cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visualization and analysis requirements for in situ processing for a large-scale fusion simulation code

In situ techniques have become a very active research area since they have been shown to be an effective way to combat the issues associated with the ever growing gap between computation and I/O bandwidth. In order to take full advantage of in situ techniques with a large-scale simulation code, it is critical to understand the breadth and depth of its analysis requirements. In this paper, we present the results of a survey done with members of the XGC1 fusion simulation code team in order to gather their requirements for analysis and visualization. We look at these requirements from the perspective of in situ processing and present a list of XGC1 analysis tasks performed by its physicists, engineers, and visualization specialists. This analysis of the specific needs and use cases of a single code is important in understanding the nature of the needs that simulations have in terms of data movement and usage for visualization and analysis, now and in the future.
Free Operant Avoidance Behavior of Hooded Rats: Some Notes on Within- and Between-Session Stability

Free operant avoidance of rats was studied in two experiments. In Experiment 1, within-session avoidance behavior (with R-S = 15 sec.) was examined in blocks of 60-, 90- and 120-min. sessions. Experiment 2 looked at within-session avoidance using rats separately trained under R-S intervals of 10, 15, 20 and 30 sec. Three levels of avoidance proficiency were found in each experiment: good, poor, and nonavoidance. Within a session, the performance of “good” avoiders was characterized by a distinct warm-up period followed by stable and proficient avoidance, while the avoidance of “poor” avoiders improved only gradually. Experiment 1 also showed that postwarm-up measures (both within and between sessions) were not altered by changes in session length. Both experiments yielded considerable interanimal differences in within-session response rate trends. These differences illustrated the difficulty in describing “typical” postwarm-up performance and suggested that the avoidance schedule had minimal control over the response rate it produced.
Abstract 5430: GAPDH loss in a tumorigenic human glioblastoma cell line

Background: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a ubiquitous, multifunctional 37 kDa enzyme best known for catalyzing the sixth step in glycolysis. GAPDH expression is so consistent that it has been granted “housekeeping” status, and is used as a standard (along with β-actin) for normalizing Western blots. While increased GAPDH expression has been described in hypoxia, diabetes, and some cancers, decreased expression is rare. Here we describe a new human glioblastoma cell line that exhibits GAPDH loss, while maintaining a high degree of malignancy. Methods: Primary cultures of human glioblastoma cells were initiated and maintained in DMEM with 10% FBS. This particular cell line (designated E297) grew readily, and was passaged more than 40 times. E297 cells were confirmed to be negative for HIV, HTLV, hepatitis B and C, CMV, and mycoplasma contamination. Cells in exponential growth were stained for routine markers, and studied by DNA flow cytometry. GAPDH expression was studied by Western blot analysis using polyclonal rabbit anti-human GAPDH IgG (Abcam, Rosemont, IL), with HeLa, U138, U87 and U251 cells (as well as β-actin staining) as positive controls. For intracranial implantation into Wistar-Furth rats (male, 10-11 weeks), cells were suspended at 20 x 106 cells/ml. Using aseptic technique, rats were anesthetized, and placed into a stereotactic frame. A burr hole was drilled 3 mm right of the bregma and 25 µl of suspension injected (5 mm depth) over 10 min. by Hamilton syringe. Rats were studied by MRI and euthanized when symptomatic. Results: E297 cells have glial/epithelioid morphology, with a doubling time of 24 + 2 hours in logarithmic growth phase, with a single DNA subpopulation with 28% S phase. They stain positively for GFAP, vimentin, bFGF, c-myc and p53, but fail to express GAPDH. 10/10 animals implanted intracerebrally developed tumors, becoming symptomatic and requiring sacrifice at 25 days (mean). Loss of GAPDH expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Conclusions: The E297 human glioblastoma cell line is highly aggressive and proliferates rapidly. It is tumorigenic in nonimmunosuppressed rats but lacks GAPDH protein. We conclude that GAPDH expression is not essential for glioblastoma cell proliferation under routine culture conditions, and care needs to be taken when using GAPDH as a normalization standard for Western blots of cancer cells. Citation Format: Zachary Gaertner, Yi Lu, Jinsuh Kim, Gayatry Mohapatra, Ankit Mehta, Sanjani Lakka, Herbert Engelhard. GAPDH loss in a tumorigenic human glioblastoma cell line [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5430. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5430
EFFECT OF DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY OF HELIOTHIS ZEA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) EGGS ON SILKING CORN ON THE RATE OF LARVAL ESTABLISHMENT IN THE EAR

The effect of distribution and density of corn earworm Heliothis zea (Boddie) eggs on silk stage ‘Pioneer 3192’ dent corn on the resulting rate of larval establishment within the ear was measured. ...
Comendo na pós-modernidade: como o comprar, o cozinhar e o comer estão se transformando na Era Digital

Consideracoes sobre o futuro da comida a partir das possibilidades abertas pela tecnologia digital sao o tema deste artigo, baseado na Conferencia de Abertura do historiador Ken Albala, proferida no VIII Encontro Nacional de Estudos do Consumo. Producao, comercializacao e consumo de alimentos, alem da pratica culinaria, sao apresentados nos seus dilemas contemporâneos e repensados a luz das tendencias dos ultimos anos, sinalizando para o tipo de futuro que nos aguarda, em termos dos nossos habitos alimentares.
Out-of-range INR results lead to increased health-care utilization in four large anticoagulation clinics.

