European Cinema: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 97-99.
Choline-Binding Proteins

Pneumococci covalently link phosphorylcholine to teichoic and lipoteichoic acids found in the peptidoglycan and cytoplasmic membrane, respectively. The functions of most of the choline-binding proteins (CBPs) are unknown, but a few have been studied in some depth and it is apparent that they have a role in pathogenesis and can be protective immunogens. The presence of choline-binding domains implies that any protein expressing these domains is secreted, since choline is a constituent of teichoic and lipoteichoic acids, which are cell surface polymers. The major pneumococcal autolysin LytA contains four to six choline-binding domains but is not found in eluates of pneumococcal strain Rx1 incubated with choline-containing buffers. Pneumococcal CBPs have been shown to play a role in pathogenesis in various murine models of disease. It is likely that there is some redundancy in the function of CBPs, and this, along with the large effect of the pneumococcal capsule, may explain why more is not known about the function of CBPs in pneumococcal disease. PspA and PspC are the two most well-characterized CBPs in terms of their biological functions and roles in disease. While these two proteins can be considered paralogs based on sequence homology, they make distinct contributions to pneumococcal virulence. The major autolysin of pneumococci, designated LytA, is known to be important in remodeling the cell wall of dividing pneumococci and is the common final point for many processes which lead to cell lysis.
Corporate Bonds, Macroeconomic News, and Investor Flows

This article examines the impact of macroeconomic announcements on corporate bond prices and investor migrations across various types of bonds over time. In addition, the authors compare the responses of investor-grade bonds and speculative corporate bonds. They find corporate bond responses to be different from those of Treasury bonds. Positive macrosurprises are followed by declining (rising) yields on corporate bonds (Treasuries), implying that investors may be migrating between Treasuries and corporate bonds very rapidly. They also identify that the sensitivity of junk bonds is more pronounced than that of investment-grade bonds. Finally, they document that the behavior of corporate bonds is very similar to that of their equity counterparts in that they exhibit greater sensitivity to negative macroshocks than to positive shocks.
Caffeine toxicity as a cause of acute psychosis in anorexia nervosa

12/0.6 18/1.6 (3) 10/0.8 (4) 6/0.6 24/1. 3 (7) 13/0.6 (6) REFERENCES 1. Griffith RS: Introduction to vancomyein. Rev Infect Dis 3(suppl):S200, 1981. 2. Farber t3F, Moeliering RC: Retrospective study of the toxicity of preparations of vancomycin from 1974 to 1981. Antimlcrob Agents Chemother 23:138, 1983. 3. Wold JS, Turnipseed SA: Toxicity of vancomycin in laboratory animals. Rev Infect Dis 3(suppl):S224, 1981. 4. Watanakunakorn C, Glotzbecker C: Enhancement of the effects of antistaphylococcal antibiotics by aminoglycosides. Antimicrob Agents Chemtoher 6:802, 1974.
Mutually interacting charge fields: a new approach to gauge theoretical formulations of elementary-particle processes

Physical events in spg~e-time always involve an observe an ~ object to be observed ~. This is true, especially in the classical domain, for charged particles. Specifically the very ac t of t ruing to classically observe an elementary charged particle (or its associated electromagnetic field) always involves other charged particles. Because of the empirical existence of an indivisible unit of electric charge in Nature, the paradigm of ~ elementary ~> charged particle and ~ elementary ~> electromagnetic field (as used in conventional Maxwell-Lorentz formulations of classical eleetrodynamics) is classically nonoperational in the microcosm. This is because one cannot reduce the value of the measuring charge continuously to zero, but merely to the l imit of one electron charge. Hence the very act of classically trying to observe an ~ elementary ~> charge will always involve other such ~ elementary ,~ charges in the detection apparatus. Since the paradigm of elementary charged particle is classically nonoperational (within the framework of purely microscopic electromagnetic interactions), one is tempted to t ry to elminate the concept from purely electromagnetic formulations of classical electron theory, but cannot consistently do so without changing the basic formulation from the conventional MaxwellLorentz theory. A simple way of accomplishing this, without el iminating the fields entirely (as in Wheeler-Feynman electrodynamics), is to rede]ine the basic interacting electrodynamic degrees o] ]reedom as being ~ charge-]ields , (i.e. each charge has its own set of Maxwell field equations, with their own associated set of ~ charge-Field ~> solutions, and postulate that physical reality is ~ wp o] mutual interactions between various ~ charge-]ielde ~ in spacetime. We call this formulation (Classical Elementary Measurement Electrodynan~ics ) (i). In order to understand the structure of the new formalism, a ~ direct-(charge-field)action ~ type of classical electrodynamie theory, it is best to view it from the context of its comparison to conventional Maxwell-Lorentz clectrodynamics, and other alternative ~ Direct-Action ,~ formulations.
Trilinear coupling of scalar bosons in the small mass limit

An S-matrix argument, as well as a field-theoretical argument, suggests that the trilinear coupling of a scalar particle of mass μ has to vanish, at least like μ, for μ → 0.
Effects of sympathetic nerves on collateral vessels in the limb of atherosclerotic primates.

