cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching Online In The Era Of Netflix

Location: Dewberry Hall How can we design online courses that engage students and create excitement about our subject areas? What do you say when your Department Chair asks you to teach an online course? This presentation describes how I responded, from building a curriculum, designing lab exercises, recording instructional media, and managing a course where I never actually see my students. The course is an entry-level graduate course in Data Science tools, and as such, serves as the first introduction to George Mason for students entering the College of Science. Incoming graduate students from a variety of backgrounds use this class to gain exposure to the computing environments they will need for future research. The course has been popular with graduating seniors as well, where they enroll in this class as an advanced elective in the Spring of their senior year. Participants will see an example of how to design and implement an online course. It's especially relevant for technology focused courses.
Genetic analysis of the threatened American hart's-tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum [Fernald] Kartesz and Gandhi): Insights into its mating system and implications for conservation

Abstract American hart's-tongue fern (AHTF) is one of the rarest ferns in the United States and concern over its conservation and management has highlighted the need for genetic analysis. Genetic analysis also provides insights into the species' mating system which contributes to our understanding of its rarity and persistence. We analyzed 88 individuals from 11 populations in NY and MI based on variations in 108 loci as revealed through ISSR markers using Nei's gene diversity index, percent polymorphic loci and other measures. Low genetic diversity predominates in the populations from NY, and even lower for the populations in MI. Our results also indicate that AHTF from NY and MI are genetically differentiated from each other, as well as the populations within them. There is no positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances, as well as between genetic distance and census population size. The significantly high among population genetic variation and low gene flow value are common indicators of a predominant inbreeding mating strategy within populations, limited spore dispersal, and genetic drift. Our results also indicate that each AHTF population is an important contributor to the overall genetic variation of the species and thus, represents a significant unit for conservation efforts.
Compression by model combination

In the probabilistic framework for data compression, a model of the probability distribution of a data source is constructed, and the predicted probability is entropy coded. To achieve better compression, most traditional methods resort to higher order models. However, this approach is limited by memory and often suffers from the context dilution problem. In this paper, we present methods that allow us to combine a few low order models to achieve equivalent or better compression of a high order model. We show that when applying our techniques to bi-level images, we are able to achieve the state of the art compression within the probabilistic framework.
A DECAY ESTIMATE FOR THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL INHOMOGENEOUS KLEIN-GORDON EQUATION AND GLOBAL EXISTENCE FOR NONLINEAR EQUATIONS*

We will describe a pointwise decay estimate for solutions u(t, x) of the inhomogeneous Klein-Gordon equation $$ \partial_t^2u - \Delta u + u = F(t,x) $$ (IKG) on R + × R 3, with zero initial data $$ u(0,x) = {\partial_t}u(0,x) = 0 $$ . The desired bound takes the form $$ \left| {u(t,x)} \right| = \frac{C}{{{{(1 + t + \left| x \right|)}^{{ \frac{\hbox{$\scriptstyle 3$}}{\hbox{$\scriptstyle 2$}} }}}}}\left| {\left\| F \right\|} \right| $$ (1) , with the norm ||| • ||| to be made precise later on.
Mechanism of bovine liver S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. Steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetic analysis.

The kinetic mechanism of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase was investigated by stopped-flow spectrofluorometry at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. Pre-steady-state kinetic steps were identified with chemical steps proposed for the mechanism of this enzyme (Palmer, J.L., and Abeles, R.H. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 1217-1226). The steady-state kinetic constants for the hydrolysis or synthesis of S-adenosylhomocysteine were in good agreement with those values calculated from the pre-steady-state rate constants. The equilibrium constant for dehydration of 3'-ketoadenosine to 3'-keto-4',5'-dehydroadenosine on the enzyme was 3. The analogous equilibrium constant for addition of L-homocysteine to S-3'-keto-4',5'-dehydroadenosylhomocysteine on the enzyme was 0.3. The elimination of H2O from adenosine in solution had an equilibrium constant of 1.4 (aH2O = 1). Thus, the equilibrium constants for these elimination reactions on the enzyme were probably not perturbed significantly from those in solution. The equilibrium constant for the reduction of enzyme-bound NAD+ by adenosine was 8, and the analogous constant for the reduction of the enzyme by S-adenosylhomocysteine was 4. The equilibrium constant for the reduction of NAD+ by a secondary alcohol in solution was 5 x 10(-5) at pH 7.0. Consequently, the reduction of enzyme-bound NAD+ by adenosine was 10(5)-fold more favorable than the reduction of free NAD+. The magnitude of the first-order rate constants for the interconversion of enzyme-bound intermediates varied over a relatively small range (3-80 s-1). Similarly, the magnitude of the equilibrium constants among enzyme-bound intermediates varied over a narrow range (0.3-10). These results were consistent with the overall reversibility of the reaction.
Toward a Definition of a Pictograph Style: The Lower Pecos Bold Line Geometric

Abstract linear designs found at 14 sites surrrounding the confluence of the Pecos River and Rio Grande form the basis for the definition of a new pictograph style, the Lower Pecos Bold Line Geomet...
Gonorrhea detection in a family planning clinic: a cost-benefit analysis of 2,000 triplicate cultures.

