cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Senses as Signalling Systems

ABSTRACTA central goal of the philosophy of perception is to uncover the nature of sensory capacities. Ideally, we would like an account that specifies what conditions need to be met in order for an organism to count as having the capacity to sense or perceive its environment. And, on the assumption that sensory states are the kinds of things that can be accurate or inaccurate, a further goal of the philosophy of perception is to identify the accuracy conditions for sensory states. In this paper I recommend a novel approach to these core issues, one that draws heavily on game-theoretic treatments of signalling in nature. A benefit of the approach is that it helps us to understand why biologists attribute sensory powers to such a diverse range of organisms, including plants, fungi, and algae.
Drink what you can pay for: Financing infrastructure in a fragmented water system:

The article investigates the relationship between environmental violations and water utility infrastructure investment in the Houston metropolitan area through a lens of institutional fragmentation...
CT Radiation Dose and Safety: Perspectives at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

With an emphasis on the regulatory framework, we describe three approaches that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration applies to promote dose control and radiation safety in X-ray computed tomography: (1) equipment radiation safety established through consensus standards and regulatory guidance, (2) clinical quality assurance promoted through collaboration with government agencies, industry groups, professional organizations and societies, and outreach to healthcare providers and consumers, and (3) surveillance and improved characterizations of dose and image quality enabled through research.
Confocal imaging of the alpha 6 and beta 4 integrin subunits in the human cornea with aging.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the distribution of integrin subunits, alpha 6 and alpha 4, in the normal human cornea with age. METHODS: Thirty normal corneas were examined and divided into three groups; corneas from children younger than 2 years, corneas from adults 29 to 70 years, and corneas from adults older than 70 years. The corneas were frozen and the sections were cut, double-stained with monoclonal antibodies to the integrin subunits, and visualized with Texas Red or fluorescein using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Computer imaging was conducted to determine differences. RESULTS: The alpha 6 subunit was generally localized along the basal and lateral surfaces of basal epithelial cells and projected into Bowman's membrane. The beta 4 subunit was only present along the basal surface. Overall, the major age-related difference was the loss of continuous alpha 6 and beta 4 subunits along the basal surface of basal epithelial cells. When reconstructed images from corneas of individuals older than 70 years were optically sectioned en face, the alpha 6 subunit appeared discontinuous. If the same optical images were viewed from corneas of younger individuals, the staining was continuous. The number and distribution of hemidesmosomes along the basal lamina did not change with age in the corneas examined. CONCLUSIONS: Using computer imaging associated with confocal laser scanning microscopy, we have demonstrated that there is an age-related change in the localization of the alpha 6 and beta 4 subunits.
Utilization of aliphatic hydrocarbons by micro-organisms.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes utilization of aliphatic hydrocarbons by microorganisms and discusses certain aspects of the oxidation and assimilation of the simple aliphatic alkanes and alk-l-enes for the most part microbial. The number of bacteria recorded as being “hydrocarbon-oxidizers” exceeded the number of yeasts and filamentous fungi. The greater propensity for oxidation of aliphatic hydrocarbons by bacteria was more apparent than real because it reflected the lack of investigations using yeasts and filamentous fungi. The chapter reviews the information on the kinds of yeasts and molds implicated in aliphatic hydrocarbon oxidations and reviews reports on the catabolism of hydrocarbons by these two groups. The genera of yeasts reported to assimilate n-alkanes,alk-1-enes, and genera of filamentous fungi utilize aliphatic hydrocarbons for growth are enlisted. Certain ecological principles with reference to microorganisms utilizing hydrocarbons have been applied to the prospecting for petroleum. Lower vapor pressures of the n-alkanes at the lower temperature indicated that physical characteristics of the hydrocarbon as well as the metabolic potentials of the organism must be considered in assessing the utilizability of hydrocarbons as carbon sources for growth. Many micro-orgmisms like bacteria, which utilize the long-chain hydrocarbons to the exclusion of the shorter members of a series find that these shorter members are “toxic” because of their greater solubility and therefore their higher concentration. Yeasts and filamentous fungi readily utilize long-chain rather than short-chain hydrocarbons. Filamentous fungi contain members that utilize short chitin hydrocarbons for growth.
CHAPTER 31 – Thromboxane Generation

A short-lived lipid mediator, thromboxane (Tx) A2, is synthesized by activated platelets and released as a local signal, which amplifies activation and recruits additional platelets to the site of clot formation1,2 TxA2 is also a potent vasoconstrictor and stimulates mitogenesis, accelerating hemostasis and the proliferative response to vascular injury.3-6 Derived from arachidonic acid (AA) by the sequential action of prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS)-1 and thromboxane synthase (TxAS) (Fig. 31-1), TxA2 targets a specific G protein-coupled transmembrane thromboxane receptor (TP) that signals to facilitate dense granule secretion and integrin αIIbβ3 activation in platelets. Patients deficient in TxA2 formation have a mild bleeding disorder,7-16 as have those with a defective response to TxA2, 17-19 such as an arginine60 to leucine mutation of the TP which disrupts receptor-G protein interactions. 20
Plutonium Fuel Technology, Part II: Radiation Exposure from Plutonium in LWR Fuel Manufacture