Background The impact on health-care costs and utilization of a single out-of-range (OOR) INR value not associated with bleeding or thromboembolic complication among chronic warfarin-treated patients is not well described. Methods At four large phone-based anticoagulation clinics (total 14 948 patients), warfarin-treated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or venous thromboembolism were retrospectively propensity matched into an OOR INR group (n = 116) and a control group (n = 58). Types and frequency of contacts (eg, phone, voicemail, facsimile) and personnel involved were identified. A prospective time study analysis of 59 OOR and 92 control patients was performed over 8.5 days to record the time required to care for these patients. 2016 USD cost estimates were generated from average salaries. Results OOR and in-range INR patients experienced an average of 4.2 and 3.2 (P < .001) INR lab draws until two sequential tests were in range. OOR INR patients required an average of 5.3 interactions with the anticoagulation clinic vs 3.7 for in-range INR patients (P < .001). OOR INR patients more often required phone calls, fewer mailed letters, and more often required multiple types of contact than in-range INR patients. In the prospective analysis, total median time involved for each OOR INR value was 5.1 minutes (IQR 3.7-9.5) vs 2.9 minutes (IQR 1.8-5.8) for control INR values (P < .001). At the clinic level, OOR INR values were associated with a yearly staff cost of $17 938 (IQR $8969-$31 391). Conclusions We quantified the amount of extra anticoagulation staff effort required to manage warfarin-treated patients who experience a single OOR INR value without bleeding or thromboembolic complications, which leads to higher healthcare utilization costs.
7 – CONNECTING DESIGN WITH COGNITION AT WORK

Publisher Summary One long-standing perspective on the relationship between cognition and design is that people have severe limits on their memory, attention, and problem-solving capabilities. People are prone to illusions and biases of many kinds. In this view, design then would use new technological capabilities to develop prostheses that overcome the inherent weaknesses of people. Depending on the machine’s assessment of how people’s mental or physical state is changing, the machine will decide when and how to change the interface and change user tasks so that the demands remain within people’s limited capabilities. This chapter discusses connecting design with cognition at work. It provides an introduction to some of the basic concepts about design and cognition, which can help design processes to enable or release human expertise. Technology change and new designs are one set of drivers in these processes of organizational transformation and human adaptation. The changes that are triggered result in new levels of performance on some dimensions, new squeezes on performance in other places, new side effects when things that were separate become connected, and new forms of complexity. In adaptive cycles, designs act as stimulants in two major ways. Designs can trigger expansive adaptations by users and stakeholders that exploit capabilities as they seek to achieve their ends. When these expansive adaptations occur, one discovers that people have exploited designs in ways typically unforeseen by the designers. But design change also can introduce impediments that create complexities to be adapted around and overcome—the workarounds often captured in compilations of designs with poor usability. Though specific designs often create a mix of both affordances to be exploited and complexities to be worked around, this mix can vary greatly for different people in different roles across an organization.
Gallows Hospitality: Visiting Hangman Takuzō's Garden Theatre

How does hospitality look and feel at a performed hanging? On a nightly basis, Japanese performance artist Hangman Takuzō would hang himself in his Tokyo garden. For a small fee, audience members witnessed the hangings, but were also welcomed as guests, invited to share refreshments, eroding the border between morbid performance ritual and everyday gestures of fellowship.
Gastric perforation due to a muscular wall defect in a 5-month-old boy:a case report and literature review

Abstract Background Spontaneous gastric rupture due to the muscular wall defect usually occurs on the premature neonate while rarely occurs on the infant. Case summary We are now describing a case of a 5-month-old boy presenting sudden onset of extensive abdominal distension. Emergency abdominal CT showed pneumoperitoneum. Laparotomy showed a perforation at the level of the small gastric curvature, measuring 7*5 cm in diameter. The gastric perforation was repaired by simple suture. The patient recovered uneventfully. Conclusion Spontaneous gastric rupture due to the muscular wall defect could occurs on the infant.
Adaptive Polynomial Filters

Linear filtering techniques are known to be effective in a variety of applications in signal processing, telecommunications, and control. However, in some applications where linear filters do not give satisfactory performance, nonlinear filtering techniques are able to provide better performance. For example, in image processing linear filtering methods cannot effectively remove impulsive noise, and they tend to blur edges. On the contrary nonlinear filters, for example the median and order statistic filters, are more effective in removing impulsive noise. In telecommunications it has been shown that the error probability of transmitting data through a telephone channel at rates higher than 4800 bits/s is caused almost entirely by nonlinear distortion [5.1]. Recently there has been a tremendous demand for sending data at much higher rates (64 kbits/s, 128 kbits/s) through subscriber lines [5.2]. In these cases, even a slight nonlinearity may cause problems for a conventional linear echo canceler. In data communication over a fading channel it has been shown that nonlinear equalization must be used to compensate for severe distortion introduced by the transmission channel [5.3].
Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients (pts) with Acute Megakaryocytic Leukemia (AMegL) Treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Since 1987.

