cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Local Clinical Scientist, Evidence-Based Practice, and Personality Assessment

The local clinical scientist model was devised for clinical practitioners including those engaged in personality assessment. It emphasizes the importance of local data, the consideration of each clinical encounter as a mini-research project, and the incorporation of existing research data where relevant. It is consistent with, but goes beyond, evidence-based practice. There is a need to guard against the operation of cognitive heuristics for the model to be applied effectively.
Implicit Self-Evaluations Predict Changes in Implicit Partner Evaluations

Do people who feel good about themselves have better relations with others? Although the notion that they do is central to both classic and modern theories, there is little strong evidence to support it. We argue that one reason for the lack of evidence is that prior research has relied exclusively on explicit measures of self- and relationship evaluation. The current longitudinal study of newlywed couples used implicit measures of self- and partner evaluation, as well as explicit measures of self-, relationship, and partner evaluation, to examine the link between self-evaluations and changes in relationship evaluations over the first 3 years of marriage. Whereas explicit self-evaluations were unrelated to changes in all interpersonal measures, implicit self-evaluations positively predicted changes in implicit partner evaluations. This finding adds to previous research by highlighting the importance of automatic processes and implicit measures in the study of close interpersonal relationships.
Fiducial markers for MR histological correlation in ex vivo or short-term in vivo animal experiments: a screening study.

Purpose To test injectable fiducial markers for magnetic resonance (MR) histological correlation in ex vivo or in vivo animal experiments. Materials and Methods A total of 35 potential markers were tested ex vivo in pork muscle. The end-points were: 1) visibility, size, and shape on MR images and at macroscopic examination; 2) 24-hour stability; and 3) microscopic appearance. Selected markers were injected in vivo (rabbit's muscle and breast tumor tissue) to test their three-hour in vivo stability and their potential toxicity. Finally, different dilutions of the two best markers were assessed again through the same screening tests to determine whether their size on MR images could be customized by dilution. Results Two fluid acrylic paints containing inorganic pigments were found to be potentially interesting markers. On MR images, they created well-defined susceptibility artifacts. The markers made with iridescent bronze paint (iron oxide coated mica particles) were readily visible on microscopy and their size on MR images could be customized by dilution. The iridescent stainless steel paint (iron, chromium, nickel) created ex vivo the smallest markers in tissue but needed colloidal iron staining to be visible on microscopy and could not be easily diluted. Conclusion Fluid acrylic paints are potentially interesting markers for MR histological correlation. Further studies are needed to assess their long-term properties. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Spectroelectrochemical characterization of the metal centers in carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) and nickel-deficient CODH from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Carbon-monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) from Rhodospirillum rubrum contains two metal centers: a Ni-X-[Fe4S4]2+ cluster (C-center) that serves as the COoxidation site and a standard [Fe4S4]2+ cluster (B-center) that mediates electron flow from the C-center to external electron acceptors. Four states of the C-center were previously identified in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Mossbauer studies. In this report, EPR-redox titrations demonstrate that the fully oxidized, diamagnetic form of the C-center (Cox) undergoes a one-electron reduction to the Cred1 state (gav = 1.87) with a midpoint potential of −110 mV. The reduction of Cox to Cred1 is shown to coincide with the reduction of an [Fe4S4]2+ cluster in redox-titration experiments monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy. Nickel-deficient CODH, which is devoid of nickel yet contains both [Fe4S4]2+ clusters, does not exhibit EPR-active states or reduced Fe4S4 clusters at potentials more positive than −350 mV.
Transnational Terror and Human Rights

Do terrorist attacks by transnational groups lead governments to restrict human rights? Conventional wisdom holds that governments restrict rights to forestall additional attacks, to more effectively pursue suspected terrorists, and as an excuse to suppress their political opponents. But the logic connecting terrorist attacks to subsequent repression and the empirical research that addresses this issue suffer from important flaws. We analyze pooled data on the human rights behavior of governments from 1981 to 2003. Our key independent variable of interest is transnational terrorist attacks, and the analysis also controls for factors that existing studies have found influence respect for human rights. Repeated terrorist attacks lead governments to engage in more extrajudicial killings and disappearances, but have no discernable influence on government use of torture and of political imprisonment or on empowerment rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion. This finding has important implications for how we think about the effects of terrorism and the policy responses of states, non-governmental organizations, and international institutions interested in protecting human rights.
Irradiated Benzene Ice Provides Clues to Meteoritic Organic Chemistry