Abstract This study was performed to examine effects of sympathetic nerves on collateral vessels in the limb. We studied normal (N) and atherosclerotic (AS) cynomolgus monkeys that were fed atherogenic diet for 21 months. A common iliac artery was ligated 13 months before hemodynamic measurements. Using histofluorescence microscopy, a plexus of noradrenergic nerves was identified in the adventitia of collateral vessels. We measured blood flow to the limb with microspheres, and the pressure gradient from aorta to the iliac artery beyond the occlusion. The lumbar sympathetic chain was stimulated electrically at 3 Hz (SNS-3) and 15 Hz (SNS-15). In normal monkeys, conductance of collateral vessels (in ml/min per 100 g per 100 mm Hg) was 19 ± 3.6 (mean ± SE) during control, 14 ± 1.6 during SNS-3, and 9.8 ± 0.9 during SNS-15 ( P P
The opportunity to earn oneself off a token system as a reinforcer for attentive behavior

Separate token reinforcement contingencies were compared with two mentally retarded children in a special education classroom. Each child received tokens contingent upon attentive behavior while working on academic tasks. The separate contingencies consistend of providing the children with token reinforcement that included the opportunity to earn their way off the system versus a similar contingency that did not provide this opportunity. The two contingencies were compared in separate simultaneous-treatment designs for each child. The contingencies were implemented daily and were balanced across different time periods. Providing children with the opportunity to earn their way off the system led to higher levels of attentive behavior than did the contingency without this added back-up event. The results suggest that opportunities to earn one's way off the system can reinforce behavior and perhaps provide an initial step in weaning clients from a highly structured reinforcement program.
Nuclear orientation of 2.3 d 198mAu

Abstract The magnetic hyperfine interaction of the T 1 2 = 2.3 d high-spin isomeric state of 198Au has been measured in host metals of iron and nickel at temperatures down to 4 mK using the thermal-equilibrium nuclear-orientation technique. The resulting value for the magnetic moment, μ = (+) 5.55±0.35 n.m., strongly supports an interpretation of this state as a [π h 11 2 ; ν i 13 2 ]12 − configuration analogous to 196mAu and 200mAu. The observed γ-ray anisotropies are in agreement with the recently proposed decay scheme of 198Au; for the E2/M1 mixing ratio of the 204 keV γ-transition they result in a value of δ = −0.10±0.05.
Chlordiazepoxide attenuates response suppression induced by corticotropin-releasing factor in the conflict test

The role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in mediating the stress response was studied using a behavioral test in which anxiety or conflict influence performance. Rats implanted with intraventricular cannulae were tested in a Geller-Seifter conflict test modified for incremental shock. CRF produced a dose-dependent attenuation of punished and nonpunished responding in the conflict test. Chlordiazepoxide increased punished, but not unpunished, responding and produced a dose-dependent reversal of CRF-induced response suppression. CRF had no effect on tail flick or hot-plate analgesia tests. The results support the hypothesis that CRF produces behavioral effects consistent with “anxiety” or an increased responsiveness to stress.
Ultrafast intermetallic compound formation between eutectic SnPb and Pd where the intermetallic is not a diffusion barrier

An intermetallic compound which grows at a rate greater than 1 μm/s has been observed in the liquid/solid reaction at 250 °C between molten eutectic SnPb solder and solid Pd. The intermetallic PdSn3 does not form as a diffusion barrier between the reactants, rather it grows as lamellae into the molten solder. The growth direction is normal to the liquid/solid interface, where the molten solder between the lamellae serves as fast diffusion channels during the reaction. For comparison, molten Sn (Pb‐free) reacts with Pd at a rate slower by one order of magnitude. The intermetallics, in this case, grow as a diffusion barrier between the Sn and Pd. The role of Pb in the extremely fast eutectic soldering reaction is discussed, in view of the trend of searching for a Pb‐free solder in electronic packaging.
Cadmium disposition following repeated exposure in the pregnant hamster.

