cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FACETS of health disparities in epilepsy surgery and gaps that need to be addressed

Purpose of review Disparities in treatment and outcomes of patients with epilepsy have been identified in several distinct patient populations. The purpose of this review is to organize the literature and establish clear pathways as to why certain patient populations are not receiving epilepsy surgery. By establishing the acronym FACETS (fear of treatment, access to care, communication barriers, education, trust between patient and physician, and social support), we set up a pathway to further study this area in an organized fashion, hopefully leading to objective solutions. Recent findings Studies revealed that African American, Hispanic, and non-English-speaking patients underwent surgical treatment for epilepsy at rates significantly lower compared to white patients. Summary This article explains possible reasons outlined by FACETS for the health disparities in epilepsy surgery that exist in patients of a certain race, socioeconomic status, and language proficiency.
Patient and caregiver preferences for the potential benefits and risks of a seizure forecasting device: A best-worst scaling.

Abstract Background Epilepsy is the 4th most common neurological disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. The ability to forecast seizures is a significant unmet need and would have a transformative effect on the lives of people living with epilepsy. In an effort to address this need, the Epilepsy Foundation has committed effort and resources to promote the development of seizure forecasting devices (SFD). Objective To promote user-centered design of future SFD, we sought to quantify patient and caregiver preferences for the potential benefits and risks of SFD. Methods A community-centered approach was used to develop a survey incorporating a novel best–worst scaling (BWS) to assess preferences for SFD. A main-effect orthogonal array was used to design and generate 18 “prototypes” that systematically varied across six attributes: seizure forecasting probability, seizure forecasting range, inaccuracy of forecasting, amount of time required to use the device, how the device is worn, and cost. The dependent variable was the attributes that respondents selected the best and worst in each profile, and a choice model was estimated using conditional logistic regression, which was also stratified and compared across patients and caregivers. Respondents also indicated that they would accept each of the prototype SFDs if it were real. These acceptance data and net monetary benefits (relative to the least preferred SFD) were explored. Results There were 633 eligible respondents; 493 (78%) completed at least one task. Responses indicated that 346 (68%) had epilepsy, and 147 (29%) were primary caregivers or family members of someone with epilepsy. The data show that short forecasting range is the most favored among experimental attributes, followed by mid forecasting range and notification of high chance of seizure. Having the device implanted is the least favorable attribute. Stated preferences differed between patients and caregivers (p Conclusion Our finding extends previous calls for seizure forecasting devices by demonstrating the value that they might provide to patients and caregivers affected by epilepsy and the feature that might be most and least desirable. In addition to guiding device development, the data can help inform regulatory decisions makers.
Molecular Aspects of PPAR Actions

PPAR activity is modulated by several posttranslational modifications including phosphorylation, sumoylation, and ubiquitination. Furthermore, activity depends on intracellular localization of the receptor where nuclear localization leads to genomic effects, while cytosolic or cell membrane localization promotes nongenomic effects. Agonists of these receptors have been shown to produce effects that are PPAR independent.
Statistical Analysis of Identity Risk of Exposure and Cost Using the Ecosystem of Identity Attributes

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is often called the “currency of the Internet” as identity assets are collected, shared, sold, and used for almost every transaction on the Internet. PII is used for all types of applications from access control to credit score calculations to targeted advertising. Every market sector relies on PII to know and authenticate their customers and their employees. With so many businesses and government agencies relying on PII to make important decisions and so many people being asked to share personal data, it is critical to better understand the fundamentals of identity to protect it and responsibly use it. Previously developed comprehensive Identity Ecosystem utilizes graphs to model PII assets and their relationships and is powered by empirical data from almost 6,000 real-world identity theft and fraud news reports to populate the UT CID Identity Ecosystem. We obtained UT CID Identity Ecosystem from its authors to analyze using graph theory. We report numerous novel statistics using identity asset content, structure, value, accessibility, and impact. Our work sheds light on how identity is used and paves the way for improving identity protection.
Collective Teacher Efficacy: An Introduction to Its Theoretical Constructs, Impact, and Formation

Collective teacher efficacy has been introduced as the number one impact on students’ achievement by John Hattie and has drawn increasing attention from educational researchers. This study presents the theoretical background of collective teacher efficacy and some empirical findings of this new number one visible learning factor. The paper also explores current results and discussions around the sources and formation of collective efficacy. At last, the author provides implications in where further research is needed, including theoretical construction, empirical studies from an organizational perspective, and cross-culture comparative.
Accuracy of Exercise-based Equations for Estimating Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