Aromatic hydrocarbons account for a significant portion of the organic matter in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, as a component of both the low molecular weight, solvent-extractable compounds and the insoluble organic macromolecular material. Previous work has suggested that the aromatic compounds in carbonaceous chondrites may have originated in the radiation-processed icy mantles of interstellar dust grains. Here we report new studies of the organic residue made from benzene irradiated at 19 K by 0.8 MeV protons. Polyphenyls with up to four rings were unambiguously identified in the residue by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Atmospheric pressure photoionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry was used to determine molecular composition, and accurate mass measurements suggested the presence of polyphenyls, partially hydrogenated polyphenyls, and other complex aromatic compounds. The profile of low molecular weight compounds in the residue compared well with extracts from the Murchison and Orgueil meteorites. These results are consistent with the possibility that solid phase radiation chemistry of benzene produced some of the complex aromatics found in meteorites.
WLC39-4: Joint Power Allocation and Scheduling for Deadline Constrained Wireless Traffic

We study the problem of joint power allocation and scheduling for deadline constrained traffic on the downlink of a cellular wireless communication system, where multiple users can be scheduled simultaneously on orthogonal spreading codes (HSDPA), or sub-carriers (OFDMA), subject to a sum power constraint. We formulate the problem for a canonical two-user model within a dynamic programming (DP) framework. We present key structural properties of the optimal solution to the DP, and leverage the intuition thus gained into the fundamental power allocation and scheduling trade-offs to propose the Channel-Aware Power Allocation and Scheduling (CAPAS) policy. We demonstrate the efficacy of CAPAS relative to benchmark schedulers via simulations. The key conclusion from our work is that scheduling one user at a time is sub- optimal for deadline constrained wireless traffic, both in terms of number of missed packet deadlines, and average transmit power consumption at the base-station.
A classifier ensemble based on performance level estimation

In this paper, we introduce a new classifier ensemble approach, applied to tissue segmentation in optical images of the uterine cervix. Ensemble methods combine the predictions of a set of diverse classifiers. The main contribution of our approach is an effective way of combination based on each classifier's performance level—namely, the sensitivity p and specificity q, which also produces an optimal estimate of the true segmentation. In comparison with previous work [1] that utilizes the STAPLE algorithm [2] for performance level based combination, this work achieves multiple-observer segmentation in a Bayesian decision framework using the maximum a posterior (MAP) principle, considering each classifier as an observer. In our experiments, we applied our method and several other popular ensemble methods to the problem of detecting Acetowhite regions in cervical images. On 100 images, the overall performance of the proposed method is better than: (i) an overall classifier learned using the entire training set, (ii) average voting ensemble, (iii) ensemble based on the STAPLE algorithm; it is comparable to that of majority voting and that of the (manually picked) best-performing individual classifier in the ensemble set.
IMPATT oscillators with enhanced leakage current

Abstract The behavior of IMPATT oscillators with enhanced leakage current has been experimentally evaluated by irradiating operating diodes with transient ionizing radiation. Leakage current was induced in diffused junction GaAs and silicon X-band IMPATT diodes by irradiation with 100 nsec pulses of 10 MeV electrons. With increasing leakage current, the oscillator RF power decreases and the frequency of oscillation increases. A large signal circuit model of the IMPATT diode is developed which correlates well with experimental measurements.
Variability in Protist Grazing and Growth on Different Marine Synechococcus Isolates

Grazing mortality of the marine phytoplankton Synechococcus is dominated by planktonic protists, yet rates of consumption and factors regulating grazer-Synechococcus interactions are poorly understood. One aspect of predator-prey interactions for which little is known are the mechanisms by which Synechococcus avoids or resists predation and, in turn, how this relates to the ability of Synechococcus to support growth of protist grazer populations. Grazing experiments conducted with the raptorial dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina and phylogenetically diverse Synechococcus isolates (strains WH8102, CC9605, CC9311, and CC9902) revealed marked differences in grazing rates-specifically that WH8102 was grazed at significantly lower rates than all other isolates. Additional experiments using the heterotrophic nanoflagellate Goniomonas pacifica and the filter-feeding tintinnid ciliate Eutintinnis sp. revealed that this pattern in grazing susceptibility among the isolates transcended feeding guilds and grazer taxon. Synechococcus cell size, elemental ratios, and motility were not able to explain differences in grazing rates, indicating that other features play a primary role in grazing resistance. Growth of heterotrophic protists was poorly coupled to prey ingestion and was influenced by the strain of Synechococcus being consumed. Although Synechococcus was generally a poor-quality food source, it tended to support higher growth and survival of G. pacifica and O. marina relative to Eutintinnis sp., indicating that suitability of Synechococcus varies among grazer taxa and may be a more suitable food source for the smaller protist grazers. This work has developed tractable model systems for further studies of grazer-Synechococcus interactions in marine microbial food webs.
Effective Performance Measurement at Petascale Using IPM