Abstract Among 2,019 women screened by triplicate culture technique, 191 (9.5 per cent) had one or more positive cultures of specimens for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The prevalence rates by site of infection were as follows: cervix—8.1 per cent; rectum—2.4 per cent, and oropharynx—0.9 per cent. Of the 191 patients with gonorrhea, 163 (85 per cent) had a positive culture of the cervical specimen. Addition of routine cultures of rectal and oropharyngeal specimens detected only 15 per cent of positive cases, while tripling the cost of the screening program. Based on a cost-benefit analysis, a culture of the cervical specimen is most appropriate for routine screening, and cultures of rectal and/or oropharyngeal specimens should be obtained on a selected basis only.
Prediction of intrauterine growth retardation by determination of total intrauterine volume

Total intrauterine volume (TIUV) measurements were performed with ultrasound on 100 normal patients at different times in gestation, and a nomogram was constructed. Ninety-six patients at risk for intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) were then examined ultrasonically. Twenty-eight of the patients in this group delivered growth-retarded babies; in 21 of these cases the TIUV was in the abnormal zone (more than 1.5 S.D. below the mean for gestational age as determined by biparietal diameter). In the remaining seven growth-retarded cases, the TIUV was in the gray zone (between 1 and 1.5 S.D. below the mean). Although 15 normal cases were in the gray zone, there was none in the abnormal zone. There were no abnormal cases in the normal zone. An explanation for the overlap in the gray zone is offered. These results strongly suggest that TIUV is an accurate predictor of IUGR.
Methylxanthines in asthma

Methylxanthines represent a unique class of drugs for the treatment of asthma. The methylxanthine theophylline has demonstrated efficacy in attenuating the three cardinal features of asthma – reversible airflow obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation. At doses achieving relatively high serum levels in which toxic side effects are sometimes observed, direct bronchodilatory effects of theophylline are recognized. At lower serum concentrations, theophylline is a weak bronchodilator but retains its capacity as an immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, and bronchoprotective drug. Intense investigation into the molecular mechanisms of action of theophylline has identified several different points of action. Phosphodiesterase inhibition and adenosine receptor antagonism have both been implicated in promoting airway smooth muscle relaxation and bronchodilation. Similar mechanisms of action may explain the inhibitory effects of theophylline on immune cells. At lower concentrations that fail to inhibit phosphodiesterase, effects on histone deacetylase activity are believed to contribute to the immunomodulatory actions of theophylline. Since anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of methylxanthines are realized at lower serum concentrations than are required for bronchodilation, theophylline’s predominant role in asthma treatment is as a controller medication for chronic, persistent disease.
Knowledge‐Based Systems

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 History 3 Knowledge-Based Systems In Other Domains 4 Knowledge Acquisition and Validation 5 New Methodologies 6 Summary
Enhancement on energy extraction from magnetic energy harvesters

This paper presents a method for enhancing performance of a magnetic energy harvester. The harvester operates with a magnetically saturating core with high magnetic permeability. If the core saturates, the effective magnetizing inductance becomes small, and little power can be harvested from the core. Energy is harvested very efficiently during an operating cycle when the core is not saturated, a time period we call the “transfer window.” It can be shown that the location and the length of a transfer window are independent of each other. Based on this property, the transfer window alignment (TWA) method is introduced for maximizing power harvest. The TWA method manipulates the location of the time window, and harvests a greater amount of power compared to passive rectification. The principle of the TWA method reveals that deeper core saturation with higher voltage stress leads to a higher level of energy extraction. The analysis of the TWA method is presented, and verified with simulation and experiments. A detailed control sequence for actual implementation is presented. The TWA method poses little burden to hardware complexity.
How Many False Convictions are There? How Many Exonerations are There?

The most common question about false convictions is also the simplest: How many are there? The answer, unfortunately, is almost always the same, and always disappointing: We don’t know. Recently, however, we have learned enough to be able to qualify our ignorance in two important respects. We can put a lower bound on the frequency of false convictionsamong death sentences in the United States since 1973, and we have some early indications of the rate of false convictions for rape in Virginia in the 1970s and early 1980s. These new sources of information suggesttentatively-that the rate of false convictions for serious violent felonies in the United States may be somewhere in the range from 1%–5%. Beyond that-for less serious crimes and for other countries-our ignorance is untouched.
Atraumatic antepartum subdural hematoma causing fetal death