Personnel radiation exposure problems in fabricating and handling plutonium fuels are described. The effects of variations in plutonium isotopic composition, due to differences in reactor types and fuel exposure and the resultant combined effects on personnel radiation exposure, are also described. It is concluded that increased shielding will be required for plutonium fuel fabrication facilities when full-scale plutonium recycle is under way, due to the higher radiation levels associated with high exposure plutonium and to more restrictive personnel radiation exposure limits than those currently used. However, it should be possible to handle completed plutonium fuel assemblies containing high exposure plutonium without excessive personnel exposure and with a minimum of special handling procedures.
Charge migration kinetics at a nanoscale ZnO/molecule interface structure: A stochastic Schrödinger equation approach

Abstract Charge separation dynamics at a hybrid organic/inorganic interface is simulated. The intensively studied para-sexiphenyl/ZnO systems was taken as an example. By extending earlier computations, the work is focused on the hole motion in a cluster of 2553 molecules placed on a flat ZnO surface. A specific case of hole dynamics is studied where the electron injected into the ZnO lattice stays immobile close to the surface. To follow hole motion on a picosecond time-scale, relaxation processes due to intramolecular vibrations are included in the framework of a stochastic Schrodinger equation approach. Respective solutions are confronted with those of an ordinary time-dependent Schrodinger equation exclusively displaying coherent transfer. In the case of excluding dissipative effects, the created hole quickly overcomes the attractive Coulomb-interaction with respect to the immobile electron. However, the hole can escape only partly from the Coulomb well, when taking additional hole relaxation into account.
A new temperature-dependent strategy to modulate the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Abstract The dynamic manipulation of kinases remains a major obstacle to unraveling cell-signaling networks responsible for the activation of biological systems. For example, epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1); however, EGF also recruits other kinases (HER2/ErbB2) involved with various signaling pathways. To better study EGFR we report a new strategy to selectively activate receptor tyrosine kinases fused to elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), which can be visualized inside mammalian cells using fixed and live-cell fluorescence microscopy . ELPs are high molecular weight polypeptides that phase separate abruptly upon heating. When an EGFR-ELP fusion is heated, it clusters, initiates receptor internalization , phosphorylates, initiates downstream kinase signaling, and undergoes retrograde transport towards the cell body. Unlike other strategies to block EGFR (small molecule inhibitors, RNAi, or transcriptional regulators), EGFR-ELP clustering can be specifically switched on or off within minutes. Live-cell imaging suggests that EGFR-ELPs assemble in most cells with only a 3 °C increase in temperature. This strategy was found reversible and able to dynamically control the downstream phosphorylation/activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. For the first time, this strategy enables the rational engineering of specific temperature-sensitive receptors that may have broad applications in the study and manipulation of biological processes .
The Predaceous Diving Beetle Fauna (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Highway-Associated Aquatic Habitats in Southern Mississippi, USA

Highway-associated, lentic freshwater habitats are ubiquitous throughout the landscape of the southern USA and support diverse assemblages of aquatic insects. However, because of their generally small size, dynamic hydro-period, and disturbed nature, these habitats are often overlooked by naturalists, and subsequently faunal surveys are rare. This work addressed this knowledge gap by specifically surveying for a common and widespread group of beetles within these habitats, predaceous diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). Semi-permanent and ephemeral freshwater habitats associated with two major state highways and one interstate highway were sampled in early and late summer of 2009 within a 40-km radius of Hattiesburg, MS. Among 15 tire ruts, 18 ditches, and 30 ponds, we collected 861 adult and 545 larval dytiscids representing 18 different species. Our findings suggest that highway-associated, freshwater habitats may act as important habitat and dispersal “stepping-stones” for certain species of dytiscids in the landscape and likely play a part in maintaining the metapopulations and regional biodiversity of these taxa.
The Era of Budget Politics

The Carter administration provides a short but fraught lesson on the pitfalls of legislating on the emerging healthcare industry. Early in his administration, President Carter fashioned a plan of cost containment specifically for the healthcare industry. Dissension within the Democratic Party over how to sustainably move forward with both healthcare services and cost reductions significantly hindered Carter’s initiatives. In addition, the various healthcare lobbies had become very effective, with contacts in every congressional district and political action committees contributing to congressional campaigns. The strength of these lobbies and their differing opinions on healthcare legislation effectively stalled Carter’s efforts at cost containment and no major healthcare proposals were enacted during his administration. The development, purchase, and use of the sophisticated diagnostic technology also led to increases in the cost of medical care, as well as an increase in the number of malpractice suits and claims. The 1979 Iran hostage crisis provided the final nail in the Carter administration’s coffin as all actions taken by Congress and the administration were directed toward resolving the hostage crisis.
A Study of the Implementation of Formative Assessment in Three Large Urban Districts

In this study, we examined the enactment of formative assessment by administrator-selected master teachers in large, urban, public school districts in three regions of the United States. Furthermor...
Multiwavelength Observations of Dusty Star Formation at Low and High Redshift

If high-redshift galaxies resemble rapidly star-forming galaxies in the local universe, most of the luminosity produced by their massive stars will have been absorbed by dust and reradiated as far-infrared photons that cannot be detected with existing facilities. This paper examines what can be learned about high-redshift star formation from the small fraction of high-redshift galaxies' luminosities that is emitted at accessible wavelengths. We first consider the most basic ingredient in the analysis of high-redshift surveys: the estimation of star formation rates for detected galaxies. Standard techniques require an estimate of the bolometric luminosity produced by their massive stars. We review and quantify empirical correlations between bolometric luminosities produced by star formation and the UV, mid-IR, sub-mm, and radio luminosities of galaxies in the local universe. These correlations suggest that observations of high-redshift galaxies at any of these wavelengths should constrain their star formation rates to within ~0.2-0.3 dex. We assemble the limited evidence that high-redshift galaxies obey these locally calibrated correlations. The second part of the paper assesses whether existing surveys have found the galaxies that host the majority of star formation at high redshift even though they directly detect only a small fraction of the luminosities of individual galaxies. We describe the characteristic luminosities and dust obscurations of galaxies at z ~ 0, z ~ 1, and z ~ 3. After discussing the relationship between the high-redshift populations selected in surveys at different wavelengths, we calculate the contribution to the 850 ?m background from each and argue that these known galaxy populations can together have produced the entire observed background. The available data show that a correlation between star formation rate and dust obscuration Lbol,dust/LUV exists at low and high redshift alike. The existence of this correlation plays a central role in the major conclusion of this paper: most star formation at high redshift occurred in galaxies with moderate dust obscurations 1 Lbol,dust/LUV 100 similar to those that host the majority of star formation in the local universe and to those that are detected in UV-selected surveys.
Examining the relationship between intergroup relations and head start use in the south

This study examines how Black and Hispanic parents' report of intergroup relations measured through group identity, linked fate, competition, and conflict are related to their utilization of Head Start services in a region that experienced Hispanic population growth. Surveys were conducted with 227 Black and 130 Hispanic parents in poverty in a mid-sized city in the South. For Hispanic parents, a sense of linked fate within their ethnic group is associated with a lower likelihood of enrollment, however, measures of intergroup relations are not related to the Head Start enrollment status of Black parents. Implications for policies on preschool expansion are discussed.
Hematocrit and incidence of venous thromboembolism.

Background Patients with polycythemia vera with high hematocrit have increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Objective To determine whether high hematocrit in the general population is also associated with elevated VTE risk. Methods The prospective Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study performed a complete blood count in 13 891 adults aged 45 to 64 in 1987 to 1989. We identified incident hospitalized VTEs through 2015 and performed proportional hazards regression analyses using race-sex-specific categorization of hematocrit percentiles (ie, <5th, 5th to <25th, 25th to <75th, 75th to <95th, and 95th-100th percentiles, with the 25th to <75th percentile serving as the reference). Results Over a median follow-up of 26 years, 800 participants had an incident venous thrombosis of the leg and/or a pulmonary embolism. There was a nonlinear association of hematocrit with VTE incidence, with risk elevated 72% for participants above the 95th percentile of hematocrit compared with the reference. Specifically, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of incident VTE were 1.27 (0.91-1.76), 1.06 (0.87-1.28), 1 (reference), 1.17 (0.98-1.40) and 1.72 (1.30-2.27) across the 5 hematocrit percentiles, adjusted for age, race, sex, body mass index, smoking status and pack-years, and other confounding variables. The association of high hematocrit with VTE was limited to provoked VTE, with little evidence for unprovoked VTE. Hemoglobin above the 95th percentile also was associated with an increased risk of VTE. In contrast, there were no significant associations of platelet, leukocyte, neutrophil, or lymphocyte counts with VTE incidence. Conclusion High hematocrit and hemoglobin in a general middle-aged population sample were associated with increased long-term risk of VTE, particularly provoked VTE.
Strategies for Tuning the Selectivity of Chemical Probes that Target Serine Hydrolases

Serine hydrolases comprise a large family of enzymes that have diverse roles in key cellular processes, such as lipid metabolism, cell signaling, and regulation of post-translation modifications of proteins. They are also therapeutic targets for multiple human pathologies, including viral infection, diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer disease; however, few have well-defined substrates and biological functions. Activity-based probes (ABPs) have been used as effective tools to both profile activity and screen for selective inhibitors of serine hydrolases. One broad-spectrum ABP containing a fluorophosphonate electrophile has been used extensively to advance our understanding of diverse serine hydrolases. Due to the success of this single reagent, several robust chemistries have been developed to further diversify and tune the selectivity of ABPs used to target serine hydrolases. In this review, we highlight approaches to identify selective serine hydrolase ABPs and suggest new synthetic methodologies that could be applied to further advance probe development.
Historical Perspectives: Reflections on Infectious Diseases in 2020.

I’m writing this in April 2020, when the world is suffering through the COVID-19 pandemic. Everything has drastically changed since we started planning this issue. The template for the next year is discussed way in advance, and each member of the editorial board selects an issue for the upcoming year. That means that around June–July last year (2019), each of us knew which issue we would be involved with (and responsible for). My task was to select interesting and educational topics in infectious diseases. Little did I know that by the time this issue was completed and being sent to the printing office, almost everyone would be having one thought, and only one thought: the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic! We are living in very challenging and uncharted times, no matter in what part of the world we are. This virus has affected everyone, with a morbidity and mortality that none of us had seen before—except if you were alive during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918. I certainly hope the final numbers of the COVID-19 pandemic will be nowhere close to the flu pandemic of 1918. As issue editor, when we embark on the process …
A Handling Solution for Easy Processing of Thin Glass with TGV

Glass substrates with through-glass vias for electronic packaging and radio-frequency substrate applications have been demonstrated in a variety of formats from wafers to panels, yet adoption has been hindered by difficulty in handling thin glass in the fab. In this paper we describe successful processing of glass wafers on silicon handles, using our polymer-free temporary bonding process. One preferred handle is silicon, so that the glass- on-silicon unit is rigid, opaque, and compatible with existing silicon-processing equipment. With the Mosaic bond approach, no adhesive wicks into the glass vias, allowing good via fill. Furthermore, no solvent is required for post-debond cleaning. In this paper, we demonstrate fundamental process capability for implementation of this technology for volume manufacture of glass solutions.
Massive pulmonary embolism in a COVID-19 patient: a case report

Background Myocardial injury is associated with excess mortality in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, and the mechanisms of injury are diverse. Coagulopathy associated with this infection may have unique cardiovascular implications. Case summary We present a case of 62-year-old male who presented after experiencing syncope and cardiac arrest. Given the clinical presentation and electrocardiographic findings, there was concern for acute coronary syndrome. However, coronary angiogram did not reveal significant coronary obstruction. Due to the unclear nature of his presentation, a bedside echocardiogram was rapidly performed and was indicative of right ventricular strain. Due to these findings, a pulmonary angiogram was performed that revealed massive pulmonary embolism. He successfully underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis and, after a prolonged hospital stay, was discharged home on lifelong anticoagulation. Discussion The impact of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on the cardiovascular system has been prominent and multifaceted. COVID-19 can have wide-ranging effects on the cardiovascular system due to coagulopathy with resultant venous and arterial thrombo-embolism. Due to the critical condition of many patients affected by COVID-19, imaging for thrombo-embolic events is often delayed. With the use of bedside echocardiogram, observation of right ventricular strain may be critical in raising suspicion for pulmonary embolism, especially when atypical features are noted on electrocardiogram.
Anatomically Constrained Deep Learning for Automating Dental CBCT Segmentation and Lesion Detection

Compared with the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) research in other branches of healthcare, the pace of developing AI capacities in dental care is relatively slow. Dental care automation, especially the automated capability for dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) segmentation and lesion detection, is highly needed. CBCT is an important imaging modality that is experiencing ever-growing utilization in various dental specialties. However, little research has been done for segmenting different structures, restorative materials, and lesions using deep learning. This is due to multifold challenges such as content-rich oral cavity and significant within-label variation on each CBCT image as well as the inherent difficulty of obtaining many high-quality labeled images for training. On the other hand, oral-anatomical knowledge exists in dentistry, which shall be leveraged and integrated into the deep learning design. In this article, we propose a novel anatomically constrained Dense U-Net for integrating oral-anatomical knowledge with data-driven Dense U-Net. The proposed algorithm is formulated as a regularized or constrained optimization and solved using mean-field variational approximation to achieve computational efficiency. Mathematical encoding for transforming descriptive knowledge into a quantitative form is also proposed. Our experiment demonstrates that the proposed algorithm outperforms the standard Dense U-Net in both lesion detection accuracy and dice coefficient (DICE) indices in multilabel segmentation. Benefited from the integration with anatomical domain knowledge, our algorithm performs well with data from a small number of patients included in the training. Note to Practitioners —This article proposes a novel deep learning algorithm to enable the automated capability for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) segmentation and lesion detection. Despite the growing adoption of CBCT in various dental specialties, such capability is currently lacking. The proposed work will provide tools to help reduce subjectivity and human errors, as well as streamline and expedite the clinical workflow. This will greatly facilitate dental care automation. Furthermore, due to the capacity of integrating oral-anatomical knowledge into the deep learning design, the proposed algorithm does not require many high-quality labeled images to train. The algorithm can provide good accuracy under limited training samples. This ability is highly desirable for practitioners by saving labor-intensive, costly labeling efforts, and enjoying the benefits provided by AI.
Interest rates and government debt : are the linkages global rather than national?

Given the increasing integration of financial markets, a better understanding of the effects of fiscal deficits and debt on real interest rates might be obtained by taking a global, rather than a national, perspective. The paper constructs aggregate flow and stock data (including GDP, fiscal deficits, government debt, and saving rates) and examines the empirical evidence of the global effect of fiscal policies on interest rates. The sensitivity of the results to the choice of deficit (central or general government), public debt (gross or net), and saving (gross or net), as well as the level and method of aggregation, is also examined.
Fabrication and Characterization of a 900-Element 222.5 GHz Single-bit Reflective Surface with Suppressed Quantization Lobes

We present a topology for suppressing quantization lobes in 1-bit reconfigurable reflective surfaces (RRSs). RRSs are planar surfaces that redirect the imping waves to the desired direction through phase modulation. For single-bit modulation, plane-wave illuminated RRSs exhibit quantization lobes due to the limited number of available phase bits. To eliminate such lobes, we randomize the quantization error by employing a fixed but random phase delay in every unit-cell of the RRS. Specifically, we focus on the fabrication and characterization of a mmWave single-layer, 1-bit, 30×30 randomized RRS designed at 222.5 GHz. The quasi-optical RCS characterization of the fabricated RRS demonstrates the successful suppression of the quantization lobe using the proposed technique.
Critical evaluation of Wind Turbines’ analytical wake models

Abstract The wind energy sector has faced remarkable growth during the last twenty years in view of tackling the global energy consumption rise and the adverse effects of fossil fuels on humans and the environment. On the other hand, the disperse character of wind energy has raised the need for contemporary Wind Turbines (WTs) to be clustered in industrial scale wind parks in an attempt to maximize the exploitation of the prevailing wind energy potential in a specific area. The increased land intensiveness has been considered as the Achille's heel of wind energy. In this context, the thorough wind park micrositing and the subsequent reliable prediction of the wind speed deficit downstream the WTs' rotor, are considered of paramount importance for the optimized WTs' allocation across the examined territory, as they determine the availability for energy extraction. In order to investigate the wind energy potential downstream one or more WTs, considerable effort has been put by the scientific community on the development of several numerical or analytical wake models, including some relatively new ones. The present work investigates the performance of nine well-known numerical, semi-empirical wake models, by comparing their findings with experimental and simulation data from previous scientific works. A thorough comparison between the case studies examined is conducted, attempting to elucidate the wake models prediction performance. The interesting findings that derived for five out of nine wake models analyzed enhance the need for further research in order to better understand the wake effect impact on wind parks energy yield.
Cloning techniques for hierarchical compaction

A method for efficiently performing hierarchical compaction in the presence of over the cell routing (OTCR) is described. By treating the OTCR objects as part of the cells they overlap, the amount of interaction between cells in the hierarchy is reduced. This method eliminates the need to make all objects within a cell that interact with OTCR into ports. An explosion in the complexity of the problem that needs to be solved via linear programming (LP) is thus avoided. Computation is shifted away from LP and into the graph domain where efficient and accurate solution methods have been demonstrated. >
Miscellaneous, Mass-like, and Cystic Lesions

Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, amyloidosis, pulmonary calcifications and ossifications, light-chain deposition disease, IgG4-related lung disease, pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma, emphysema with placental transmogrification, exogenous lipoid pneumonia, and benign metastasizing leiomyoma are discussed in this section.
An Analysis of Short Positions with Fundamentals to Predict Returns

Short selling can be driven by various motivations, such as anticipation of negative returns, hedging, etc., which cause short positions to contain heterogeneous information. However, past studies focus primarily on short positions to predict negative stock returns. In this paper, we refine information from short positions by mapping short positions with fundamental variables in their investment signals to predict both an increase and a decrease in future returns. Our findings indicate the presence of positive, and economically significant, abnormal returns when both short positions and fundamental variables jointly indicate an increase in future returns. Furthermore, portfolios in agreement with fundamental variables but in disagreement with short positions also generate positive, and economically significant, abnormal returns. These results are robust to various econometric tests, portfolio formation techniques, sub-period analysis, and both annual and quarterly data.
Optimizing use of multi-antibody assays for Lyme disease diagnosis: A bioinformatic approach

Multiple different recombinant and peptide antigens are now available for serodiagnosis of Lyme disease (LD), but optimizing test utilization remains challenging. Since 1995 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a 2-tiered serologic approach consisting of a first-tier whole-cell enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for polyvalent antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi followed by confirmation of positive or equivocal results by IgG and IgM immunoblots [standard 2-tiered (STT) approach]. Newer modified 2-tiered (MTT) approaches employ a second-tier EIA to detect antibodies to B. burgdorferi rather than immunoblotting. We applied modern bioinformatic techniques to a large public database of recombinant and peptide antigen-based immunoassays to improve testing strategy. A retrospective CDC collection of 280 LD samples and 559 controls had been tested using the STT approach as well as kinetic-EIAs for VlsE1-IgG, C6-IgG, VlsE1-IgM, and pepC10-IgM antibodies. When used individually, the cutoff for each kinetic-EIA was set to generate 99% specificity. Utilizing logistic-likelihood regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) techniques we determined that VlsE1-IgG, C6-IgG, and pepC10-IgM antibodies each contributed significant diagnostic information; a single-tier diagnostic score (DS) was generated for each sample using a weighted linear combination of antibody levels to these 3 antigens. DS performance was then compared to the STT and to MTT models employing different combinations of kinetic-EIAs. After setting the DS cutoff to match STT specificity (99%), the DS was 22.5% more sensitive than the STT for early-acute-phase disease (95% CI: 11.8% to 32.2%), 16.0% more sensitive for early-convalescent-phase disease (95% CI: 7.2% to 24.7%), and equivalent for detection of disseminated infection. The DS was also significantly more sensitive for early-acute-phase LD than MTT models whose specificity met or exceeded 99%. Prospective validation of this single-tier diagnostic score for Lyme disease will require larger studies using a broader range of potential cross-reacting conditions.
Serum phosphate level and the prognosis of dialysis patients

U-shaped relationship was observed between serum phosphate and mortality in dialysis patients. The connection between high serum phosphate and mortality can be explained partially by the contribution of phosphate to vascular calcification and oxidative stress in endothelial cells. Epidemiological study about the prior history of hip fracture in Japan revealed that high serum phosphate was associated with lower prevalence of prior fracture by univariate analysis. However, this association was eliminated by including many nutritional variables in multivariate analysis. This analysis also showed that severe hypophosphatemia less than 3 mg/dL was independently associated with high prevalence, implying the connection of malnutrition with bone health. Epidemiological data regarding incident fracture is also needed to know the factors really contributing to bone fragility. There is no way other than to determine target ranges of serum phosphate using observational studies, since interventional trial with hard outcome was practically impossible. The focus of observational studies will move on, in future, to the association between mortality and the methods to decrease serum phosphate level.
The Folding and Cell Surface Expression of CD4 Requires Glycosylation

Human CD4, a monomeric T cell surface glycoprotein, is required for T helper cell activation and is also the receptor for the human immunodeficiency virus. There have been conflicting reports as to whether glycosylation of CD4 is required for its cell surface expression. To clarify the effect of glycosylation on surface expression, folding, and intracellular sorting of CD4, we generated a series of mutant cDNAs in which one, the other, or both glycosylation recognition sites were eliminated. Using in vitro transcription and translation we confirmed that both potential glycosylation sites of CD4 were utilized. Transient expression of the mutants in HeLa cells demonstrated that glycosylation at either site was necessary and sufficient for cell surface expression. Finally, we showed that unglycosylated CD4 produced in HeLa cells was incorrectly folded and retained intracellularly, probably in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Variability in results of the microscopic agglutination test in dogs with clinical leptospirosis and dogs vaccinated against leptospirosis

Background: The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is commonly used for the diagnosis of canine leptospirosis. In dogs it is sometimes suggested that the serogroup with the highest MAT titer is the infecting serogroup; however, this is not true in humans with confirmed leptospirosis. We sought to investigate the value of MAT results in predicting the infecting serogroup by comparing results across several laboratories and within individual dogs over time. Objectives: To examine the variability in MAT results across different laboratories in dogs recently vaccinated against leptospirosis, and in dogs with clinical leptospirosis, and to investigate variability over time in MAT results in individual dogs with leptospirosis. Animals: Eighteen dogs from a research colony, 9 of which had been vaccinated against leptospirosis, and 17 dogs clinically diagnosed with leptospirosis. Methods: Serum samples were submitted to up to 5 veterinary diagnostic laboratories for MAT titers from each dog on at least 1 occasion. MAT results also were followed over time in 6 dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis. Results: MAT results were discordant across different laboratories in dogs recently vaccinated against leptospirosis and in dogs with clinical leptospirosis. MAT results varied over time in individual dogs with the disease. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The MAT is a valuable test for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in dogs, but it is unlikely that test results can be used to predict the infecting serogroup. Laboratories offering the MAT should consider participation in a proficiency scheme.
The Limits of Critical Thinking

This paper examines Robert Fogelin's suggestion that there may be deep disagreements, where no argument can address what is at issue. A number of possible bases for Fogelin's position are considered and rejected: people sometimes do not have enough in common for reasons to count as reasons; doubt is possible only against the background of framework propositions; key premises may be inarguable; argument must occur within a conceptual framework. The paper concludes by reflecting on why it is important to have a point of view when thinking critically about an argument and whether that fact constitutes a limitation as to what can be achieved by critical thinking.
Practicing Research and Researching Practice

In 1992, the Executive Committee of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) appointed a program committee to organize and conduct an ICMI Study on the topic “What is research in mathematics education, and what are its results?” The committee was charged with preparing a discussion document that would frame the topic, conduct a study conference at which the topic would be discussed and analyzed, and produce a report to be published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in the New ICMI Study Series. The charge included the request that major outcomes of the study be presented at the 1994 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) in Zurich. The discussion document (Balacheff et al., 1998) was published in several journals for mathematics educators in late 1992 and early 1993. It presented a framework for discussion in the form of five questions:
Incremental improvement: an essential component of engineering design

Engineering curricula focus a disproportionate part of their design component on the design of new products and processes. In practice, an engineer must tackle an imperfect existing process or product (which can be improved) more often than a requirement to build a completely new one. To address this discrepancy between curricula and engineering practice, we are developing process-improvement modules, initially targeted to the chemical engineering domain. Though design is usually carried out in capstone courses, incremental process improvement is suitable for earlier portions of the curriculum, because students have from the outset an entire feasible design (which would be impossible for them to derive on their own without comprehensive engineering-science background), and they need only consider modest changes to it. An engineer should be able to examine an operating process or industrial system and identify ways in which it can be improved (including pollution abatement, cost reduction, better quality, or improved reliability). This important engineering ability must be cultivated by explicit incremental improvement modules and case studies in the curriculum.
A Trainee-Based Randomized Comparison of Stimulating Interscalene Perineural Catheters With a New Technique Using Ultrasound Guidance Alone

Objective Compared to the well-established stimulating catheter technique, the use of ultrasound guidance alone for interscalene perineural catheter insertion is a recent development and has not yet been examined in a randomized fashion. We hypothesized that an ultrasound-guided technique would require less time and produce equivalent results compared to electrical stimulation (ES) when trainees attempt interscalene perineural catheter placement. Methods Preoperatively, patients receiving an interscalene perineural catheter for shoulder surgery were randomly assigned to an insertion protocol using either ultrasound guidance with a nonstimulating catheter or ES with a stimulating catheter. The primary outcome was the procedural duration (in minutes), starting when the ultrasound probe (ultrasound group) or catheter insertion needle (ES group) first touched the patient and ending when the catheter insertion needle was removed after catheter insertion. Results All ultrasound-guided catheters (n = 20) were placed successfully and resulted in surgical anesthesia versus 85% of ES-guided catheters (n = 20; P = .231). Perineural catheters placed by ultrasound (n = 20) took a median (10th-90th percentiles) of 8.0 (5.0-15.5) minutes compared to 14.0 (5.0-30.0) minutes for ES (n = 20; P = .022). All catheters placed according to the protocol in both treatment groups resulted in a successful nerve block; however, 1 patient in the ES group had local anesthetic spread to the epidural space. There was 1 vascular puncture using ultrasound guidance compared to 5 in the ES-guided catheter group (P = .182). Conclusions Trainees using a new ultrasound-guided technique can place inter-scalene perineural catheters in less time compared to a well-documented technique using ES with a stimulating catheter and can produce equivalent results.
Optical scatter imaging: subcellular morphometry in situ with Fourier filtering

We demonstrate a quantitative optical scatter imaging (OSI) technique, based on Fourier filtering, for detecting alterations in the size of particles with wavelength-scale dimensions. We generate our scatter image by taking the ratio of images collected at high and low numerical aperture in central dark-field microscopy. Such an image spatially encodes the ratio of wide to narrow angle scatter and hence provides a measure of local particle size. We validated OSI on sphere suspensions and live cells. In live cells, OSI revealed biochemically induced morphological changes that were not apparent in unprocessed differential interference contrast images. Unlike high-resolution imaging methods, OSI can provide size information for particles smaller than the camera's spatial resolution.
Why They Don’t Trust the Media: An Examination of Factors Predicting Trust

Political communication literature reveals an ongoing scholarly interest in issues surrounding the credibility of news media. Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, many consumers continue to believe U.S. news media have a political bias and, therefore, are not to be trusted. This study seeks to explain media trust using a new theoretical model. The findings, based on national survey data, suggest that political ideology and partisanship, trust in government and fellow citizens, and one’s view of the economy influence the degree to which audience members trust the news media.
Multiparticle correlated wave function for Bose systems

A correlated wave function for interacting Bose systems with correlation factors up to five-particle parts is suggested. The vehicle used is an analysis for the weakly interacting Bose gas by a new method. Terms up to O(lambda$sup 2$), where lambda measures the strength of the interaction, for the two-particle (Jastrow) factor and the three-particle factor, as well as ground-state energy up to O(lambda$sup 4$), are shown to agree with exact results obtained previously with other methods. New results include all multiparticle correlation factors up to O(lambda$sup 4$). The wave function will be most useful for analytically soluble model systems, and more importantly, for Monte Carlo or molecular- dynamics calculations dealing with realistic systems such as superfluid $sup 4$He. (AIP)
Charged Residues on the Intracellular Intersubunit Assembly Interface Contribute to Calcium-Sensitivity of BK Channels

The large-conductance calcium-activated K+ (BK) channel contains a large C-terminal intracellular Ca2+-sensing region formed by two RCK domains. The RCK2 domain harbors a Ca2+-binding site of clustered negatively charged residues, known as the Ca2+-bowl, while the RCK1 domain is believed to contain another Ca2+-binding site (RCK1-site). Recent X-ray crystallographic structures of the Ca2+-free and -bound intracellular regions revealed an interesting location of the Ca2+-bowl near the tertrameric intersubunit assembly interface. We investigated the role of the intersubunit assembly interface on Ca2+-gated BK channel activation through mutational analyses of charged residues Glu955, Glu956, Arg786, and Arg790 which may electrostatically stabilize RCK2 intersubunit interactions by formation of intersubunit salt-bridges. We observed that mutations E955Q, E956Q, and E955Q/E956Q caused ∼50%, ∼30%, and ∼70% loss, respectively, of Ca2+-sensitivity as determined at 0, 7.3, and 90.4 μM internal free Ca2+. Combined analyses with Ca2+-bowl or RCK1-site null mutations indicated that E955Q mutation eliminated most Ca2+-sensitivity from the Ca2+-bowl and ∼50% sensitivity from the RCK1-site. The charge neutralization mutation R786A/R790A on the interacting subunits also led to ∼50% loss of Ca2+-sensitivity, suggesting involvement of intersubunit salt-bridge(s) between residues E955 and R786 or R790. Furthermore, intersubunit charge reversal mutations induced recovery of Ca2+-sensitivity. In contrast to the drastic effects of these charged residue mutations, which are located distant (≥20A) to the bound Ca2+, mutation of the Asn449 residue, which may coordinate the RCK2 Ca2+ from a different subunit, displayed little effect on Ca2+-sensitivity. We conclude that the intersubunit interfacial electrostatic interactions play an important role in Ca2+-dependent BK channel gating. We propose that such interactions are unlikely to be involved in direct Ca2+-binding but may provide intersubunit supporting points to mediate Ca2+-gated RCK gating ring expansion or conformational coupling to channel activation.
Supplemental Conjugated Linoleic Acid Consumption Does Not Influence Milk Macronutrient Contents in all Healthy Lactating Women

The term “conjugated linoleic acid” (CLA) refers to a group of positional and geometric isomers that are derived from linoleic acid and are found primarily in meat and milk products from ruminant animals. Due to the array of putative benefits associated with various forms of CLA, there has been recent interest in supplementing human diets with these fatty acids especially when weight loss is desired. However, in many animal models, CLA has been shown to decrease milk fat production. There is some concern, therefore, that maternal CLA supplementation during lactation might inadvertently decrease nutrient supply to the nursing infant. However, there is only limited research on the effect of CLA consumption on milk fat content in women. Based on previously published work from our laboratory, we hypothesized that CLA supplementation would reduce the milk fat percentage in lactating women in a dose-dependent manner. Breastfeeding women (n = 12) were assigned randomly to treatments of 4 g/day safflower oil (SFO), 2 g/day CLA plus 2 g/day SFO, or 4 g/day CLA in a double blind, 3 × 3 Latin square design. Conjugated linoleic acid supplements contained approximately equal amounts of cis9,trans11–18:2 and trans10,cis12–18:2; the two most common isoforms of CLA. Milk was collected by complete breast expression on the last day (day 5) of each intervention period and analyzed for macronutrient and fatty acid composition. On day 4 of each intervention period, infant milk consumption was estimated by 24 h weighing of the infant. Washout periods were 9 days in length. We observed a dose-dependent increase in the concentrations of cis9,trans11–18:2 and trans10,cis12–18:2 in the milk fat. However, we detected neither a change in overall macronutrient composition nor infant milk consumption. These data do not support those obtained from animal models or our previous human work suggesting that consumption of CLA mixtures necessarily reduces milk fat. It is possible that either (1) the interpretation of our previously published data should be reevaluated, and/or (2) there are important intra- and inter-species differences in this regard.