cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thematic Analysis of Parent-Child Conversations About COVID-19: "Playing It Safe".

Caregivers have primary responsibility for teaching their children self-protective behaviors, including those behaviors recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Parents have an important role in scaffolding adherence to the CDC recommendations and in managing stress and regulate their emotions to adaptively cope during uncertain times like those facing communities nationwide. The present study is a qualitative, thematic analysis of parent-reported (n = 210; 64.8% female; average age = 39.33; 14.3% ethnic/racial minority) interactions with children (focal child age: 25.2% birth to 5 years old, 36.7% 6 to 11 years old, 37.6% 12 to 18 years old) about topics associated to COVID-19-related viral transmission suppression guidelines and stress/coping behaviors. Themes included discussions about personal and social hygiene, and parent reported sources of child stress, and child stress management efforts. Findings from our thematic analysis indicate parents are motivated to make scaffolding personal hygiene fun and engaging, signaling a positive, developmentally appropriate native approach to their role as sources of coping socialization. These findings also underscore the importance of providing information to parents in ways that can be translated to children in developmentally appropriate conversations about viral transmission suppression activities and stress management during disasters.
Media Komunitas Sebagai Bentuk Demokrasi Partisipatoris (Studi Pada “Warta Desa” di Pekalongan, Jawa Tengah)

Hubungan antara media dan audiens di era digital terus berubah. Audiens tidak lagi pasif mengkonsumsi agenda yang ditentukan media, melainkan dapat berperan sebagai produsen sekaligus konsumen. Konten media arus utama yang cenderung partisan dan Jawa-sentris mendorong berkembangnya media komunitas yang dikembangkan secara organik di tingkat lokal, berdasarkan kebebasan berekspresi dan demokrasi partisipatif, dan bertujuan untuk mengembangkan wilayah dan mendorong solidaritas di antara warga. Penelitian ini bertujuan menggali secara mendalam bagaimana sebuah media komunitas didirikan, dijalankan, berdampak pada kehidupan bersama warga, dan tantangan apa yang dihadapi. Penelitian dijalankan secara kualitatif dengan metode pengambilan data melalui wawancara mendalam. Hasilnya, ditemukan ada tiga tantangan yang dihadapi oleh media komunitas, yaitu tantangan pendanaan, sumber daya manusia, dan regulasi. Guna mengatasi berbagai tantangan tersebut, media komunitas diharapkan dapat menemukan model bisnis subsidi silang untuk mendanai operasional, memberi honor bagi kontributor, dan berjejaring dengan sesama media komunitas dan AJI untuk advokasi.
AIM2 forms a complex with pyrin and ZBP1 to drive PANoptosis and host defence

Inflammasomes are important sentinels of innate immune defence, sensing pathogens and inducing cell death in infected cells1. There are several inflammasome sensors that each detect and respond to a specific pathogen- or damage-associated molecular pattern (PAMP or DAMP, respectively)1. During infection, live pathogens can induce the release of multiple PAMPs and DAMPs, which can simultaneously engage multiple inflammasome sensors2–5. Here we found that AIM2 regulates the innate immune sensors pyrin and ZBP1 to drive inflammatory signalling and a form of inflammatory cell death known as PANoptosis, and provide host protection during infections with herpes simplex virus 1 and Francisella novicida. We also observed that AIM2, pyrin and ZBP1 were members of a large multi-protein complex along with ASC, caspase-1, caspase-8, RIPK3, RIPK1 and FADD, that drove inflammatory cell death (PANoptosis). Collectively, our findings define a previously unknown regulatory and molecular interaction between AIM2, pyrin and ZBP1 that drives assembly of an AIM2-mediated multi-protein complex that we term the AIM2 PANoptosome and comprising multiple inflammasome sensors and cell death regulators. These results advance the understanding of the functions of these molecules in innate immunity and inflammatory cell death, suggesting new therapeutic targets for AIM2-, ZBP1- and pyrin-mediated diseases. AIM2 responds to infection with herpes simplex virus 1 or Francisella novicida by driving assembly of a large multi-protein complex containing multiple inflammasome sensors and cell death regulators.
Induction of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation by corneal allografts placed in the anterior chamber.

Purpose. Although mice with long-accepted orthotopic corneal allografts display donor-specific anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID), this deviant response is not detected until well after the fate of the grafts is decided. To determine the efficiency with which corneal tissue itself can induce ACAID, allogeneic corneal segments were inserted into anterior chambers (AC) of normal mouse eyes. Methods. Central corneas from normal eyes of C57BL/6 (allogeneic) and BALB/c (syngeneic) donors were cut into wedge-shaped fragments measuring approximately 0.3 X 2.0 mm (in some experiments the corneal epithelium was removed) and inserted into the AC adjacent to recipient endothelium. Recipients of these fragments were evaluated for donor-specific delayed hypersensitivity (DH) and ACAID, and fragment-containing eyes were tested for their capacity to support ACAID to an irrelevant antigen. Results. Syngeneic and allogeneic corneas survived indefinitely in the AC without evidence of inflammation or rejection. Although fragments of cornea (with or without epithelial layers) placed at extraocular sites were potent inducers of DH, within the eye only epithelium-bearing grafts induced DH. Moreover, this DH response was short-lived. Recipients of allogeneic corneal fragments in the AC developed ACAID by 8 weeks, but not at 1 week. Moreover, fragment-containing eyes supported ACAID induction when bovine serum albumin was injected into the AC. Conclusions. Anterior chamber-associated immune deviation can be induced by allogeneic corneal tissue inserted into the AC, but its onset is delayed. The delay may be dictated by persistence of donor epithelium on the graft, which promotes DH. Once the epithelium is lost, DH disappears and ACAID emerges. Anterior chamber-associated immune deviation may contribute to the maintenance of corneal allograft viability.
Justification of Punishment

One of the most contested and practically significant topics in philosophy of law is the justification of punishment. The development of social sciences in the twentieth century, especially psychology and psychiatry, has led some prominent persons to suggest that the whole system of punishment should be drastically revised or eliminated (see Menninger 1968; Wootton 1963). Professor Hart has made notable contributions to clarifying the issues involved in justifying punishment and the various mental conditions of responsibility. He delves deeper into the moral principles involved in punishment than almost any other previous legal scholar. His account has spurred others to more thoughtful reflection and analysis than had previously been given.
Evidence that the neural pathways involved in backward conditioning are different from those involved in forward conditioning.

Effects of forward and backward conditioned-unconditioned stimulus (CS- US) intervals on classical conditioning of the flexion reflex were examined in a spinal cat preparation. A less intense conditioned stimulus (CS) was employed (activation of A-alpha cutaneous fibers) compared to that of a previous study (activation of both A-alpha and A- delta cutaneous fibers). Interstimulus intervals (ISIs) ranging from +3.0 to -3.0 sec were examined in 9 experimental groups, and results contrasted to those of an explicitly unpaired control group. The ISI of -0.25 sec produced optimal backward excitatory conditioning, paralleling the previous results. However, in contrast to the previous study, no conditioning was observed in any of the forward ISI groups. These observations support the hypothesis that backward and forward conditioning may be fundamentally different phenomena, induced by CS activation of different spinal reflex pathways: backward conditioning involves spinal reflex pathways activated by A-alpha cutaneous fibers of the CS, while forward conditioning involves spinal reflex pathways activated by A-delta cutaneous fibers of the CS.
Programmed ribosomal frameshifting occurs at multiple sites and by multiple paths (109.3)

Programmed frameshifting is used by prokaryotes and eukaryotes to synthesize two or more proteins from the same messenger RNA. We have studied minus-one frameshifting in the dnaX gene in E. coli, w...
Superficial Postauricular Mass in an Infant

Amale infant presented to the pediatric otolaryngology office for evaluation of a left postauricular mass. Initially the lesion appeared to be acutely inflamedwith erythema, overlying crusting, and tenderness to palpation. The child was treated with a course of antibiotics. Four weeks after the initial evaluation, the acute inflammation had resolved, but the lesion had increased in size. The child was otherwise healthy, and the parents stated that he had no systemic symptoms such as fever or weight loss. On physical examination, a 1.5-cm superficial, ovoid firm lesion was noted in the left postauricular area (Figure, A). While the lesion was attached to the skin, it was mobile over the mastoid bone. There were no middle ear abnormalities on physical examination. Ultrasonography of the lesion revealed a nonvascular, wellcircumscribed 1.7 × 1.4 × 0.6-cm lesion in the soft tissue posterior to the left ear. It demonstrated a heterogenous echotexture but was predominantly hypoechoic without internal vascularity or distinct calcifications. Excisional biopsy under general anesthesia was performed owing to rapid enlargement and unclear etiology of the lesion. The lesion had distinct borders and separated easily from the surrounding soft-tissue attachments. It was completely excised, including the overlying skin. Pathologic examination revealed a neoplasm extending from the reticular dermis into the subcutaneous adipose tissue (Figure, B). There were lobules of lipidized histiocytic cells with eosinophils in a background of collagen (Figure, C). The lesion stained negatively for S-100 and CD1a (Figure, D). Quiz at jamaotolaryngology.com Left postauricular mass A Lipidized cells B
Does a few bad apples make for a rotten barrel of Barrett's esophagus?

This is a retrospective case series that looks at the use of three different methods of mucosal ablation from a major center in Germany. A total of 115 patients were treated, with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in 70 patients, photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a combination of photosensitizers ALA and mTHPC (not available in the United States) in 32, combined EMR and PDT in 10, and treatment with argon plasma coagulation in three. Of the patients, 96 had small cancers, whereas the remaining 19 had high grade dysplasia. The type of therapy was selected based on the ability to localize the lesion. Complications that were primarily bleeding occurred in 9.5% of patients, whereas 98% achieved initial success. Five patients underwent esophagectomy due to invasive disease found at mucosal resection and were eliminated from further analysis. The major strength of this paper is the duration of follow-up, which was for a minimum of 2 yr with a mean of 34 ′ 10 months. A very important result of this paper is the high rate of metachronous or recurrent cancer, which was 30% in this series. This lends support to the belief that should mucosal ablation be attempted, the entire mucosal must be eliminated to prevent development of serious neoplastic lesions. At the termination of the follow-up period, 97 of 110 patients were still living. The down-staging of a patient from high grade dysplasia to nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus does not seem to be an adequate endpoint for patients with reasonable longevity.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy:

Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), a program for young children and their families, is a strong evidence-based treatment that repeatedly receives the highest rankings possible in reviews of such treatments (e.g., California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, 2015; nrepp.samhsa.gov). PCIT was originally developed for use with young children (2–7 years of age) with disruptive behavior problems (McNeil and Hembree-Kigin 2010; Zisser and Eyberg 2010). As PCIT continued to show significant positive outcomes including improved child behaviors, reduced parenting stress, and improved parent-child relationships (Brinkmeyer and Eyberg 2003; Eyberg and Robinson 1982), the application of PCIT to children at risk or exposed to trauma seemed a logical step.
Cumulative stress pathophysiology in schizophrenia as indexed by allostatic load

Summary Background The etiopathophysiology of schizophrenia has long been linked to stress and the influence of stress is important in all stages of the illness. Previous examinations of perceived stress and acute stress responses may not capture this longitudinal stress pathophysiology. We hypothesized that the cumulative negative effects of stress, indexed by allostatic load (AL), would be elevated in schizophrenia, and that the AL paradigm would be relevant to our understanding of pathophysiology in schizophrenia. Methods We assessed allostatic load in 30 patients with schizophrenia (SZ; mean age = 33; 17 males) and 20 healthy controls (HC; mean age = 35; 12 males) using 13 cardiovascular, metabolic, neuroendocrine and immune biomarkers. Participants’ perceived stress over the past month, functional capacity and psychiatric symptoms were also measured. Results Controlling for age, SZ had significantly higher AL as compared to HC (p = 0.007). Greater AL was present in both early course and chronic SZ, and was associated with reduced functional capacity (p = 0.006) and more psychotic symptoms (p = 0.048) in SZ. Current level of perceived stress was not significantly elevated in SZ or associated with AL in either group. Conclusions The higher AL found in SZ may reflect increased bodily “wear and tear”, possibly caused by more chronic stress exposure or maladaptive responses to stress over time, although additional research is required to differentiate these causes. The higher AL is similarly present in early and chronic SZ, suggesting primary maladaptive stress physiology rather than secondary effects from medications or chronic illness.
Primary Tumors of the Lung in Nonhuman Primates; Literature Review and Report of Peripheral Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung in a Rhesus Monkey

Primary lung tumors in nonhuman primates are reviewed, and multifocal carcinoid tumors in the periphery of the lungs of a 6-year-old female Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatto) are discussed. The tumors consisted almost entirely of neoplastic cells that were pleomorphic, had round to oval nuclei, 0 to two nucleoli, clear or slightly amphophilic cytoplasm, and indistinct cell boundaries. The cells generally formed solid sheets, supported by an elaborate network of reticulin. Electron microscopic examination showed distinct but irregular cell membranes and a paucity of electron-dense material in the cytoplasm of many cells.
Effects of paramagnetics on proton spin relaxation in poly(p-phenylene)

Abstract Measurements of T 1 e for protons in poly( p -phenylene) indicate that relaxation is dominated by direct interaction with paramagnetic centers. Processes to remove paramagnetic centers decrease the number of centers, but the process cannot be carried to completion. Temperature-dependent relaxation measurements give an activation energy of 4.2 kJ mol −1 for the process which modulates the direct electron-nuclear dipole-dipole interaction.
The X21 SAXS instrument at NSLS for studying macromolecular systems

The SAXS instrument at X21 was commissioned in the summer of 2004 and had been accepting general users since. The theme of the scientific programs on this instrument is structural characterization of soft condensed matter and biomaterials, as represented by the experiments described in this note. General user proposals for beam time on this instrument are accepted through both NSLS and the Center of Functional Nanomaterials (CFN). The NSLS is planning to replace X21 SAXS with an undulator-based instrument. The new instrument, to be located at beamline X9, is currently been designed and scheduled to go on-line by the end of 2007.
Tn903 induces inverted duplications in the chromosome of bacteriophage lambda

Abstract Specialized transducing strains of bacteriophage lambda have been isolated that carry the transposable kanamycin resistance element, Tn903. Tn903 carries an inverted duplication of 1130 base-pairs flanking the kanamycin resistance gene. Often, when λ::Tn903 particles are infected into bacterial cells, the lambda chromosome is rearranged into a defective lambda plasmid which replicates with the bacterial cell. The formation of the defective plasmids (called Tn903λdv) is most likely induced by the Tn903 insertion itself. This follows from the fact that the novel DNA sequence found in these plasmids, with respect to the ancestral λTn903 chromosome, is always adjacent to the Tn903 element. Physical chromosomal mapping of these plasmids shows that they contain large inverted duplications of lambda sequences situated about the Tn903 insertion. The formation of the Tn903λdv plasmids from the ancestral λTn903 is not dependent on the recombination functions provided through the phage red gene or the host recA gene.
Choosing the most appropriate valve operation and prosthesis

Repairing a diseased heart valve is usually better than replacing it. However, repair is not always feasible. No valve is ideal, and patients should be informed of the risks associated with each. The decision requires close discussion among the patient, the physician, and the surgeon.
A new method for direct determination of the recoilless fraction using a single room-temperature Mössbauer measurement of a two-foil absorber

Abstract A new method is proposed for the measurement of the recoilless fraction from a Mossbauer experiment performed at room temperature. The method relies on the use of a two-foil absorber, providing simultaneous information on two independent materials. In the first part of the experiment, the method was tested for the absence of thickness effects by recording spectra with the foils interchanged. The absence of topological effects was also examined using the same geometry with a split-area absorber. The method was then checked by deriving the ratio of resonant nuclei in natural iron and stainless steel AISI 304 from the relative areas and chemical arguments. Finally, the method was applied to derive the value of the recoilless fraction in Metglas 2605 SC at room temperature. The proposed method is dramatically simpler and more precise than the conventional method based on the determination of the Debye temperature, using the temperature variation of the recoilless fraction and complicated equation plots.
Examination of a Group Counseling Model of Career Decision Making With College Students

The authors examined the effectiveness of a group career counseling model (Pyle, 2007) on college students’ career decision-making abilities. They used a Solomon 4-group design and found that students who participated in the career counseling groups had significantly greater increases in career decision-making abilities than those who did not participate in the groups. Implications for counseling and future research are discussed.
Individual and couple tastes for children: Theoretical, methodological, and empirical issues

Abstract A comparison is made between two alternatives for explaining family size decisions: a psychological model based on the individual needs of the spouses and a social psychological model based on the husband-wife relationship. By use of higher order factors within the context of structural equation models, it is shown that the two approaches can be derived as special cases of a single, integrative framework. In this way, a theory is developed and tested which explicitly represents the family-size decision process as both an individual and joint experience of the spouses.
Do All RPV Head Penetration Leaks Have the Potential to Cause Head Wastage

The identification of the PWSCC (Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking) mechanism responsible for leakage from an Alloy 600 nozzle tube of a PWR RPV (pressurized water reactor reactor pressure vessel) head more than a decade ago led to a significant body of research into understanding the phenomenon and to development of bases for safely managing primary pressure boundary integrity. However, the relatively recent experience at Davis-Besse, wherein penetration leakage resulted in significant vessel head material wastage, led to the heretofore unconsidered issue of vessel failure risk due to head rupture. This paper addresses, in preliminary fashion, one key input to determining the risk associated with head material wastage and potential rupture — the local environmental and fluid conditions associated with a range of leak paths. The results indicate a need for rigorous prediction of fluid conditions for a range of leak situations to help establish criteria for addressing penetration leaks.© 2004 ASME
Ultraviolet light-induced changes in ribonuclease conformation

Abstract Ultraviolet light-induced inactivation of RNase A is accompanied by a decrease in the circular dichroism (CD) at the extrema observed at 239 nm and 275 nm. As inactivation progresses a new CD band centered near 325 nm also develops. For RNase maintaining up to one half of its original activity an isoelliptic point may be noted near 257 nm. These findings are consistent with initial normalization of a “buried” tyrosyl residue followed by chemical modification of the protein. Further chemical change and extensive conformational reorganization of the protein appear to accompany advanced inactivation.
Risk Taking and Police Pursuit

Abstract Measures of risk taking and sensation seeking were administered to 69 American patrol officers of a suburban police department to determine the relationship of these traits to officers' tendencies to engage in high-speed vehicular pursuit. Pursuit tendencies were measured by official departmental records, self-reports of previous pursuits, and responses to two hypothetical scenarios. These three measures of pursuit tendencies were combined to form a single scale, which was found to correlate somewhat, but significantly, with risk taking and with sensation seeking. Furthermore, risk taking and sensation seeking were relatively uncorrelated with each other. Attention to personality differences, therefore, may help supervisors exercise more control over police pursuits.
Evaluating hazardous materials for biological treatment

Abstract Biological treatment with microorganisms is one method for reducing the impact of hazardous materials in the environment. This paper describes assessment strategies and the decision process leading to successful application of biotreatment. It shows how to assess biotreatment potential on the basis of site and material, and identifies suitable techniques. The simplest biotreatment option is to allow in situ detoxification by natural processes (no treatment). Land treatment, another option, includes both direct application of materials to land and composting, where the activity of microorganisms in soil and compost transform or degrade the materials. Special facilities called bioreactors, another option, may be used to treat dilute solutions of liquid materials. Bioreactors are often highly effective because waste concentrations and conditions that influence microbial activity can be controlled. Low concentrations of some materials may be removed by bioaccumulation as a final step in the cleanup process. Dilution, combined with physical and chemical pretreatment of a material, will often promote the activity of microorganisms. In addition, environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, nutrient levels, and aeration can be modified to promote microbial activity. Biotransformation is typically done by generic microorganisms indigenous to the material, the site, or the system. In some cases, specialized microorganisms can be cultured to transform or degrade specific materials (enrichment), or to function under specific site conditions (enhancement). Generic engineering of microorganisms holds future promise.
Facile Syntheses of Titanium(II), Tin(II), and Vanadium(II) Porphyrin Complexes through Homogeneous Reduction. Reactivity of trans-(TTP)TiL2 (L = THF, t-BuNC)

Facile syntheses of the meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrin (TTP) complexes trans-(TTP)Ti(THF)(2) (1), (TTP)Sn (2), and trans-(TTP)V(THF)(2) (3) are achieved through homogeneous reduction of high-valent precursors using NaBEt(3)H. The composition of the new compound trans-(TTP)Ti(THF)(2) was determined by spectroscopic and chemical characterization. Ligand displacement reactions of trans-(TTP)Ti(THF)(2) with t-BuNC produced a new Ti(II) complex, trans-(TTP)Ti(t-BuNC)(2). The ligand-binding preference of (TTP)Ti(II)L(n)() (n = 1, 2) is picoline approximately pyridine > t-BuNC > PhCtCPh > EtCtCEt > THF.
Significance of altered nutritional status in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Abstract Severe unrelenting weight loss appears to be a major component of the clinical picture seen in the patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Weight loss has been associated with a poor prognosis for AIDS patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. Strong evidence from a variety of clinical situations indicates that malnutrition per se adversely affects the cellular immune system and the susceptibility of individuals to infectious problems. In addition, weight loss of the degree commonly seen in the AIDS population places patients at risk of death because of resultant organ dysfunction. Moreover, severe weight loss may preclude recovery from infectious complications that otherwise would not represent a lethal challenge to the host. Because even appropriately directed therapies may not be successful when used in patients with severe weight loss, it is crucial to identify the mechanism of the weight loss associated with AIDS and to rapidly initiate evaluation of agents capable of altering or rev...
Effect of Early Age Strength on Cracking in Mass Concrete Containing Different Supplementary Cementitious Materials: Experimental and Finite-Element Investigation

AbstractThis paper presents the findings of an investigation using the finite-element method to predict the distribution of temperatures within a hydrating massive concrete element. The temperature distribution produced by the finite-element thermal analysis of the model is used in the finite-element structural analysis to quantify the maximum allowable internal temperature difference before cracking will initiate in the concrete. To verify the results obtained in the finite-element model, four different mixes of concrete, typical for use in mass concrete applications in Florida, were produced and each mix was used to make two large-scale 1.07 m×1.07 m×1.07 m (3.5 ft×3.5 ft×3.5 ft) concrete blocks. The mechanical and thermal properties of early age concrete used values obtained experimentally from the concrete used to construct the four sets of blocks. The temperature distributions produced by the model were shown to be very similar to those measured in the experimental blocks. Results suggest that ...
Short communication: Effect of pre-soaking on the rate of thermal softening of soybeans

Summary Whole soybeans and dehulled soybean cotyledons were soaked in water at ambient temperature for 0, 8 and 12h then cooked in boiling water at atmospheric pressure for up to 6h. In every case there was an initial rapid rate of softening followed by progressively slower softening until, after about 3h, there was little change in firmness. The kinetics of softening of every sample was consistent with the two substrate theory of thermal softening. The firmness ranking in descending order after 15 min cooking was no soak, whole beans > 12h, soak cotyledons > no soak, cotyledons > 8h soak, whole beans > 12h soak, whole beans. This ranking was maintained for the entire cooking period. For whole beans the soaked samples were less firm than the unsoaked samples while for the cotyledons the soaked samples were more firm than the unsoaked. This reversal in behaviour may be caused by the seed coat (skin) retarding the imbibition of water in the whole beans thus delaying the onset of enzyme activity in the bean tissue.
Sin City: Augustine and Machiavelli’s Reordering of Rome

We examine Machiavelli’s critical appropriation of Augustine’s analysis of Rome’s decline and fall in order to understand his own interpretation of Rome and the lessons it offers for a successful republic. If Machiavelli’s departure from Augustine is obvious, as seen for example in his exculpation of Romulus for the fratricide Augustine condemns, equally illuminating is what Machiavelli borrows from him. For Augustine, Romulus’ fratricide discloses the limits of pagan virtue and politics and reveals that the civic republican view of an early virtuous republic is nostalgic if not impossible. Machiavelli agrees with Augustine about the character of Rome, yet embraces the ambitious and acquisitive politics Augustine rebuffs. Machiavelli not only excuses Romulus’ fratricide in “ordering” Rome, but makes it the archetypal act that must be repeated through “reordering” to sustain the state against the perennial problem of corruption. We thereby address two of the primary issues in Machiavelli scholarship—the ch...
Brain density deficits in chronic schizophrenia

Abstract Density values of the right and left hemispheres were determined by computerized tomography (CT scan) in 22 normal controls and 21 chronic schizophrenic patients. The data indicated that the chronic schizophrenic patients had less dense brains in both hemispheres than did control subjects. The results also found consistent density differences between the right and left hemispheres in both groups.
Critical graphs for chromatic difference sequences

Let @a"k(G) denote the maximum number of vertices in a k-colorable subgraph of G. Set @a"[email protected]"k(G)[email protected]("k"-"1)(G). The sequence a"1(G),a"2(G),... is called the chromatic difference sequence (cds) of G. We call a graph G critical if no proper subgraph of G has the same cds as G. We prove that (with a single exception) if there exists a graph G having cds (G)= (a"3>) and if a"1=.
Land Use, Stream Habitat and Benthic Invertebrate Assemblages in a Highly Altered Iowa Watershed

Abstract Knowledge of relationships between land cover (i.e., land use) and abiotic and biotic features of headwater streams enhances our ability to predict and effectively assess conditions in a variety of aquatic ecosystems. We evaluated land use effects on stream condition in an Iowa watershed dominated by intensive row crop agriculture and low- intensity urban development by quantifying relationships among land cover, stream invertebrate assemblages and other stream biophysical characteristics (i.e., invertebrate habitat) at 29 sites. On average, 81% of subbasin land cover was agricultural and 6% of land cover was urban across study sites. High nitrate concentrations (range = 5.6–29.0 mg/L) and high relative abundance of oligochaetes and chironomid midges reflected degraded conditions at all sites. However, agriculture and urban land use appeared to have different effects on stream features. Nitrate concentrations were positively related to agricultural land cover, and turbidity and nitrate concentr...
Evidence that human bone cells in culture produce insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 and -5 proteases.

Previous studies have shown that the actions of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) in bone are determined by both its concentration and the concentrations of the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). As IGFBP concentrations may be regulated not only at the level of production, but also at the level of degradation, IGFBP proteases may be an important component of the IGF-II regulatory system. In this study, we have identified IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 protease activity in the conditioned medium (CM) of the human osteosarcoma U2 cell line (U2OS) and untransformed normal human bone cell (HBC) derived from skull. Proteolysis of the 29-kilodalton (kDa) [125I]IGFBP-5 produced an 18- to 20-kDa fragment of IGFBP-5, and 25 kDa [125I]IGFBP-4 yielded two lower mol wt fragments in the presence of IGF-II. CM from IGF-II-treated U2OS and normal HBC cultures exhibited decreased IGFBP-5 proteolytic activity compared to control cultures. In contrast, CM from IGF-II-treated HBC cultures had increased proteolytic activity against IG...
HOW CHANGES IN BOND CALL FEATURES AFFECT COUPON RATES

In April 1998, Level 3, a telecommunications company, sold $2 billion of 9.19%, ten-year bonds to finance the building of a fiber-optic network. Like most below-investment-grade issues, as well as many investment-grade issues, the Level 3 issue contained an embedded call option that gave the company the right to repurchase the bonds after five years at par value plus the (semi-annual) coupon rate, with the call price declining to par two years before maturity. Because issuers must pay for the call provision in the form of a higher coupon rate, the choice of whether or not to include a call option can be a difficult one. And, once management decides to include a call option, it must then decide how to structure the call. The most important call structure decisions are how long to make the call protection period and how to set the call price—both of which can have a significant impact upon the coupon yields required to attract investors. Using a well-known option pricing model, the authors of this article summarize their recent research on how variations in bond call features can be expected to affect par coupon yields of new issues under different market circumstances—circumstances that include market conditions relevant to option valuation such as the shape of the term structure and the volatility of interest rates.
Case-control study of endemic diarrheal disease in Thai children

In a case control study from September 1985-August 1986 researchers evaluated 1230 children 1 pathogen in 17.6% and 0 pathogens in 37.4%. On the other hand 69.2% of control stools had no detectable pathogens. Microbiologists found rotavirus in 20% of patient stools Campylobacter in 13% Shigella in 13% Salmonella in 12% and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in 9%. Further researchers noted a significant difference in detection of enteric pathogens between patients and controls for rotavirus (p 2 years old with diarrhea and identified new serotypes.
Best practice No 162 The histological reporting of melanoma

The incidence of malignant melanoma has increased steadily over the past 30 years and this type of malignancy is the leading cause of death from cutaneous malignant disease. Cutaneous malignancies, including melanoma, can be detected at a very early stage and a cure is possible with prompt detection and treatment. In recent years, and mainly because of increased awareness of the early detection of melanoma, histopathologists have been exposed more and more to melanocytic lesions. Therefore, it is essential that histopathologists are able to provide a report to the clinician that conveys relevant information in a concise and precise manner. This paper provides a set of guidelines aimed at helping histopathologists with the gross and microscopic description and diagnosis of malignant melanoma.
One-Dimensional Pulse Propagation in a Nonlinear Elastic Media