AMegL is a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) associated with poor prognostic features. Here, we report the experience at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1987 to 2003. Among 1861 pts with newly diagnosed AML (excluding APL), 38 pts (2%) had AMegL. The diagnosis of AMegL was based on (i) morphological features defined by FAB classification and (ii) immunophenotypypical positivity for CD42 and CD61 whenever available. All 38 pts received induction chemotherapy containing cytarabine and anthracyclines. Sixteen (42%) were males; median age was 54 years (range 21–78); 11 (29%) had antecedent hematologic disorder (AHD) and/or MDS, and 4 (11%) had previously received chemotherapy for other malignancies. Median white blood cell count at diagnosis was 3.5x10 9 /L (0.5–49.9), hemoglobin 7.8 g/dl (3.2–10.9), platelet count 34.5x10 9 /L (5–2292), and the median bone marrow blast percentage was 30% (0–80). For pts with
Resident and Faculty Perspectives on Prevention of Resident Burnout: A Focus Group Study

Context The high prevalence and negative implications of resident physicians' burnout is well documented, yet few effective interventions have been identified. Objective To document resident and faculty perspectives on resident burnout, including perceived contributing factors and their recommended strategies for attention and prevention. Design We conducted 14 focus groups with core faculty and residents in 5 specialties at a large integrated health care system in Southern California. Training programs sampled included family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a matrix-based approach to identify common themes. Main outcome measures Resident and faculty perspectives regarding causes of burnout, preventive factors, and potential intervention strategies. Results Five themes captured the range of factors participants identified as contributing or protective factors for resident burnout: 1) having or lacking a sense of meaning at work; 2) fatigue and exhaustion; 3) cultural norms in medicine; 4) the steep learning curve from medical school to residency; and 5) social relationships at and outside work. Recommended intervention strategies targeted individuals, residents' social networks, and the learning and work environment. Conclusion We engaged residents and core faculty across specialties in the identification of factors contributing to burnout and possible targets for interventions. Our results highlight potential focus areas for future burnout interventions and point to the importance of interventions targeted at the social environments in which residents' work and learn.
Activation in bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) corresponds to everyday helping.

Abstract Everyday prosociality includes helping behaviors such as holding doors or giving directions that are spontaneous and low-cost and are performed frequently by the average person. Such behaviors promote a wide array of positive outcomes that include increased well-being, trust, and social capital, but the cognitive and neural mechanisms that support these behaviors are not yet well understood. Whereas costly altruistic responding to others’ distress is associated with elevated reactivity in the amygdala, we hypothesized that everyday prosociality would be more closely associated with activation in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a region of the extended amygdala known for its roles in maintaining vigilance for relevant socio-affective environmental cues and in supporting parental care. One previous study of the neural correlates of everyday prosociality highlighted a functional cluster identified as the septal area but which overlapped with established coordinates of BNST. We used an anatomical mask of BNST (Torrisi et al., 2015) to evaluate the association of BNST activation and daily helping in a sample of 25 adults recruited from the community as well as 23 adults who had engaged in acts of extraordinary altruism. Results found that activation in left BNST during an empathy task predicted everyday helping over a subsequent 14-day period in both samples. BNST activation most strongly predicted helping strangers and proactive helping. We conclude that beyond facilitating care for offspring, activation in BNST may provide a basis for the motivation to engage in a broad array of everyday helping behaviors.
Social Equity and Popular Culture: Gender and Gender Identity on TV

Social equity is an important element of public administration and policy, and theoretically is as important as economy, efficiency, and effectiveness by the National Academy of Public Administrati...
A Two-Part GMM Model for Impact and Feedback for Time-Dependent Covariates

Correlated observations arise due to repeated measures on the subjects, or in the case of clustered data, due to the hierarchical structure of the design. In addition, the correlation may be realized due to the time-dependent covariate created between the responses at a particular time and the predictors at earlier times. Also, there is feedback between response at present and the covariates at a later time, though this may not always be significant. In any event, these correlations must be taken into consideration when conducting an analysis.
I’ve got you under my skin: Tattoos and religion in three Latin American cities:

In this article, the author argues that some contemporary tattoos might be considered ‘sacralization practices’, that is, processes whereby the subjects distinguish some reality they deem special f...
The Use of Autobiographical Poetry to Process Trauma, Promote Awareness, and Shift Views on Sexual Violence: Exploring the “Against Our Will” Campaign:

This article explores a televised campaign featuring poetry by survivors of sex trafficking, a growing domestic and international problem resulting in symptoms of posttraumatic stress. An integrative framework, incorporating feminist autobiography theory with trauma theory, empowerment theory, and a strengths perspective, is used to explore these poems and how poetry can be used to address sexual trauma, endorsing the progress of feminism and feminist methodology. Further support is provided through a systematic scoping review of extant research on the use of poetry to address sexual trauma. Implications are offered for researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers in this emerging area of study.
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae newly released (NRel) from biofilms by antibody-mediated dispersal versus antibody-mediated disruption are phenotypically distinct

Biofilms contribute significantly to the chronicity and recurrence of bacterial diseases due to the fact that biofilm-resident bacteria are highly recalcitrant to killing by host immune effectors and antibiotics. Thus, antibody-mediated release of bacteria from biofilm residence into the surrounding milieu supports a powerful strategy to resolve otherwise difficult-to-treat biofilm-associated diseases. In our prior work, we revealed that antibodies directed against two unique determinants of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) [e.g. the Type IV pilus (T4P) or a bacterial DNABII DNA-binding protein, a species-independent target that provides structural integrity to bacterial biofilms] release biofilm-resident bacteria via discrete mechanisms. Herein, we now show that the phenotype of the resultant newly released (or NRel) NTHI is dependent upon the specific mechanism of release. We used flow cytometry, proteomic profiles, and targeted transcriptomics to demonstrate that the two NRel populations were significantly different not only from planktonically grown NTHI, but importantly, from each other despite genetic identity. Moreover, each NRel population had a distinct, significantly increased susceptibility to killing by either a sulfonamide or β-lactam antibiotic compared to planktonic NTHI, an observation consistent with their individual proteomes and further supported by relative differences in targeted gene expression. The distinct phenotypes of NTHI released from biofilms by antibodies directed against specific epitopes of T4P or DNABII binding proteins provide new opportunities to develop targeted therapeutic strategies for biofilm eradication and disease resolution.
PKC downregulation upon rapamycin treatment attenuates mitochondrial disease

Leigh syndrome is a fatal neurometabolic disorder caused by defects in mitochondrial function. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition with rapamycin attenuates disease progression in a mouse model of Leigh syndrome (Ndufs4 knock-out (KO) mouse); however, the mechanism of rescue is unknown. Here we identify protein kinase C (PKC) downregulation as a key event mediating the beneficial effects of rapamycin treatment of Ndufs4 KO mice. Assessing the impact of rapamycin on the brain proteome and phosphoproteome of Ndufs4 KO mice, we find that rapamycin restores mitochondrial protein levels, inhibits signalling through both mTOR complexes and reduces the abundance and activity of multiple PKC isoforms. Administration of PKC inhibitors increases survival, delays neurological deficits, prevents hair loss and decreases inflammation in Ndufs4 KO mice. Thus, PKC may be a viable therapeutic target for treating severe mitochondrial disease.
Biology & Human Rights: Short Segments Can Broaden Student Acceptance.

Human rights issues can be topics of conflict, resistance, and indifference; thus, these issues are seldom broached in traditional college STEM courses. In this article, I share process, content, and sources used to introduce college students to the biology of the singularity of race and the biology of sexual identity. One or two class meetings on the connections between biology and human rights were all that was necessary for students to recognize that science courses in fields such as human anatomy and physiology should address human rights issues; science courses can be used as venues to help explain human differences, and these discussions can be of personal significance and use to students.
To be masked or to be image;the presence dilemma in the covid-19 pandemic

When we talk about presence, we imagine an in-person, full attention, and whole-hearted communication. Presence illustrates shared space-time, attuned minds, and synchronized bodies. Nevertheless, what can we imagine about the experience of presence in a virtual communication? Do different places and times impede the presence experience? Is it possible to have attunement and synchronization with others in a virtual space?...
Identification of the predominant human NK cell effector subset mediating ADCC against HIV-infected targets coated with BNAbs or plasma from PLWH

The potential of immunotherapy strategies utilizing BNAbs such as 3BNC117 and 10-1074 to limit viral replication while also facilitating clearance of HIV infected cells has heightened interest in identifying the predominant NK effector subset(s) capable of mediating Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC). Utilizing Advanced Poly-chromatic Flow Cytometry, we identified that CD57 positive NK cells from ART-suppressed PLWH expressed significantly higher levels of the CD16 FcγR Receptor, 2B4 ADCC co-receptor and HLA-DR activation marker while NKG2C positive NK cells expressed significantly higher levels of the CD2 ADCC co-receptor (p<0.001, n = 32). Functionally, CD57 positive NK cells from ART-suppressed PLWH with either high or low NKG2C expansion exhibited significantly enhanced degranulation and IFN-gamma production against heterologous gp120-coated ADCC targets coated with HIV reference plasma compared to CD57 negative NK cells (p = 0.002, n = 11). CD57 positive NK cells from control donors lacking NKG2C expansion also exhibited significantly more degranulation and IFN-gamma production at every timepoint tested against both heterologous ADCC targets (p = 0.019, n = 9) and HIV-1 infected autologous CD4+ primary T cells coated with BNAbs. Together, our data supports CD57 positive and NKG2C positive NK cells as the predominant ADCC effector subsets capable of targeting HIV-infected CD4+ cells in the presence of 3BNC117 and 10-1074 immunotherapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Paratransit services for people with disabilities in the Seattle region during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons for recovery planning