Abstract Pregnant Syrian hamster were given a dose of 3.9 micromoles cadmium ion/kg (radiolabelled with 109 cadium) on days 7, 8, 9, and 11 of gestation. Animals were sacrificed on day 13 of gestation and maternal blood, liver, kidney, placentas, and fetuses collected. No pathology was observed in placentas or fetuses. Maternal liver accounted for 61% of the total cadmium injected (15.6 micromoles/kg dam), maternal kidney 4%, and placentas 0.24%. Maternal blood and fetuses contributed negligibly to the total body burden of cadmium. Gel filtration experiments indicated two major cadmium fractions in maternal liver, maternal kidney, and placental cytosols, one at the excluded volume and another nearly twice the excluded volume. Further purification and characterization of the cadmium fraction eluting at twice the excluded volume in the gel filtration experiments showed it to be cadmium metallothionein. Ion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sephacel revealed two forms of cadmium metallothionein in the cytosols of maternal liver and placentas. Maternal kidney cytosols contained one cadmium metallothionein. Amino acid analyses suggest that the thionein components of placental cytosols are synthesized in situ.
Global analysis of nucleon strange form factors at low Q^2

We perform a global analysis of all recent experimental data from elastic parity-violating electron scattering at low Q^2. The values of the electric and magnetic strange form factors of the nucleon are determined at Q^2=0.1 GeV/c^2 to be G E s =-0.008±0.016 and G M s =0.29±0.21.
Migration and the Transnationalization of Fiesta Customs in Todos Santos Cuchumatán, Guatemala

In the past decade, wage-labor migration to the United States has accelerated in Todos Santos Cuchumatin, a Mam Maya town in northwestern Guatemala, to the point that almost every family can claim at least one member who is living elna ("west," the Mam word used to refer to the United States).1 While this pattern is now common throughout much of Mexico and Central America, local reactions to it have been quite varied (Binford, 1998; De Hart, 2002; Loucky and Moors, 2000; Gledhill, 1995; Rodriguez and Hagan, 2000; Rouse, 1995). Many places have become veritable ghost towns, while others are largely populated by women, children, and the elderly, in a landscape dotted with the new and vacant houses of migrants who hope to return one day to their home communities. Todos Santos, in comparison, though intensely affected by migration, has remained vibrant and dynamic. As the wage-labor migration experience enters its second decade, the annual celebrations of All Saints Day and the Day of the Dead in Todos Santos have themselves become transnational social fields (Basch, Glick Schiller, and Szanton, 1994) shaped by a continually shifting interplay of political economic and historical forces (Garcia Canclini, 1988; Guss, 2000). Notable as a site for observing the imagining of community (Guss, 2000: 2)
Malignant pleural effusion of multiple myeloma : Prognostic factors and outcome

(2005). Malignant pleural effusion of multiple myeloma: Prognostic factors and outcome. Leukemia & Lymphoma: Vol. 46, No. 8, pp. 1137-1142.
A quantitative method for visual phantom image quality evaluation

This work presents an image quality evaluation technique for uniform-background target-object phantom images. The Degradation-Comparison-Threshold (DCT) method involves degrading the image quality of a target-containing region with a blocking processing and comparing the resulting image to a similarly degraded target-free region. The threshold degradation needed for 92% correct detection of the target region is the image quality measure of the target. Images of American College of Radiology (ACR) mammography accreditation program phantom were acquired under varying x-ray conditions on a digital mammography machine. Five observers performed ACR and DCT evaluations of the images. A figure-of-merit (FOM) of an evaluation method was defined which takes into account measurement noise and the change of the measure as a function of x-ray exposure to the phantom. The FOM of the DCT method was 4.1 times that of the ACR method for the specks, 2.7 times better for the fibers and 1.4 times better for the masses. For the specks, inter-reader correlations on the same image set increased significantly from 87% for the ACR method to 97% for the DCT method. The viewing time per target for the DCT method was 3 - 5 minutes. The observed greater sensitivity of the DCT method could lead to more precise Quality Control (QC) testing of digital images, which should improve the sensitivity of the QC process to genuine image quality variations. Another benefit of the method is that it can measure the image quality of high detectability target objects, which is impractical by existing methods.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Validating DEA as a ranking tool: An application of DEA to assess performance in higher education

There is a general interest in ranking schemes applied to complex entities described by multiple attributes. Published rankings for universities are in great demand but are also highly controversial. We compare two classification and ranking schemes involving universities; one from a published report, ‘Top American Research Universities’ by the University of Florida's TheCenter and the other using DEA. Both approaches use the same data and model. We compare the two methods and discover important equivalences. We conclude that the critical aspect in classification and ranking is the model. This suggests that DEA is a suitable tool for these types of studies.
Feeding Ecology of the Gulf Silverside, Menidia peninsulae, Near Crystal River, Florida, with Notes on Its Life History

Feeding habits ofMenidia peninsulae were analyzed monthly over a one year period and compared to planktonic prey available at the capture site. Three feeding stages were found: (1) In early spring, young-of-the-year fed on tychoplankton and detritus. (2) From late spring through winter,M. peninsulae preyed selectively on calanoid copepods and cypris larvae. (3) GravidM. peninsulae fed primarily on amphipods and larval silversides. In the Crystal River area,M. peninsulae reproduce in early spring. Silversides apparently migrate from the higher salinity bays to the lower salinity marshes in the summer, and then move back into the bays in fall.
SIRT1 deacetylase in POMC neurons is required for homeostatic defenses against diet-induced obesity.