As supercomputers are being built from an ever increasing number of processing elements, the effort required to achieve a substantial fraction of the system peak performance is continuously growing. Tools are needed that give developers and computing center staff holistic indicators about the resource consumption of applications and potential performance pitfalls at scale. To use the full potential of a supercomputer today, applications must incorporate multilevel parallelism (threading and message passing) and carefully orchestrate file I/O. As a consequence, performance tools must also be able to monitor these system components in an integrated way and at the full machine scales. We present IPM, a modularized monitoring approach for MPI, Open MP, file I/O, and other event sources. We describe its implementation design principles, which are targeted for efficiency and minimal application perturbation, and present an application study of using IPM at scale.
HAsim: FPGA-based high-detail multicore simulation using time-division multiplexing

In this paper we present the HAsim FPGA-accelerated simulator. HAsim is able to model a shared-memory multicore system including detailed core pipelines, cache hierarchy, and on-chip network, using a single FPGA. We describe the scaling techniques that make this possible, including novel uses of time-multiplexing in the core pipeline and on-chip network. We compare our time-multiplexed approach to a direct implementation, and present a case study that motivates why high-detail simulations should continue to play a role in the architectural exploration process.
SPICE Macromodel of Spin-Torque-Transfer-Operated Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

The electrical behavior of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) using spin-torque-transfer (STT) switching was modeled using a SPICE subcircuit. The subcircuit is a two-terminal device that exhibits the electrical characteristics of an STT-MTJ. These characteristics include all the major transient characteristics of an MTJ, including the hysteresis, bias voltage dependence of the resistance, and the critical switching current versus the critical switching time. The model was designed to work over a wide range of operating conditions. Simulation and analysis of an MTJ-based D flip-flop are presented to demonstrate possible applications of the model.
Radiation-inducible caspase-8 gene therapy for malignant brain tumors.

Purpose Patients with malignant gliomas have a poor prognosis. To explore a novel and more effective approach for the treatment of patients with malignant gliomas, we designed a strategy that combines caspase-8 (CSP8) gene therapy and radiation treatment (RT). In addition, the specificity of the combined therapy was investigated to decrease the unpleasant effects experienced by the surrounding normal tissue. Methods and Materials We constructed the plasmid pEGR-green fluorescence protein that included the radiation-inducible early growth response gene-1 ( Egr-1 ) promoter and evaluated its characteristics. The pEGR-CSP8 was constructed and included the Egr-1 promoter and CSP8 complementary DNA. Assays that evaluated the apoptosis inducibility and cytotoxicity caused by CSP8 gene therapy combined with RT were performed using U251 and U87 glioma cells. The pEGR-CSP8 was transfected into the subcutaneous U251 glioma cells of nude mice by means of in vivo electroporation. The in vivo effects of CSP8 gene therapy combined with RT were evaluated. Results The Egr-1 promoter yielded a better response with fractionated RT than with single-dose RT. In the assay of apoptosis inducibility and cytotoxicity, pEGR-CSP8 showed response for RT. The pEGR-CSP8 combined with RT is capable of inducing cell death effectively. In mice treated with pEGR-CSP8 and RT, apoptotic cells were detected in pathologic sections, and a significant difference was observed in tumor volumes. Conclusions Our results indicate that radiation-inducible gene therapy may have great potential because this can be spatially or temporally controlled by exogenous RT and is safe and specific.
NMR structure of the conserved hypothetical protein TM0487 from Thermotoga maritima: Implications for 216 homologous DUF59 proteins

The NMR structure of the conserved hypothetical protein TM0487 from Thermotoga maritima represents an α/β-topology formed by the regular secondary structures α1–β1–β2–α2–β3–β4–α3– β5–310–α4, with a small anti-parallel β-sheet of β-strands 1 and 2, and a mixed parallel/anti-parallel β-sheet of β-strands 3–5. Similar folds have previously been observed in other proteins, with amino acid sequence identity as low as 3% and a variety of different functions. There are also 216 sequence homologs of TM0487, which all have the signature sequence of domains of unknown function 59 (DUF59), for which no three-dimensional structures have as yet been reported. The TM0487 structure thus presents a platform for homology modeling of this large group of DUF59 proteins. Conserved among most of the DUF59s are 13 hydrophobic residues, which are clustered in the core of TM0487. A putative active site of TM0487 consisting of residues D20, E22, L23, T51, T52, and C55 is conserved in 98 of the 216 DUF59 sequences. Asp20 is buried within the proposed active site without any compensating positive charge, which suggests that its pKa value may be perturbed. Furthermore, the DUF59 family includes ORFs that are part of a conserved chromosomal group of proteins predicted to be involved in Fe–S cluster metabolism.
Bilateral Maxillary Dentigerous Cysts in a Non-Syndromic Patient

