cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Women Who Kill

Over the past 20 years, there has been a significant increase in the overall rate of crime attributable to women. In 1975, women were responsible for 16% of the crime that occurred in the United States; in 1994 they were responsible for 20% of the crime. This change has been attributed, by some authors, to the liberation of women over the past 30 years, women’s increasing involvement in the drug culture, the growth of poverty among some segments of society, and the emergence of psychopathy in some female populations. Over this same period, however, the rate of murder perpetrated by women dropped from 16% in 1976 to 10% in 1991 (U.S. Department of Justice 1981–1992).
Detection of ribonucleoside modifications by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

A small set of ribonucleoside modifications have been found in different regions of mRNA including the open reading frame. Accurate detection of these specific modifications is critical to understanding their modulatory roles in facilitating mRNA maturation, translation and degradation. While transcriptome-wide next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques could provide exhaustive information about the sites of one specific or class of modifications at a time, recent investigations strongly indicate cautionary interpretation due to the appearance of false positives. Therefore, it is suggested that NGS-based modification data can only be treated as predicted sites and their existence need to be validated by orthogonal methods. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is an analytical technique that can yield accurate and reproducible information about the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of ribonucleoside modifications. Here, we review the recent advancements in LC-MS/MS technology that could help in securing accurate, gold-standard quality information about the resident post-transcriptional modifications of mRNA.
Digesting Oneself and Digesting Microbes

Although research in this area is still in a stage of infancy, it seems likely that the lysosomal degradation pathway of autophagy plays an evolutionarily conserved role in antiviral immunity. The interferon-inducible, antiviral PKR signaling pathway positively regulates autophagy, and both mammalian and plant autophagy genes restrict viral replication and protect against virus-induced cell death. Given this role of autophagy in innate immunity, it is not surprising that viruses have evolved numerous strategies to inhibit host autophagy. Different viral gene products can either modulate autophagy regulatory signals or directly interact with components of the autophagy execution machinery. Moreover, certain RNA viruses have managed to “co-apt” the autophagy pathway, selectively utilizing certain components of the dynamic membrane rearrangement system to promote their own replication inside the host cytoplasm.
Brain function during stages of working memory in schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder

Working memory (WM) is impaired in psychotic disorders and linked to functional outcome. Most neurobiological models emphasize prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction in the etiology of WM impairment. However, WM is composed of multiple processes, including encoding and maintenance, and the delineation of the neurobiology of these sub-processes has not been well characterized in schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder. Functional MRI was obtained during an event-related spatial delayed match-to-sample task from 58 healthy individuals, 72 individuals with schizophrenia and 41 people with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features in order to: 1) characterize neural responses during encoding, maintenance and retrieval stages of WM using complementary region-of-interest and whole brain approaches; 2) determine whether schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder exhibit similar abnormalities in WM-related brain function; and 3) elucidate the associations between WM-related brain function, task performance, and neuropsychological functioning. Both schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder groups showed encoding- and maintenance-related impairments in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and frontal eye fields (FEF). BOLD response in the PPC and FEF, during encoding and maintenance respectively, was associated with task performance independent of group. Additionally, encoding-related activation in the PPC correlated with general neuropsychological functioning independent of group. Only encoding-related activation in the right ventral striatum differed between schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder; individuals with schizophrenia showed significantly lower activation than both psychotic bipolar disorder and healthy groups. Our results are consistent with emerging evidence implicating PPC dysfunction in WM impairment and suggest interventions targeting neural activation in PPC may improve WM and neuropsychological functioning across psychotic disorders.
2.0 micron wavelength injection seed semiconductor laser for lidar transmitter for global-scale measurements of CO2

Many of the high accuracy Earth science survey missions are planned to use laser-based remote sensing instruments. The 2-μm laser wavelength is of particular interest due to the presence of many CO2 and H20 absorption lines in its vicinity1. Transmitter architectures are typically composed of an optically pumped, frequency-stable, solid-state seed laser and a high-power optical amplifier.2, 3 Taking advantage of the reliability and relative simplicity of semiconductor lasers, this architecture can substantially improve by replacing the solid-state light source with semiconductor lasers of comparable performance. This approach will greatly improve the system reliability, and will simplify instrument integration and space qualification. There are currently very limited semiconductor lasers operating in the 2-μm range with performance satisfactory enough for use as an injection seed in a laser absorption spectrometer. Optimally, seed lasers producing greater than 50 mW of continuous-wave (CW), with frequency jitter of less than 1 MHz are desired to reliably resolve the CO2 absorption lines near 2-μm. In this paper, we report the demonstration of high-power, single-longitudinal-mode laterally coupled distributed feedback (LC-DFB) lasers at 2.05 μm wavelength. We measured more than 80 mW of CW power at -10 oC for devices with a 4-μm-wide ridge and 2-mm-long cavity.
A Case of Hydroxocobalamin-Induced False Blood Leak Alarm on Dialysis Machine