Equations are often used to predict cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) from submaximal or maximal exercise tests. However, no study has comprehensively compared these exercise-based equations with directly measured CRF using data from a single, large cohort. PURPOSE This study aimed to compare the accuracy of exercise-based prediction equations with directly measured CRF and evaluate their ability to classify an individual's CRF. METHODS The sample included 4871 tests from apparently healthy adults (38% female, age 44.4 ± 12.3 yr (mean ± SD)). Estimated CRF (eCRF) was determined from 2 nonexercise equations, 3 submaximal exercise equations, and 10 maximal exercise equations; all eCRF calculations were then compared with directly measured CRF, determined from a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Analysis included Pearson product-moment correlations, standard error of estimate values, intraclass correlation coefficients, Cohen κ coefficients, and the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure to compare eCRF with directly measured CRF. RESULTS All eCRF values from the prediction equations were associated with directly measured CRF (P < 0.01), with intraclass correlation coefficient estimates ranging from 0.07 to 0.89. Although significant agreement was found when using eCRF to categorize participants into fitness tertiles, submaximal exercise equations correctly classified an average of only 51% (range, 37%-58%) and maximal exercise equations correctly classified an average of only 59% (range, 43%-76%). CONCLUSIONS Despite significant associations between exercise-based prediction equations and directly measured CRF, the equations had a low degree of accuracy in categorizing participants into fitness tertiles, a key requirement when stratifying risk within a clinical setting. The present analysis highlights the limited accuracy of exercise-based determinations of eCRF and suggests the need to include cardiopulmonary measures with maximal exercise to accurately assess CRF within a clinical setting.
Open Science in Education Sciences

The Open Science movement has gained considerable traction in the last decade. The Open Science movement tries to increase trust in research results and open the access to all elements of a researc...
Rapid generation of inoculum of a plant RNA virus using overlap PCR.

We have developed an efficient method to rapidly generate infectious inoculum of a plant RNA virus and confirmed its infectivity by mechanical inoculation. The method takes advantage of overlap PCR to bypass the cloning steps, which makes it relatively simple, rapid, and inexpensive compared to the traditional methods. Using this approach, inoculum of a tobamovirus, Turnip vein clearing virus (TVCV), was generated. PCR products specific for the 35S promoter and TVCV genome were used as templates for overlap PCR to form a single product containing the full-length TVCV cDNA under the control of the double 35S promoter, and the entire process took only 8 h. This inoculum was infectious in Nicotiana benthamiana, and its infectivity was ca. 67% compared to 0% and 100% with negative and positive controls, respectively. Thus, this rapid method generates efficient infectious inoculum for a plant RNA virus.
Understanding and Identifying Design Opportunities for Facilitating Humorous Interactions in Multilingual Multicultural Contexts

Sharing humor within a team can have various benefits. In multilingual teams, however, it is often challenging for nonnative-speaking members (NNS) of the team to fully understand the humor shared among native speakers (NS). In an interview study with 28 NNS, we identified common sources of confusion in humorous interactions. Our study also revealed that the (mis)alignment of people's assumptions of others’ knowledge is key to failed humor and its consequences. NNS felt that NS often assumed everyone shared the knowledge required to understand their humor; thus, cultural references unfamiliar to NNS were a dominant source of confusion. On the other hand, NNS often felt ignorant for not knowing the references required to understand NS humor, as they assumed all the references unfamiliar to them must be generic knowledge known by all NS. We propose design ideas for better alignment of common ground assumptions between NS and NNS to facilitate humor-related communication and alleviate possible negative consequence of failed humor.
Jutils: A visualization toolkit for differential alternative splicing events.

Motivation Gene alternative splicing plays an important role in development, tissue specialization and disease, and differences in splicing patterns can reveal important factors for phenotypic differentiation. While multiple computational methods exist to determine splicing differences, there is a need for user-friendly visualizations that present an intuitive view of the data and work across methods. Results We developed a toolkit, Jutils, for visualizing differential splicing events at the intron (splice junction) level. Jutils is method-agnostic, converting individual tools' output into a unified representation and using it to create visualizations. Jutils creates three types of visualizations, namely heatmaps of absolute and Z-score normalized splice ratios, sashimi plots, and Venn diagrams of results from multiple comparisons. Jutils is lightweight, relying solely on the unified data file for visualizations. Availability Jutils is implemented in Python and is available from https://github.com/Splicebox/Jutils. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available on the GitHub site.
Myocardial fibrosis in patients with a history of Kawasaki disease

Abstract Objectives Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) measurements of myocardial extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in patients with a history of Kawasaki disease (KD) were analyzed to determine whether fibrosis was increased compared to controls. Methods In this single center retrospective study, patients with KD who had a CMR with ECV measurement and LGE assessment were included. The ECV was calculated in the mid-left ventricle by measuring T1 values for blood pool and myocardium before and after gadolinium administration with a Look-Locker technique. CMR findings were compared to 20 control subjects. Results KD patients (n = 13) had a median age at CMR of 14.9 years (range, 7.5–36.0). Control subjects (n = 20) had a median age at CMR of 16 years (range, 11.0–36.0). Twelve KD patients had coronary aneurysms. The KD patients had a significantly lower indexed LV mass (p = 0.03) and LV mass/volume ratio (p = 0.01). ECV was not significantly different in KD patients and controls (0.26 (range, 0.20–0.30) vs. 0.25 (range, 0.18–0.28), p = 0.28). One KD patient (8%) had an increased (>0.28) ECV. LGE indicating focal fibrosis was found in 5 of 13 (38%) of KD patients. Patients with LGE tended to have a higher maximum coronary dimension z-score (p = 0.09). Conclusions In this study of KD patients, most of whom had aneurysms, ECV did not differ significantly from that in normal controls. Focal fibrosis based on LGE was common. Future larger studies should compare ECV in KD patients with and without aneurysms to define the risk of myocardial fibrosis after KD.
Daily energy expenditure of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) in suburban and wildland landscapes

