cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Statistics of Replication

Abstract. The concept of replication is fundamental to the logic and rhetoric of science, including the argument that science is self-correcting. Yet there is very little literature on the methodol...
Effects of debulk temperature on air evacuation during vacuum bag-only prepreg processing

Air removal prior to cure is critical for limiting porosity during vacuum bag-only (VBO) processing of prepregs. In this study, the effects of pre-cure dwell temperature (debulk) on air evacuation ...
Causal empirical estimates suggest COVID-19 transmission rates are highly seasonal

Nearly every country is now combating the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It has been hypothesized that if COVID-19 exhibits seasonality, changing temperatures in the coming months will shift transmission patterns around the world. Such projections, however, require an estimate of the relationship between COVID-19 and temperature at a global scale, and one that isolates the role of temperature from confounding factors, such as public health capacity. This paper provides the first plausibly causal estimates of the relationship between COVID-19 transmission and local temperature using a global sample comprising of 166,686 confirmed new COVID-19 cases from 134 countries from January 22, 2020 to March 15, 2020. We find robust statistical evidence that a 1°C increase in local temperature reduces transmission by 13% [-21%, -4%, 95%CI]. In contrast, we do not find that specific humidity or precipitation influence transmission. Our statistical approach separates effects of climate variation on COVID-19 transmission from other potentially correlated factors, such as differences in public health responses across countries and heterogeneous population densities. Using constructions of expected seasonal temperatures, we project that changing temperatures between March 2020 and July 2020 will cause COVID-19 transmission to fall by 43% on average for Northern Hemisphere countries and to rise by 71% on average for Southern Hemisphere countries. However, these patterns reverse as the boreal winter approaches, with seasonal temperatures in January 2021 increasing average COVID-19 transmission by 59% relative to March 2020 in northern countries and lowering transmission by 2% in southern countries. These findings suggest that Southern Hemisphere countries should expect greater transmission in the coming months. Moreover, Northern Hemisphere countries face a crucial window of opportunity: if contagion-containing policy interventions can dramatically reduce COVID-19 cases with the aid of the approaching warmer months, it may be possible to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 next winter.
Three-dimensional mapping identifies distinct vascular niches for myelopoiesis

Summary In contrast to virtually all other tissues in the body the anatomy of differentiation in the bone marrow remains unknown. This is due to the lack of strategies to examine blood cell production in situ, which are required to better understand differentiation, lineage commitment decisions, and to define how spatial organizing cues inform tissue function. Here we developed imaging approaches to map all myeloid cells in whole bones and generated 3D atlases of granulocyte and monocyte/dendritic cell differentiation during homeostasis. We found that myeloid progenitors leave the hematopoietic stem cell niche during differentiation. Granulocyte and monocyte dendritic cell progenitors (MDP) do not interact, instead they localize to different sinusoids where they give rise to clusters of immature cells. MDP cluster with Ly6Clo monocytes and conventional dendritic cells; these localize to a unique subset of colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF1, the major regulator of monopoiesis1) -expressing sinusoids. Csf1 deletion in the vasculature disrupted the MDP clusters and their interaction with sinusoids, leading to reduced MDP numbers and differentiation ability, with subsequent loss of peripheral Ly6Clo monocytes and dendritic cells. These data indicate that there is a specific spatial organization of definitive hematopoiesis and that local cues produced by distinct blood vessels are responsible for this organization. These maps provide a blueprint for in situ analyses of hematopoiesis in blood disorders.
Ascending Paralysis in a 36-Year-Old Woman With Bipolar Disorder and Recent Aspiration Pneumonia.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy affecting both motor and sensory peripheral nerves. Typically presenting after a gastrointestinal or a respiratory tract infection, it manifests as ascending paralysis with concomitant areflexia in patients. Cytoalbuminologic dissociation is a supportive finding on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Due to variability in presentation, misdiagnosis and delay in treatment can occur, and consequently, GBS can become life threatening due to respiratory failure. We report ascending paralysis in a 36-year-old woman with known history of bipolar disorder who recently recovered from aspiration pneumonia following a drug overdose event. Given her psychiatric history, she was initially misdiagnosed as conversion disorder. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy was initiated at our hospital due to strong suspicion of GBS, based on history and physical examination findings consistent with flaccid quadriparesis and impending respiratory failure. CSF analysis and radiological findings subsequently supported our clinical suspicion and clinical findings. Concurrent IVIG therapy, pain management, aggressive physical and respiratory therapy, and monitoring resulted in symptom improvement. One must have a high index of suspicion for GBS when presented with acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies in patients who present with ascending paralysis. Early initiation of therapy is key and can prevent life-threatening complications.
Pelvic Floor Conditions: Fecal Incontinence

Fecal incontinence (FI), or “recurrent uncontrolled passage of fecal material for at least 1 month,” is a life-limiting condition that is frequently under-reported. Continence occurs by coordinated function of the sphincter complex contraction/relaxation, pelvic floor musculature, hemorrhoidal tissue, and neurologic feedback in response to the fecal matter present in the rectal vault. Therefore, there a number of mechanisms necessary for continence that can be dysfunctional in this condition. The complexity of the problem requires the surgeon to be familiar with all treatment options available since multiple therapies can be combined to optimize results. Treatment should be individualized.
Healthcare career intervention with youth in a predominantly Latinx rural community: a pilot study of a creative approach.