Hemodialysis machines are equipped with a blood leak detector/alarm to prevent loss of blood following rupture of semipermeable membrane; the blood leak alarms could also be triggered by sensor malfunction or presence of air bubbles in the system. Hydroxocobalamin is a Food and Drug Administration-approved rapid-acting antidote to cyanide poisoning that converts cyanide to nontoxic cyanocobalamin. Side effects are reddish discoloration of skin and body fluids, urticarial rash, and rarely anaphylaxis. In this article, a case of false blood leak alarm following treatment of cyanide poisoning with hydroxocobalamin is reported, wherein the blood leak detector in dialysis machines prevented the patient from undergoing hemodialysis by repeatedly activating blood leak alarms. Continuous renal replacement therapy was used to overcome this problem. As the use of hydroxocobalamin increases, health care professionals should be educated about its potential to interfere with hemodialysis.
Indivisibles, infinitesimals and a tale of seventeenth-century mathematics

SummaryIn this article, we describe clever arguments by Torricelli and Roberval that employ indivisibles to find the volume of Gabriel's trumpet and the area under the cycloid. We detail 17th-century objections to these non-rigorous but highly intuitive techniques, as well as the controversy surrounding indivisibles. After reviewing the fundamentals of infinitesimal calculus and its rigorous footing provided by Robinson in the 1960s, we are able to revisit the 17th-century solutions. In changing from indivisible to infinitesimal-based arguments, we salvage the beautiful intuition found in these works.
Resources Recommended for the Care of Pediatric Patients in Hospitals

It is crucial that all children are provided with high-quality and safe health care. Pediatric inpatient needs are unique in regard to policies, equipment, facilities, and personnel. The intent of this clinical report is to provide recommendations for the resources necessary to provide high-quality and safe pediatric inpatient medical care.
Service Guarantees Citizenship: Portfolio Work, Populism, and Scaffolding in Introductory American Government Classrooms

Challenges to the value of active civic engagement are an increasingly common phenomenon in introductory American government courses as there is a rise in populist sentiment and a lethargic democra...
Nucleation and Initial Stages of Growth during the Atomic Layer Deposition of Titanium Oxide on Mesoporous Silica.

A chemical approach to the deposition of thin films on solid surfaces is highly desirable but prone to affect the final properties of the film. To better understand the origin of these complication...
Impact of donation after circulatory death donor allografts on outcomes following liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure in the United States

Limited data exist regarding the impact of donation after circulatory death (DCD) allografts on outcomes following liver transplantation in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Utilizing the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), we compared outcomes after DCD in FHF to donation after brain death (DBD) in FHF and DCD in non-FHF over a 15-year period. Primary outcome measures were graft and patient survival. A total of 117, 3437, and 4379 recipients underwent DCD-FHF, DBD-FHF and DCD-non-FHF, respectively. One-year graft survival in DCD-FHF was inferior to DBD-FHF (72.9% vs. 83.8%, p = .002), but comparable to DCD-non-FHF (72.9% vs. 82.7%, p = .23). However, 3- and 5-year graft survival in DCD-FHF were comparable to DBD-FHF (67.9 vs. 77.6%, p = .63; 57.8% vs. 73.2%, p = .27) and DCD-non-FHF (67.9% vs. 72.9%, p = .44; 57.8% vs. 66.6%, p = .06). One-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival were also comparable among the three groups. Graft and patient survival in DCD-FHF improved over the study period. Multivariable analysis identified recipient age, male gender, African American ethnicity, donor age, and cold ischemia time as predictors of graft and patient survival in FHF, while DCD status was only predictive of graft survival. Long-term graft survival and patient survival in DCD-FHF are comparable to DBD-FHF and DCD-non-FHF. Consideration of DCD in FHF could help expand the donor pool in this subset of critically ill patients.
Higher Resource Utilization and Costs in Long-Term Nursing Home Residents With Overactive Bladder: A Retrospective Study of Medicare Beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVES To determine the all-cause health care resource utilization and costs among long-term nursing home (LTNH) residents with and without overactive bladder (OAB). DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Minimum Data Set (MDS)-linked Medicare Part A, B, and D claims data from 2013 to 2015 were analyzed. LTNH residents aged 65 years or older with a diagnosis of OAB (n = 216,731) were propensity score matched with LTNH residents without OAB (n = 300,327) (non-OAB cohort). METHODS We measured health care resource utilization and costs associated with OAB by setting (inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, or prescription) during the 6 months following nursing home admission. Descriptive and multivariate (negative binomial for health care resource utilization and 2-part model for costs) analyses were performed to examine the health care resource utilization and costs among LTNH residents with and without OAB. The annual cost attributed to OAB was calculated as the difference between total annual OAB costs and total annual non-OAB costs. RESULTS A total of 214,505 patients were included in each matched cohort. Across all health care resource categories, LTNH residents with OAB had higher health care resource utilization and costs compared to the non-OAB cohort (all P < .001). The mean annual direct total cost was $57,984 in the OAB cohort compared with $54,285 in the non-OAB cohort. The annual cost of OAB in nursing homes was estimated at $793 million. Adjusted analyses revealed that the OAB cohort was 9% more likely to have hospitalization and emergency department visits, 15% more likely to have outpatient visits, 27% more likely to have physician visits, and 12% more likely to have prescription counts compared with the non-OAB cohort. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The study findings suggest that LTNH residents with OAB have significantly more health care resource utilization compared with patients without OAB. These results provide health care decision makers with recent estimates of the burden of OAB in LTNH to assist them with resource planning.
Systemic targeted and immunotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose The activity of targeted agents and immunotherapy in the management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is reviewed. Summary The first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for advanced HCC, sorafenib, was approved in 2007. Regorafenib, the second drug, was approved 10 years later. Six additional drugs have been approved since. Targeted agents and checkpoint inhibitors are the only agents approved for systemic therapy of advanced HCC. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are approved as first-line agents, with regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucirumab, nivolumab (used alone or with ipilimumab), and pembrolizumab approved for patients who have received prior sorafenib therapy. Most patients in phase 3 studies had Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis, and data on the use of these agents in patients with more advanced hepatic dysfunction are limited. All of the targeted agents improve survival in patients with advanced disease. Median overall survival durations of up to 12.3 and 13.6 months were reported with use of sorafenib and lenvatinib, respectively, in phase 3 trials. Overall survival durations of 10.6, 10.2, and 9.2 months have been achieved with use of regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab as second-line therapy after sorafenib. A median overall survival of 13.2 months was reported in 1 cohort of a dose-expansion study of nivolumab in which all patients received prior sorafenib therapy. Median survival durations of 12.9 months and 13.9 months were reported with use of pembrolizumab in patients with a history of sorafenib therapy. The most common adverse effects associated with targeted agents are dermatological effects, diarrhea, fatigue, and hypertension. Immune-mediated adverse effects are associated with checkpoint inhibitors. Conclusion Targeted agents and checkpoint inhibitors are the standard of therapy for patients who need systemic therapy for advanced HCC.
Perspectives on molecular diagnostic testing for the covid-19 pandemic in delaware