A case of atraumatic antenatal fetal subdural hematoma, severe enough to cause death, is reported. Although it is often associated with traumatic delivery, its occurrence before labor suggests that assumptions of causation require some medical investigation or corroboration before trauma is accepted as the etiologic factor.
Chemical Nature of Remineralized Flattened Enamel Surfaces

lnfrared internal reflection spectroscopy (IRS) was used to investigate chemical changes of enamel surface during in vitro remineralization. Specimens were demineralized and exposed either to calcium phosphate-fluoride solutions or to acidulated fluorophosphate. The former showed amorphous phosphate remineralization, and the latter showed surface precipitate interpreted to be calcium fluoride. The significance of previous demineralization time to both forms of remineralization is discussed.
Rapamycin Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation through Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 /Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt2 Feedback Signaling

The phenotypic plasticity of mature vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) facilitates angiogenesis and wound healing, but VSCM dedifferentiation also contributes to vascular pathologies such as intimal hyperplasia. Insulin/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is unique among growth factors in promoting VSMC differentiation via preferential activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt. We have previously reported that rapamycin promotes VSMC differentiation by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) target S6K1. Here, we show that rapamycin activates Akt and induces contractile protein expression in human VSMC in an insulin-like growth factor I-dependent manner, by relieving S6K1-dependent negative regulation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). In skeletal muscle and adipocytes, rapamycin relieves mTOR/S6K1-dependent inhibitory phosphorylation of IRS-1, thus preventing IRS-1 degradation and enhancing PI3K activation. We report that this mechanism is functional in VSMCs and crucial for rapamycin-induced differentiation. Rapamycin inhibits S6K1-dependent IRS-1 serine phosphorylation, increases IRS-1 protein levels, and promotes association of tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 with PI3K. A rapamycin-resistant S6K1 mutant prevents rapamycin-induced Akt activation and VSMC differentiation. Notably, we find that rapamycin selectively activates only the Akt2 isoform and that Akt2, but not Akt1, is sufficient to induce contractile protein expression. Akt2 is required for rapamycin-induced VSMC differentiation, whereas Akt1 appears to oppose contractile protein expression. The anti-restenotic effect of rapamycin in patients may be attributable to this unique pattern of PI3K effector regulation wherein anti-differentiation signals from S6K1 are inhibited, but pro-differentiation Akt2 activity is promoted through an IRS-1 feedback signaling mechanism.
Instability to longitudinal vortices in wavy shear flow

Initially spanwise-independent small but finite-amplitude two-dimensional rotational waves and their nonlinear interaction with unidirectional O(1) shear flows are reviewed from the viewpoint of their instability to longitudinal vortex form. The wave-mean interaction is described by a generalized Lagrangian-mean formulation in combination with a separate theory to account for the back effect of the developing mean flow on the wave field. Both the inviscid and viscid eigenvalue problems relevant to the instability are discussed.
Self-perceived origins of attitudes toward homosexuality.

Undergraduate students (N = 417) at a large southern university responded to open-ended questions designed to assess self-perceived origins of attitudes toward homosexuality and circumstances that may prompt a shift in attitudes. Inductively coded responses pointed to a positive correlation between attitudes toward homosexuality and experience interacting with gay men or lesbians; this is discussed in the context of Allport's (1954) contact hypothesis and Herek's (1984, 1986) theory of functional attitudes. Implications are discussed for education and intervention efforts aimed at facilitating understanding and tolerance of gay men and lesbians.
The uptake by skeletal muscle of tritium labeled decamethonium and dimethyltubocurarine.

Le decamethonium, une substance depolarisante, est absorbe par le muscle squelettal tandis que la substance non-depolarisante, le dimethyltubocurarine, ne l'est pas. L'absorption du decamethonium se rapporte peut-etre a ce bloque de deuxieme phase qui se fait voir avec les substances depolarisantes.
The relationship between bathymetry and ferromanganese deposits in the north equatorial Pacific