Abstract Introduction Along with all public transit services, paratransit services for people with disabilities experienced substantially reduced demand and an increased need to provide equitable services while protecting their clients and staff's safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paratransit services provide a lifeline for their clients' essential mobility needs, including access to medical appointments and grocery stores. In the absence of pre-existing pandemic response plans, examining transit agencies' responses to provide paratransit services during the pandemic can help inform planning for post-pandemic recovery and future disruptive events. Methods In September 2020, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 decision-makers, planners, and drivers working for the primary transit agency in the Seattle region – King County Metro – and its paratransit contractors. Interview questions were designed to identify current services, policy gaps, and critical challenges for recovery planning and post-pandemic paratransit services. Interview transcripts were analyzed using NVivo software to obtain essential themes. Results The interviewees provided insights about (1) paratransit service changes in response to the pandemic, (2) anticipated impacts of a returning demand on paratransit service efficiency, equity, and quality during the recovery period, and (3) innovative approaches for maintaining post-pandemic equitable paratransit services while balancing safety measures with available resources. Conclusions Study findings suggest that paratransit service providers should consider (1) developing guidelines for future disruptive events, (2) examining alternative methods for food delivery to clients, (3) planning scenarios for delivering equitable services in the post-pandemic recovery period, and (4) increasing resilience possibly by establishing partnerships with transportation network companies.
Six-phase Three-level Neutral Point Clamped Inverter for Capacitor Voltage Balancing and Common-Mode Voltage Cancellation

In this paper, a six-phase three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter is proposed to achieve active capacitor voltage balancing as well as common-mode voltage (CMV) cancellation. The conventional three-phase NPC inverter is widely known to have dc-link capacitor voltage balancing issue due to the neutral point current. The proposed six-phase NPC inverter with a balanced six-phase electric machine generates two equal, and opposite neutral currents injected to the same neutral point and canceling out each other. Theoretically, zero neutral current can substantially reduce the size of dc-link capacitor and improve power density and reliability of the system. In addition, the proposed inverter topology naturally cancels out the CMV, leading to noticeably low CM EMI noise generation. Both neutral current and CMV cancellation capabilities are verified with MATLAB and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations.
Isolation and characterization of temperature-sensitive mutations in RPA190, the gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase I from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract The isolation and characterization of temperature-sensitive mutations in RNA polymerase I from Saccharomyces cerevisiae are described. A plasmid carrying RPA190, the gene encoding the largest subunit of the enzyme, was subjected to in vitro mutagenesis with hydroxylamine. Using a plasmid shuffle screening system, five different plasmids were isolated which conferred a temperature-sensitive phenotype in haploid yeast strains carrying the disrupted chromosomal RPA190 gene. These temperature-sensitive alleles were transferred to the chromosomal RPA190 locus for mapping and physiology experiments. Accumulation of RNA was found to be defective in all mutant strains at the nonpermissive temperature. In addition, analysis of pulse-labeled RNA from two mutant strains at 37 degrees C showed that the transcription of rRNA genes was decreased, while that of 5S RNA was relatively unaffected. RNA polymerase I was partially purified from several of the mutant strains grown at the nonpermissive temperature and was shown to be deficient when assayed in vitro. Fine-structure mapping and sequencing of the mutant alleles demonstrated that all five mutations were unique. The rpa190-1 and rpa190-5 mutations are tightly clustered in region I (S.S. Broyles and B. Moss, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:3141-3145, 1986), the putative zinc-binding region that is common to all eucaryotic RNA polymerase large subunits. The rpa190-3 mutation is located between regions III and IV, and a strain carrying it behaves as a mutant that is defective in the synthesis of the enzyme. This mutation lies within a previously unidentified segment of highly conserved amino acid sequence homology that is shared among the largest subunits of eucaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases. Another temperature-sensitive mutation, rpa190-2, creates a UGA nonsense codon.
Energies and Decay Modes of Ne 19 States: Energies of First Excited States of Ne 21 , Na 21 , and Mg 22

The energies and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-decay modes of the lowest six energy levels of ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{19}$ were investigated with the aid of Ge(Li) and NaI(Tl) $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray detectors. ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{19}$ levels were populated by the ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{20}({\mathrm{He}}^{3}, \ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{Ne}}^{19}$ reaction. Measurements were made of the energies of the first excited states of ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{21}$, ${\mathrm{Na}}^{21}$, and ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{22}$. These states were also formed by reactions initiated by ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{20}$+${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$.
Venous and arterial thromboembolic disease in women using oral contraceptives