The United States has quickly transitioned into one of the epicenters for the coronavirus pandemic. Limitations for rapid testing for the virus responsible for the pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the single most important barrier for early detection and prevention of future outbreaks. Combining innovative molecular biology techniques, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas nuclease systems and next generation sequencing (NGS) may prove to be an effective solution to establish a high-throughput diagnostic and genomic surveillance workflow for COVID-19 in the State of Delaware. Integrating key expertise across the medical institutions in Delaware, including ChristianaCare and Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, is one potential solution for overcoming current barriers and driving a successful implementation of these techniques. © 2020, Delaware Academy of Medicine. All rights reserved.
Neonatal Subventricular Zone Neural Stem Cells Release Extracellular Vesicles that Act as a Microglial Morphogen

Subventricular zone (SVZ) neural stem cells (NSCs) are the cornerstone of the perinatal neurogenic niche. Microglia are immune cells of the nervous system that are enriched in the neonatal SVZ. Although microglia regulate NSCs, the extent to which this interaction is bi-directional is unclear. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cellular-derived particles that encase miRNA and proteins. It is hypothesized that EVs may transfer information from donor cells to recipient cells. However EVs also carry mis-folded proteins implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders supportive of EVs encapsulating cellular debris destined for extracellular disposal. Here these hypotheses were tested for SVZ NSC EVs. SVZ NSCs generated EV which could be tracked with the fluorescent fusion EV protein CD9-GFP. CD9-GFP was preferentially expressed within Nestin positive ventro-lateral SVZ NSCs. Extracellular CD9-GFP was detected two days later but subsequently cleared. EVs were preferentially targeted to microglia. Small RNA sequencing identified miRNAs within NSC EVs that regulate microglia physiology and morphology. In support of this finding, EVs induced a transition to a CD11b/Iba1 non-stellate amoeboid morphology. Based on these results, we propose that SVZ NSCs generate EVs that are targeted to and alter microglia within the neonatal brain. These findings implicate a NSC-EV-microglia axis that may provide insight to normal and pathophysiological brain development.
Leadership of a High Performance Sport Development Staff

In a service profession, such as the field of strength and conditioning, in the management of the athlete as well as the administration of the high performance sport development staff, servant leadership is necessary to effectively motivate performance through the wearisome day to day work load, which is of utmost importance for executing short term tasks, mid-range goals and in long-term mission completion. Dierendonck (2011), describes servant leadership as displayed in the empowerment and the development of people, conveyed by authentically providing direction, demonstrating stewardship with the act of taking care of your staff and the organization, by being humble with the understanding that no work within the organization is beneath you, and through interpersonal acceptance, established by taking ownership of anything that will eventually go wrong. A servant leader understands there is reciprocity in the strong affiliation with individuals within the organization and builds the relationship through trust and fairness.
Toward reconfigurable kernel datapaths with learned optimizations

