cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toddlers draw broad negative inferences from wrongdoers’ moral violations

By 2 y of age, children possess expectations about several different moral principles. Building on these results, we asked whether children who observed a wrongdoer violate a principle would draw negative inferences from this violation about how the wrongdoer was likely to behave in other contexts. In four experiments, 25-mo-old toddlers (n = 152) first saw a wrongdoer harm a protagonist. When toddlers judged the wrongdoer’s behavior to violate the principle of ingroup support or harm avoidance, they did not find it unexpected if the wrongdoer next violated the principle of fairness by dividing resources unfairly between two other protagonists (Exps. 2 and 3), but they did find it unexpected if the wrongdoer next acted generously by giving another protagonist most of a resource to be shared between them (Exp. 4). When toddlers did not construe the wrongdoer’s harmful behavior as a moral violation, these responses reversed: They found it unexpected if the wrongdoer next acted unfairly (Exp. 1) but not if the wrongdoer next acted generously (Exp. 4). Detecting a moral violation thus lowered toddlers’ assessment of the wrongdoer’s moral character and brought down their expectations concerning the likelihood that the wrongdoer would perform: 1) obligatory actions required by other principles and 2) supererogatory or virtuous actions not required by the principles. Together, these findings expand our understanding of how young children evaluate others’ moral characters, and they reveal how these evaluations, in turn, enable children to form sophisticated expectations about others’ behavior in new contexts.
Monoclonal antibodies as magic bullets.

Monoclonal antibodies have been used as experimental therapy in humans since the beginning of the 1980s (A. N. Houghton and D. A. Scheinberg. Semin. Oncol. 13:165–179, 1986). They have been hailed as the prototypical magic bullet drug because of their inherent capacity for specificity. Consequently, monoclonal antibodies have many possible therapeutic applications with varied potential for successful outcome. Current review articles discussing monoclonal antibody therapy deal with the application of monoclonal antibodies within specific areas of medicine. The aim of this review is to summarize the current reviews and provide a broader perspective on the medical applications of monoclonal antibodies along with some general principles by which their therapeutic success or failure might be understood.
Grade Retention and School Performance: An Extended Investigation.

Abstract A follow-up study of the predictors and consequences of grade retention up to age 14 was conducted. This study investigated the effects of retention on school achievement, perceived school competence, and delinquency. The study sample included 1,164 low-income, minority (95% Black, 5% Hispanic) children from the Chicago Longitudinal Study. This was 93% of the original study by Reynolds (1992) . Twenty-eight percent of the study sample were retained-in-grade by age 14 (first grade–eighth grade). The strongest predictors of retention were early school performance (test scores and grades), gender (boys were more likely to be retained), parental participation in school, and the number of school moves. Grade retention was significantly associated with lower reading and mathematics achievement at age 14, above and beyond an extensive set of explanatory variables. Results based on same-age comparison groups yielded larger effects of retention on school achievement than results based on same-grade comparison groups. Both approaches, however, indicated that grade retention was associated with significantly lower reading achievement. Grade retention was not related either to perceived school competence at age 12 or to delinquency infractions at age 14. With one exception, the effects of early grade retention (Grades 1–3) were similar to those of later grade retention (Grades 4–7). Like the earlier study, these findings suggest that intervention approaches other than grade retention are needed to better promote school achievement and adjustment.
β-catenin and its multiple partners: promiscuity explained

β-catenin functions both in cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and the Wnt signaling pathway. In these roles, β-catenin interacts with a multitude of protein partners including cadherins, α-catenin, axin, APC, and Tcf family transcription factors. Recent crystal structures show how β-catenin can achieve this remarkably diverse functionality.
Studies on the electron transport system. XVII. Effects of adenosine diphosphate and inorganic phosphate on the steady-state oxidoreduction level of coenzyme Q.

Abstract The oxidoreduction reactions of coenzyme Q have been studied under steady-state conditions. Inorganic phosphate affects a marked reduction of coenzyme Q, and ADP reverses this reduction. Other anions such as sulfate, nitrate, borate, pyrophosphate and chloride, cannot duplicate the effect of phosphate, while arsenate can. The reduction induced by arsenate is not, however, reversed by ADP. The studies with phosphate, arsenate and ADP have been extended to DPN and exactly analogous results obtained. The phosphate-induced reduction of coenzyme Q is inhibited by both Amytal and antimycin A. These studies indicate that coenzyme Q, like DPN, acts as an electron carrier during the process of oxidative phosphorylation. In addition, evidence is presented that a high-energy bond is formed first with phosphate rather than with ADP. This is the first demonstration of the order in which phosphate and ADP participate in oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, in the terminal reaction of oxidative phosphorylation. ATP is formed by the transfer of the high-energy phosphoric group to ADP. The implication of these results in the mechanism of oxidative phosphorylation is discussed.
A Single-Step Monomeric Photo-Polymerization and Crosslinking via Thiol-Ene Reaction for Hydroxide Exchange Membrane Fabrication