The present study discusses a pilot intervention for youth in a predominantly Latinx rural community in the U.S. The intervention incorporated multimodal creative activities into the social cognitive career theory-based healthcare career program. Participants (N = 75) were assessed for healthcare career self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and interests (pre-/post-intervention). Their healthcare career task self-efficacy and interests scores significantly increased overall. By race/ethnicity groups, however, only White students reported an increase in healthcare interests, and only students of color an increase in healthcare career task self-efficacy. This provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the proposed intervention. Implications for services and research are discussed.
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K is overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia and causes myeloproliferative disease in mice via altered Runx1 splicing

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is driven by numerous molecular events that contribute to disease progression. Herein, we identified hnRNP K overexpression as a recurrent abnormality in AML that is associated with inferior patient outcomes. In murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, hnRNP K overexpression altered self-renewal and differentiation potential. Furthermore, murine transplantation models revealed that hnRNP K overexpression resulted in fatal myeloproliferative phenotypes. Using unbiased approaches, we discovered a direct relationship between hnRNP K and RUNX1--a master transcriptional regulator of hematopoiesis often dysregulated in leukemia. Molecular analyses revealed hnRNP K-dependent alternative splicing of RUNX1, resulting in the generation of a functionally distinct isoform. Taken together, we have established hnRNP K as an oncogene in myeloid leukemia that binds RUNX1 RNA, altering its splicing and subsequent transcriptional activity. These findings shed new light on a mechanism of myeloid leukemogenesis, paving the way for new drug discovery efforts. HighlightsO_LIhnRNP K, an RNA binding protein, is overexpressed in AML and correlates with poor clinical outcomes C_LIO_LIhnRNP K overexpression in murine HSPCs drives fatal myeloproliferative phenotypes in mice C_LIO_LIhnRNP Ks oncogenicity can be attributed, at least in part, to its ability to bind and influence the splicing of the RUNX1 transcript C_LI
Bidirectional associations of accelerometer measured sedentary behavior and physical activity with knee pain, stiffness, and physical function: The CARDIA study.

Abstract The objective was to examine bidirectional associations of accelerometer estimated sedentary time and physical activity with reported knee symptoms. Participants were 2,034 adults (mean age 45.3 ± 3.6 years, 58.7% female) from CARDIA. Generalized estimating equations for logistic regression and linear mixed regression models examined associations of accelerometer estimated sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) at baseline (2005–06) with knee discomfort, pain, stiffness, and physical function (yes/no and continuous scores from short-form WOMAC function scale) at the 5- and 10-year follow-up exams. Linear regression models examined associations between knee symptoms at the 5-year follow-up with accelerometer estimates at the 10-year follow-up. Models were adjusted for confounders; individuals with comorbidities were excluded in sensitivity analyses. A 30 min/day increment in sedentary time at baseline was associated with lower odds of knee symptoms at the 5- and 10-year follow-up (OR: 0.95, 95% CI range: 0.92–0.98), while LPA and MVPA were associated with greater odds of knee symptoms (LPA OR range: 1.04–1.05, 95% CI range: 1.01–1.09; MVPA OR range: 1.17–1.19, 95% CI range: 1.06–1.32). Report of knee symptoms at the 5-year follow-up was associated with 13.52–17.51 (95% CI range: −29.90, −0.56) fewer minutes/day of sedentary time and 14.58–17.51 (95% CI range: 2.48, 29.38) more minutes/day of LPA at the 10-year follow-up, compared to those reporting no symptoms. Many associations were no longer statistically significant when excluding individuals with comorbidities. Findings support a bidirectional association of accelerometer estimated sedentary time and physical activity with knee symptoms across midlife.
Recent developments and applications of quantitative proteomics strategies for high-throughput biomolecular analyses in cancer research