Today's computing systems pay a heavy "OS tax", as kernel execution accounts for a significant amount of resource footprint. This is not least because today's kernels abound with hardcoded heuristics that are designed with unstated assumptions, which rarely generalize well for diversifying applications and device technologies. We propose the concept of reconfigurable kernel datapaths that enables kernels to self-optimize dynamically. In this architecture, optimizations are computed from empirical data using machine learning (ML), and they are integrated into the kernel in a safe and systematic manner via an in-kernel virtual machine. This virtual machine implements the reconfigurable match table (RMT) abstraction, where tables are installed into the kernel at points where performance-critical events occur, matches look up the current execution context, and actions encode context-specific optimizations computed by ML, which may further vary from application to application. Our envisioned architecture will support both offline and online learning algorithms, as well as varied kernel subsystems. An RMT verifier will check program well-formedness and model efficiency before admitting an RMT program to the kernel. An admitted program can be interpreted in bytecode or just-in-time compiled to optimize the kernel datapaths.
On the justification of the frictionless time-dependent Koiter's model for thermoelastic shells

Abstract Our first objective is to identify two-dimensional equations that model the displacement of a linearly elastic flexural shell subjected to the action of an external heat source. To this end, we embed the shell into a family of linearly elastic flexural shells, all sharing the same middle surface θ ( ω ‾ ) , where ω is a domain in R 2 and θ : ω ‾ → E 3 is a smooth enough immersion and whose thickness 2 e > 0 is considered as a “small” parameter approaching zero. We then identify, and justify by means of a rigorous asymptotic analysis as e approaches zero, the corresponding “limit” two-dimensional variational problem. Our second objective is to identify and justify a set of two-dimensional equations that are meant to approximate the original three-dimensional model in the case where the shell under consideration is either an elliptic membrane shell or a flexural shell.
Development of Shading Tolerant Rice Varieties Suitable for Intercropping Cultivation in Agroforestry Systems

The Indonesian government continuously strives to increase rice production in an effort to meet the staple food needs of almost 270 million people and to turn Indonesia to become a rice exporter country. One of the strategic efforts is to expand the planted area of rice outside irrigated rice areas. Upland is one of the potential areas that continues to be developed to support the increase of national rice production. While upland is not an ideal ecosystem for rice plants to grow, the opportunity to produce rice in this ecosystem is promising, especially using rice as an intercropping in plantation. This effort requires the availability of adaptive varieties to low light intensity conditions. The breeding program to develop shade-tolerant rice varieties has been carried out by the Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR) through the conventional breeding program. Breeding populations were produced by crossing local varieties, national leading varieties and introduced varieties. The selection of shading adaptive lines was carried out using both artificial shading and natural shading in the target plantation areas. New shade tolerant rice varieties have been recently released, namely Rindang 1 Agritan and Rindang 2 Agritan which have the potential to be utilized by farmers for intercropping rice cultivation in the agroforestry systems.
Communication Research Methods in Postmodern Culture: A Revisionist Approach

Section I - Foundations Chapter 1 Introduction A Backward Glance A Postmodern Primer What Is Communication? Why Research? Communication Research Evaluating and Restructuring Our Research Practices Postmodernism and Communication Research Chapter 2 Knowledge, Culture, and Research Some Important Philosophy Some Essential History Additional Factors to Consider What About Communication Research? A New Research Outlook Postmodern Application of Research Results The Communication Process Research Ethics Federal Regulations Chapter 3 Getting Started Basic Terminology Research Guidelines Chapter 4 Designing a Research Study The Flowchart Process Section II - Methodologies Chapter 5 Focus Group Research Definition and Uses A Postmodern Perspective Advantages and Disadvantages Basics Logistics Conducting the Session Solving Potential Problems Analyzing the Data Addressing the Research Questions Evaluating the Study Writing the Report Chapter 6 Survey Research Definition and Uses A Postmodern Perspective Issues and Problems Basics Chapter 7 Historical Research Definition and Uses A Postmodern Perspective Basics Using Quality Sources Developing a Detailed Plan Logistics Data Gathering Analyzing the Data Addressing the Research Questions Evaluating the Study Writing the Report The Case Study Method A Brief Overview Chapter 8 Oral History by Kim Golombisky Important Examples A Postmodern Perspective Definitions and Uses Issues and Problems Design Execution Analysis Chapter 9 Text Analysis Part I-Content Analysis by Timothy E. Bajkiewicz Part II-Reader-Response Part III-Deconstruction Deconstruction in Action: An Example Chapter 10 Feminist Methodology by Kim Golombisky An Easy Fit A Postmodern Perspective Definitions Uses Problems and Issues Implementation Section III - Writing the Research Report Chapter 11 Writing Style What Is Writing Style? Scholarly Style APA Style MLA Style Chicago Style Chapter 12 Report Format Why Write a Report? Who Is the Audience? The Traditional Format A Specialized Format A Section-By-Section Explanation Some Likely Variations SECTION IV-APPLICATIONS Chapter 13 An Individual Research Proposal Rationale The Individual Research Proposal Your Research Proposal Topic The Individual Research Project Chapter 14 A Group Research Project Rationale Procedure Group Evaluation
Obsequies in Rome for Ferdinand VI of Spain, 1759