Abstract Detailed surveys of the abyssal seafloor between the Clarion and Clipperton Fracture Zones have revealed a variety of bathymetric settings and a corresponding variety of ferromanganese nodule deposits. In the absence of large features such as seamounts, bathymetric settings are distinguished by their microtopographic character recognized on 12-kHz reflection profiles at scales of 0.5-sec sweep or less. Previous investigations have attributed the origin of microrelief on abyssal hills to contemporaneous sedimentation and tectonism (block faulting and extrusion volcanism) along minor structural trends. This survey found that rough areas, showing microrelief ranging from meters to tens of meters, contain generally higher coverages (kg/m2 of nodules that are more variable in bulk chemical composition and seafloor distribution than deposits in smooth bathymetric settings. Nodule distribution, however, is quite variable in all survey areas, with seafloor coverage typically varying by a factor of 2–5 × over distances of a kilometer or less. A volcanic influence to nodule distribution and chemistry is indicated by the narrow and somewhat lower Mn Fe range and moderate coverage (5.75 kg/m2) of a deposit located on an abyssal plain adjacent to several large seamounts. To explain these chemical and distributional trends, localized geologic processes that could regulate the exposure of basaltic rock, horizontal sediment redistribution, and hydrothermal activity are discussed in relation to nodule nucleation and growth along the sediment/seawater interface.
Protective Effect of Paraoxonase 1 Gene Variant Gln192Arg in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older adults, in which oxidative damage may play a pivotal role. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) protects against oxidative damage and has been evaluated for its involvement in aging diseases including AMD. This study investigated whether PON1 gene polymorphisms associate with AMD. Design Case-control association study. Methods We studied 1037 individuals with AMD subcategorized using AREDS criteria and 370 control subjects without retinal disease. Participants were primarily Caucasian of European descent. All exons of PON1 were evaluated by single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequence analysis. Results Six missense changes (Leu55Met, Met127Arg, His155Arg, Gln192Arg, Gln192Glu, Ala252Gly) were identified in PON1 . We observed a weak association of Leu55Met with an increased risk of wet AMD ( P = .02), but not with dry AMD or when combining all patient categories. A significantly higher allele frequency for Gln192Arg was detected in controls than in the combined AMD patient population ( P P = .004, P = .002, and P P P = .377). Conclusion We report a weak association of PON1 Leu55Met with an increased risk of wet AMD, replicating previous reports. Our findings indicate a protective role for Gln192Arg, particularly for patients with the wet form. Gln192Glu warrants consideration, as this variant alters the same amino acid as Gln192Arg and was identified only in category 4 AMD patients. We believe that Met127Arg, His155Arg, and Ala252Gly play minor roles in AMD susceptibility because of their limited frequency and/or location within the PON1 gene. The functional and biological mechanism by which Gln192Arg is acting to decrease AMD susceptibility remains to be determined.
Renewable and nuclear heresies

Renewables are not green. To reach the scale at which they would contribute importantly to meeting global energy demand, renewable sources of energy, such as wind, water and biomass, cause serious environmental harm. Measuring renewables in watts per square metre that each source could produce smashes these environmental idols. Nuclear energy is green. However, in order to grow, the nuclear industry must extend out of its niche in baseload electric power generation, form alliances with the methane industry to introduce more hydrogen into energy markets, and start making hydrogen itself. Technologies succeed when economies of scale form part of their conditions of evolution. Like computers, to grow larger, the energy system must now shrink in size and cost. Considered in watts per square metre, nuclear has astronomical advantages over its competitors.
Self-reported health and survival in the longitudinal study of aging, 1984–1986

Abstract Changing and often declining health among elderly individuals makes interpreting the long-standing association between self-reported health (SRH) and mortality potentially problematic. This analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Aging from 1984 through 1986 explores changes over time in the association between a single self-report of health and survival among 4380 noninstitutionalized individuals aged 70 and older. Health was reported as excellent or very good (excellent/very good), good, fair or poor. The association between SRH and survival was modeled controlling for age, race, education, marital status, body mass index, difficulty performing activities of daily living, social contacts, self-reported stroke, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and recent hospitalization. Among women, SRH and survival were associated in a nonproportional model, with relative hazard declining over time. Women with poor vs excellent/very good SRH had adjusted relative hazards at 5, 14, 23 and 32 months of 3.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0–7.1], 2.7 (95% CI: 1.8–4.1), 2.0 (95% CI: 1.3–3.0), and 1.4 (95% CI: 0.7–2.7). The declining relative hazard was due to an increasing mortality rate over time among women initially reporting excellent/very good health. SRH was associated with survival among men in a proportional model (constant relative hazard over time). Men with poor vs excellent/very good SRH had an adjusted relative hazard of 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1–2.6) over the entire follow-up. The relative hazard of lesser magnitude among men reflects the weaker SRH-survival association, possibly too weak for any interaction with time to be detected. The constant relative hazard is also consistent with a rapid decline in health before death among men. The diminishing SRH-survival association among women is consistent with their longer period of declining health before death.
Collagen aggregation phenomena

Three processes by which tropocollagen units associate to yield highly specific aggregates have been examined. From the temperature coefficients of the amounts aggregated it is concluded that the complex “native” aggregation is endothermic, whereas both end-to-end and lateral aggregation are exothermic. These results combined with additional information lead to the conclusion that “native” aggregation is an entropy-driven process in which hydrophobic bonding plays the dominant role. In contrast the reactions producing the lateral aggregate and the aggregate in which end-to-end bonding is dominant are electrostatically governed.
The enhanced antigen-specific production of cytokines induced by pertussis toxin is due to clonal expansion of T cells and not to altered effector functions of long-term memory cells.