Dentigerous cysts are the most common type of developmental odontogenic cysts and the second most common odontogenic cyst of the jaw after radicular cysts. Dentigerous cysts are usually solitary, but can be multiple in patients with certain syndromes, such as mucopolysaccharidosis type IV. There are cases of multiple cysts occurring in non-syndromic patients as well. A fourteen-year-old girl presented to our department with painful swelling in the left cheek. Except for the bulging of the left nasal lateral wall, the physical examination was unremarkable and all routine laboratory test results were within normal limits. Computed tomography (CT) showed a well-defined soft tissue density obliterating both maxillary sinuses with a tooth in the medial wall. We removed the cyst and teeth with forceps via a large middle meatal antrostomy. The pathology revealed a non-keratinized squamous epithelial lined cyst associated with the teeth.
Confinement of β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors in the plasma membrane of cardiomyocyte-like H9c2 cells is mediated by selective interactions with PDZ domain and A-kinase anchoring proteins but not caveolae

The sympathetic nervous system regulates cardiac output by activating adrenergic receptors (ARs) in cardiac myocytes. The predominant cardiac ARs, β1- and β2AR, are structurally similar but mediate distinct signaling responses. Scaffold protein–mediated compartmentalization of ARs into discrete, multiprotein complexes has been proposed to dictate differential signaling responses. To test the hypothesis that βARs integrate into complexes in live cells, we measured receptor diffusion and interactions by single-particle tracking. Unstimulated β1- and β2AR were highly confined in the membrane of H9c2 cardiomyocyte-like cells, indicating that receptors are tethered and presumably integrated into protein complexes. Selective disruption of interactions with postsynaptic density protein 95/disks large/zonula occludens-1 (PDZ)–domain proteins and A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) increased receptor diffusion, indicating that these scaffold proteins participate in receptor confinement. In contrast, modulation of interactions between the putative scaffold caveolae and β2AR did not alter receptor dynamics, suggesting that these membrane domains are not involved in β2AR confinement. For both β1- and β2AR, the receptor carboxy-terminus was uniquely responsible for scaffold interactions. Our data formally demonstrate that distinct and stable protein complexes containing β1- or β2AR are formed in the plasma membrane of cardiomyocyte-like cells and that selective PDZ and AKAP interactions are responsible for the integration of receptors into complexes.
DiRE: identifying distant regulatory elements of co-expressed genes

Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic genomes is established through a complex cooperative activity of proximal promoters and distant regulatory elements (REs) such as enhancers, repressors and silencers. We have developed a web server named DiRE, based on the Enhancer Identification (EI) method, for predicting distant regulatory elements in higher eukaryotic genomes, namely for determining their chromosomal location and functional characteristics. The server uses gene co-expression data, comparative genomics and profiles of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) to determine TFBS-association signatures that can be used for discriminating specific regulatory functions. DiRE's unique feature is its ability to detect REs outside of proximal promoter regions, as it takes advantage of the full gene locus to conduct the search. DiRE can predict common REs for any set of input genes for which the user has prior knowledge of co-expression, co-function or other biologically meaningful grouping. The server predicts function-specific REs consisting of clusters of specifically-associated TFBSs and it also scores the association of individual transcription factors (TFs) with the biological function shared by the group of input genes. Its integration with the Array2BIO server allows users to start their analysis with raw microarray expression data. The DiRE web server is freely available at http://dire.dcode.org.
Acute depressor actions of angiotensin II in the nucleus of the solitary tract are mediated by substance P

Angiotensin II stimulates release of substance P from medulla oblongata slices, and low doses of substance P or angiotensin II injected into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) decrease heart rate and mean arterial pressure. In this study, angiotensin II (250 fmol in 30 nl) was injected into the NTS of halothane-anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats before and after NTS injections of the substance P antagonist [Leu11, psi CH2NH-(10-11)]substance P (600 fmol in 60 nl). The substance P antagonist blocked the angiotensin II-induced hypotension and bradycardia (-16 +/- 3 mmHg and -24 +/- 7 beats/min before versus -0.3 +/- 1 mmHg and -2 +/- 3 beats/min after; P < 0.05). The depressor and bradycardic effects of glutamate were not altered by the substance P antagonist. In vitro receptor autoradiography showed that the substance P antagonist (10 or 100 microM) did not compete for 125I-labeled angiotensin II binding in the dorsal medulla, suggesting that the substance P antagonist does not interact directly with angiotensin II receptors. We conclude that the cardiovascular effects of angiotensin II in the NTS are mediated at least in part by substance P.
Yang-Mills theory at 60: Milestones, landmarks and interesting questions

On the auspicious occasion of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Yang–Mills theory, and Professor Yang’s many other important contributions to physics and mathematics, I will highlight the impressive milestones and landmarks that have been established in the last 60 years, as well as some interesting questions that still lie before us. The paper is written (without equations) for the interest of non-scientists as well as of scientists.
3D Voronoi Subdivision Tree for granular materials

We describe a method to simulate granular materials using a structure called a 3D Voronoi Subdivision Tree. The 3D Voronoi Subdivision Tree is a method to create interactive subdivided objects for a volume in a physics environment. A tree of 3D Voronoi cells is created from a convex object and the cells are subdivided at each level to the bottom-most children. We utilize and adapt this technique for granular materials to create a robust simulation environment. As such, this method creates dynamic granular materials that subdivide as needed based on interaction with other objects.
General Assessment of Humoral Activity in Healthy Humans