This paper considers the problem of wave propagation in a nonlinear elastic medium with a quadratic stress-strain relationship. The paper is limited to one-dimensional wave propagation. Under these conditions, the initial value problem is formulated into a hyperbolic system of conservation laws. The Riemann problem due to an initial step function excitation is considered first. Analytical solutions to the Riemann problem are obtained by solving the corresponding eigenvalue problem. In addition, a computer program is developed based on the high-resolution central scheme of Kurganov and Tadmor. The accuracy of this numerical procedure is verified by comparing the numerical results with the exact solutions. The second part of the paper considers several different types of initial excitations in order to determine special characteristics of the wave propagation due to material nonlinearity.
Sp8 exhibits reciprocal induction with Fgf8 but has an opposing effect on anterior-posterior cortical area patterning

Telencephalic patterning centers, defined by the discrete expression domains of distinct morphogens, Fgf s in the commissural plate (CoP), Wnt s and Bmp s in the cortical hem, and a ventral domain of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), are postulated to establish during development the initial patterning of the telencepahlon, including the neocortex. We show that the expression patterns of Sp5, Sp8, and Sp9, members of the Sp8-like family that are homologues of Drosophila buttonhead, correlate during early embryonic development with these three telencephalic patterning centers. To study potential functional relationships, we focused on Sp8, because it is transiently expressed in the CoP coincident with the expression of Fgf8, a morphogen implicated in area patterning of the neocortex. We also show that Sp8 is expressed in cortical progenitors in a high to low anterior-medial to posterior-lateral gradient across the ventricular zone. We used in utero electroporation of full-length and chimeric expression constructs to perform gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies of interactions between Sp8 and Fgf8 and their roles in cortical area patterning. We show that Fgf8 and Sp8 exhibit reciprocal induction in vivo in the embryonic telencephalon. Sp8 also induces downstream targets of Fgf8, including ETS transcription factors. In vitro assays show that Sp8 binds Fgf8 regulatory elements and is a direct transcriptional activator of Fgf8. We also show that Sp8 induction of Fgf8 is repressed by Emx2 in vitro, suggesting a mechanism to limit Fgf8 expression to the CoP. In vivo expression of a dominant negative Sp8 in the CoP indicates that Sp8 maintains expression of Fgf8 and also its effect on area patterning. Ectopic expression of Sp8 in anterior or posterior cortical poles induces significant anterior or posterior shifts in area patterning, respectively, paralleled by changes in expression of gene markers of positional identity. These effects of Sp8 on area patterning oppose those induced by ectopic expression of Fgf8, suggesting that in parallel to regulating Fgf8 expression, Sp8 also activates a distinct signaling pathway for cortical area patterning. In summary, Sp8 and Fgf8 robustly induce one another, and may act to balance the anterior-posterior area patterning of the cortex.
A Study of Plasmaspheric Density Distributions for Diffusive Equilibrium Conditions

The plasmaspheric density distribution has been modeled for a range of solar cycle, seasonal and diurnal conditions with a magnetic flux tube dependent diffusive equilibrium model by using experimentally determined values of ionospheric parameters at 675 km as boundary conditions. Data is presented in terms of plasmaspheric H(+) and He(+) density contours, total flux tube content, and equatorial plasma density for a range of L-values from 1.15 to 3.0. The variation of equatorial density with L-value shows good agreement with the 1/L exp 4 dependence observed experimentally. The results show that the model predicts larger solar cycle and diurnal variation in equatorial plasma density than observed using whistler techniques. However, the whistler method requires a model to deduce the equatorial density and is therefore open to interpretation. Seasonal variations are rather artificial since in this general model no attempt has been made to match equatorial densities for flux tubes emanating from the winter and summer hemispheres.
A scalable, parallel algorithm for maximal clique enumeration

The problem of maximal clique enumeration (MCE) is to enumerate all of the maximal cliques in a graph. Once enumerated, maximal cliques are widely used to solve problems in areas such as 3-D protein structure alignment, genome mapping, gene expression analysis, and detection of social hierarchies. Even the most efficient serial MCE algorithms require large amounts of time to enumerate the maximal cliques in networks arising from these problems that contain hundreds, thousands, or larger numbers of vertices. The previous attempts to provide practical solutions to the MCE problem through parallel implementation have had limited success, largely due to a number of challenges inherent to the nature of the MCE combinatorial search space. On the one hand, MCE algorithms often create a backtracking search tree that has a highly irregular and hard-or-impossible to predict structure; therefore, almost any static decomposition of the search tree by parallel processors results in highly unbalanced processor execution times. On the other hand, the data-intensive nature of the MCE problem often makes naive dynamic load distribution strategies that require extensive data movement prohibitively expensive. As a result, good scaling of the overall execution time of parallel MCE algorithms has been reported for only up to a couple hundred processors. In this paper, we propose a parallel, scalable, and memory-efficient MCE algorithm for distributed and/or shared memory high performance computing architectures, whose runtime scales linearly for thousands of processors on real-world application graphs with hundreds and thousands of nodes. Its scalability and efficiency are attributed to the proposed: (a) representation of the search tree decomposition to enable parallelization; (b) parallel depth-first backtracking search to both constrain the search space and minimize memory requirement; (c) least stringent synchronization to minimize data movement; and (d) on-demand work stealing intelligently coupled with work stack splitting to minimize computing elements' idle time. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed parallel MCE algorithm is the first to achieve a linear scaling runtime using up to 2048 processors on Cray XT machines for a number of real-world biological networks.
Serial measures of cardiac troponin T levels by a highly sensitive assay and incident atrial fibrillation in a prospective cohort of ambulatory older adults

Background Various mechanisms in cardiac remodeling related to atrial fibrillation (AF) lead to elevated circulating cardiac troponin levels, but little is known about such elevations upstream to AF onset. Objective The purpose of this study was to study the association between circulating troponin levels as assessed by a highly sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) assay and incident atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods In a large prospective cohort of ambulatory older adults [the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS)], hs-cTnT levels were measured in sera that were collected at enrollment from 4262 participants without AF (2871 with follow-up measurements). Incident AF was identified by electrocardiograms during CHS visits, hospital discharge diagnoses, and Medicare files, including outpatient and physician claims diagnoses. Results Over median follow-up of 11.2 years (interquartile range 6.1–16.5), 1363 participants (32.0%) developed AF. Higher baseline levels of hs-cTnT were associated with incident AF in covariate-adjusted analyses accounting for demographics, traditional risk factors, and incident heart failure in time-dependent analyzes (hazard ratio for 3rd tertile vs undetectable 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.48–2.08). This association was statistically significant in analyses that additionally adjusted for biomarkers of inflammation and hemodynamic strain (hazard ratio for 3rd tertile vs undetectable 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.16–1.65). Significant associations were also found when hs-cTnT levels were treated as a continuous variable and when examining change from baseline of hs-cTnT levels and incident AF. Conclusion The findings show a significant association of circulating troponin levels in ambulatory older adults with incident AF beyond that of traditional risk factors, incident heart failure, and biomarkers of inflammation and hemodynamic strain.
Teacher Ratings of Young Children with and without ADHD: Construct Validity of Two Child Behavior Rating Scales.

This study examined teachers' behavioral ratings of young children (ages 5 and 6) with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A study group consisting of 30 children with formal diagnoses of ADHD and a comparison group of 30 children without ADHD were developed using randomized matching procedures. Teachers of these children rated their behavior at the end of the school year using two child behavior rating instruments: The Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS; Merrell, 1994) and ADHD Symptoms Rating Scale (ADHD-SRS; Holland, Gimpel, & Merrell, 2001). Correlations between scores on the two measures were statistically significant and strong. Differences between behavior rating scores of the two groups were statistically significant and large, and the combination of scores from both measures efficiently predicted group classification. These results support the use of the PKBS and ADHD-SRS as screeners for the presence of ADHD-related behavior in young children and provide ad...
Inhibition of gamma-ray-induced degradation of E. coli B sub s-1 DNA by infection with T1, T2 and T4 bacteriophage.

THE breakdown of DNA in bacteria in response to ionizing radiation has received much attention1–7. This breakdown is mediated by an enzyme or system of enzymes which has not yet been fully characterized. We have investigated the effect of DNA degradation on parental DNA of T1 bacteriophage within the infected cell in radiation conditions which usually break down host DNA. No release of DNA into the acid soluble trichloroacetic acid (TCA) fraction occurred even with previous exposure of the phage to heavy doses of ionizing radiation. This led us to speculate that bacteriophage T1 infection inhibited radiation-induced DNA degradation.
Cis-aconityl spacer between daunomycin and macromolecular carriers: A model of pH-sensitive linkage releasing drug from a lysosomotropic conjugate

Abstract N- cis -Aconityl and N-maleyl derivatives of daunomycin prepared from the respective anhydrides were conjugated to Affi-Gel 701 (aminoethyl polyacrylamide beads) and to poly(D-lysine). The cis -aconityl linkage between the drug and Affi-Gel 701 is pH-sensitive with a hydrolysis half-life of less than 3 h at pH 4 and more than 96 h at pH 6 or higher. Thin-layer chromatography and cytotoxic tests in cultured cells indicate that the product of hydrolysis is unaltered daunomycin. These Affi-Gel conjugates present for 3 days in the culture medium of WEHI-5 cells at neutral pH have little or no growth inhibitory effect. N- cis -aconityl daunomycin-poly(D-lysine) conjugates, however, added to WEHI-5 cells under comparable conditions cause a 90% inhibition of cell growth. In contrast, comparable addition of N-maleyl daunomycin-poly(D-lysine) conjugates is not inhibitory. We conclude that unlike the Affi-Gel conjugate, N- cis -aconityl daunomycin-poly(D-lysine) enters cells and reaches the lysosomal compartment, and that the cis -aconityl spacer releases daunomycin from poly(D-lysine) in the acidic milieu of lysosomes due to the participation of a free cis -carboxylic group. This releasing mechanism should be applicable to other drug-macromolecular conjugates.