Innovations in medical technology and dedicated focus from the scientific community have inspired numerous treatment strategies for benign and invasive cancers. While these improvements often lend themselves to more positive prognoses and greater patient longevity, means for early detection and severity stratification have failed to keep pace. Detection and validation of cancer-specific biomarkers hinges on the ability to identify subtype-specific phenotypic and proteomic alterations and the systematic screening of diverse patient groups. For this reason, clinical and scientific research settings rely on high throughput and high sensitivity mass spectrometry methods to discover and quantify unique molecular perturbations in cancer patients. Discussed within is an overview of quantitative proteomics strategies and a summary of recent applications that enable revealing potential biomarkers and treatment targets in prostate, ovarian, breast, and pancreatic cancer in a high throughput manner.
Pharmacokinetics of multiple-dose subcutaneous flunixin meglumine in lactating dairy goats

Flunixin meglumine (FM) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for intravenous (IV) administration in cattle and intramuscular (IM) administration in swine for the control of pyrexia associated with respiratory disease. FM is commonly administered by the SC route in lactating goats; however, pharmacokinetic data is lacking for this administration route.
Learning Semantically Rich Event Inference Rules Using Definition of Verbs

Natural language understanding is a key requirement for many NLP tasks. Deep language understanding, which enables inference, requires systems that have large amounts of knowledge enabling them to connect natural language to the concepts of the world. We present a novel attempt to automatically acquire conceptual knowledge about events in the form of inference rules by reading verb definitions. We learn semantically rich inference rules which can be actively chained together in order to provide deeper understanding of conceptual events. We show that the acquired knowledge is precise and informative which can be potentially employed in different NLP tasks which require language understanding.
Real-time forecasting of the US federal government budget: A simple mixed frequency data regression approach

Abstract This paper proposes a real-time forecasting procedure involving a combination of MIDAS-type regression models constructed with predictors of different sampling frequencies for predicting the annual U.S. federal government current expenditures and receipts. The evidence shows that forecast combinations of MIDAS regression models provide forecast gains over traditional models, which suggests the use of mixed frequency data consisting of fiscal series and macroeconomic indicators for forecasting the annual federal budget. It is also shown that, although this was not statistically significant, MIDAS regressions with quarterly leads that are employed to include real-time forecast updates of the current year federal expenditures and receipts are found to have improved forecast performances compared to MIDAS regressions without leads.
Limbic and other forebrain mechanisms in sleep induction and behavioral inhibition.

Publisher Summary This chapter analyzes the limbic and other forebrain mechanisms in sleep induction and behavioral inhibition. Upon an EEG background characterized by low voltage fast activity, the effects of stimulating various basal forebrain sites with concentric stereotaxically placed bipolar electrodes were observed. Cortical EEG synchronization is of interest to the behavioral physiologist because it is characteristic of the spontaneously occurring cortical spindle pattern associated with sleep and other states of central nervous system suppression. In an evaluation of other brain stimulation studies, the attention of the chapter is drawn to the preoptic-basal forebrain area, in which there appeared to exist potent suppressor mechanisms affecting a variety of peripheral functions. In addition, several other mechanisms may exist which would be reflected in the EEG and perhaps also in the animal's behavior. More anteriorally located hypothalamic zones produced generalized somatomotor suppression and parasympathetic responses to stimulation, and to these areas was ascribed the term ‘trophotropic zone.’
Cr(VI) increases tyrosine phosphorylation through reactive oxygen species-mediated reactions

While Cr (VI)-containing compounds are well established carcinogens, the mechanisms of their action remain to be investigated. In this study we show that Cr (VI) causes increased tyrosine phosphorylation in human lung epithelial A549 cells in a time-dependent manner. N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a general antioxidant, inhibited Cr (VI)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Catalase, a scavenger of H202sodium formate and aspirin, scavengers of hydroxyl radical (+OH), also inhibited the increased tyrosine phosphorylation induced by Cr (VI). SOD, an inhibitor of superoxide radical (O2+), caused less inhibition. ESR study shows that incubation of Cr (VI) with the A549 cells generates ‘OH radical. The generation of radical was decreased by addition of catalase and sodium formate, while SOD did not have any inhibitory effect. Oxygen consumption measurements show that addition of Cr (VI) to A549 cells resulted in enhanced molecular oxygen consumption. These results indicate that Cr (VI) can induce an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. H2O2and ‘OH radicals generated during the process are responsible for the increased tyrosine phosphorylation induced by Cr (VI). (Mol Cell Biochem 222: 199-204, 2001)
On a Problem of Robbins

Summary An early example of a compound decision problem of Robbins (1951) is employed to illustrate some features of the development of empirical Bayes methods. Our primary objective is to draw attention to the constructive role that the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator for mixture models introduced by Kiefer & Wolfowitz (1956) can play in these developments.
X-Chromosome Genetic Association Test Accounting for X-Inactivation, Skewed X-Inactivation, and Escape from X-Inactivation