The humoral immune system is network of biological molecules designed to maintain a healthy homeostatic equilibrium. Because antibodies are an abundant and highly specific effector of immunological action, they are also an important reservoir of previous host exposures. Antibodies may play a major role in early detection of host challenge. Unfortunately, few practical methods exist for interpreting the information stored in antibody variable regions. Immunosignatures use a microarray of thousands of random sequence peptides to interrogate antibodies in a broad and unbiased fashion. The pattern of binding between antibody and peptide is reproducible. Once the system has been trained on a disease cohort, blinded samples can be reliably predicted. Although immunosignatures of both chronic and infectious disease have been extensively tested, less has been done to demonstrate how healthy immunosignatures change over time or between individuals. Here, we report the results of a study of immunosignatures of healthy persons over brief (12 h sampled once per hour), intermediate (32 days sampled once per day), and long (5 years sampled once every year) time spans. Using this information, we were also able to detect intentional and unintentional immunological perturbations in the form of a vaccine and an infection, respectively. Our findings suggest that, even with the variability inherent in healthy immunosignatures, a single person's immunosignature will remain constant over time. Over this healthy signature, vaccines and infections create subsignatures that are common across multiple people, even subsuming healthy fluctuations. These findings have implications for disease monitoring and early diagnosis.
Grain Boundaries in Sintering

The objective of this presentation is to contribute to the understanding of the role that grain boundaries play in sintering. It is a phenomenological overview of how they behave and why. Specific functions to be covered are the formation of grain boundaries, their nature and movement. This discussion is based on the foundation of our knowledge on the sintering of ceramics established by an excellent tutorial review by Coble and Burke in 1963.1 Their chapter lists many references on specific aspects of sintering.
Measuring Variations in Maternal Behavior: Relevance for Studies of Mood and Anxiety

The assessment of variations in maternal behavior in laboratory rodents is challenging yet may provide an essential tool for understanding the mechanisms linking early life experiences to individual differences in stress responsivity and behavioral indices of depression and anxiety. In this chapter, the methodology for characterizing the quality and quantity of mother–pup interactions in mice as well as the strategy for analyzing this observational data is described in detail. Successful use of this approach is dependent on careful consideration of the wide variety of environmental variables that may influence maternal behaviors, such as pup licking/grooming, which have been demonstrated to be associated with a wide range of behavioral phenotypes in offspring. Maternal behavior can moderate the effect of genetic and neurobiological manipulations that are being developed in mice to study the etiology of psychopathology. The protocol described in this chapter can be applied to these studies to examine the interplay between genes and the environment.
Controllable ROMP Tacticity by Harnessing the Fluxionality of Stereogenic-at-Ruthenium Complexes.

Readily accessible and easy-to-handle Ru complexes capable of generating all-Z polynorbornene and polynorbornadiene by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with controllable selectivity, ranging from ≈50 to ≥95 % syndiotactic, are introduced. It is demonstrated that the rate of non-metathesis based polytopal isomerization and levels of syndiotacticity may be fine-tuned by the adjustment of monomer concentration and catalyst's steric and electronic characteristics.
Empirical Study of Toyota Motor Corporation Relative to the Good to Great Framework

Best-selling business book Good to Great was published in 2001 as the result of an effort to understand what characteristics, if any, companies who experience an extended run of greatness have in common compared to companies who do not. The resulting seven-component framework of Good to Great has brought the book both wild acclaim in management circles and heavy scrutiny in the research arena. While the book originally studied only American companies, this research will examine Good to Great’s research methodology and definition of “great” in order to compare the framework to Toyota Motor Corporation. A consistent tenant in Fortune’s Global 500 top 10, Toyota is arguably one of the most successful companies in the world, showing a growth that has been remarkably steady for almost 80 years. This paper examines empirical data and evidence from Toyota research and analyses the degree of fit relative to the Good to Great framework. The outcome of the paper offers evidence to support Good to Great framework by putting it on trial against a large international organization.
Moral Psychology: An Introduction

Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Preferences 2. Responsibility 3. Emotion 4. Character 5. Disagreement Afterward References Glossary Index
Light Makes a Surface Banana-Bond Split: Photodesorption of Molecular Hydrogen from RuO2(110).