Summary Feeding on high-calorie (HC) diets induces serious metabolic imbalances, including obesity. Understanding the mechanisms against excessive body weight gain is critical for developing effective antiobesity strategies. Here we show that lack of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + )-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons causes hypersensitivity to diet-induced obesity due to reduced energy expenditure. The ability of leptin to properly engage the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in POMC neurons and elicit remodeling of perigonadal white adipose tissue (WAT) is severely compromised in mutant mice. Also, electrophysiological and histomorphomolecular analyses indicate a selective reduction in sympathetic nerve activity and brown-fat-like characteristics in perigonadal WAT of mutant mice, suggesting a physiologically important role for POMC neurons in controlling this visceral fat depot. In summary, our results provide direct genetic evidence that SIRT1 in POMC neurons is required for normal autonomic adaptations against diet-induced obesity.
Structure and chemistry of Ba0.6K0.4BiOy at high temperature

Abstract A combination of neutron powder diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis has been used to study the structural phase behavior of Ba 1− x K x BiO y under conditions that simulate synthesis. On heating in 1% O 2 , the cubic perovskite Ba 0.6 K 0.4 BiO 3 decomposes to a mixture of Ba 1− x K x BiO y with x 2 . Further increase in temperature causes the reincorporation of potassium into the perovskite at the expense of KBiO 2 . At 720°C, the sample is again a single-phase cubic perovskite with x = 0.4 containing a large concentration of oxygen vacancies. If this sample is then cooled in argon, no chemical phase decomposition occurs. Instead, the cubic oxygen-deficient perovskite transforms to an orthorhombic oxygen-vacancy-ordered phase. A subsequent low-temperature anneal in pure oxygen fills the oxygen vacancies while retaining the potassium in the lattice, resulting in a transformation back to the cubic perovskite. This work shows that fully oxygenated Ba 1− x K x BiO 3 for x > 0.1, including the superconducting compositions, is metastable, and supports the hypothesis that the creation of oxygen vacancies is necessary to allow the substitution of K 1+ for Ba 2+ in the lattice.
Agglutination ofRhizobium japonicum 3I1b110 by soybean lectin

Conditions leading to agglutination ofRhizobium japonicum 3I1b110 with soybean seed lectin were examined. Ability of cells to be agglutinated was transient and was optimal for cultures grown for 4–5 days on yeast extract mannitol plates. Similar lectin-binding results were obtained with cells from the same cultures using fluorescence microscopy with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled lectin. These results revise the previous model for soybean lectin-R. japonicum interactions, since it was based on the inability of soybean lectin to agglutinate these bacteria.
Renal cell carcinoma: Survival and prognostic factors

Three hundred twenty-six patients treated at New York University from 1970 to 1982 were studied for survival in relationship to surgical stage, type of therapy, and pathologic characterization of the primary tumor. At the time of diagnosis 25.5 per cent of tumors were Stage I, 15 per cent Stage II, 28.5 per cent Stage III, and 31 per cent Stage IV. The retrospective study showed that patients with tumor confined within the capsule achieved the highest five- and ten-year survivals of 88 per cent and 66 per cent, respectively. Survivals decreased as tumor invaded perirenal fat (67% and 35%) or regional lymph nodes (17% and 5%). Tumor invasion into the renal vein alone did not significantly change five-year survival (84%) but lowered ten-year survival to 45 per cent. Patients with metastases at the time of nephrectomy did poorly regardless of site of metastases or kind of adjuvant therapy, except for those managed by surgical extirpation of the secondary lesion. Certain tumor characteristics were associated with a better prognosis, e.g., size below 5 cm in diameter, lack of invasion of collecting system, perirenal fat or regional lymph nodes, and predominance of clear or granular cells growing into a recognizable histologic pattern.
Making Meaning: The Constructive‐Developmental Approach to Persons and Practice

The constructive (in the sense of construing) and developmental (but throughout the lifespan) framework, whose conceptual roots lie in the work of Piaget, outlines the holistic personality process of systems of making meaning, systems that organize human thought, feeling, and action. In this article Kegan discusses and then applies the model—to a worker in a CETA program and to a psychiatric ward patient—elucidating the perspectives—on mental health and employability—it can open for practitioners.