Abstract Vascular plasminogen activator was measured by means of a new chromogenic assay in 24 women who had suffered from oral contraceptive-associated thrombotic disease and was compared to that in a control group of 78 premenopausal women. Vascular plasminogen activator levels were significantly reduced in the subjects who had venous thrombosis but not in the five women who had arterial thrombosis (0.04 ± 0.03 versus 0.38 ± 0.31, respectively) when compared to the levels in the control group (0.19 ± 0.20). Since vascular activator levels distribute in a non-Gaussian manner, cases and controls were also stratified into deciles. Seventeen subjects who had suffered from venous thrombosis were stratified in the lowest three deciles, and two subjects, in the fourth and fifth deciles. Subjects who had suffered from arterial thrombosis were in the fourth or higher deciles. The conclusion is that, although there is a correlation between low levels of vascular plasminogen activator and venous thrombosis, no such correlation exists for arterial thrombosis.
New Stars on the Block

Groups of young stars located in the solar neighborhood have recently received a lot of attention. These stars, which are only up to about 10 million years old, can provide insights into the birth of stars and planetary systems. For example, the TW Hydrae Association is just at the age when planets are believed to form, while MBM12 represents an earlier stage. In this Perspective, [Jayawardhana][1] discusses recent research in this field. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/288/5463/64
Intestinal fat does not inhibit gastric function through a hormonal somatostatin mechanism in dogs.

In awake dogs with chronic gastric, duodenal, and jejunal fistulas, F(ab)1 fragments of somatostatin monoclonal antibody (mAb S607) were administered intravenously (IV) to test the hypothesis that intraintestinal lipid inhibits peptone-stimulated gastric acid secretion and emptying by a hormonal somatostatin mechanism. Plasma somatostatin was increased significantly by duodenal and jejunal perfusion with 20% lipid. Somatostatin administered IV caused dose-dependent inhibition of meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying similar to that seen after intestinal perfusion with lipid. Administration of mAb S607 F(ab)1 fragments significantly reversed somatostatin (400 pmol.kg-1.h-1, IV)-induced inhibition of peptone-stimulated acid output and gastric emptying. Acid output inhibited by intraduodenal lipid was reversed partially after F(ab)1 administration, but the inhibitory effect of intrajejunal lipid was not altered. Inhibition of acid secretion by IV somatostatin and by intraintestinal fat was not caused by a decrease in circulating gastrin concentrations. Gastric emptying delayed by intraintestinal lipid was unaffected by antibody administration. Somatostatin does not appear to be a major hormonal mediator of intestinal fat-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion or delayed gastric emptying in dogs.
Mapping the Terrain of Pastoral Psychology

Pastoral psychology has, over the course of the past century, undergone substantial transformation. Changes in the territory warrant, if not require, a thoroughly revised map. This essay approaches pastoral psychology as an interdisciplinary enterprise, a bridge discipline unifying three diverse, integrally related angles of vision: as a specialized field of theology (or theological studies), a specialized field or kind of psychology (or psychological studies), and a practical-clinical enterprise. The need to systematize the field as well as demonstrate its complex relations with cognate areas recommends approaching pastoral psychology, ultimately, as theological: as a dimension of pastoral theology, a kind of practical theology, which integrates practice-theory (praxis) and research; involves religious-theological and psychological domains of experiences, patterns of behavior, and forms of reflection; and maintains a focus on the understanding and care of persons across intrapsychic, familial, community, and cultural levels.
Purification and properties of the major isozymic form of cytoplasmic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rabbit liver.

Abstract The major isozymic form of sn -glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( sn -glycerol-3-phosphate:NAD + 2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.8) has been purified from rabbit liver using a simplified three-step chromatographic procedure involving an ion exchange and two affinity chromatography steps. The 1200-fold purified enzyme is electrophoretically homogeneous, nucleotide-free, and possesses a specific activity of 295 units/mg and an isoelectric point of 6.5. A steady-state kinetic analysis was applied to both the forward and reverse reactions. The NADH oxidation reaction was found to adhere to Michaelis-Menten behavior with K m values of 22 μM and 75 μM for NADH and dihydroxyacetone phosphate, respectively. In the NAD reduction reaction, sigmoidal kinetic patterns were observed when NAD was the variable substrate whereas with sn -glycerol-3-phosphate as the variable substrate, strictly hyperbolic kinetics were observed. The apparent K m values for NAD and glycerol-3-phosphate were 83 and 909 μM, respectively. By comparison with published reports, these results demonstrate that the rabbit muscle and liver isozymes of sn -glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase have different kinetic properties and suggest that the liver isozyme is bettr adapted to participation in glyconeogenesis in vivo.
The beta-core fragment of chorionic gonadotropin is not complexed to macromolecules in amniotic fluid.