Urbanization alters ecological systems, disturbance regimes, food webs, and a variety of other processes that can influence local flora and fauna. In birds, most studies have focused on behavioral or demographic responses to altered conditions; however, the physiological mechanisms associated with these responses have been understudied. We have previously documented shifts in foraging behavior because of the availability of human-provided food; we sought to see if this was driven by or associated with a change in field metabolic rates. We measured field metabolic rates (FMR), a measure of daily energy expenditure (DEE), of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) in 2 habitats using doubly labeled water (DLW). One population of jays lived in wildland habitat, the other in a suburban area where the habitat was badly degraded. During the breeding season FMR of suburban males exceeded that of wildland males by over 100%. Female FMR did not differ between sites but increased following incubation. In the wildlands, FMRs of females were barely lower than those of males, but in the suburban landscape, female FMRs were much lower than in males. For both sexes in the wildlands, FMRs were about 3.5× basal rates of metabolism (BMR) during breeding; in the suburbs female FMR exceeded BMR by 4× but did not differ from that of wildland females. Suburban male FMRs exceeded BMR by 7.1×. During the nonbreeding seasons of fall and winter, FMR did not differ between habitats, ranging from 1.7× to 2.1× BMR, thus it is the breeding season that separated wildland and suburban jays energetically. In both habitats, a low water economy index (mL/kJ) and low water fluxes indicated that these jays are well adapted to their xeric habitat, but their FMRs distinguished them from desert birds. The very high energetic cost associated with breeding for suburban males may help explain why in the metapopulation of Florida Scrub-Jays, suburban jay populations are sinks. This study underscores the value of physiology in the conservation of listed species.
Kinetic studies on the association and dissociation of myosin subfragment 1 and actin.

The reactions of pyrene-labeled actin with myosin subfragment 1 (S1) and S1-ligand complexes at low ionic strength are described by the schemes [formula: see text] where M refers to a myosin head; A is actin; L is ligand; the asterisk refers to a high fluorescence state of actin; and K1 and K3 are association constants. K1 is reduced approximately 10-fold for M.ADP or M.pyrophosphate versus M alone. The rate constant of the isomerization step (k2) is 150-200 s-1 for A*M, A*M.ADP, and A*M-pyrophosphate (20 degrees C). The interaction between the ligand the actin binding sites reduces K2 from 2,000 for A*M to 50-100 for A*M.ADP and to approximately unity for A*M-pyrophosphate. The A*M.ADP state is equated with the AM'.ADP state of Sleep and Hutton (Sleep, J., A., and Hutton, R. L. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 1276-1283).
Epidemiology of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer with unknown etiology and generally poor outcome. It is characterized by diffuse edema (peau d'orange) and redness (erythema), although either the disease itself or case definitions have varied over time and place, confounding temporal trends and geographic variations. In this review, we discuss case definitions for IBC and its clinical characteristics; describe its geographic variation, age and racial distribution, incidence and survival patterns, and summarize the very limited information on its epidemiologic risk factors. We also incorporate emerging data from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.
Jasplakinolide, a cytotoxic natural product, induces actin polymerization and competitively inhibits the binding of phalloidin to F-actin

Jasplakinolide, a naturally occurring cyclic peptide from the marine sponge, Jaspis johnstoni, has both fungicidal and antiproliferative activity. We now report that this peptide is a potent inducer of actin polymerization in vitro. The peptide has a much greater effect on Mg(2+)-actin than on Ca(2+)-actin. Competitive binding studies using rhodamine-phalloidin suggest that jasplakinolide binds to F-actin competitively with phalloidin with a dissociation constant of approximately 15 nM. This compares favorably to the previously reported IC50 of 35 nM for the antiproliferative effect of jasplakinolide on PC3 prostate carcinoma cells. The binding curve suggests that nearest neighbor positive cooperativity influences the binding of jasplakinolide (and perhaps also phalloidin) to F-actin. These results imply that jasplakinolide may exert its cytotoxic effect in vivo by inducing actin polymerization and/or stabilizing pre-existing actin filaments.
Studies on main group metal—transition metal bonded compounds