Although set pieces (macchine in Italian) served as an indispensable medium of diplomatic discourse in early modern Europe, as physical objects they were never intended to survive. Attending to the difficulty of reconstructing lost works of art, I shall consider the obsequies held in Rome to commemorate the death of Ferdinand VI of Spain. Among the documentary sources to be studied are a limited-edition book and its two accompanying etchings, newspaper reports, and diplomatic dispatches. A sculptor engaged in this project obtained widespread praise for his work, but (in his opinion) meager retribution from the patron’s agent. Correspondence related to this controversy throws light on the industry that produced ephemeral works of art in eighteenth-century Rome, and on the intensely political nature of festivals.
Isolation of apple genomic clones containing putative β -1,3-glucanase gene(s)

An apple genomic library was constructed using Sau3A digested‘Golden Delicious’ DNA cloned into a Charon 35 Lambda cloning vector. At screening time, the titer of the library was 3.4 × 103 plaque forming units per microliter (pfu/μl). This library was used to screen for β-l,3-glucanase gene(s) (EC3.2.1.39); (a) plant defense gene(s) which encode(s) for a hydrolytic enzyme that catalyzes β-l,3-glucans already present in fungal cell walls. This enzyme may also act indirectly by degrading polysaccharides to oligosaccharides which in turn act to elicit the plant’s defense system. The objective of this study is to isolate and characterize β-l,3-glucanase gene(s) in apple. The apple genomic library was screened using a β-l,3-glucanase cDNA clone from maize as a probe. After four screenings, 8 positive clones were isolated, 2 of which appear to be different from each other. A restriction enzyme map of one clone was constructed. A 2.1 Kb EcoRI/HindIII fragment has shown repeated hybridization in several Southern blots suggesting that this fragment contains a DNA sequence homologous to the maize β-l,3-glucanase cDNA clone.
Temperature Effects in Low-Transport, Flat-Bed Flows

Experimental data show that a dimensionless bed-load discharge q *b = q b /U *b D g can be expressed as a function of a boundary Reynolds number R *b = U *b D g /ν and a dimensionless shear stress τ *b = τ ob /(γ s -γ)D g in which q b = bedload discharge in volume per unit-width and time; U *b = (τ ob /ρ) 1/2 = shear velocity; τ ob = bed shear stress; ρ = density of the water; D g = geometric mean size of sediment, ν = kinematic viscosity in the water, and γ and γ s are, respectively, the specific weight of water and sediment. Contours of Q *b plotted on a Shields graph (i.e., τ* vs R *b ) have the same shape as the Shields curve and the contour, q *b = 10 -2 , follows it closely. The effect of temperature on τ o and q sb is shown by the data. For R *b o and τ *b and an increase in R *b , q sg and q *b . For 20 *b ob , τ *b and R *b and a decrease in q sb and q *b > 200 there is no temperature effect.
Commutation, transformation, and termination

In this paper we study the use of commutation properties for proving termination of rewrite systems. Commutation properties may be used to prove termination of a combined system R∪S by proving termination of R and S separately. We present termination methods for ordinary and for equational rewrite systems. Commutation is also important for transformation techniques. We outline the application of transforms—mappings from terms to terms—to termination in general, and describe various specific transforms, including transforms for associative-commutative rewrite systems.
Generation of Fuzzy Rules by Mountain Clustering

We develop, based upon the mountain clustering method, a procedure for learning fuzzy systems models from data. First we discuss the mountain clustering method. We then show how it could be used to obtain the structure of fuzzy systems models. The initial estimates of this model are obtained from the cluster centers. We then use a back propagation algorithm to tune the model.
Discussion by Fred L. Bookstein

John Barrow’s paper emphasizes hard physical theories of how galaxy clustering arises, but puts forward mainly soft statistical tactics for their study, tactics that do not often incorporate any empirical physical constants among the statistical parameters for which point estimates are to be generated. To bridge this gap, I refer to the literatures of image processing and stochastic geometry, which respectively extract and account for the sort of features produced by the astronomer’s eye as geometric shape variables subject to a possibly isotropic and homogeneous (i.h.) distribution of location and orientation. One hard model yields the Minkowski functionals of i.h. convex grains. Another yields an indefinite series of three-dimensional pictures of features such as filamentness or sheetness at every point of the space, and at every physical scale, so that their isotropy and homogeneity may be studied empirically. I comment briefly on many of Barrow’s specific statistical hints and suggestions in light of these two major possibilities, which link the galactic clustering problem to statistics via the neurophysiology of human vision.
Detecting and classifying life-threatening ECG ventricular arrythmias using wavelet decomposition

In this study, we developed a wavelet-based algorithm for detecting and classifying four types of ventricular arrhythmias. We implemented the algorithm using four different wavelets and compared each result. For extracted arrhythmia episodes from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia and malignant ventricular arrhythmia databases, a Daubechies wavelet of length four gave the best result of the four different wavelets studied. By using wavelet decomposition, we reduced the amount of data necessary to be processed by the algorithm to less than ten percent of the original data.
Development of influenza A(H7N9) candidate vaccine viruses with improved hemagglutinin antigen yield in eggs

Background The emergence of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in poultry causing zoonotic human infections was reported on March 31, 2013. Development of A(H7N9) candidate vaccine viruses (CVV) for pandemic preparedness purposes was initiated without delay. Candidate vaccine viruses were derived by reverse genetics using the internal genes of A/Puerto/Rico/8/34 (PR8). The resulting A(H7N9) CVVs needed improvement because they had titers and antigen yields that were suboptimal for vaccine manufacturing in eggs, especially in a pandemic situation. Methods Two CVVs derived by reverse genetics were serially passaged in embryonated eggs to improve the hemagglutinin (HA) antigen yield. The total viral protein and HA antigen yields of six egg-passaged CVVs were determined by the BCA assay and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) analysis, respectively. CVVs were antigenically characterized by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays with ferret antisera. Results Improvement of total viral protein yield was observed for the six egg-passaged CVVs; HA quantification by IDMS indicated approximately a twofold increase in yield of several egg-passaged viruses as compared to that of the parental CVV. Several different amino acid substitutions were identified in the HA of all viruses after serial passage. However, HI tests indicated that the antigenic properties of two CVVs remained unchanged. Conclusions If influenza A(H7N9) viruses were to acquire sustained human-to-human transmissibility, the improved HA yield of the egg-passaged CVVs generated in this study could expedite vaccine manufacturing for pandemic mitigation.
Cholesterol in Serum and Lipoprotein Fractions Its Measurement and Stability

1. Methods are described for the separation, by paper electrophoresis and by cold ethanol, of α- and β-lipoproteins in 0.1 ml. of serum, with subsequent analysis of cholesterol in the separated portions. 2. It is shown that both methods of separation yield separated fractions containing substantially the same amounts of cholesterol. 3. Detailed data are given on the errors of measurement for total cholesterol and for cholesterol in the separated lipoprotein fractions. 4. Studies are reported on the stability of cholesterol in stored serum and on paper electrophoresis strips. It is shown that simple drying on filter paper causes no change in cholesterol content and yields a product that is stable for many weeks at ordinary room temperature. 5. The sources of variability in human serum cholesterol values are examined and it is shown that spontaneous intraindividual variability is a much greater source of error than the errors of measurement with these methods.
A hybrid life cycle assessment of atomic layer deposition process

Abstract Atomic layer deposition (ALD), as a key enabling nano-manufacturing technology, has found a wide range of potential applications in a number of industrial sectors. However, due to the binary reaction and self-limiting nature of the ALD process, its life cycle environmental impact is significant but has never been investigated before. This study is conducted using a hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) approach for evaluating the comprehensive environmental impacts of the ALD process based on the typical ALD of Al 2 O 3 high-k dielectric gate on semiconductors. The hybrid life cycle inventory analysis is conducted using process-based LCA data, economic input–output LCA data, and stoichiometric simulation data for a robust LCA study. The impact assessments are conducted using the TRACI method, with both original and U.S. normalized impact results analyzed. Normalized impact results show that, among the twelve selected impact categories, ALD produces the highest impact in the category of fossil fuels use which is 10 8 times that of the least impact in air acidification potential. Significant differences are also observed among the environmental impacts of the ALD life cycle stages. The environmental impacts associated with the auxiliary infrastructure, equipment, and tools for ALD operation are intensive mainly due to the slow ALD cycling process. This hybrid LCA study provides a comprehensive data support for understanding the potential environmental impacts of ALD nanotechnology and is useful for sustainable scale-up of the ALD technology in future.
The effect of albumin, ceruloplasmin, and other serum constitutents on Fe(II) oxidation

This study has analyzed the role of several serum constituents, that have been proposed to effect the following reactionin situ: {fx1-1} {fx1-2} These reactions were monitored by measuring the rate of Fe(II) oxidation in the presence of apo-transferrin (reaction A) and Fe(III)-transferrin formation (reaction B) at 465 nm. Reactions A and B were found to be kinetically equivalent. The results show that, singly or in combination, bicarbonate, orthophosphate, citrate, apo-transferrin, and/or albumin have less than one-tenth of the ability to enhance the oxidation of Fe(II) compared to the serum enzyme, ceruloplasmin. It was also found that the rate of Fe(II) oxidation by serum Fe-ligands was influenced by the efficiency of oxygen utilization. Whereas ceruloplasmin produces a 4∶1 ratio of Fe(II) oxidized to oxygen utilized, the non-enzymic components yield a 2∶1 or 3.09∶1 ratio. These data support the role of ceruloplasmin as an antioxidant that prevents the formation of the intermediate active oxygen species O 2 − · and H2O 2 · through the Fe(II) auto-oxidation reaction. A hitherto unrecognized factor in the control of nonenzymic oxidation of Fe(II) was serum albumin. This protein, at >25 μM, was found to sharply dampen the rate of Fe(II) oxidation in the presence of a physiological concentration of bicarbonate, citrate, and transferrin Albumin did not appear to affect the ceruloplasmin catalyzed oxidation of Fe(II) at pH 7.0. The addition of ceruloplasmin effected up to a 44 × increase in the rate of Fe(II) oxidation and Fe(III)-transferrin formation even in the presence of 0.60 mM albumin.
Alcibiades vs. Phrynichus

Thucydides' account (8.50–1) of the Athenian general Phrynichus' secret correspondence with the Spartan admiral Astyochus is both troubling and obscure. It may be summarized as follows: Phrynichus, having eloquently opposed Alcibiades' efforts to be recalled from exile and fearing that a repatriated Alcibiades would take vengeance on him, wrote to Astyochus revealing Alcibiades' pro-Athenian (anti-Spartan) activities. Astyochus handed the letter to Alcibiades, who then wrote to the ranking Athenians on Samos concerning Phrynichus' ‘treason’ and demanded his execution. Phrynichus then wrote again to Astyochus, now proposing to make it possible for the Spartans to destroy the whole Athenian force at Samos.
Growth of Enteropathogenic and Spoilage Bacteria in Sage-Containing Broth and Foods

Sensitivity of strains of S. aureus, B. cereus, Pseudomonas sp. and S. typhimurium to sage was studied in nutrient broth and in foods. Inhibition was highest in broth (MIC of 0.0–1.0%), and diminished in rice (MIC of 0.4 to >2.5%), and chicken and noodles (MIC of 1.0 to >2.5%). Little or no inhibition was seen in meat at ≤2.5% of sage. In each growth medium B. cereus strains displayed the least resistance, followed by S. aureus, Pseudomonas sp., and S. typhimurium. Growth from spores of B. cereus was inhibited in a manner similar to that seen in vegetative cells. While antimicrobial activity of sage increased with increase in the volatile oil fraction, essential oils alone had limited inhibitory effect in broth, and no effect in foods. Salt and water levels in the food increased bacterial sensitivity, whereas fat and protein decreased it.
THE EMPIRICAL STATUS OF GOTTFREDSON AND HIRSCHI'S GENERAL THEORY OF CRIME: A META‐ANALYSIS

To determine the empirical status of Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) “general theory of crime,” we conducted a meta-analysis on existing empirical studies. The results indicate that, regardless of measurement differences, low self-control is an important predictor of crime and of “analogous behaviors.” Also, low self-control has general effects across different types of samples. Contrary to Gottfredson and Hirschi's position, however, the effect of low self-control is weaker in longitudinal studies, and variables from social learning theory still receive support in studies that include a measure of low self-control. Finally, we argue that meta-analysis is an underutilized tool in discerning the relative empirical merits of criminological theories.
Overlooking the descent: Operational definition, identification, and description of school decline

Educators, researchers, politicians, and the media have committed considerable time, attention, and effort to chronically low-performing schools. Although many have chided the schools for their unacceptable performance or designed strategies to improve them, few have sought to understand how these schools became chronically low-performing in the first place. Better knowledge of how schools decline into chronic low-performance will allow interested stakeholders to potentially prevent and turnaround chronically low-performing schools. However, before understanding the factors and processes associated with or contributing to school decline, researchers must first properly define and identify the process. This paper offers four operational definitions of school decline, applies those definitions to a population of schools, and evaluates the utility of each definition.
Proteolytic remodeling of extracellular matrix

Matrix metalloproteinases and their natural inhibitors are ingredients of a fundamental cellular toolbox for effecting environmental change. These enzymes enable cells to alter their relationship to the environment by directly cleaving structural macromolecules of the extracellular matrix. In addition, evidence is emerging that they also play an important regulatory role in matrix remodeling by catalyzing the processing of inactive matrix metalloproteinase and cytokine precursors.
Development and application of high throughput plasma stability assay for drug discovery

Plasma stability plays an important role in drug discovery and development. Unstable compounds tend to have rapid clearance and short half-life, resulting in poor in vivo performance. This paper examines the variables that affect the plasma stability assay results, including substrate concentration, %DMSO, plasma concentration, enzyme activity upon incubation and batch variation. The results show that plasma stability can accommodate a wide range of experimental conditions. Relatively minor differences in results are produced with major differences in conditions. Significant batch-to-batch variations were observed for rat plasma. We selected the following conditions: 1 microM substrate concentration, 2.5% DMSO, and 50% dilution of plasma in pH 7.4 buffer. Plasma stability can be used as a diagnostic assay when compounds are unexpectedly rapidly cleared, as a special assay when structural classes contain groups that may be susceptible to plasma enzyme hydrolysis, or as general screen for compounds if resources are available. Plasma stability assay has many applications in drug discovery: to alert teams to labile structural motifs, to prioritize compounds for in vivo studies and to screen prodrugs and antedrugs.
On the Extraction of Roots in Exponential A-Groups II

This is the second article by the authors on extraction of roots in exponential A-groups. We prove results on ω-torsion and ω-isolated subgroups, &#x1d4b0;ω-groups, ℰω-groups, and &#x1d49f;ω-groups in the category of exponential A-groups, where A is a unique factorization domain (UFD) and ω is a set of primes in A. In particular, we prove that every ω-torsion-free -group is a &#x1d4b0;ω-group. We also prove that if R is a principal ideal domain (PID) and G is a finitely R-generated nilpotent R-powered group, then the R-subgroup of ω'-torsion elements of G equals its maximal ℰω-subgroup (ω' denotes the set of primes in R not in ω).
Orai1 and STIM1 Are Critical for Breast Tumor Cell Migration and Metastasis

Tumor metastasis is the primary cause of death of cancer patients. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor metastasis will provide potential drug targets. We report here that Orai1 and STIM1, both of which are involved in store-operated calcium entry, are essential for breast tumor cell migration in vitro and tumor metastasis in mice. Reduction of Orai1 or STIM1 by RNA interference in highly metastatic human breast cancer cells or treatment with a pharmacological inhibitor of store-operated calcium channels decreased tumor metastasis in animal models. Our data demonstrate a role for Orai1 and STIM1 in tumor metastasis and suggest store-operated calcium entry channels as potential cancer therapeutic targets.
The role of Rasch analysis when conducting science education research utilizing multiple‐choice tests

Recent international studies note that countries whose students perform well on international science assessments report the need to change science education. Some countries use assessments for diagnostic purposes to assist teachers in addressing their students' needs. However, in the United States, standards-based reform has focused the national discussion on documenting students' attainment of high educational standards. Students' science achievement is one of those standards, and in many states, “high-stakes” tests determine the resultant achievement measures. Policymakers and administrators use those tests to rank school performance, to prevent students' graduation, and to evaluate teachers. With science test measures used in different ways, statistical confidence in the measures' validity and reliability is essential. Using a science achievement test from one state's systemic reform project as an example, this paper discusses the strengths of the Rasch model as a psychometric tool and analysis technique, referring to person item maps, anchoring, differential item functioning, and person item fit. Furthermore, the paper proposes that science educators should carefully inspect the tools they use to measure and document changes in educational systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed90:253–269, 2006
Prognostic factors in gestational trophoblastic tumors: A proposed new scoring system based on multivariate analysis

All 391 patients treated for gestational trophoblastic tumors (invasive mole and choriocarcinoma) at the John I. Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center of Northwestern University between 1969 (when use of combination chemotherapy for initial treatment of high-risk disease came into general use) and 1988 were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the relative importance of prognostic factors with respect to survival. The overall cure rate was 93% (363/391): 100% for 223 patients with nonmetastatic disease and 83% for 168 patients with metastatic disease. The only patients who died had a clinicopathologic diagnosis of metastatic choriocarcinoma. In addition to presence of metastasis (83% vs 100%, p p 8 vs 92% if ≤8, p p = 0.0002), and previous failed chemotherapy (46% vs 84%, p = 0.0014) demonstrated independent significant effects on survival in patients with metastatic disease. A Brewer score, based on our multivariate analysis of survival in patients with metastatic disease, provided predictability of outcome (likelihood ratio χ 2 statistic, χ 2 = 49.8) comparable to that with the World Health Organization score (χ 2 = 45.3), both of which, in turn, were better predictors than either the traditional Hammond clinical classification system (χ 2 = 34.4) or the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (χ 2 = 22.9).
The effect of ovariectomy on spine bone mineral density in rhesus monkeys.

As part of a study on the effects of hormones on uterine biology and estrogen metabolism, 12 normal female rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkeys were ovariectomized, and treated intermittently with estradiol and progesterone. In order to determine whether there were changes in bone density as a result of ovariectomy despite the hormone therapy, spine bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-photon absorptiometry. The mean ± SE time from ovariectomy was 26 ± 3 months, the mean estrogen treatment time was 3.5 ±0.4 months and the mean time from last hormonal treatment was 4.1 ± 0.6 months. In these 12 monkeys aged 7.7 ± 0.2 years, the mean spine BMD, 0.825 ± 0.008 g/cm2, was significantly less, p = 0.0011, than the spine BMD, 0.863 ±0.007 g/cm2, in 12 intact female rhesus of similar age, 7.6 ±0.1 years and weight. Ovariectomy in female rhesus monkeys results in a relatively rapid diminution of spine BMD which is not prevented by intermittent hormonal replacement. This species may be an excellent model for studies of human osteoporosis.