A prior report claimed that amniotic fluid contains substantial quantities of beta-core fragment, a major degradation product of CG metabolism, complexed to macromolecules. In an attempt to confirm this finding, we measured beta-core fragment concentrations in 36 second- and 22 third-trimester amniotic fluid samples in a direct beta-core fragment RIA as well as a total CG RIA and found that all of the apparent immunoreactivity could be accounted for by the cross-reaction of CG and CG beta in the beta-core fragment RIA. Chromatography of concentrated pools of amniotic fluid or pregnancy serum failed to reveal a peak of CG immunoreactivity in the beta-core fragment elution area. However, chromatography after incubation of amniotic fluid or pregnancy serum with 3 mol/L ammonium thiocyanate resulted in a peak of apparent CG immunoreactivity in the area coinciding with the elution of ammonium thiocyanate and not purified beta-core fragment. The addition of ammonium thiocyanate to the CG RIA tubes resulted in a...
Exploring the relationship between urban form and nonwork travel through time use analysis

Abstract This paper presents an activity-based time-use analysis of the relationship between urban form and nonwork travel. Using data from the 1991 Activity–Travel Survey in Boston, the study tested the role of spatial accessibility as a composite measure of urban form in explaining individuals’ nonwork activity participation, travel times, and travel frequencies. The results showed varying effects of modifying spatial accessibility on nonwork activity participation and travel among different activity categories. When accessibility to schools improved, children and adults were found to pay more visits to and spent more times in schools yet without generating additional total school travel. However, for every standard deviation increase in accessibility to entertaining, recreational, eat-out, and other social opportunities, the odds were 1.23 times greater to engage in these activities than staying at home. In contrast, the odds were 0.79 for them to spend time in chauffeuring family members. There was a substitution relationship between work commute and nonwork travel when levels of accessibility changed. An increase in accessibility by 1 standard deviation was associated with a decrease in work commute by 2.23 min, but increases in travel times for social activities by 2.07 min and for shopping travel by 1.20 min. The increase in social travel was due to more frequent trip making resulting from higher accessibility. Findings from the study underscore the importance of physical planning and design to improve spatial accessibility and to help divert the additional social travel induced by accessibility improvement to nondriving modes.
Robust stabilization of non-linear systems

Abstract The problem of stabilizing a non-linear system whose parameters are not accurately known is discussed. Specifically, it is assumed that the non-linear system σ that needs to be stabilized has a recursive representation of the form x k + 1 =f(x k , u k ), where only a nominal description of the recursion function f is given, and where the actual recursion function may deviate from the nominal one. An explicit procedure for the stabilization of the system σ is derived. The procedure consists of the construction of a pair of dynamic compensators—a precompensator and a feedback compensator—which, when connected in a closed loop around the system σ, yield an internally stable control configuration. This configuration maintains its internal stability as long as the deviation of the recursion function f from nominality is within certain bounds. The compensators consist of recursive systems that can be readily implemented, and which are derived in an explicit form in terms of the nominal recursion functi...
Personal characteristics of older primary care patients who provide a buccal swab for apolipoprotein E testing and banking of genetic material: the spectrum study.

Objective: To determine the personal characteristics and reasons associated with providing a buccal swab for apolipoprotein E (APOE) genetic testing in a primary care study. <i&g
Mercury Toxicity and the Mitigating Role of Selenium

Mercury is a well-known environmental toxicant, particularly in its most common organic form, methylmercury. Consumption of fish and shellfish that contain methylmercury is a dominant source of mercury exposure in humans and piscivorous wildlife. Considerable efforts have focused on assessment of mercury and its attendant risks in the environment and food sources, including the studies reported in this issue. However, studies of mercury intoxication have frequently failed to consider the protective effects of the essential trace element, selenium. Mercury binds to selenium with extraordinarily high affinity, and high maternal exposures inhibit selenium-dependent enzyme activities in fetal brains. However, increased maternal dietary selenium intakes preserve these enzyme activities, thereby preventing the pathological effects that would otherwise arise in their absence. Recent evidence indicates that assessments of mercury exposure and tissue levels need to consider selenium intakes and tissue distributions in order to provide meaningful risk evaluations.
Is the echocardiogram an appropriate ECG validity standard for the detection and change in left ventricular size

Abstract The echocardiogram (Echo) is the validity standard for left ventricular mass (LVM) and LV hypertrophy (LVH). Numerous studies have confirmed modest correlations between the electrocardiogram (ECG) and Echo for LVM and low ECG sensitivity for Echo-LVH. In spite of this, investigators continue modeling ECG parameters to optimize their relation with the Echo. The authors studied the association between eight ECG criteria and Echo-LVM estimates in a biracial population of men and women with mild hypertension. The Echo-LVM was determined by the Penn convention and expressed in grams, g/m, g/m 2 , and g/m 2.7 . The ECGs and Echos were recorded at baseline, 3 months, and annually for 4 years. The ECGs were computer processed to define the following criteria: (1) Casale/Devereux, (2) Cornell product, (3) Cornell voltage, (4) 12-lead voltage product, (5) sum of the 12-lead, (6) Rautaharju, (7) Sokolow-Lyon, and (8) Romhilt-Estes point score. The major findings were: (1) correlations between the ECG and Echo were modest for level and minimal for change, (2) Echo indexing did not alter correlations with ECG criteria, (3) white men and women show higher correlations for level and change than blacks, (4) repeatability of the Echo-LVM index was 0.7, making it a “moving” validity standard for the ECG, (5) further ECG modeling to predict Echo-LVH, especially in whites, is not a productive approach, and (6) ECG measurements should be combined with other non-ECG characteristics when detecting LVH, and future ECG-LVM studies should investigate the prognostic value of ECG characteristics and use disease outcome as the validity standard.
Regression tree-based diagnostics for linear multilevel models