Abstract Metal—metal derivatives of the general formula (CH3)3—x]GaTmx (Tm = π-C5H5(CO)3Mo, π-C5H5(CO)3W) are obtained via reactions involving TmH and (CH3)3Ga in methylcyclohexane. For x = 1 and x = 3 the species are prepared by the combination of reactants in the appropriate molar ratios. The derivatives represented by x=2 may be obtained by heating the dimethyl derivatives under vacuum. NMR and IR data are presented for the molybdenum derivatives which show scrambling of the compounds in solution. Methyl exchange involving (CH3)3Ga and TmGa(CH3)2 is very rapid but the analogous exchange involving Tm2GaCH3 is considerably slower. NMR evidence indicates that methyl exchange between Tm2GaCH3 and TmGa(CH3)2 is slow or non-existent and that exchange of Tm is slow on the NMR time scale. The crystal structure of π-C5H5(CO)3WGa(CH3)2 has been determined from single-crystal X-ray data. This compound crystallizes in space group sol P 2 1 n with four molecules per unit cell of dimensions a = 8.707(2), b = 10.928(3), c = 13.04(3) A and β = 96.44(2)°. Full-matrix least-squares refinement gave final discrepancy factors R1 = 0.075 and R2 = 0.089 for 1936 data having I > 3σ(I).
Water-Based Microchannel and Galinstan-Based Minichannel Cooling Beyond 1 kW/cm $^{2}$ Heat Flux

Microchannel heat sinks are a relevant thermal management technology because the combination of surface area enhancement and small length scales results in low wall-to-bulk temperature differences. Previously, a thermal resistance of 0.09 °C/W was achieved when a heat flux of 790 W/cm $^{2}$ was imposed on a 1 cm $\times 1$ cm footprint portion of a 400- $\mu \text{m}$ -thick Si substrate utilizing single-phase water-based microchannel cooling and a 214 kPa pressure difference to drive the flow. Galinstan, a gallium, indium, and tin eutectic, may be utilized for single-phase liquid metal cooling of microelectronics due to its subambient melting temperature and high thermal conductivity. This paper describes the fabrication and assembly of water-based microchannel and Galinstan-based minichannel heat sinks and the flow sheets utilized to characterize them under the aforementioned constraints. The prefix mini rather than micro is used to describe Galinstan-based heat sinks because optimal channel widths are hundreds as opposed to tens of micrometers. The aforementioned thermal resistance of 0.09 °C was experimentally reproduced. Unprecedentedly low thermal resistance and high heat flux in single-phase water-based microchannel cooling, i.e., 0.071 °C/W and 1003 W/cm $^{2}$ , respectively, were achieved. The first experimental data on Galinstan-based minichannel heat sinks are also reported. A thermal resistance as low as 0.077 °C/W was achieved at a heat flux of 1214 W/cm $^{2}$ and a maximum heat flux of 1504 W/cm $^{2}$ was reached.
CHANGES IN RENAL FNCTION IN CATS FOLLOWING TREAMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM USING131I

Changes in renal function of twenty-two cats treated for hyperthyroidism using radioiodine were evaluated. Serum thyroxine (T4), serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urine specific gravity were measured before treatment and 6 and 30 days after treatment. Twenty-two cats had pretreatment and 21 cats had 6 day posttreatment measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using nuclear medicine imaging techniques. There were significant declines in serum T4 at 6 days following treatment, but the changes in GFR, serum creatinine and BUN were not significant. At 30 days following treatment, there were significant increases in BUN and serum creatinine and further significant declines in serum T4. Nine cats were in renal failure prior to treatment and 13 cats were in renal failure 30 days following treatment. Renal failure was defined as BUN greater than 30 mg/dl and/or serum creatinine greater than 1.8 mg/dl with concurrent urine specific gravity less than 1.035. These 13 cats included eight of 9 cats in renal failure prior to treatment and 5 cats not previously in renal failure. Follow up information beyond 30 days following treatment on 9 of these 13 cats indicated that all remained in renal failure. Based on receiver operating curve analysis of pretreatment glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in predicting posttreatment renal failure, a value of 2.25 ml/kg/min as a point of maximum sensitivity (100%) and specificity (78%) was derived. Fifteen of 22 cats had pretreatment GFR measurements of less than 2.25 ml/kg/min. These 15 cats included all 9 cats in renal failure and 5 cats with normal renal clinicopathologic values prior to treatment. At 30 days following treatment, 13 of these 15 cats were in renal failure. The 2 cats not in renal failure had persistently increased serum T4 values. Seven of 22 cats had pretreatment GFR measurements greater than 2.25 ml/kg/min. None of these 7 cats was in renal failure at 30 days following treatment, all cats having normal BUN, serum creatinine, and urine specific gravity values. It was concluded that significant declines in renal function occur after treatment of hyperthyroidism and this decline is clinically important in cats with renal disease. Pretreatment measurement of GFR is valuable in detecting subclinical renal disease and in predicting which cats may have clinically important declines in renal function following treatment.
Ubiquity symposium 'What is Computation?': The evolution of computation