A single step monomeric photo-polymerization and crosslinking via thiol-ene reaction is developed for the preparation of hydroxide exchange membranes (HEMs) in a ternary system with a triallyl triazine, a quaternary ammonium diallyl, and a dithiol. This facile method enables reproducible tuning of the ion exchange capacity and crosslink density. These HEMs demonstrate reasonable hydroxide conductivity, limited alkaline stability, and good thermal stability and have lower water uptakes than other photocrosslinked HEMs produced with much longer reaction times. Furthermore, this new fabrication method allows the incorporation of catalyst nanoparticles in the hydroxide exchange materials to form thin catalyst layers that are resistant to dissolution in methanol which suggests these polymers can be used in direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs). © The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0321510jes] All rights reserved.
The amino terminus of G protein alpha subunits is required for interaction with beta gamma

The guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins), which transduce hormonal and light signals across the plasma membrane, are heterotrimers composed of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits. Activation of G proteins by guanine nucleotides is accompanied by dissociation of the heterotrimer: G + alpha.beta.gamma in equilibrium alpha G + beta.gamma. Brain contains several G proteins of which the most abundant are alpha 39.beta.gamma and alpha 41.beta.gamma. We have used proteolysis by trypsin to study the functional domains of the alpha subunits. In the presence of guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate, trypsin removes a 2-kDa peptide from the amino terminus of these proteins (Hurley, J. B., Simon, M. I., Teplow, D. B., Robishaw, J. D., and Gilman, A. G. (1984) Science 226, 860-862; Winslow, J. W., Van Amsterdam, J. R., and Neer, E. J. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 7571-7579). Tryptic cleavage does not affect the GTPase activity of the truncated molecule nor the apparent Km for GTP. However, removal of the 2-kDa amino-terminal peptide prevents association of the alpha subunits with beta.gamma. Since the apparent substrate for pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation is the alpha.beta.gamma heterotrimer, the trypsin-cleaved alpha subunit is not a substrate for the toxin. Digestion of the carboxyl terminus of alpha 39 with carboxypeptidase A prevents ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin but does not interfere with the formation of alpha 39.beta.gamma heterotrimers. We do not yet know whether the amino-terminal region of alpha 39 interacts with beta gamma directly or whether it is necessary to maintain a conformation of alpha 39 which is required for heterotrimer formation. Further studies are needed to define the nature of the contracts between alpha and beta gamma subunits since understanding the structural basis for their reversible interaction is fundamental to understanding their function.
Field Technique for Clearing Cellulose Ester Filters Used in Asbestos Sampling

Abstract A field procedure to clear cellulose ester filters used for fiber counting, without the need for boiling or heating acetone as prescribed in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Method #7400, is presented. The method is simple and requires only that the analyst place the filter wedges/halves on the microscope slide, weight the edges of the filter to prevent curling, place the preparation in a covered dish containing acetone, and allow the filter to clear at room temperature. Filters from previous Proficiency and Analytical Testing (PAT) samples were cleared utilizing the cold acetone clearing technique. Results obtained with the new technique were in good agreement with the reference values and well within the performance limits of the round. Filter clearing time varies, with a suitable result usually obtainable in approximately fifteen minutes. We believe this clearing technique can be substituted for the hot acetone clearing method, when necessary, without degrading analy...
Erythema multiforme : Immune complex vasculitis of the superficial cutaneous microvasculature

The specificity and incidence of deposits of immunoglobulin and complement in the walls of vessels in the superficial cutaneous microvasculature were evaluated in a prospective study of consecutive skin biopsy specimens submitted for evaluation by direct immunofluorescence. Of 597 specimens, 32 showed granular deposits of C3, either alone or associated with immunoglobulin in the vessels of the papillary dermis. In most cases, the immunoglobulin was identified as IgM. Rheumatoid arthritis was identified as the diagnosis in 19% of patients who were biopsied, while syndromes of vasculitis, connective tissue diseases and erythema multiforme were the diagnoses in 28%, 28% and 16% of the biopsies respectively. The immunofluorescent findings and inciting cause of 17 erythema multiforme lesions are presented. All biopsies from early lesions showed deposits of C3 alone, or with IgM globulin, in the microvasculature of the papillary dermis. Herpesvirus hominis (HSV) was the predisposing cause in 8 patients, and 9 patients had erythema multiforme of uncertain etiology. HSV antibody was predominantly IgG in 6 subjects as it was in 5 controls with recurrent HSV who did not experience erythema multiforme. This study suggests that deposits of immunoglobulin and complement in the superficial cutaneous microvasculature can be found in a wide spectrum of vasculitis syndromes, and that erythema multiforme is mediated by the deposition of immune reactants in these vessels.
Martial arts and the globalization of US and Asian film industries

AbstractThis article investigates how globalization is affecting film industries in the USA and Asia. It argues that these industries are becoming more closely integrated with one another both materially and aesthetically, and that this in turn is leading to the denationalization of individual films and film industries on both sides of the Pacific. The article explores how globalization is experienced differently by different film industries – and by different sectors within individual industries – and how it entails both losses and opportunities for Asian film makers. Taking the contemporary Hollywood and East Asian martial arts film as an exemplary cultural style of globalization, it also looks at how integration involves both cultural homogenization and the production of difference. Specific topics discussed include the growth of Hollywood's Asian markets, Jackie Chan and the flow of Hong Kong talent into Hollywood, Hollywood remakes of South Korean movies, the resurgence of Asian film industries, Holl...
Pituitary and gonadal gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors during sexual maturation in the rat

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist D-Ala6-des-Gly10-GnRH ethylamide (D-Ala analog) was used as ligand to study GnRH receptors in the pituitary and gonads during sexual maturation in the rat. The affinities of the GnRH receptor (Ka = 6.5 × 109 M-1) were similar in all three tissues and did not change during maturation. Pituitary GnRH receptor concentration increased 2-fold in both sexes. Peak values occurred earlier (20 days) and were higher (720 ± 52 fmol/mg protein) in females than in males (30 days; 594 ± 54 fmol/mg). The changes in GnRH receptors followed a pattern similar to that of plasma FSH, though GnRH receptors were maximal 10 days after the FSH peak. The binding capacity of the gonadal GnRH receptors also changed with age, and was maximal on day 20 in females (271 ± 25 fmol/mg) before declining to a constant level by day 60 (139 ± 20 fmol/mg). In males, binding to testicular interstitial tissue was not detectable at 30 days of age but increased rapidly to 256 ± 13 fmol/mg by 40 da...
Collision-induced emission at high temperatures and densities: modeling of the sonoluminescence spectra

It is well known that infrared inactive gases, such as nitrogen and hydrogen, absorb infrared radiation if the gas densities are sufficiently high. The absorption is of a supramolecular nature, involving dipole moments induced by exchange, overlap, and dispersion forces as well as by multipole induction in pairs, triples, . . . of interacting molecules. The same collision-induced dipoles also emit radiation in the infrared and, at sufficiently high temperatures, also in the visible and near ultraviolet. We have estimated the intensities and the spectral profiles of binary emission spectra of nitrogen and nitrogen-argon mixtures for conditions believed to be representative for the converging spherical shockwaves of sonoluminescence, e.g., for densities of several times 10 21 molecules per cubic centimeters and temperatures of tens to hundreds of thousands of kelvin. Remarkably, the calculated profiles and intensities reproduce the measurements of such spectra in detail in the spectral range from 200 to 700 nm, the window of water, where the spectra are known. The sonoluminescence source is shown to be optically thin.
The transient absorption characteristics of the two-phase blood/gas system: a comparison to the Danckwerts model

The transient gas absorption characteristics of a motionless two-phase system consisting of blood and air were investigated. The data were compared to the general liquid/gas system model developed by Danckwerts (1970). The results have shown that the amount of change in concentration of the gases in the gas phase of the system is linearly proportional to the square root of the time the two phases are in contact with each other. This relationship is consistent with the Danckwerts model. The results have revealed the potential of the transient two-phase absorption phenomenon for measuring blood gas tensions clinically. Empirical equations were derived from the data which yielded blood gas concentration estimates for nitrous oxide and oxygen from absorption time and the concentration of the gas phase of the system. >
Routine Pre- and Post-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Computed Tomography of the Abdomen for Detecting Invasive Fungal Infection Has Limited Value

Abstract The diagnostic utility of obtaining chest and abdomen computed tomography (CT) to evaluate for invasive fungal infection (IFI) before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) remains unclear. The study was conducted as a quality improvement project. Chest and abdomen CT of patients who underwent an allogeneic HSCT over a 13-month period were reviewed. Scans included those performed pretransplant in all patients and days 0 to 100 post-transplant in selected patients. Sixty-six patients had chest and abdomen CT scans pretransplant. Chest CT was suggestive of IFI in 9 patients (13.6%), including 3 patients with prior history of IFI. After transplant, 37 patients had an initial chest CT and 14 patients an initial abdominal CT. The first chest CT post-transplant was suggestive of IFI in 3 patients; all had an abnormal CT pretransplant. After the initial post-transplant evaluation, 15 patients had 28 additional CT scans of the chest and 12 patients 19 additional CT scans of the abdomen. An abnormal chest CT with proven evidence of IFI was seen in only 1 patient. None of the 99 abdominal CT scans performed pre- or post-transplant had evidence of IFI. There is little benefit in obtaining abdominal CT scans in HSCT patients for detecting IFI either pre- or post-transplant.
2013 Special Issue: Hierarchical random cellular neural networks for system-level brain-like signal processing