X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is the process in which one of the two copies of the X-chromosome in females is randomly inactivated to achieve the dosage compensation of X-linked genes between males and females. That is, 50% of the cells have one allele inactive and the other 50% of the cells have the other allele inactive. However, studies have shown that skewed or nonrandom XCI is a biological plausibility wherein more than 75% of cells have the same allele inactive. Also, some of the X-chromosome genes escape XCI, i.e., both alleles are active in all cells. Current statistical tests for X-chromosome association studies can either account for random XCI (e.g., Clayton's approach) or escape from XCI (e.g., PLINK software). Because the true XCI process is unknown and differs across different regions on the X-chromosome, we proposed a unified approach of maximizing likelihood ratio over all biological possibilities: random XCI, skewed XCI, and escape from XCI. A permutation-based procedure was developed to assess the significance of the approach. We conducted simulation studies to compare the performance of the proposed approach with Clayton's approach and PLINK regression. The results showed that the proposed approach has higher powers in the scenarios where XCI is skewed while losing some power in scenarios where XCI is random or XCI is escaped, with well-controlled type I errors. We also applied the approach to the X-chromosomal genetic association study of head and neck cancer.
Clear broth and plate media for culture of Haemophilus ducreyi.

Using catalase as a source of heme, we have developed both clear plate and broth media for the growth of Haemophilus ducreyi, the causative agent of chancroid. In the broth medium, the growth phase of the organism can be monitored and the organisms achieve a cell density of > 10(8) CFU/ml. Images
The Law and Expressive Meaning of Condemning the Poor After Kelo

The Supreme Court's decision in the Kelo case has been widely criticized, and has ignited a firestorm of reform in the states. Twenty-three state legislatures have passed reform statutes, and nineteen of these statutes have been signed into law. Reform legislation has been introduced in at least 13 other states. This Essay addresses the question of what message is sent by - what is the expressive meaning of - the Kelo-inspired reform movement. My argument is that, in substantial part, this reform movement privileges the stability of middle-class households relative to the stability of poor households, and in so doing, expresses the view that the interests and needs of poor households are relatively unimportant.
The Tale of Two Civil Societies: Comparing disability rights movements in Nicaragua and Uruguay

The UNCRPD is unique amongst international rights instruments because it empowers civil society organizations to represent the rights-bearers themselves—persons with disabilities. As such, DPOs in the Global South have become a major concern for UN agencies and international NGOs who believe that grassroots disability associations need political advocacy training in order to take up their role as rights advocates. These expectations contain implicit assumptions regarding civil society-state relations and the existence of governmental capacity. The authors, however, hypothesize that not all civil societies will fit the rights advocacy model due to the political culture and public resources available within their respective, local communities. Disability movements in Nicaragua and Uruguay are compared and contrasted. In Nicaragua, a disability rights coalition dismisses many international expectations in favor for continuing to follow traditional civil society expectations to provide services. In Uruguay, a long history of high levels of social spending and disability organizing enabled DPOs to successfully advocate for progressive laws. The deaf community, however, decided to implement their own, separate advocacy strategies to ensure a fairer distribution of public resources. The authors conclude that rather than top-down civil society training, the international movement should allow local organizations set their own priorities.
Functional recovery following head injury among children

Head injury is a p r imary cause of death and disabil i ty a mong chi ldren and adolescents. In 1985 approximately 78,000 children under the age of 15 were hospitalized for treatment of head injury. 1 On the basis of pilot data f rom s ta tewide survei l lance systems in Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Utah, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent ion (CDC) est imates the incidence of traumatic head injury at 93 per 100,000 for children under 5 years of age and 70 per 100,000 for children aged 5 to 14 years. 2 Improvements in acute management of head injury has resul ted in greater surv ivorsh ip among chi ldren who sustain severe head injury; however, many of these children will be left with lifelong disabilities. In addition, changes in heal th care pol icy have resul ted in shorter lengths of stay, fewer hospitalizations, and a greater involvement of the primary-care physician as a gatekeeper. As a result, pediatricians and other pr imary care physic ians m a y be increasingly involved in the management of children who have sustained head injuries.
Portrait of a courtroom: social and ecological impressions of the adversary process

This research focuses on status and territory within a North Carolina Superior Court. An effort is made to determine which court members are the most dominant and how such dominance is associated w...
Comparative Analysis of Adeno-Associated Virus Capsid Stability and Dynamics