The coordination of H2 to a metal center via polarization of its σ bond electron density, known as a Kubas complex, is the means by which H2 chemisorbs at Ru4+ sites on the rutile RuO2(110) surface. This distortion of electron density off an interatomic axis is often described as a ‘banana-bond.’ We show that the Ru–H2 banana-bond can be destabilized and split using visible light. Photodesorption of H2 (or D2) is evident by mass spectrometry and scanning tunneling microscopy. From time-dependent density functional theory, the key optical excitation splitting the Ru–H2 complex involves an interband transition in RuO2 which effectively diminishes its Lewis acidity, thereby weakening the Kubas complex. Such excitations are not expected to affect adsorbates on RuO2 given its metallic properties. Therefore, this common thermal cocatalyst employed in photocatalysis is, itself, photoactive.
Appetitive backward conditioning in pigeons

A systematic replication of Hearst’s (1989) demonstration of excitatory, appetitive backward conditioning with pigeons was undertaken. On each training session, two types of backward conditioning trials were presented: On positive trials, hopper presentation (the unconditioned stimulus, or US) was followed by illumination of a pigeon key (the positive backward conditioned stimulus, or CS) for 6 s. On negative trials, a different 6-s keylight (the negative backward CS) followed presentation of the hopper light alone. Associative strength was assessed on higher-order, summation, resistance-to-reinforcement, and extinction test sessions, using two measures—key pecking and key approach (proximity duration). Consistent with Hearst’s findings, pigeons rarely pecked during backward conditioning training; however, during resistance-to-reinforcement tests, birds acquired keypeck responding more rapidly to the positive versus the negative backward cue. In Experiment 2, maintained proximity duration was higher to the positive versus the negative CS on resistance-to-reinforcement tests in both between- and within-subject comparisons. These results, which extend those of Hearst to a within-subject assay of backward conditioning, and to an alternate measure of performance, suggest that appetitive backward conditioning is a reliable phenomenon, the parameters of which require further exploration.
Incorporating data visualization in a course on computer graphics

Data visualization techniques and tools can facilitate the identification of meaningful correlations within data as well as exploring new models and theories. Visualization has become an integral component for computer science programs that support data analytics or "big data" curriculums. This paper describes an introductory computer graphics course that incorporates learning objectives outlined in the ACM-IEEE curriculum guidelines for a unit on data visualization. We identify challenges related to teaching an introduction to computer graphics course, particularly at small-to-medium sized universities, and propose a unit on data visualization within an introductory computer graphics course with example assignments and student work.
An assessment of efficient water heating options for an all-electric single family residence in a mixed-humid climate

An evaluation of a variety of efficient water heating strategies for an all-electric single family home located in a mixed-humid climate is conducted using numerical modeling. The strategies considered include various combinations of solar thermal, heat pump, and electric resistance water heaters. The numerical model used in the study is first validated against a year of field data obtained on a dual-tank system with a solar thermal preheat tank feeding a heat pump water heater that serves as a backup. Modeling results show that this configuration is the most efficient of the systems studied over the course of a year, with a system coefficient of performance (COPsys) of 2.87. The heat pump water heater alone results in a COPsys of 1.9, while the baseline resistance water heater has a COPsys of 0.95. Impacts on space conditioning are also investigated by considering the extra energy consumption required of the air source heat pump to remove or add heat from the conditioned space by the water heating system. A modified COPsys that incorporates the heat pump energy consumption shows a significant drop in efficiency for the dual tank configuration since the heat pump water heater draws the most heat from the space in the heating season while the high temperatures in the solar storage tank during the cooling season result in an added heat load to the space. Despite this degradation in the COPsys, the combination of the solar thermal preheat tank and the heat pump water heater is the most efficient option even when considering the impacts on space conditioning.
Something new: value and change in finance*

ABSTRACTEthnographic and social scientific accounts of the financiers that buy and sell companies for profit often homogenize the players in these social dramas, relying on blunt, totalizing definitions of culture or overly deterministic articulations of habitus. This article, drawing on a two-year study of private equity investors, offers an alternative analytic frame for making sense of how private equity people buy and sell companies. It explores the ways in which private equity people make arguments persuading one another and the larger public that an investment is worth making. Important to these arguments are not only substantive content, the evidence that investors marshal to support a thesis, but also reflective evaluation of what counts as good evidence, meta-commentary. It is in these split levels of analysis that we can appreciate the cultural diversity within finance, Wall Street, and investment banking. I will also suggest that understanding how investors are arguing substantively as well as ...
Effects of Heat and Moisture Exchangers and Exhaled Humidity on Aerosol Deposition in a Simulated Ventilator-Dependent Adult Lung Model

BACKGROUND: Many in vitro models report higher inhaled dose with dry versus heated humidity. Heat-and-moisture exchangers (HMEs) provide passive humidity in ventilator-dependent patients but act as a barrier to aerosol. The HMEs designed to allow aerosol delivery (HME-ADs) have not been well described. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact on aerosol deposition of HME-ADs with and without active exhaled humidity in a simulated ventilator-dependent adult model. METHODS: We used an in vitro lung model consisting of an intubated teaching mannequin with an endotracheal tube of 8.0 mm inner diameter with bronchi directly attached to a collecting filter and passive rubber test lung to provide testing without active exhaled humidity. To simulate exhaled humidity, a Cascade humidifier (37°C and 100% relative humidity) was placed between the collecting filter and test lung, simulating body temperature and pressure saturated exhaled humidity at the bronchi. Albuterol sulfate (2.5 mg/3 mL) was administered with a mesh nebulizer (Aerogen Solo) placed in the inspiratory limb of the ventilator circuit at the Y-piece, with no HME in place (control) and with 3 HME-AD devices, including the CircuVent, Humid-Flo, and AirLife, with and without exhaled humidity. Drug was eluted from the collecting filter and analyzed with spectrophotometry. Student t tests and analysis of variance were used for data analysis (P RESULTS: The percentage of drug dose delivered (mean ± SD) distal to the bronchi in the control experiments was greater than all of the HME-ADs without exhaled humidity 18 ± 0.7 and with active exhaled humidity 10.8 ± 0.2% (P CONCLUSIONS: In this model simulating active exhaled humidity, aerosol drug delivery was lower and more consistent with both control and the HME-ADs than with the standard nonhumidified model. Further studies are needed to determine whether greater deposition in a dry model is an artifact of the model that does not simulate exhaled humidity.
Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Perspectives on the Emotional and Pragmatic Expression of Sympathy in Spanish and English

In the language that surrounds the event of death, the speech act of expressing sympathy can be a genuine emotional reaction, but also a pragmatic utterance that follows politeness norms and is used to achieve social or conversational goals. Sympathy is a unique emotion since it can arise only through social interaction (Clark, C, Misery and company: Sympathy in everyday life. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago/London, 1997), and it is crucial for establishing social bonds and intersubjectivity. Parting from the idea that both pragmatic and emotional behavior are conditioned by the cultural norms of the speaker’s language (Wierzbicka, A, Emotions across languages and cultures: Diversity and universals. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999), as well as the idea that the ability to express and perceive emotion in a second language (L2) is an important part of a L2 learner’s communicative competence (Pavlenko 2005), this chapter examines how sympathy is expressed at the mention of a death in the family by native speakers (NSs) of Spanish and English, as well as intermediate L2 learners of Spanish. The data for this study were collected through recorded conversations with 60 participants, in which spontaneous reactions of sympathy were elicited. The data show that the way speakers react to an interlocutor’s hardship, such as a death in the family, is influenced by social and politeness factors, personality differences and conversational structure. Results indicate that some differences exist in how sympathy is expressed by NSs of English and Spanish, although speakers of both languages tended to rely heavily on the use of formulaic expressions. Regarding the learners, it was found that some had acquired sufficient L2 pragmatic information to react appropriately, while others exhibited pragmatic transfer from their L1 to their L2 or were unable to react due to linguistic limitations, which could negatively impact the communication or relationship between interlocutors. Therefore, this chapter supports the idea that learning to express emotions such as sympathy in a culturally and pragmatically appropriate manner is necessary for achieving successful L2 communicative competence.
Burden of higher lead exposure in African-Americans starts in utero and persists into childhood.

Abstract Background Recent public health lead crises in urban areas emphasize the need to better understand exposure to environmental toxicants, particularly in higher risk groups. Although African-American children have the highest prevalence of elevated blood lead levels in the United States, little is known about when this trajectory of disproportionate burden of lead exposure first emerges. Objectives Using tooth-matrix biomarkers that directly measure fetal and early childhood metal levels, the primary goal of this study was to determine if there were racial disparities in lead levels during fetal development and early childhood. Manganese, an essential nutrient that modifies the neurotoxic effects of lead, was also measured. Methods Pregnant women served by the Henry Ford Health System and living in a predefined geographic area in and around Detroit, Michigan, were recruited during the second trimester or later into the Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy and Asthma Longitudinal Study (WHEALS), a population-based birth cohort. Offspring born between September 2003 and December 2007 were studied in childhood. Child race was parent-reported. Lead and manganese during the second and third trimesters, early postnatal life (birth through age 1 year) and early childhood (age 1 through time of tooth shedding, which ranges from 6 to 12 years) were measured via high-resolution microspatial mapping of dentin growth rings, a validated biomarker for prenatal and childhood metal exposure. Results African-American children ( N = 71) had 2.2 times higher lead levels in the second and third trimesters (both p p = 0.003) compared to white children ( N = 51). Lead levels in African-American children were also higher during childhood, but this effect was only marginally significant ( p = 0.066) and was attenuated after covariate adjustment. Additionally, we observed that African-American children had lower tooth‑manganese levels during the third trimester ( p = 0.063) and postnatally ( p = 0.043), however these differences were attenuated after covariate adjustment. Conclusion The disproportionate burden of lead exposure is vertically transmitted (i.e., mother-to-child) to African-American children before they are born and persists into early childhood. Our results suggest that testing women for lead during pregnancy (or in pre-conception planning), may be needed to identify the risk to their future offspring, particularly for African-American women.
Genotypic characterization and comparison of Streptococcus mutans in American Indian and Southeast Iowa children

Early childhood caries is a complex health care issue that has a multifactorial etiology. One aspect of this etiology is the colonization and propagation of acidogenic bacteria at an early age. There have been several bacterial species associated with caries but 1 common species is Streptococcus mutans. Here, we describe genotypic diversity and commonality of Streptococcus mutans recovered from children representing 2 groups with similar socioeconomic demographics: a Northern Plains American Indian Tribe and a Southeast Iowa population. Forty 36-month-old American Indian children were selected from a cohort of 239 mothers and children, and forty 2- to 5-year-old children from Southeast Iowa were selected to compare the genotypic profiles of Streptococcus mutans recovered from each child's plaque. S. mutans isolates were selected from whole mouth plaque samples; DNA was extracted and amplified via AP-PCR to show specific genotype patterns. These patterns were compared with GelComparIIv6.5 gel analysis software. We found 18 distinct genotypes from 524 isolates; 13 of which were common between the 2 communities. Five genotypes were unique to only the American Indian children while the Southeast Iowa children harbored no unique genotypes. Although the American Indian children had some genotypes that were not present in the Southeast Iowa children, these were not widely distributed among the community. Furthermore, the levels of genotypic diversity and commonality were similar between the 2 populations. This study sets the groundwork for a comprehensive comparison of genotypes and caries among larger subsections of both populations.
Interplay between Ion Transport, Applied Bias, and Degradation under Illumination in Hybrid Perovskite p-i-n Devices

We studied ion transport in hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite p-i-n devices as a function of applied bias under device operating conditions. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and equivalent circuit modeling, we elucidated various resistive and capacitive elements in the device. We show that ion migration is predictably influenced by a low applied forward bias, characterized by an increased capacitance at the hole-transporting (HTM) and electron-transporting material (ETM) interfaces, as well as in bulk. However, unlike observations in n-i-p devices, we found that there is a capacitive discharge leading to ion redistribution in the bulk at high forward biases. Furthermore, we show that a chemical double-layer capacitance buildup as a result of ion accumulation impacts the electronic properties of the device, likely by inducing either charge pinning or charge screening, depending on the direction of the ion-induced field. Lastly, we extrapolate ion diffusion coefficients (∼10–7 cm2 s–1) a...
Testing auditor-client interactions without letting auditors and clients fully interact: Comments on Bennett and Hatfield (2018)

Abstract Bennett and Hatfield (2018) conduct a role-playing experiment that provides important evidence on how face-to-face communication enhances the professional skepticism of auditors' inquiries, relative to written (email) communication. However, their study captures only part of the richness of auditor-client communication, with findings that could possibly interact with the effects of computer-mediated communication on the propensity for auditors to undertake an inquiry (e.g., Bennett & Hatfield, 2013) or on how client personnel choose to respond (e.g., Saiewitz & Kida, 2018). Experiments of this nature are limited by the fact that participants play only one role, with the other role fixed by design. This commentary challenges future researchers to push the frontier beyond these settings by considering the potential for truly interactive studies that examine how auditor and client personnel respond to each other.
The sheep look forward: Counterfactuals, dystopias, and ecological science fiction as a social science enterprise

John Brunner’s 1972 novel, The Sheep Look Up, is the story of the year leading up to a global ecological and political catastrophe. Set primarily in the United States in an unspecified near future, The Sheep Look Up tells the story of “death by a thousand cuts”: problem upon problem, malfeasance upon malfeasance, which accumulate, reinforce each other and are met only by a failing political and economic system that ultimately collapses under its own weight. This article reflects on themes and topics of the novel that resonate for social science theorists and teachers in the environmental social sciences, including global environmental politics. First, it provides a type of counterfactual analysis. It opens a window into how the world might have been had certain actions not been taken. Second, it provides a warning: how the world might be if we do not act. Third, it provides a model of how a disastrous transition might unfold as social resilience has been worn down. Looking back on the almost fifty years since the novel was written demonstrates how its scenario was averted through concerted government and societal actions, but the article also points out how Brunner’s work has strong resonance with our present – and at different times in the recent past.
In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Dibromodulcitol in 9L Rat Brain Tumor Cells

Dibromodulcitol (DBD) is a halogenated hexitol active against animal and human brain tumors in vivo. In aqueous solution, DBD is transformed to products with different cytotoxicities. We studied the in vitro activation and inactivation of DBD with a bioassay in 9L rat brain tumor cells. We developed a mathematical model to calculate the rate constants of activation and inactivation. The kinetics of the activation and inactivation of DBD transformation products in cell culture medium were exponential, with rate constants of 0.139 and 0.0189 hr−1, respectively. The maximum cell kill was caused by DBD that had been preincubated in medium for 13–16 hr. Thus cell kill is not caused by parent drug but by active transformation products.