Sensory information processing and cognition in brains are modeled using dynamic systems theory. The brain's dynamic state is described by a trajectory evolving in a high-dimensional state space. We introduce a hierarchy of random cellular automata as the mathematical tools to describe the spatio-temporal dynamics of the cortex. The corresponding brain model is called neuropercolation which has distinct advantages compared to traditional models using differential equations, especially in describing spatio-temporal discontinuities in the form of phase transitions. Phase transitions demarcate singularities in brain operations at critical conditions, which are viewed as hallmarks of higher cognition and awareness experience. The introduced Monte-Carlo simulations obtained by parallel computing point to the importance of computer implementations using very large-scale integration (VLSI) and analog platforms.
A dataset from change history to support evaluation of software maintenance tasks

Approaches that support software maintenance need to be evaluated and compared against existing ones, in order to demonstrate their usefulness in practice. However, oftentimes the lack of well-established sets of benchmarks leads to situations where these approaches are evaluated using different datasets, which results in biased comparisons. In this data paper we describe and make publicly available a set of benchmarks from six Java applications, which can be used in the evaluation of various software engineering (SE) tasks, such as feature location and impact analysis. These datasets consist of textual description of change requests, the locations in the source code where they were implemented, and execution traces. Four of the benchmarks were already used in several SE research papers, and two of them are new. In addition, we describe in detail the methodology used for generating these benchmarks and provide a suite of tools in order to encourage other researchers to validate our datasets and generate new benchmarks for other subject software systems. Our online appendix: http://www.cs.wm.edu/semeru/data/msr13/.
Stereotypies as a manifestation of acute hyperglycemia without ketosis

Acute hyperglycemia without ketosis is recognized to induce movement disorders characterized by hemichorea, hemiballismus, or hemidystonia. A video-case of hyperkinetic movement disorder resembling stereotypies in the context of uncompensated hyperglycemia without ketosis is presented, expanding the clinical phenotype of this disorder.
Teaching film: A case study

This article addresses itself to the Speech teacher who teaches some aspect of film studies or who may do so in the future. A case study is presented in which a History of Film course is designed, taught, and evaluated. The books, films, and other materials are listed. Various strategies of presentation, discussion, handling individual projects, and gauging student reaction are described. The case study focuses upon the work of the late John Ford.
Study of sorption-retarded U(VI) diffusion in Hanford silt/clay material.

A diffusion cell method was applied to measure the effective pore diffusion coefficient (Dp) for U(VI) under strictly controlled chemical conditions in a silt/clay sediment from the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford site, WA. “Inward-flux” diffusion studies were conducted in which [U(VI)] in both aqueous and solid phases was measured as a function of distance in the diffusion cell under conditions of constant concentration at the cell boundaries. A sequential extraction method was developed to measure sorbed contaminant U(VI) in the solid phase containing extractable background U(VI). The effect of sorption kinetics on U(VI) interparticle diffusion was evaluated by comparing sorption-retarded diffusion models with sorption described either as equilibrium or intraparticle diffusion-limited processes. Both experimental and modeling results indicated that (1) a single pore diffusion coefficient can simulate the diffusion of total aqueous U(VI), and (2) the local equilibrium assumption (LEA) is appropriate fo...
Subgraph generating functions in chemistry- An example for perfect matchings on honeycomb fragments

The analogous role of subgraph generating functions in statistical mechanics and in quantum-chemical theory is noted. To illustrate the analogy, the example of perfect matchings on hexagonal animals is considered. Isomorphisms to two types of multiple-walk problems are noted to reveal a ''hidden order'', with physical relevance. This is further used to accomplished an enumeration of the perfect matchings on a class of hexagonal-animal strips of with and length.
Studies on cell-mediated hypersensitivity to neural antigens after experimental spinal cord injury.

Abstract The possibility was examined that injury to the spinal cord may set in motion a series of events which lead to the development of cell-mediated hypersensitivity to central nervous system antigens. Macrophage migration inhibition and lymphocyte transformation assays were performed on cells from guinea pigs at various times after an experimental spinal cord compression. Reactivity was measured against myelin basic protein, S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and whole central nervous system homogenate. Immune reactivity was not demonstrable against any antigens tested. These results do not support the concept that immunologic factors directed against antigens in the central nervous system play a role in the inhibition of that system's regeneration.
Near neighbor approximation in nuclear magnetic resonance