In this second article in the ACM Ubiquity symposium on 'What is computation?' Peter Wegner provides a history of the evolution of comptuation. --Editor
P-85: Quantum Dots Enhanced Vivid Color Liquid Displays

We demonstrated two types of dielectrophoretic liquid displays with patterned quantum dots array for achieving highly saturated colors. These polarizer-free liquid displays offer high transmittance, wide view, modest response time and contrast ratio, and vivid colors. They are promising candidates for e-book and mobile display applications.
The L1-Type Cell Adhesion Molecule Neuroglian Influences the Stability of Neural Ankyrin in the Drosophila Embryo But Not Its Axonal Localization

Ankyrins are linker proteins, which connect various membrane proteins, including members of the L1 family of neural cell adhesion molecules, with the submembranous actin-spectrin skeleton. Here we report the cloning and characterization of a second, novel Drosophila ankyrin gene (Dank2) that appears to be the result of a gene duplication event during arthropod evolution. The Drosophila L1-type protein neuroglian interacts with products from both Drosophila ankyrin genes. Whereas the previously described ankyrin gene is ubiquitously expressed during embryogenesis, the expression of Dank2 is restricted to the nervous system in the Drosophila embryo. The absence of neuroglian protein in a neuroglian null mutant line causes decreased levels of Dank2 protein in most neuronal cells. This suggests that neuroglian is important for the stability of Dank2 protein. However, neuroglian is not required for Dank2 axonal localization. In temperature-sensitive neuroglian mutants in which neuroglian protein is mislocated at the restrictive temperature to an intracellular location in the neuronal soma, Dank2 protein can still be detected along embryonic nerve tracts.
No Longer Invisible

In a real teaching and learning community of learners, the belief exists that all can and will learn, that the teacher has the ability to connect new information with the knowledge base of each student, and that students will become empowered to make their own connections. This premise is built on a foundation that sees each student as a unique human being with the ability to grow. They are not cloaked by some set of generalized characteristics. They are not invisible.
The integrative framework of technology use: an extension and test

The integrative framework of technology use (IFTU) posits that to fully explain post-adoption phenomena, four mechanisms --namely, reason-oriented action, sequential updating, feedback, and habit--should be taken into account simultaneously in a unified model. Although IFTU sheds light on the four mechanisms underlying technology use, it lacks a coherent theoretical explanation for the underlying force that leads to the four mechanisms. To offer a more generalized and richer description of the four mechanisms, this study extends IFTU by drawing on the process model of memory in cognitive psychology. In addition, based on the extended IFTU paradigm, a three-wave panel model is developed that incorporates not only proximal effects but also distal effects of the four mechanisms on post-adoption phenomena. Three different sets of data (n = 195, 160, and 342, respectively) are used to test the proposed model. The results of data analysis show that, as expected, the four mechanisms have proximal effects on subsequent evaluations and behavior. Furthermore, consistent with the memory perspective, the sequential updating and habit mechanisms are found to have distal effects on post-adoption phenomena even after controlling for their proximal effects. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that the memory perspective offers not only a seamless explanation of the four mechanisms underlying technology use but also yields deeper insights that can be validated only through a three-or-more-wave panel study. This research contributes to the literature by demonstrating that the extended IFTU paradigm has the potential to serve as a coherent theoretical framework on post-adoption phenomena in which prior experiences are internalized into memories, which in turn regulate later experiences.
Assessing a Public Health Intervention for Children in Barbados, 2003-2008.

Introduction In 2003, Barbados, a developing country with universal health care, launched the Barbados Strategic Plan for Health, a national intervention to promote public health. Teachers, health educators, and clinicians worked to improve children’s health, with particular focus on asthma and diabetes. We studied this intervention by using data on preventable hospitalization, an indicator that assesses both the overall effectiveness of public health and access to primary health care. The purpose of this study was to assess the Barbados Strategic Plan for Health by measuring rates of preventable hospitalization among children. Few researchers have studied these hospitalizations for children, and only 1 study has done so in a developing country.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome is a disabling reaction to neuroleptic drugs recently discussed in psychiatric literature in Europe, Japan, and the United States. It is rare but potentially fatal and is more likely to occur in men, especially young men, than in women. The cause is unknown, but dopamine depletion in the brain is suspected. Treatment usually begins by withdrawing the neuroleptics and then providing supportive therapy for the usual symptoms of high fever, muscular rigidity, labile blood pressure, and tachycardia. The Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome usually lasts two to three weeks.
The Marriage of Positive Psychology and Relationship Science: A Reply to Fincham and Beach