Icosahedral viral capsids are obligated to perform a thermodynamic balancing act. Capsids must be stable enough to protect the genome until a suitable host cell is encountered yet be poised to bind receptor, initiate cell entry, navigate the cellular milieu, and release their genome in the appropriate replication compartment. In this study, serotypes of adeno-associated virus (AAV), AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, and AAV8, were compared with respect to the physical properties of their capsids that influence thermodynamic stability. Thermal stability measurements using differential scanning fluorimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and electron microscopy showed that capsid melting temperatures differed by more than 20°C between the least and most stable serotypes, AAV2 and AAV5, respectively. Limited proteolysis and peptide mass mapping of intact particles were used to investigate capsid protein dynamics. Active hot spots mapped to the region surrounding the 3-fold axis of symmetry for all serotypes. Cleavages also mapped to the unique region of VP1 which contains a phospholipase domain, indicating transient exposure on the surface of the capsid. Data on the biophysical properties of the different AAV serotypes are important for understanding cellular trafficking and is critical to their production, storage, and use for gene therapy. The distinct differences reported here provide direction for future studies on entry and vector production.
Plantar-advancement skin flap for central ray resections in the foot : Description of a technique

A surgical technique using an advancement plantar skin flap to maintain the resection gap closure when performing central ray resections is described and illustrated. The concept, applicable to central polydactyly or polysyndactyly of the foot, was developed with goals of providing a skin tether to maintain a normally narrow foot as well as to improve the appearance of the surgical scar.
Four-color discriminating sensor using amorphous silicon drift-type photodiode

Abstract In a drift-type photodiode, the photocurrent is an integral transform of the energy spectrum of the incident light. Thus, the bias dependence of the photocurrent contains information on the color components of the light source. An a-Si:H color discrimination sensor based on this principle has been developed. Using a matrix inversion method, this tiny device can be used to measure both the intensity and four color components in the visible region of incident light.
Development of an inducible gene expression system for primary murine keratinocytes.

Summary Background The tetracycline (Tet) responsive system is a valuable tool that is routinely used in a wide variety of mammalian cells for regulatable expression of gene products. However, technical difficulties such as harsh selection conditions and extensive screening processes to identify suitably responsive clones limit the generation of stable cell lines. Hence, application of this system in mammalian cells with relatively slow growth rates and/or the capacity to undergo terminal differentiation such as primary mouse keratinocytes is particularly challenging. Objective To our knowledge, no Tet-responsive stable cell lines have been generated from mouse keratinocytes, presumably due to their sensitivity to selection conditions. Our goal was to utilize a modified and robust Tet-expression system to generate a stable primary mouse keratinocyte cell line. These cells could be then utilized for conditional expression of potentially toxic proteins in an inducible fashion. Methods We utilized a eukaryotic promoter instead of a viral promoter to express a modified reverse tetracycline transactivator in mouse keratinocytes and optimized the selection process for generating stable cell lines. Results Here, we report the generation of a stable mouse keratinocyte cell line for Tet-regulated gene expression with minimal leakiness and high degree of Tet responsivity. This mouse keratinocyte cell line was further engineered for generation of a double stable cell line, which expresses the transcription factor AP-2α in an inducible manner. Importantly, the selected cells retain their inherent keratinocyte morphology, respond to differentiation signals and exhibit a persistent and highly tunable Tet-inducibility upon continuous culturing. Conclusion We have generated a tetracycline inducible gene expression model system in mouse epidermal keratinocytes. Such inducible cell lines will serve as valuable in vitro models for future gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies.
Radial velocity distributions of molecular ions produced by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

Abstract We have measured the radial velocity distributions of protonated intact dynorphin 1–13 ions, produced during matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) (close to the threshold for ion production), and of the protonated dimer of the MALDI matrix α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid. For both ion species, the radial component of the velocity was found to be considerably smaller than the axial component, implying angular distributions for both matrix and polypeptide ions that are strongly forward peaked. This extreme forward peaking (cos28 for the peptide ions and cos12 for the matrix ions) lends support to the earlier proposals of a jet expansion model for MALDI. Our observation that the peptide ions exhibit a considerably higher degree of forward peaking than ions arising from the matrix awaits detailed explanation. The present results should prove useful for the design of highly efficient MALDI mass spectrometers.
Measuring Peer Socialization for Adolescent Substance Use: A Comparison of Perceived and Actual Friends’ Substance Use Effects

Objective:There has been an increase in the use of social network analysis in studies of peer socialization effects on adolescent substance use. Some researchers argue that social network analyses provide more accurate measures of peer substance use, that the alternate strategy of assessing perceptions of friends’ drug use is biased, and that perceptions of peer use and actual peer use represent different constructs. However, there has been little research directly comparing the two effects, and little is known about the extent to which the measures differ in the magnitude of their influence on adolescent substance use, as well as how these two effects may be redundant or separate constructs.Method:Using Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) saturated subsample, we directly compared effects of perception of friends’ use (PFU) and actual friends’ use (AFU) on alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana initiation and persistence of use 1 year later. We also examined pote...
Identification of modal parameters of base pad in milling machine based on multi-input modal analysis in time domain

Abstract A time domain approach is presented for multiple input modal analysis of oscillatory systems. The mathematical foundation of the proposed approach is given along with its application to a simulated lumped parameter system. An optimal search for the base damping and stiffness coefficients of the milling machine has been carried out to minimize the mean square responses of the workpiece and tool over the same frequency range. The time domain multi-input modal analysis method is applied to the dynamic investigation of original and optimized milling machines.
Reexamination of the He- 1s2p2 4Pe shape resonance: Details of its properties and a precise electron affinity for He 2 (3)S.