A new way to deal with the excitation by multiple effective RF fields with interference is presented using the coherent averaging theory. It significantly simplifies the calculation of the effect of RF interference that occurs in the excitations by periodic pulses and phase-incremented pulses (PIPs). This approach shows that each neighboring RF field contributes to an excitation profile an offset shift, which is termed the Bloch-Siegert offset shift (BSOS). The BSOS depends not only on the strengths of both RF fields that interfere with each other but also on their relative phase between the two RF fields. Consequently, it can be positive, negative, and zero. In addition, the BSOS is also inversely proportional to the frequency separation of the two RF fields. Therefore, only a few near neighbors need to be taken into account in most cases, resulting in a near neighbor approximation (NNA). The BSOS for two multiband excitation profiles, one by a periodic pulse and the other by a PIP, are calculated using the NNA. The results are in good agreement with the computer simulated ones.
Safety and efficacy of video-assisted versus conventional lung resection for lung cancer

Objective We sought to evaluate the use of video-assisted thoracoscopy among patients with lung cancer and its safety and effectiveness relative to conventional resection. Methods A cohort study (1994–2002) was conducted by using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results Medicare database. Video-assisted thoracoscopy and conventional resection were hypothesized to be equivalent in terms of risks of death. Equivalency was defined by a confidence interval of 0.72 to 1.28 for the odds of 30-day death and 0.89 to 1.11 for the hazard of death, corresponding to a difference of no more than 1% for 30-day mortality and 5% for 5-year survival, respectively. Results Among 12,958 patients who underwent segmentectomy or lobectomy (mean age, 74 ± 5 years), 6% underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy. The use of video-assisted thoracoscopy increased from 1% to 9% between 1994 and 2002. Compared with those who underwent conventional resection, patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy more frequently had smaller tumors ( P P = .03), underwent lymphadenectomy ( P P P Conclusions Video-assisted thoracoscopy was uncommonly used to manage lung cancer, although its use has increased over time. Video-assisted thoracoscopy and conventional resection were equivalent in terms of long-term survival.
An In-Pharm-ative Educational Poster Anthology Highlighting the Therapeutic Agents That Chronicle Our Medicinal History

Disease Focused Posters is a new, free, and readily accessible collection of graphical timelines that arrange the vast number of FDA approved pharmaceuticals according to a specific theme. Capitalizing on the elegance of structural imagery and the innovative functions of organic compounds, each poster (in its simplistic appearance) has the capacity to communicate a wealth of information that appeals to the educational desires of the public, from the non-scientist to the expert.
Adaptive smoothing in real-time image stabilization

When using the conventional fixed smoothing factor to display the stabilized video, we have the issue of large undefined black border regions (BBR) when camera is fast panning and zooming. To minimize the size of BBR and also provide smooth visualization to the display, this paper discusses several novel methods that have demonstrated on a real-time platform. These methods include an IIR filter, a single Kalman filter and an interactive multi-model filter. The fundamentals of these methods are to adapt the smoothing factor to the motion change from time to time to ensure small BBR and least jitters. To further remove the residual BBR, the pixels inside the BBR are composited from the previous frames. To do that, we first store the previous images and their corresponding frame-to-frame (F2F) motions in a FIFO queue, and then start filling the black pixels from valid pixels in the nearest neighbor frame based on the F2F motion. If a matching is found, then the search is stopped and continues to the next pixel. If the search is exhausted, the pixel remains black. These algorithms have been implemented and tested in a TI DM6437 processor.
Hydrated manganese oxide as a counter-electrode material for an electrochromic optical switching device

Abstract Thin films of hydrated manganese oxide were electrodeposited out of a base solution onto conductive SnO2: F glass. When cycled in a 1 M KOH solution, these films show the ability to reversibly store ions of dissociated water, however they show phase instability upon longer cycling. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to investigate the chemical composition of the manganese oxide films. Our results indicate that hydrated MnO2 is the composition of the film in the oxidized state. Very low coloration was noted in these films making them useful for transparent counter-electrodes. As indicated by voltammetry, the switching voltage and ion-storage capacity fit the electrochromic switching of nickel oxide, undergoing a similar reaction. Because of its properties, manganese oxide, once stabilized, may serve as a counter-electrode for an electrochromic nickel oxide device.
The Vaporization of Superheated Sodium in a Vertical Channel

Measurements of the vapor growth patterns and rates following the nucleation of superheated sodium in a vertical rectangular channel are presented and discussed. The vapor was found to grow as a single bubble for incipient bulk-liquid superheats greater than about 10 deg C, and this single bubble tended to completely fill the channel cross section (except for a thin liquid film on the walls) and to grow as a vapor slug for incipient bulk-liquid superheats greater than about 50 deg C. The temperature gradients in the liquid both normal and parallel to the channel axis prior to nucleation were found to have an important effect upon the dynamics of the vapor slug. Experimental data on the vapor growth and collapse rates and the associated pressure transients are presented for boiling pressures up to 1 atm and incipient superheats up to about 180 deg C.
Venus space mission