Pertussis toxin (PT) has been shown to act as an adjuvant that enhances the production of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines to coinjected protein antigens. It has remained unresolved, however, how PT affects the clonal sizes, long-term effector functions, and Th1/Th2/Th0 differentiation of the T cell responses induced. We have studied the effects of PT on the development of the CD4+ T cell response to a prototypic antigen, hen eggwhite lysozyme (HEL). HEL injection with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) resulted in an IFN-γ–/IL-5+ Th2 recall response. In comparison, co-administration of PT with HEL:IFA enhanced the frequencies of IL-5-producing T cells up to eightfold, and induced the differentiation of high frequencies of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells. The results showed that the IFN-γ and IL-5 produced, originated from clonally expanded Th1 and Th2, but not Th0 cells, and that the effector functions of long-term memory cells were unaffected. Adoptive transfer experiments suggested that PT mediated these effects via activation of APC, not by acting on the T cells directly. The effects of PT on the developing T cell response required the presence of the holotoxin (A- and B-subunit); the individual subunits did not show adjuvant effects. The data suggest that PT enhanced cytokine production by promoting differentiation and vigorous clonal expansion of Th1 and Th2 cells via activation of APC.
Effect of mouse epidermal growth factor/urogastrone on the functional maturation of rat intestine.

Mouse epidermal growth factor/urogastrone (EGF/UG), administered sc in a dose of 0.1 μg/g BW twice daily for 3 days, increased intestinal weight per unit length, lactase specific activity, and net calcium transport in normal 2-weekold suckling rats, but had no effect on maltase or sucrase specific activity. In normal 3-week-old weanling rats, the intestinal function of which is essentially fully mature, EGF/UG had no effect. These results suggest that EGF/UG, either secreted endogenously or ingested in breast milk, may have a role in both the morphological and functional maturation of the suckling rat intestine.
Methane emissions from five wetland plant communities with different hydroperiods in the Big Cypress Swamp region of Florida Everglades

Abstract The majority of the methane (CH4) emitted from wetlands comes from tropical and subtropical zones. On a global scale, the variability of these emissions had been attributed to water table variations; however, at landscape scales this variability is poorly understood. We measured CH4 fluxes from five characteristic wetland plant communities of southwest Florida representing a gradient in inundation periods. From wettest to driest conditions, communities were designated as deep slough, bald cypress, wet prairie, pond cypress and hydric pine flatwood. Non-steady-state rigid chambers were deployed at each community sequentially at three different times of the day during a 24-month period. CH4 fluxes did not show a discernible daily pattern, in contrast to a marked seasonal increase in emissions during inundation. All wetland communities acted as temporary sinks of CH4, but overall were net sources. Median and mean ± standard error fluxes in CH4-C m−2 d−1 were higher in deep slough (11 and 55.3 ± 21.5), followed by the wet prairie (9.01 and 53.3 ± 26.6), bald cypress (3.31 and 5.54 ± 2.51) and pond cypress (1.49, 4.55 ± 3.35). The pine flatwood community acted as a net sink during the study period (0.0 and −1.22 ± 0.81). Seasonality in CH4 emissions was positively correlated with water levels, but not with soil temperature. However, longer inundation periods did not necessarily result in higher CH4 emissions. These findings add to our current knowledge of CH4 fluxes from subtropical wetland ecosystems and have implications for modeling at ecosystem scales in heterogeneous wetland landscapes.
Comparing actual and self-reported measures of Facebook use

Numerous studies exist examining how college students use Facebook and how this affects aspects of their college experience; however, all of these studies have relied on self-report measures of Facebook use. Research in other areas of human behavior has shown that self-report measures are substantially inaccurate when compared to actual behaviors. This study provides the first test of the criterion validity of measures of Facebook frequency by comparing self-reported time spent on the site and number of logins against actual usage as measured by computer monitoring software. A sample of 45 college students installed software that monitored their computer usage for 1month. There was a strong positive correlation between self-reported and actual time spent on Facebook; however, there was a significant discrepancy between the two. Students spent an average of 26min (SD=30) per day on Facebook, significantly lower than the average of 145 (SD=111) minutes per day obtained through self-report. There was a moderate relationship between number of logins and actual time spent on Facebook. Although there are some limitations of monitoring computer usage, researchers are encouraged to attempt to relate their self-report measures to actual behaviors in order to improve external validity.
Isolation of a new naturally occurring pteridine from bacteria, and its relation to folic acid biosynthesis

Abstract A new naturally occurring pteridine has been isolated from two different micro-organisms. It has been shown to be identical with synthetic xanthopterin sulfate and is presumed to arise as a biproduct of excess pteridine ring production (for folio acid synthesis) in these organisms.
Perceiving parts and shapes from concave surfaces

"A hole is nothing at all, but it can break your neck." In a similar fashion to the danger illustrated by this folk paradox, concave regions pose difficulties to theories of visual shape perception. We can readily identify their shapes, but according to principles of how observers determine part boundaries, concavities in a planar surface should have very different figural shapes from the ones that we perceive. In three experiments, we tested the hypothesis that observers perceive local image features differently in simulated 3-D concave and convex regions but use them to arrive at similar shape percepts. Stimuli were shape-from-shading images containing regions that appeared either concave or convex in depth, depending on their orientation in the picture plane. The results show that concavities did not benefit from the same global object-based attention or holistic shape encoding as convexities and that the participants relied on separable spatial dimensions to judge figural shape in concavities. Concavities may exploit a secondary process for shape perception that allows regions composed of perceptually independent features to ultimately be perceived as gestalts.
Carbon monoxide-aggravated atherosclerosis in the squirrel monkey.