As Fincham and Beach (2010) describe, the positive psychology movement has developed largely independent of relationship science, and, as a result, the two have had little interchange. We wholeheartedly agree that relationship science and positive psychology both will benefit from better conceptual understanding of positive, appetitive processes in the context of relationships. We also agree with Fincham and Beach’s basic premise: that relational flourishing is not merely the absence of distress and that it is useful to think of relationship flourishing and distress as two functionally independent dimensions (rather than as contrasting endpoints of a bipolar scale). We are therefore gratified to see Fincham and Beach pursue the proposal of Gable and Reis (2001) and Reis and Gable (2003) that appetitive processes are understudied and underappreciated in relationship science and extend these arguments to marriage and family studies. In this reply, we address a few key conceptual issues that, in our opinion, warrant
IV—Culpability and Ignorance

When a person acts from ignorance, he is culpable for his action only if he is culpable for the ignorance from which he acts. The paper defends the view that this principle holds, not just for actions done from ordinary factual ignorance, but also for actions done from moral ignorance. The question is raised whether the principle extends to action done from ignorance about what one has most reason to do. It is tentatively proposed that the principle holds in full generality.
BRAIN CANCER IN THE DU PONT COMPANY

A study of brain cancer was conducted in the Du Pont Company to compare the Company's morbidity and mortality experience with that in the U. S. population. Incidence in the Company from 1956 through 1979 was compared to incidence reported in the Third National Cancer Survey, 1969-1971. Mortality from 1957 through 1979 was compared to U. S. mortality in 1968. The morbidity data were confined to active employees, whereas the mortality data included both active and retired employees. Neither data included former employees who left employment without a pension. During these study periods, there were 150 newly diagnosed brain cancer cases and 144 deaths from brain cancer. The data indicated that both morbidity and mortality in the company were essentially the same as in the general population. These results, however, do not preclude the possibility that there could be a group of workers in the company with an excess risk of brain cancer as a result of exposure to a carcinogen, although we are not aware of such a group. The identification of such a group, if it does exist, would have to be made by a case-control or prospective cohort study. Comparisons between male wage roll and salaried employees showed no difference in morbidity and no significant difference in mortality.
Evaluation of a Hydrostatic, Height-Coordinate Formulation of the Primitive Equations for Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract The hydrostatic form of the primitive equations described by Ooyama is evaluated by comparing nonhydrostatic and hydrostatic integrations of a dry axisymmetric model with a specified entropy (heat) source. In this formulation, pressure is a diagnostic variable, so that the hydrostatic approximation can be included simply by replacing the vertical momentum equation with a diagnostic vertical velocity equation. his diagnostic equation is a one-dimensional (height) second-order elliptic equation that can be solved using a direct method. Results show that hydrostatic solutions are very sensitive to the accuracy of the method used to solve the diagnostic vertical velocity equation. However, this sensitivity can be eliminated by adding an extra term to the diagnostic equation that ensures that the solution does not drift away from hydrostatic balance due to numerical approximation. When the extra term is added, this formulation of the primitive equations allows for the design of a numerical model in he...
Analysis of the endothermic peak in an annealed metallic glass

Abstract An apparent activation enthalpy analysis was performed on the endothermic peak observed in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram of the post-annealed Metglas ® MBF 20/20A (Ni68.8Cr6.6Fe2.6B14.1Si7.6, at%). The position of the peak in the DSC temperature scan was dependent upon the isothermal annealing conditions. This dependence showed apparent activation enthalpies between (250 ± 10) and (260 ±10) kJ/mol for peak positions between 620 and 640 K, respectively. The shift in endothermic peak position caused by different scanning rates resulted in a range of apparent activation enthalpies: 280 ± 10 or 294 ±9 kJ/mol for peak positions between 606 and 648 K respectively. The apparent activation enthalpies derived from the isothermal annealing data have been interpreted as representative of an ordering process while those calculated by changing the DSC scanning rate describe an order to disorder transition. These two processes apparently have different activation enthalpies.
Octahedral cations in Rb3C60: Reconciliation of conflicting evidence from different probes

There is an apparent contradiction between X-ray diffraction, NMR and extended X-ray-absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) measurements on the structure of Rb3C60. Specifically, a possible displacement of the octahedral alkali cations away from their site center and the origin of a third observed Rb NMR line have been widely discussed. We address this question with X-ray powder diffraction as a function of temperature and find that the octahedral cation does have its equilibrium position at the site center with a large Debye-Waller factor. We show how this result can be reconciled with results of NMR and EXAFS.
Dynamic and polarized muscle cell behaviors accompany tail morphogenesis in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis.