The huge ${\mathrm{He}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ $^{4}$${\mathit{P}}^{\mathit{e}}$ shape resonance was reexamined in photodetachment using a titanium:sapphire laser tuned over the energy range 9740--10 300 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. This range covered well below the He (2 $^{3}$P) threshold and included the entire resonance region. The uncertainties in the earlier data [Peterson et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 55, 692 (1985)] were greatly reduced. The new (old) experimental value for the electron affinity of He (2 $^{3}$S) is 77.67\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.12 meV (77.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 meV), in fair agreement with the most accurate theoretical value, 77.51\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 meV, of Bunge and Bunge [Phys. Rev. A 30, 2179 (1984)]. This resonance lies 10.80\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07 meV above the He 2 $^{3}$P threshold, and has a decay width of \ensuremath{\Gamma}=7.16\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07 meV. The ratio of the cross section at resonance to the continuum at the threshold is ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{R}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{0}$=89\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5. This study provides by far the most detailed experimental view of an electronic shape resonance.
Onset of matrix cracking in angle-ply ceramic matrix composites

Abstract The problem of initial damage in angle-ply [− θ m /0 n / θ m ] and [− θ / θ ] ceramic matrix composites subjected to axial tension is considered in this paper. The damage is in the form of matrix cracks that may appear in either inclined (− θ and θ lamination angle) or longitudinal layers. As follows from the analysis, if the lamination angle of the inclined layers is small, the initial failure occurs in the 0-layers of [− θ m /0 n / θ m ] composites or in [− θ / θ ] composites in the form of bridging cracks. However, if the inclined layers form a larger angle with the load direction, they fail due to tunneling cracks. It is shown that the boundary between two different modes of failure in a representative SiC/CAS composite corresponds to a lamination angle equal to 35° in the case of [− θ m /0 n / θ m ] composites. In the case of [− θ / θ ] laminates, the boundary value of the lamination angle is equal to 45°, i.e. bridging cracks form if θ θ >45°.
Breathing patterns after mid-cervical spinal contusion in rats

Respiratory failure is the leading cause of death after cervical spinal injury. We hypothesized that incomplete cervical spinal injuries would alter respiratory pattern and initiate plasticity in the neural control of breathing. Further, we hypothesized that the severity of cervical spinal contusion would correlate with changes in breathing pattern. Fourteen days after C4-C5 contusions, respiratory frequency and tidal volume were measured in unanesthetized Sprague Dawley rats in a whole body plethysmograph. Phrenic motor output was monitored in the same rats which were anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed and ventilated to eliminate and/or control sensory feedback that could alter breathing patterns. The extent of spinal injury was approximated histologically by measurements of the injury-induced cyst area in transverse sections; cysts ranged from 2 to 28% of spinal cross-sectional area, and had a unilateral bias. In unanesthetized rats, the severity of spinal injury correlated negatively with tidal volume (R(2)=0.85; p<0.001) and positively with breathing frequency (R(2)=0.65; p<0.05). Thus, the severity of C4-C5 spinal contusion dictates post-injury breathing pattern. In anesthetized rats, phrenic burst amplitude was decreased on the side of injury, and burst frequency correlated negatively with contusion size (R(2)=0.51; p<0.05). A strong correlation between unanesthetized breathing pattern and the pattern of phrenic bursts in anesthetized, vagotomized and ventilated rats suggests that changes in respiratory motor output after spinal injury reflect, at least in part, intrinsic neural mechanisms of CNS plasticity initiated by injury.
Photoregulation of an Enzymic Process by Means of a Light-Sensitive Ligand

A specific inactivator of chymotrypsin, p-azophenyldiphenylcarbamyl chloride, exists as two geometric isomers, cis and trans, which are interconvertible by means of light. The cis-isomer is five times more reactive than the more stable trans-isomer, and is obtained by exposure of the latter to light of 320 nanometer wavelength. The trans-isomer can be regained by exposure of the cis-isomer to light of 420 nanometer wavelength. This interconversion can be made to occur in aqueous solution in the presence of the enzyme under conditions in which the trans-isomer reacts relatively slowly with chymotrypsin. Thus, it is possible to regulate the rate of inactivation of chymotrypsin by using light of the appropriate wavelength. This system is presented as a model for some of the light-sensitive metabolic systems present in living organisms.
On the characteristics and performance of long-short, market-neutral and bear mutual funds.