Abstract Twenty-two squirrel monkeys, fed a cholesterol-containing diet, were placed in two groups: 12 were exposed to CO and 10 were not. In this 7-month study the atherosclerosis induced in the coronary arteries was aggravated by carbon monoxide; aortic atherosclerosis was not. The greater severity in the carbon monoxide group was shown by suggestive electrocardiographic changes, relative increases in heart weights, and a greater degree of coronary arterial stenosis as a result of intimal lipid. Marked deviations from normal values were not observed in several clinical characteristics often associated with the formation of atherosclerotic lesions of the arteries. We propose several mechanisms by which carbon monoxide could have aggravated the cholesterol-induced coronary artery lesions. In the CO-treated monkeys there was more intimal lipid in each atherosclerotic coronary artery rather than more coronary arteries with intimal lipid, as compared with the control group. Few such animal studies have been reported, so it is difficult to compare these results for the squirrel monkey with those for other species.
Catalysis and prebiotic RNA synthesis

The essential role of catalysis for the origins of life is discussed. The status of the prebiotic synthesis of 2',5'- and 3'5'-linked oligomers of RNA is reviewed. Examples of the role of metal ion and mineral catalysis in RNA oligomer formation are discussed.
The oxidation of a series of phthalyl alcohols

A series of phthalyl alcohols containing methoxy and methyl substituents were prepared by lithium aluminum hydride reduction of phthalides. Oxidation of the phthalyl alcohols with activated manganese dioxide or with barium manganate gave phthalaldehydes or phthalides depending on the position of the ring substituents.
Generation of 160-ps terawatt-power CO2 laser pulses

We have developed a three-stage CO2 master-oscillator–amplifier system that produces 1.1 TW of peak power. The system generates 170 J of energy in a diffraction-limited 160±10 ps pulse on the 10P20 line. We also report the realization of a two-wavelength terawatt-peak-power CO2 laser that can be tuned to an arbitrary pair of lines. A two-stage semiconductor switching system driven by a picosecond-pulse Nd:YAG laser was used to slice a short, low-power 10.6?µm pulse for amplification. A simple plasma shutter helped to compensate for gain narrowing in a final three-pass amplifier and to shorten the pulse.
Thermoregulation and Thermography in Neonatal Physiology and Disease

Thermoregulation, or control of body temperature, has been studied as a fundamental physiological parameter defining health and disease for centuries (Ring, 2007; Ring, McEvoy, Jung, Zuber, & Machin, 2010). Multiple techniques have been used to assess thermoregulation in infants and adults, including the recent development of infrared thermography. Thermography can measure and visualize skin surface thermal patterns in the study of body temperature, and researchers have used this novel methodology to study cancer, peripheral vascular disease, trauma, and wound management (Kateb, Yamamoto, Yu, Grundfest, & Gruen, 2009; Katz et al., 2008; Mital & Scott, 2007; Nakanishi & Imai-Matsumura, 2008). We have recently developed methods to use infrared thermography to measure body temperature in neonates during their first month of life to examine relationships between control of body temperature and perfusion, as well as association between thermoregulation and clinical disease processes such as necrotizing enterocolitis. This paper will review methods for using infrared thermography, current research using this measurement tool, and use in our current neonatal research.
Chemical bond distribution in chalcogenide glasses. A 31P MAS and spin-echo NMR study of glasses in the phosphorus-germanium-selenium system

Abstract Glasses in the phosphorus-germanium-selenium system have been prepared at compositions within the entire glass-forming region and their properties have been measured by differential scanning calorimetry and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, using spin-echo and magic-angle spinning (MAS) techniques. The glass transition temperature, Tg, is a monotonic function of the average coordination number, 〈r〉, with a distinct change in slope, dTg/d〈r〉, near 〈r〉 = 2.4, the theoretically expected percolation threshold. The NMR results are consistent with a structure in which phosphorus and germanium atoms compete for bonding to the selenium atoms but are otherwise randomly distributed. After taking into account the bonding requirements of the germanium atoms, which form tetrahedral GeSe 4 2 units, the presence of germanium in these glasses is found to have a secondary effect on the phosphorus environment. Based on the compositional dependence of the 31P-31P dipolar second moments, it is suggested that the formation of P-bonded phosphorus atoms is more favored than in binary PSe glasses. 31P MAS-NMR data show that the presence of germanium tends to reduce the concentration of four-coordinated Se = PSe 3 2 units. This effect is attributed to the decrease in available selenium and to the fact that the coordinatively saturated GeSe 4 2 units are unable to provide intermolecular stabilization for the four-coordinated species.
Effect of pH on Structural Changes in Perch Hemoglobin that Can Alter Redox Stability and Heme Affinity

pH can be manipulated to alter the oxidative stability of fish-based foods during storage. X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the ability of reduced pH to cause structural changes in fish hemoglobins that lead to enhanced oxidative degradation. Decreasing pH from 8.0 to 6.3 and 5.7 created a large channel for solvent entry into the heme crevice of perch hemoglobin beta chains. The proton-induced opening of this channel occurred between site CD3 and the heme-6-propionate. Solvent entry into the heme crevice can enhance metHb formation and hemin loss, processes that accelerate lipid oxidation. Reduced pH also decreased the distance between Ile at E11 in one of the alpha chains and the ligand above the heme iron atom. This sterically displaces O2 and protonated O2 which increases metHb formation. These studies demonstrate that pH reduction causes structural changes in perch hemoglobin which increase oxidative degradation of the heme pigment.
A Measure for Circularity of Digital Figures

It is demonstrated that ?R/?R, where R is a random variable of the distance between the center of the figure to any part of its perimeter, is a good measure for the circularity of a digital figure.
The Lawyer for Children at the Interdisciplinary Meeting

In addition to appearing at formal court appearances and hearings, a lawyer for children in child protective proceedings can pursue his or her client's goals at interdisciplinary meetings. Because child protective proceedings involve professionals from many disciplines, almost any case encounter apart from an on-the-record court hearing could constitute an interdisciplinary meeting. This article assists lawyers in making the most of these meetings by offering a theory and practice of meeting practice, which often proves more important for a successful resolution of a case than trial practice. The article instructs lawyers in developing a comprehensive vision of the child's needs and goals that must guide all substantive decisions about the case. It also attempts to bridge the gap between the lawyer's ethical duty to advocate for his or her client's perspective and the duty of other professionals at the interdisciplinary meetings to pursue the child's best interests.
Melanoma-in-situ of the oral cavity

Summary A pigmented lesion of the oral cavity should be viewed with suspicion since melanoma of the oral cavity is often asymptomatic in its early stages and often is diagnosed after it has invaded. In this particular case, astute observation and a prompt referral led to a diagnosis of oral melanoma-in-situ in the anterior palate and its successful treatment.
Cancer-associated mutations activate the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Ack1.

Ack1 is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that participates in tumorigenesis, cell survival, and migration. Relatively little is known about the mechanisms that regulate Ack1 activity. Recently, four somatic missense mutations of Ack1 were identified in cancer tissue samples, but the effects on Ack1 activity, and function have not been described. These mutations occur in the N-terminal region, the C-lobe of the kinase domain, and the SH3 domain. Here, we show that the cancer-associated mutations increase Ack1 autophosphorylation in mammalian cells without affecting localization and increase Ack1 activity in immune complex kinase assays. The cancer-associated mutations potentiate the ability of Ack1 to promote proliferation and migration, suggesting that point mutation is a mechanism for Ack1 deregulation. We propose that the C-terminal Mig6 homology region (MHR) (residues 802–990) participates in inhibitory intramolecular interactions. The isolated kinase domain of Ack1 interacts directly with the MHR, and the cancer-associated E346K mutation prevents binding. Likewise, mutation of a key hydrophobic residue in the MHR (Phe820) prevents the MHR-kinase interaction, activates Ack1, and increases cell migration. Thus, the cancer-associated mutation E346K appears to destabilize an autoinhibited conformation of Ack1, leading to constitutively high Ack1 activity.
the long haul in Mexican trucking: traversing the borderlands of the north and the south

Northern Mexican truckers use personal networks, patronage, and trust to organize their long-haul produce trade, in contrast to more corporative styles and organization of highland Maya truckers in Mexico's south, who also ship to and from Mexico's central produce markets. Yet both groups of entrepreneurs traverse their respective borderlands into alien markets (across the U.S.-Mexico border into Los Angeles, or into Mexican national markets formerly closed to Mayas). In doing so, both elaborate their distinctive style of trucking as ethnic enterprise, contributing to the ethnic differentiation of borderland zones under contemporary capitalism. [truckers, Mexico, Maya, ethnicity, borderlands, entrepreneurs]
Role of key informants and direct patient interviews in epidemiological studies of substance abuse