Background Axial elongation is a key morphogenetic process that serves to shape developing organisms. Tail extension in the ascidian larva represents a striking example of this process, wherein paraxially positioned muscle cells undergo elongation and differentiation independent of the segmentation process that characterizes the formation of paraxial mesoderm in vertebrates. Investigating the cell behaviors underlying the morphogenesis of muscle in ascidians may therefore reveal the evolutionarily conserved mechanisms operating during this process. Methodology/Principle Findings A live cell imaging approach utilizing subcellularly-localized fluorescent proteins was employed to investigate muscle cell behaviors during tail extension in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Changes in the position and morphology of individual muscle cells were analyzed in vivo in wild type embryos undergoing tail extension and in embryos in which muscle development was perturbed. Muscle cells were observed to undergo elongation in the absence of positional reorganization. Furthermore, high-speed high-resolution live imaging revealed that the onset and progression of tail extension were characterized by the presence of dynamic and polarized actin-based protrusive activity at the plasma membrane of individual muscle cells. Conclusions/Significance Our results demonstrate that in the Ciona muscle, tissue elongation resulted from gradual and coordinated changes in cell geometry and not from changes in cell topology. Proper formation of muscle cells was found to be necessary not only for muscle tissue elongation, but also more generally for completion of tail extension. Based upon the characterized dynamic changes in cell morphology and plasma membrane protrusive activity, a three-phase model is proposed to describe the cell behavior operating during muscle morphogenesis in the ascidian embryo.
Critiquing “A Vast Unconscious White Pride”: John Updike's THE DOCTOR'S WIFE

John Updike has often been criticized for putting forth an image of America that is uniformly white, male, and middle class. In particular, his protagonist of the Rabbit novels represents a white m...
VLBI IMAGING OF THE 86 GHz SiO MASER EMISSION IN THE CIRCUMSTELLAR ENVELOPE OF VX SAGITTARII

We have observed and imaged the SiO maser source in the late-type star VX Sgr with a single VLBI baseline at 3.5 mm wavelength. Phase-referenced channel maps with a beamwidth of ~0.4 mas show multiple components over a LSR velocity range of -1 to 24 km s-1, and many of the maser features display velocity widths smaller than 1 km s-1. The maser spots in this 86 GHz transition (v = 1, J = 2 → 1) are arranged in an irregular ring-shaped configuration of diameter ~30 mas, echoing the structures found in the J = 1 → 0 transition at 43 GHz around several Mira variables and VX Sgr itself. Unlike previous observations of SiO masers, in VX Sgr we detect a clear, systematic velocity gradient of ~0.6 km s-1 AU-1 among the strongest complex of masers on the southernmost portion of the ring structure. This velocity gradient can be interpreted as a rigid rotation of the circumstellar envelope with v sin i ~ 13 km s-1. Maser emission is not detected on long (5000 km) baselines, which places a 0.1 mas lower limit on the size of strong maser spots.
Stem cell policy exceptionalism: proceed with caution.

The term “stem cell exceptionalism” has been used to characterize the policy response to controversies surrounding human embryonic stem cell research. For example, governments and funding agencies have adopted policies governing the derivation and use of human embryonic stem cell lines. These policies have effectively served to fill gaps in existing guidelines and regulations and signal that scientists are committed to a responsible framework for the conduct of research involving human embryos. Recent publications discuss whether ethical and policy issues associated with induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) from non-embryonic sources create a need for further policy intervention. We suggest many of the issues identified by commentators may be addressed through the application of established policy frameworks governing the use of tissue, human stem cells, and research participation by human research subjects. To the extent, iPSC research intersects with hESC research (e.g. the creation of human gametes and/or embryos), the policy framework governing hESC appears sufficiently robust at this time.
Attack and escape in the laboratory rat: a modification of the colony-intruder procedure.

Intruder rats were exposed for 24-hr periods to established colonies of rats when escape chambers were either present or absent in the colony cages. When escape chambers were present, naive intruders took refuge in the escape chambers and thereby engaged in significantly less fighting, received fewer wounds, and were less likely to be killed during their stay within the colony's cage. However, all intruders lost comparable amounts of weight irrespective of the presence or absence of the escape chambers. When it is necessary to expose intruders to aggressive colonies for long durations, the presence of escape chambers reduces fighting, serious physical injuries, and deaths during intruder-elicited aggression tests but still provides sensitive and ecologically meaningful measures of the colony's aggressive motivation.
Analyticity in the coupling constant and bound states in potential theory

A method for determining the wave function in potential scattering from theS-matrix, using unitarity and analyticity, is extended to the case where bound states are present by using analytic continuation in the coupling constant. A numerical example is given, illustrating the passage of a pole from the second Riemann sheet of the energy to the first sheet.
Effect of Aging with Partial Discharges on the Remnant Breakdown Strength of Polypropylene Films with Natural and Synthetic Nanofillers

Uniform dispersion of small amounts of nanofillers into Polypropylene (PP) base polymer have shown to improve the dielectric properties such as Partial Discharge (PD) resistance and breakdown strength (BDS). A comparative analyses of the effect of addition of natural and synthetic nanofillers on the PD characteristics and the BDS prior to and after aging with PD have been performed. Results indicate that addition of both type of fillers significantly reduce maximum PD magnitude (Qmax). The Weibull characteristic BDS magnitudes were observed to improve with addition of nanofillers.
Near-primary melt inclusions in anorthite phenocrysts from the Galapagos Platfrom