Abstract We evaluate the return performance of long-short, market-neutral and bear mutual funds using multi-factor models and a conditional CAPM that allows for time-varying risk. Differences in the bearish posture of these mutual funds result in different performance characteristics. Returns to long-short mutual funds vary with the market, returns to market-neutral mutual funds are uncorrelated with the market and returns to bear mutual funds are negatively correlated. Using the conditional CAPM we document significant changes in the market-risk exposure of the most bearish of these funds during different economic climates. We then assess the flow-performance relationship for up to 60 months following up and down markets and find that investors direct flows towards market-neutral and bearish funds for several months after down markets. Market-neutral funds provide a down market hedge, but bear funds do not generate the returns that investors hope for.
Synthesis and click chemistry of a new class of biodegradable polylactide towards tunable thermo-responsive biomaterials

A new class of clickable and biodegradable polylactide was designed and prepared via bulk polymerization of 3,6-dipropargyloxymethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione (1) which was synthesized from easily accessible propargyloxylactic acid (5). A homopolymer of 1 and random copolymer of 1 with L-lactide were obtained as amorphous materials and exhibit low Tg of 8.5 and 34 °C, respectively, indicating their promising potentials for biomedical applications. The statistical nature of random copolymers was investigated by DSC analysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy, which implies the random distribution of terminal alkyne groups along the back bone of copolymers. The efficient click post-modification of this new class of polylactide with alkyl and mPEG azides affords novel hydrophilic biomaterials, which exhibit reversible thermo-responsive properties as evidenced by their tunable LCST ranging from 22 to 69 °C depending on the balance of the incorporated hydrophilic/hydrophobic side chains. These results indicate the generality of this new class of clickable polylactide in preparing novel smart biomaterials in a simple and efficient manner via click chemistry.
NMSSM Interpretation of the Galactic Center Excess

We explore models for the GeV Galactic Center Excess (GCE) observed by the Fermi Telescope, focusing on χχ→ƒƒ(bar) annihilation processes in the Z3 NMSSM. We begin by examining the requirements for a simplified model (parametrized by the couplings and masses of dark matter (DM) and mediator particles) to reproduce the GCE via χχ→ƒƒ^bar, while simultaneously thermally producing the observed relic abundance. We apply the results of our simplified model to the Z_3 NMSSM for Singlino/Higgsino~(S/H) or Bino/Higgsino~(B/H) DM. In the case of S/H DM, we find that the DM must be be very close to a pseudoscalar resonance to be viable, and large tan β and positive values of μ are preferred for evading direct detection constraints while simultaneously obtaining the observed Higgs mass. In the case of B/H DM, by contrast, the situation is much less tuned: annihilation generally occurs off-resonance, and for large tan β direct detection constraints are easily satisfied by choosing μ sufficiently large and negative. The B/H model generally has a light, largely MSSM-like pseudoscalar with no accompanying charged Higgs, which could be searched for at the LHC.
The transition fractions in organizational manpower planning models

Most fractional flow, manpower planning models devised for the organizational level of systems assume that the transition fractions are either fixed or can be manipulated at will. As neither of these assumptions is very realistic, we present a model in which the transition fractions are the product of interactions among three sets of economic agents: the organization, its competitors in the manpower market, and its employees. The sensitivity of the model is explored and possible extensions are considered. A numerical example illustrates the model's practical applicability.
A review of expert systems

Abstract Expert systems have recently become popular and are attracting more and more attention. The high quality performance achieved by some systems in areas previously not considered practical for computational solutions has lead to great interest from many different disciplines. Most expert systems use a subset of techniques from the general area of computer science research known as artificial intelligence. However, some expert systems have been developed that incorporate more traditional mathematical modeling techniques. The combination of artificial intelligence techniques and more traditional mathematical techniques has been shown to be quite effective in developing several high quality performance computer software systems. The techniques used in expert systems may be what is needed to bridge the gap between classical operational research modeling and human decision making processes. This paper addresses how expert systems techniques are being used in problem solving and why someone in operational research might want to use them.
Breast cancer: Genetic predisposition and exposure to radiation

The identification of breast cancer susceptibility genes, such as BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, and p53, has been accompanied by the examination of the effects of radiation in combination with genetic mutations at these loci. Women at high risk for developing breast cancer may respond differently than the general population to low- and high-dose radiation exposures associated with screening and treatment. Epidemiologic studies are being performed to investigate the effects of radiation on subsequent breast cancer development in genetically predisposed individuals. Mouse strains with specific genetic modifications are being created to study the consequence of both inherited mutations and radiation on mammary gland carcinogenesis. Finally, studies investigating DNA damage-response pathways after radiation exposure are being performed. Recent work on the effects of several known or suspected breast cancer susceptibility genes, alone or in combination with radiation, is presented here, and directions for future research are considered.
Two-nucleon correlations in a relativistic theory of nuclear matter☆

Abstract Relativistic two-nucleon correlations are studied using a self-consistent summation of ladder diagrams in nuclear matter. Correlations have a small effect on the nucleon self-energy but may produce significant changes in the binding energy. Correlation corrections to the mean-field equation of state are small at high density.
Prion recognition elements govern nucleation, strain specificity and species barriers

Prions are proteins that can switch to self-perpetuating, infectious conformations. The abilities of prions to replicate, form structurally distinct strains, and establish and overcome transmission barriers between species are poorly understood. We exploit surface-bound peptides to overcome complexities of investigating such problems in solution. For the yeast prion Sup35, we find that the switch to the prion state is controlled with exquisite specificity by small elements of primary sequence. Strikingly, these same sequence elements govern the formation of distinct self-perpetuating conformations (prion strains) and determine species-specific seeding activities. A Sup35 chimaera that traverses the transmission barrier between two yeast species possesses the critical sequence elements from both. Using this chimaera, we show that the influence of environment and mutations on the formation of species-specific strains is driven by selective recognition of either sequence element. Thus, critical aspects of prion conversion are enciphered by subtle differences between small, highly specific recognition elements.
Canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in epicardial fibrosis of failed pediatric heart allografts with diastolic dysfunction.

Abstract Background Failed pediatric heart allografts with diastolic dysfunction exhibit severe epicardial fibrosis. The molecular mechanism underlying this process is poorly understood. Canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays an important role in epithelial–mesenchymal transition and is implicated in fibrosing diseases. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling is activated in epicardial fibrosis of end-stage dysfunctional pediatric allografts. Methods Fourteen explanted heart grafts of 12 patients who had undergone 14 heart transplantations were used for immunohistochemical staining of β-catenin and its nuclear binding partners, T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor family transcriptional factors. Fourteen age-matched native hearts from patients who had undergone first heart transplantation without evidence of epicardial fibrosis were used as controls. Results and conclusions Epicardial fibroblasts from explanted allografts demonstrated nuclear accumulation of β-catenin. These cells also showed nuclear positivity for T-cell factor 4. No T-cell factor 3 expression was present in the epicardium. T-cell factor 1 and lymphoid enhancer factor 1 were observed in lymphocytes, but not in other cell types of the epicardium. These findings suggest an association between canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and epicardial fibrosis of failed pediatric heart allografts. Should activation of this pathway be shown to be causal to epicardial fibrosis in this setting, then inhibition of this pathway may help to prevent this devastating process.
Breakfast and the Achievement Gap Among Urban Minority Youth

OBJECTIVES: To outline the prevalence and disparities of breakfast consumption among school-aged urban minority youth, causal pathways through which skipping breakfast adversely affects academic achievement, and proven or promising approaches for schools to increase breakfast consumption. METHODS: Literature review. RESULTS: On any given day a substantial proportion of American youth do not eat breakfast. On an average day, less than half (∼46%) of children participating in free or reduced-price lunch also participated in the School Breakfast Program for which they were also eligible. In a large study of 9-year-olds, 77% of White girls and 57% of Black girls consumed breakfast on all 3 days assessed; by age 19, the respective rates were 32% and 22%. Neuroscience research has identified the processes by which dietary behavior influences neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity, both of which influence cognitive functions. Participation in School Breakfast Programs has also been associated with reduced absenteeism. Universal School Breakfast Programs and allowing youth to eat breakfast in the classroom (vs cafeteria) are approaches that have been shown to increase participation. CONCLUSIONS: Skipping breakfast is highly and disproportionately prevalent among school-aged urban minority youth, has a negative impact on academic achievement by adversely affecting cognition and absenteeism, and effective practices are available for schools to address this problem. Despite wide availability, the majority of American youth do not participate in School Breakfast Programs. High-quality universal breakfast programs that allow students to eat breakfast in the classroom are especially needed for youth who are not likely to get good nutrition the rest of the day.
An Elementary Explanation of the Flutter Mechanism with Active Feedback Controls

An elementary explanation of wing flutter suppression problems with active feedack control is made using a standard root locus technique. The object of the study is to obtain insight into the control of converging frequency flutter such as the classical bending-torsion flutter of a wing. The model analyzed is a twodimensional, typical section airfoil with pure gain feedback of the main wing motion. In this simple system, stability boundary solutions are expressed in a closed form and valuable information is obtained for various kinds of feedback signals. The results for an exploratory example are discussed. The analysis of this example using Nissim's energy method is also attempted.