PURPOSE: The present study was undertaken to assess the degree to which key informants' perceptions of relative abuse liability of opioids in their communities correspond to actual drug use in their patients. METHODS: Key informants (n = 49) and their patients (n = 738) were asked to complete anonymous, independent paper surveys about perceived or actual abuse of nine targeted opioid drugs: buprenorphine, fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone and tramadol. RESULTS: There was a strong correspondence (R = 0.98) between KI rankings of relative abuse of opioids in their patient population and the actual rank order calculated from their patients' selection of a primary euphorigenic opioid. The patient surveys not only validated the KI's conclusions, but also provided a great deal of important information about the nature of the abuse patterns. Notably, significant co-morbidity was found in the patient population: 55% had a history of psychiatric problems; chronic pain of moderate intensity was common; 67% were nicotine dependent; and 43% were diagnosed alcoholics. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that KI's perceived rank order of drugs of choice correlated almost perfectly with their patients' choice of a primary drug. These data suggest that key informants, as they have for decades in epidemiological research, provide a reliable, high-level view of substance abuse in their catchment area. As such, KIs provide valid and reliable information on scope and patterns of abuse, but if more detail is required about the characteristics of abuse, such as that required for FDA-mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies, then direct interviews with the abusers themselves seem more appropriate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
SCE frequencies in rabbit lymphocytes as a function of time after an acute dose of cyclophosphamide

Following acute and chronic exposures to various chemicals in vivo, the average SCE frequency in human and rabbit lymphocytes has generally been shown to decrease with time posttreatment. The rate of this decline varies, however, and little data have been published pertaining to the decrease in SCEs soon exposure. To gain more information about the immediate decline in SCEs with time, we injected rabbits with a single dose of 35 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (CP) and determined SCE levels in circulating lymphocytes at various times 5 h to 2 weeks after treatment. We observed a rapid decline in SCE frequencies within 5 days, and by 10 days post-exposure the SCE levels were back to control values. The distributions of SCEs among cells and the number of circulating lymphocytes were also analyzed at each time. Within 2–3 days posttreatment we observed a rapid loss of cells with high SCE levels concomitantly with a rapid decline in circulating lymphocytes and a decrease in the average SCE frequency. When the number of lymphocytes began to increase, the number of cells with normal SCE values also increased. By 10–11 days after CP, the lymphocyte count had recovered, the SCE frequency had returned to control levels, and the distribution of SCEs among cells was almost identical to the control distribution. These data, in addition to published information on rabbit lymphocyte lifespan, suggest that the decline in SCE levels with time posttreatment is a function of lymphocyte turnover.
Lewis and Ricardo: A reinterpretation

Abstract The dualistic model of development developed by Lewis is compared to Ricardian growth theory. There are many similarities between the two models and the implications are identical. The main difference concerns the behavioral assumptions made with respect to the traditional sector. The Lewis model assumes nonmaximizing behavior while the Ricardian model assumes profit maximization. If one believes that individuals in the traditional sector are rational, then Ricardian growth theory is preferable.
Acute Diabetes Insipidus in Severe Head Injury: A Prospective Study

Background The incidence and risk factors for acute diabetes insipidus after severe head injury and the effect of this complication on outcomes have not been evaluated in any large prospective studies. Study Design We conducted a prospective study of all patients admitted to the surgical ICU of a Level I trauma center with severe head injury (head Abbreviated Injury Score [AIS] ≥ 3). The following potential risk factors with p Results There were 436 patients (blunt injuries, 392; penetrating injuries, 44); 387 patients had isolated head injury. Diabetes insipidus occurred in 15.4% of all patients (blunt, 12.5%; penetrating, 40.9%; p 3. Diabetes insipidus was an independent risk factor for death (adjusted odds ratio, 3.96; 95% CI [1.65, 9.72]; adjusted p value=0.002). Conclusions The incidence of acute diabetes insipidus in severe head injury is high, especially in penetrating injuries. Independent risk factors for diabetes insipidus include a Glasgow Coma Scale≤8, cerebral edema, and head AIS>3. Acute diabetes insipidus was associated with significantly increased mortality.
Glucose sparing in peritoneal dialysis: Implications and metrics

Glucose sparing is a central component of modern peritoneal dialysis therapy, necessary to reduce the trade-offs of the therapy in terms of membrane protection and alleviation of systemic consequences. We present a detailed exploration of a metric for this approach in the form of the index of ultrafiltration efficiency, that we propose as a guide for designing therapeutic regimens and for the development of new dialysis solutions. Based on insights from exploration of ultrafiltration efficiency with various dialysis solutions, we propose an approach to optimizing dialysis prescription.
Application of vapour-phase Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and statistical feature selection methods for identifying Salmonella enterica typhimurium contamination in beef.

This paper describes the application of gas-phase Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for its ability to discriminate between Salmonella enterica typhimurium (Salmonella typhimurium) contaminated packaged beef samples and uncontaminated samples. A suitable headspace sampling system was used to deliver the headspace volatiles from the packaged meat to the FTIR gas cell. FTIR spectral signatures collected on headspace volatiles of meat packages were used to classify the meat samples based on their S. typhimurium populations. The most informative wavenumbers (features) were selected using three univariate and one multivariate feature selection algorithms. The selected wavenumbers were then used to develop the statistical discriminant models and validated using bootstrapping. It was found that sequential forward selection provided the highest estimated classification accuracy of 99% and mean estimated classification accuracy of 95% (validated using linear discriminant analysis and bootstrapping technique). The results support the use of gas phase FTIR to discriminate S. typhimurium contaminated beef samples.