One can read about the scientific results of the Pioneer Venus exploration program in a highly valued special issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research, 85(A13), December 30, 1980, but these results are only a part of the impact of what has been one of the most sophisticated scientific endeavors in history. In this program numerous spacecraft—the U.S. Mariner 2, 5, 10, Pioneer 1, 2, and the Soviet Venera 4-10, 11, 12 missions—were launched to study Venus. There were six probes to Venus's surface, one to its upper atmosphere, and three to observe its environment. Pioneer 1 is still in operation, in Venus orbit with a periapsis less than 200 km and an apoapsis of 66,000 km. As a result of the probes there are now diamonds and sapphires on Venus, the windows provided for spacecraft instruments to take measurements of the atmosphere, surface, and solar flux.
Lack of FGF23 response to acute changes in serum calcium and PTH in humans.

Context: 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) administration and long-term increases in phosphate, PTH, and calcium concentrations are associated with increases in circulating fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23); however, whether or not acute changes in serum calcium modulate short-term FGF23 release is unknown. Objective/Design: To assess the direct effect of acute changes in calcium and PTH on circulating FGF23 levels. Setting: A university clinical and translational research center. Patients/Participants: Twelve healthy volunteers and 10 dialysis patients. Interventions: Calcium gluconate and sodium citrate were infused for 120 minutes on 2 consecutive days. Main Outcome Measures: Serum levels of ionized calcium, phosphorus, PTH, 1,25D, and plasma C-terminal FGF23 levels were obtained at 0, 13, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes during the infusions. Results: During the calcium infusion, serum calcium concentrations increased from 1.33 ± 0.01 to 1.57 ± 0.04 mmol/L (P < .05 from baseline) and from 1.20 ± 0.05 to 1....
Some thoughts on suicide. Is it logical

The phenomenon of suicide is unique to Homo sapiens. Explanations are many but not satisfying. The clearly documented rise in suicide rate among younger age groups, at least in the United States, is cause for worry. Those who succeed in self-destruction all too frequently are highly intelligent individuals; the waste of human talent is obvious. A review of suicides investigated and of literature suggests that total loss of hope on the part of the victim results in an astigmatic perception of reality; in the face of these circumstances, suicide is a logical conclusion for the victim. Language: en
Modeling the record process

The evolution of write process modeling for digital magnetic recording is described. Typically such modeling depends on the assumption of a continuous recording medium which can be represented by its bulk hysteretic properties. The development of a vector model for hysteresis is presented and its adequacy is discussed.
Neonatal T-cell maturation and homing receptor responses to Toll-like receptor ligands differ from those of adult naive T cells: relationship to prematurity

Neonatal T-cell maturation and homing receptor responses to Toll-like receptor ligands differ from those of adult naive T cells: relationship to prematurity
A multi‐institutional trial of an objective structured clinical examination

This study investigated the feasibility of implementing the same 10 cases in an objective structural clinical examination (OSCE) to evaluate medical students’ clinical skills following the medicine clerkship at four geographically dispersed medical schools. Results indicated that a clinically equivalent, standardized test of clinical performance could be developed at multiple schools. Generalizability of student scores ranged from .26 to .50. Overall performance averaged 63%, with case scores ranging from 74% for a history of recurrent urinary tract infections to 52% for a fever and cough. Significant differences were found among schools for individual cases, but performance from any one school was not consistently highest. Clinical skills scores ranged from 72% for physical examination technique to 58% for initial management, with varying significant differences among schools, suggesting inconsistent clinical training within and among schools. Performance was not higher for students examined later in the...
Invasive species impacts on ecosystem structure and function: A comparison of the Bay of Quinte, Canada, and Oneida Lake, USA, before and after zebra mussel invasion

As invasion rates of exotic species increase, an ecosystem level understanding of their impacts is imperative for predicting future spread and consequences. We have previously shown that network analyses are powerful tools for understanding the effects of exotic species perturbation on ecosystems. We now use the network analysis approach to compare how the same perturbation affects another ecosystem of similar trophic status. We compared food web characteristics of the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario (Canada), to previous research on Oneida Lake, New York (USA) before and after zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) invasion. We used ecological network analysis (ENA) to rigorously quantify ecosystem function through an analysis of direct and indirect food web transfers. We used a social network analysis method, cohesion analysis (CA), to assess ecosystem structure by organizing food web members into subgroups of strongly interacting predators and prey. Together, ENA and CA allowed us to understand how food web structure and function respond simultaneously to perturbation. In general, zebra mussel effects on the Bay of Quinte, when compared to Oneida Lake, were similar in direction, but greater in magnitude. Both systems underwent functional changes involving focused flow through a small number of taxa and increased use of benthic sources of production; additionally, both systems structurally changed with subgroup membership changing considerably (33% in Oneida Lake) or being disrupted entirely (in the Bay of Quinte). However, the response of total ecosystem activity (as measured by carbon flow) differed between both systems, with increasing activity in the Bay of Quinte, and decreasing activity in Oneida Lake. Thus, these analyses revealed parallel effects of zebra mussel invasion in ecosystems of similar trophic status, yet they also suggested that important differences may exist. As exotic species continue to disrupt the structure and function of our native ecosystems, food web network analyses will be useful for understanding their far-reaching effects.
New interpretation of glacial history of Cape Cod may have important implications for groundwater contaminant transport

Fresh water resources of sufficient quantity and quality are critical for maintaining societies and for supporting additional growth and development. When these resources are threatened or compromised, as can occur through the release of hazardous compounds, additional stress is placed on the water supply system from loss of the resource and changes in the demand structure. In western Cape Cod, Massachusetts, such problems are currently being encountered as a result of contaminant releases from the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR). An effective long-term response to subsurface contamination requires, among other things, determining the lithology, stratigraphy, and structure of aquifer materials and their effects on groundwater flow and contaminant transport. A recent review and analysis of subsurface data across Cape Cod offers a new interpretation of the geologic history of the Cape, with potential implications for groundwater issues facing western Cape Cod (the Upper Cape).
Modelling and analysis of non‐random uncertainties—fuzzy‐set approach

This paper addresses the issue of uncertainty treatment in geotechnical engineering. Emphasis is placed on modelling and analysis of non-random uncertainties using fuzzy sets. Although uncertainties were modelled with fuzzy sets in this study, subsequent analysis or processing of the uncertain information was performed using traditional, non-fuzzy techniques. These techniques, including the vertex method and Monte Carlo simulation, are discussed in detail. An example application using soil liquefaction susceptibility is presented. The paper concludes that non-random uncertainties can be successfully modelled and processed using fuzzy sets.
Fractal analysis on fracture surfaces of glass using replication techniques

In order to understand the relationship between bond-breaking and the resulting topography on the fracture surface of brittle materials, a formal construct is needed. Fractal geometry offers a tool by which the fracture of brittle materials can be studied at the atomic and macroscopic levels using the same principles. In order to obviate the problems of anisotropy and microstructure, the ideal materials to study are glasses. Thus, the fracture surfaces of aluminosilicate and borosilicate glasses were analyzed using fractal geometric principles. Because the (slit island) technique employed required polishing of the embedded fracture surface and this process resulted in fragmentation of the surface, a replication procedure was developed whereby a plastic replica of the fracture surface was used in all analyses. The fractal dimensional increment, D *, of the glasses was determined for the borosilicate and aluminosilicate glasses to be 0.085±0.03 and 0.09±0.05, respectively. It was shown that the reciprocal of the fractal dimension increment is equal to the mirror-to-flaw size ratio for these glasses in agreement with theory and previous work on a single crystal, a glass-ceramic and polycrystalline materials. The implication of these findings is discussed in terms of the fracture process.
Perceptions of People and Place: Young Adolescents' Interpretation of Their Schools in the United States and the United Kingdom.

This article investigates the impact of different school models (middle school, K-8, and the UK secondary) on young adolescents' perceptions of their school climates. In particular, it analyzes the importance of people and place in the positive and negative attitudes that middle-level students develop about their schools. Based on mixed-method longitudinal research conducted during the 2004-2005 academic year, the study finds that 11- to 12-year-old students' happiness in school is most influenced by their peers, followed by the relationship with teachers. The study also reveals negative implications for students in large, crowded, control-oriented middle schools. On the other hand, it also reveals how larger secondary schools (found in the United Kingdom) include programmatic qualities to promote young adolescents' comfort level in large schools. Effective transition programs in particular can mitigate the negative qualities of large, urban, low socioeconomic status school settings by assisting with stud...
The 185/333 Gene Family Is a Rapidly Diversifying Host-Defense Gene Cluster in the Purple Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

The genome of the purple sea urchin contains numerous large gene families with putative immunological functions. One gene family, known as 185/333, is characterized by extraordinary molecular diversity resulting from single nucleotide polymorphisms and the presence or the absence of 27 large blocks of sequences known as elements. The mosaic composition of elements, known as element patterns, that is present within the members of this gene family is encoded entirely in the second of two exons. Many of the elements correspond to one of six types of repeats that are present throughout the genes. The sequence diversity and variation in element patterns led us to investigate the evolution of the 185/333 gene family. The work presented here suggests that the element patterns are the result of both recombination and duplication and/or deletion of intragenic repeats. Each element is composed of a limited number of similar but distinct sequences, and their distribution among the 185/333 genes suggests frequent recombination within this gene family. Phylogenetic analyses of five 185/333 elements and two regions of the intron were performed using two tests: incongruence length difference and incongruence permutation. Results indicated that each pair of sequence segments was incongruent, suggesting that recombination occurs frequently along the length of the genes, including both the intron and the second exon, and that recombination is not restricted to intact elements. Paradoxically, the high level of similarity among the elements indicated that the 185/333 genes appear to be the result of a recent diversification. These results add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that invertebrate immune systems are not simple and static, but are dynamic and highly complex, and may employ group-specific mechanisms for diversification.
Analysis and Measurements of Interzonal Natural Convection Heat Transfer in Buildings

Natural convection heat transfer through doorways can be an important process by which thermal energy is transferred from one zone to another zone of a building. The topic of this paper is interzonal natural convection in a two zone and a three zone multilevel full scale building. Aperture velocity and temperature distributions are measured and the experimental interzonal mass flow rate and heat transfer are determined. A Bernoulli model is derived to predict the neutral heights, velocity profiles, and interzonal heat transfer. The measured and predicted interzonal flow rate and heat transfer are compared and found to be in good agreement.
Interferon in the management of chronic hepatitis B.

Many drugs have been used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, but with the exception of interferon, none have proved to be effective. Several studies have found that a sustained loss of viral replication occurs in approximately 40% of patients who arted with a 16-week course of recombinant interferon alfa-2b given in a dose of 5 million units daily or 10 million units three times weekly. Moreover, disappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen in serum has been observed in 10–15% of treated patients. Based on these results, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of this form of interferon in chronic hepatitis B in July 1992. This article reviews the importance of chronic hepatitis B as a health problem as well as the mechanisms of action, benefits, and adverse effects associated with interferon. Particular emphasis is given to the safety and efficacy data for recombinant interferon alfa-2b.
The Synthesis and Characterization of Energy-Conducting Polymers with Pendant Inorganic Chromophores

We are interested in the synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of functional nanoscale materials comprised of a polymeric scaffold with appended cationic transition-metal lumiphores. We have developed a methodology to prepare, spectroscopically characterize, and evaluate a series of organic copolymers functionalized with inorganic chromophores. Preparation of these hybrid systems first involves the synthesis of a linear AB diblock copolymeric scaffold in which A is polystyrene (PS) and B is poly(p-tert- butoxycarbonyloxystyrene) (PStBOC), using Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain-Transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization. The PStBOC block (B) was converted into poly(4- hydroxystyrene) by acid hydrolysis of the t-BOC moieties, and Ru(II) trisbipyridyl complexes were covalently appended using standard ester coupling reagents. These lumiphores were selected due to their strong absorbance in the visible spectrum, chemical/photochemical stability, useful redox properties, and long-lived excited state lifetimes. Attachment of the cationic transition-metal chromophores to block B of these linear AB diblock copolymeric arrays is expected to promote solid-state self-assembly into nanoscale structures. The metal-loaded macromolecular assemblies were characterized spectroscopically and the determination of the solid-state morphology of films of these materials was investigated using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
Wafer-scale titanium anodic bonding for microfluidic applications

Abstract We report the development of an anodic bonding process that allows, for the first time, high-strength joining of bulk titanium and glass substrates at the wafer-scale, without need for interlayers or adhesives. We demonstrate that uniform, full-wafer bonding can be achieved at temperatures as low as 250 °C and that failure during burst pressure testing occurs via crack propagation through the glass, rather than the titanium/glass interface, thus demonstrating the robustness of the bonding. Moreover, using optimized bonding conditions, we demonstrate the fabrication of rudimentary titanium/glass-based microfluidic devices at the wafer-scale, and their leak-free operation under pressure-driven flow. Finally, we also demonstrate the monolithic integration of nanoporous titanium dioxide within such devices, thus illustrating the promise embodied in titanium anodic bonding for future realization of robust microfluidic devices for photocatalysis applications.
Stochastic resource allocation using a predictor-based heuristic for optimization via simulation

Some combinatorial stochastic resource allocation problems lack algebraically defined objective functions and hence require optimization via simulation as a mechanism for obtaining good solutions. For this class of problems, we propose a new predictor-based heuristic that uses a distance criterion to perform the solution search. To demonstrate our solution approach, we apply this heuristic to the problem of selecting the proper design configuration of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) fleet so as to maximize mission effectiveness. We compare our approach to black box optimization via simulation approaches (two tabu search-based procedures and a greedy heuristic) and glean both methodological and practical insights.
High resolution side-band holography with a STEM instrument

Abstract A scheme is proposed for use of a bi-prism in a STEM instrument so that two focused beams are formed at the specimen level. If one beam passes through a thin object and one beam passes in vacuum, interference fringes are produced in the diffraction plane from which reconstruction of the object transmission function can be made, digitally, with high resolution. The use of a second biprism in the post-specimen lens system is suggested as a means for overcoming some experimental difficulties.