Abstract Partially crystalline melt inclusions in anorthite phenocrysts from a Galapagos seamount have been rehomogenized in a series of heating experiments in order to accurately determine their initial compositions. They are primitive tholeiites, high in CaO and Al2O3, and low in TiO2 and alkalies. We infer that they were entrapped at a temperature close to 1270°C. At this temperature, the trapped melt composition is multiply saturated with olivine, plagioclase and spinel at 1 atmosphere pressure, but it is also near-primary requiring addition of less than 5% olivine plus or minus plagioclase and spinel in order to be in equilibrium with mantle olivine. The inclusions occur in association with, and are potentially parental to, a suite of MORB-like pillow lavas which range in MgO content from 10 to 8 wt% and which could have been derived by up to 40% fractionation of olivine plus plagioclase from the inclusion composition. Although the host anorthites are remarkably homogeneous and unzoned and the inclusions themselves are uniform in major element composition, minor element contents vary by a factor of two or more. Unlike many other plagioclase megacrysts, these anorthites must have crystallized under conditions in which the major element compositions were buffered but minor (and presumably trace) elements were free to vary. Such conditions could be achieved by liquid-solid interactions either in the melting regime or, perhaps more likely, in a liquid-crystal mush within the oceanic crust. These melt inclusions are not unique. They appear to belong to a class of primitive, high CaO and Al2O3 MORB that occur in association with high-An plagioclase in a variety of oceanic settings, usually where magma supply is low. We propose that such magmas are derived from the shallowest, most depleted part of a mantle melt column, and that they constitute one end member of a spectrum of primary magmas which gives rise to the global array of MORB compositions.
Comparative Total Syntheses of Turkey Ovomucoid Third Domain by Both Stepwise Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis and Native Chemical Ligation

Turkey ovomucoid third domain, OMTKY3, is a potent protein inhibitor of most serine proteinases that prefer a neutral residue at the P1 position. It has been a target of increasingly intense scrutiny by site-directed mutagenesis in an attempt to elucidate the sequence-to-reactivity algorithm of the inhibitor. Here we report the total chemical synthesis of (6−56)OMTKY3 using both the stepwise solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) technique and the native chemical ligation approach. After refolding and affinity purification, the resultant products were characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, analytical ion exchange chromatography, measurement of association equilibrium constants with six different serine proteinases, and thermal denaturation studies. The two synthetic proteins were found to be functionally as well as structurally identical to their recombinant counterpart. Moreover, the native chemical ligation and stepwise SPPS techniques gave rise to comparable yields and similar produc...
Coupled Electron Transfer and Proton Hopping in the Final Step of CYP19-Catalyzed Androgen Aromatization

Aromatase (CYP19) catalyzes the terminal step in estrogen biosynthesis, which requires three separate oxidation reactions, culminating in an enigmatic aromatization that converts an androgen to an estrogen. A stable ferric peroxo (Fe3+O22–) intermediate is seen by electron paramagnetic resonance, but its role in this complex reaction remains controversial. Combining molecular dynamics simulation and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics, we show that ferric peroxo addition to the 19-aldehyde initiates the reaction. Stepwise cleavage of the C10–C19 and O–O bonds of the peroxohemiacetal extrudes formate and yields Compound II, which in turn desaturates the steroid through successive abstraction of the 1β-hydrogen atom and deprotonation of the 2β-position. Throughout the transformation, a proton is cyclically relayed between D309 and the substrate to stabilize reaction intermediates. This mechanism invokes novel oxygen intermediates and provides a unifying interpretation of past experimental mechanist...
Effect of narcotics on enzymes of acetylcholine metabolism in cultured cells from embryonic chick brains.

Abstract The addition of 2.5 × 10 −4 M morphine sulphate to cultures of cells dissociated from the brains of chick embryos brought about 25–50% increases in the activities of neuronal choline acetyltransferase (ChA) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Narcotic drugs also increased the activities of these two enzymes in the brains of developing chicks in vivo . The effects of morphine on the cultures were antagonized by naloxone but not by propranolol. Both l (+)-dextrorphan and d (−)-levorphanol produced similar increments in the enzyme activities of cultured cells. The activities of ChA and AChE in cultured cells from embryos that had been previously exposed to narcotics were unaffected by the addition of morphine to the cultures. Dissociated brain cells from treated embryos also exhibited tolerance to the inhibition of leucine incorporation by high concentrations of morphine.
Depression of gustatory sweet response by alloxan

Abstract 1. 1. Alloxan applied to the surface of tongue reversibly inhibits the taste response induced by glucose. 2. 2. The depressor effect can be overcome by increasing the concentration of glucose or making up the alloxan in concentrated glucose solutions. 3. 3. Only alloxan and propylalloxan, which are both diabetogenic, inhibit sweet response. 4. 4. Only sugars are depressed by alloxan. 5. 5. It is suggested that alloxan has an affinity for sweet receptor sites in the taste cell membrane.