Longitudinal and clustered data, where multiple observations for individuals are observed, require special models that reflect their hierarchical structure. The most commonly used such model is the...
f-Factors and related decompositions of graphs

Abstract Decompositions of an arbitrary graph which enable one to uniquely construct all maximal partial f -factors are developed.
Asymptotic Normalization of the Triton D State.

The ratio ${R}_{2}(^{3}\mathrm{H})$ of the $D$- and $S$-state asymptotic normalizations of the neutron-deuteron tail of the triton wave function is calculated from a solution of the Faddeev equations with the Reid soft-core potential. We find ${R}_{2}(^{3}\mathrm{H})=\ensuremath{-}0.24$ ${\mathrm{fm}}^{2}$. Both the phase and magnitude of the calculated ratio are in agreement with the experimental value determined from the recent measurements of tensor analyzing powers for ($d$,$t$) reactions. An estimate of ${R}_{2}$ for $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ with a Coulomb correction gives ${R}_{2}(^{3}\mathrm{He})\ensuremath{\approx}\ensuremath{-}0.24$ ${\mathrm{fm}}^{2}$.
Precision of PM measurements with the UNC passive aerosol sampler

Abstract The UNC passive aerosol sampler measures concentrations and size distributions of indoor, outdoor, and occupational particulate matter. This study assessed the precision of passive sampler measurements using data from duplicate pairs of samplers that were deployed in a large field study. Particle count and size data were used to calculate PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 concentrations. To determine precision, the concentrations measured by duplicate samplers were compared to one another. Results showed that this sampler provides mass concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 in the field with relative standard deviations that approach about 15%, with greater precision associated with higher concentrations (PM2.5>5 μg/m3 and PM10-2.5>20 μg/m3). Variability between measurements was associated with counting statistics and possibly with differences in the open area of the passive sampler mesh screen.
The effects of scopolamine and traumatic brain injury on central cholinergic neurons

ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of scopolamine and fluid percussion traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the activity of cholinergic neurons in specific areas of the rat brain 12 min, 4 h, and 24 h after injury. Acetylcholine (ACh) turnover, used as an index of cholinergic neuronal activity, was determined using gas chromatography–mass fragmentography. Scopolamine pretreatment prevented significant increases in dorsal pontine ACh turnover at 12 min and 4 h after TBI, suggesting that the drug's protective actions against the neurologic deficits following TBI may involve blockade of cholinergic neuronal activation as well as postsynaptic muscarinic blockade. The responses of thalamic, hippocampal, and amygdaloid cholinergic neurons to TBI did not differ substantially in scopolamine-pretreated rats from those studied previously in untreated fluid–percussion-injured rats. However, cholinergic neurons in the cingulate–frontal cortex of rats receiving TBI did respond in a different manner to scopolamine tha...
Simulation of Pressure-Induced and Temperature-Induced Denaturation of Phosphoglycerate Kinase

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is a 415-residue protein composed of two domains of almost equal size. Under the heat-induced denaturation, folding and unfolding of PGK is a two-state process. However, folding and unfolding of PGK under pressure-induced denaturation,is a three-state process. How the temperature and pressure affect the denaturation of PGK is still unknown. We aim to provide a molecular explanation for thermal and pressure denaturation by using coarse-grained molecular simulations where the interactions of residues experience expulsion of water molecules.
Using Scientific Purposes to Improve Student Writing & Understanding in Undergraduate Biology Project-Based Laboratories

Understanding the scientific reasoning behind a laboratory procedure is critical to the student's understanding of the scientific process and has become increasingly important. In the introductory project-based laboratory curriculum at Brandeis University, we ask our students to write true scientific purposes for each laboratory in place of learning objectives. With discussion, feedback, and practice, we find that this simple exercise increases our students' understanding of the material and their ability to write abstracts and solidifies the underlying connections between multiweek procedures.
Demonstration of Nonpolar GaN-Based Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

Electrically injected, single-longitudinal-mode nonpolar m-plane vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are reported with a room-temperature lasing wavelength of 411.9 nm, a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.25 nm, and a peak output power of 19.5 µW under pulsed conditions. The polarization direction of the VCSELs is consistently oriented along the [1210] a-direction. The degree of polarization increases from 0.13 below threshold to 0.72 above threshold. A process is demonstrated that utilizes bandgap-selective photoelectrochemical (PEC) undercut etching of an intracavity-embedded In0.12Ga0.88N sacrificial layer to achieve precise cavity length control and allow for top and bottom dielectric distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors.