cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The White Working Class, Union Households, and Trade: Did the Trump Coalition Endure?

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential election caught many political experts by surprise. Looking to uncover the reasons for this unexpected outcome, social scientists presented several explanations in the election’s aftermath. In this article, I discuss one of these explanations: Trump’s success in winning white working-class voters by an overwhelming margin. I also discuss his success in narrowing the advantage that Democratic presidential candidates typically enjoy with voters in union households. Using data from the 2012 and 2016 National Election Pool (NEP), and the 2016 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES), the results in this work show that Donald Trump won the support of white working-class voters and was competitive with voters in union households. By expanding previous Republican margins with white working-class voters and by narrowing the Democrats’ typical union household advantage, Trump secured himself victories in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which ultimately won him the election. Four years later, exit polls indicated that Trump’s support among these groups in the 2020 election was still strong but somewhat diminished.
Predicting mortality risk in patients with COVID-19 using machine learning to help medical decision-making

In the wake of COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, we designed and developed a predictive model based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning algorithms to determine the health risk and predict the mortality risk of patients with COVID-19. In this study, we used a dataset of more than 2,670,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients from 146 countries around the world including 307,382 labeled samples. This study proposes an AI model to help hospitals and medical facilities decide who needs to get attention first, who has higher priority to be hospitalized, triage patients when the system is overwhelmed by overcrowding, and eliminate delays in providing the necessary care. The results demonstrate 89.98% overall accuracy in predicting the mortality rate. We used several machine learning algorithms including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Networks, Random Forest, Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) to predict the mortality rate in patients with COVID-19. In this study, the most alarming symptoms and features were also identified. Finally, we used a separate dataset of COVID-19 patients to evaluate our developed model accuracy, and used confusion matrix to make an in-depth analysis of our classifiers and calculate the sensitivity and specificity of our model.
The Secret-Self Management Loop: A grounded theory of provider mistrust among older Latinas with type 2 diabetes and mental health symptoms.

Abstract Aims The purpose of this study was to examine how older Latina women emotionally experience type 2 diabetes mellitus and interactions with care providers using a grounded theory approach. Methods Sixteen English-speaking, Latina women, 60 years and older, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety participated in 21 phone interviews guided by a semi-structured interview guide. Data was collected and analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology; theoretical sampling was used to achieve data saturation. Results Participant data informed the creation of a theory, The Secret Self-Management Loop, with four interconnected phases: 1) having a negative relationship origin story; 2) doubting provider motivation; 3) reacting to doubts about provider; and 4) engaging in secret self-management. These phases reflected participants’ lost trust in their providers and the medical system, resulting in undisclosed self-management strategies that complicated clinical management of their type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis. Primary sources of loss of trust were interactions that lacked empathy or caused them to question their providers’ motivation. Conclusion The Secret Self-Management Loop negatively influences patient disclosure and distorts providers’ ability to adequately render care for this group.
Mortality in Outpatients with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Objectives To study the demographic and clinical characteristics of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) to identify the factors most strongly predictive of outpatient mortality, with the goal of identifying those individuals at greatest risk. Study design Demographic and clinical characteristics were retrospectively reviewed for 862 subjects recruited from an outpatient BPD clinic. Characteristics of the deceased and living participants were compared using nonparametric analysis. Regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results Of the 862 subjects, 13 (1.5%) died during follow-up, for an overall mortality rate of approximately 15.1 deaths per 1000 subjects. Two patients died in the postneonatal period (annual mortality incidence, 369.9 per 100 000), 9 died between age 1 and 4 years (annual mortality incidence, 310.2 per 100 000), and 2 died between age of 5 and 14 years (annual mortality incidence, 71.4 per 100 000). After adjusting for gestational age and BPD severity, mortality was found to be associated with the amount of supplemental oxygen required at discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.10; P = .001), presence of a gastrostomy tube (aHR, 8.13; P = .012), and presence of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt (aHR, 4.31; P = .021). Conclusions The incidence of mortality among preterm infants with BPD is substantially higher than that seen in the general population. The need for greater amounts of home supplemental oxygen and the presence of a gastrostomy tube or CSF shunt were associated with an increased risk of postdischarge mortality. Future studies should focus on clarifying risk factors for the development of severe disease to allow for early identification and treatment of those at highest risk.
Value of Sociodemographic Data for Prediction of Outcome in Schizophrenia

In the search for differentiating criteria for good and poor prognosis in schizophrenia, sociodemographic characteristics have received wide currency, particularly before the use of psychotropic drugs. However, age, education, occupation, work history, and marital status have continued to maintain a relevant and allegedly meaningful prognostic status. Let’s see to what extent these assumptions are still valid.
Vitreous Veils Associated With Congenital X-Linked Retinoschisis.

Ayoung boywith congenital X-linked retinoschisis was referred for evaluation.Geneticanalysisrevealedaknownmutation(R209C)inthe retinoschisin 1 gene (OMIM 300839), which was also present in his brother andmother. Results of an examination of his right eye demonstrated peripapillary subretinal fibrosis frompresumed prior choroidalneovascularization(aknownbutrareassociation),1centralmacular retinoschisis, andan inferotemporal bullous retinoschisis (Figure, A). A fluorescein angiogramdemonstrated only themost superficial retinal vessels on the inner schisis cavitywith large interveningareas ofnonperfusion(Figure,B).Retinoschisin isexpressedthroughoutthe retinaandtheperipheralbullousschisis.Althoughtheclassicdescription involves thenerve fiber layer, retinoschisis canoccur atmultiple retinal layers(recentlyconfirmedwithopticalcoherencetomography),2 with retinalbloodvessels in the inneror theouterwall or crossing the schisis cavity.2-4 The thin inner schisis cavities developprogressively largeratrophicinnerbreakstobecometheisolatedvitreousveils,which areoftenassociatedwithvitreoushemorrhage,acommonpresentation of X-linked retinoschisis.5
Studies on the bioassayable growth hormone-like activity of plasma.

Evidence supporting the existence of bioassayable growth hormone-like activity in blood plasma distinct from the growth hormone measurable by radioimmunoassay and from somatomedin is presented. Tibial assays of the growth-hormone-like activity of injected, concentrated normal human and rat plasma in hypophysectomized rats reveal 200- and 50-fold activity excesses, respectively, with respect to the amount of growth hormone detected by radioimmunoassay. The origin of this bioassayable plasma hormone has been localized to the region of the pituitary, the origin of growth hormone, a distribution not followed by somatomedin C. Purification of the bioassayable agent indicates that is has a molecular weight of between 60,000 and 80,000, in contrast to that of growth hormone (20,000), and that the bioassayable activity is distinct from that of somatomedin C. Growth hormone-like activity detected in Cohn fraction IV as well as plasma activity, are found to be collectable on Dowex 50 resin, in contrast to somatomedin C and nonsuppressible insulin-like activity. The formation of bioassayable growth hormone-activity agents from radioimmunoassayable growth hormone and directly in the pituitary is suggested.
Job Impact of Alternatives to Corps of Engineers Projects

Using an economic input-output model this paper estimates the detailed occupational changes likely to result from a shift of $1.13 billion from the projected 1975 Corps of Engineers construction budget to five alternate programs: national health insurance, social security payments, mass transit development, construction of waste treatment facilities, and general tax relief. It is shown that each of the five alternate programs would create significant increases in employment as compared with the Corps projects, and the net impacts on specific occupations are summarized. The regional employment effects of a particular Corps water resource project in southern Illinois are then examined, and it is shown that such projects may not even benefit nearby local communities.
Mapping the conformational wave of acetylcholine receptor channel gating

Allosteric transitions allow fast regulation of protein function in living systems. Even though the end points of such conformational changes are known for many proteins, the characteristics of the paths connecting these states remain largely unexplored. Rate-equilibrium linear free-energy relationships (LFERs) provide information about such pathways by relating changes in the free energy of the transition state to those of the ground states upon systematic perturbation of the system. Here we present an LFER analysis of the gating reaction pathway of the muscle acetylcholine receptor. We studied the closed open conformational change at the single-molecule level following perturbation by series of single-site mutations, agonists and membrane voltages. This method provided a snapshot of several regions of the receptor at the transition state in terms of their approximate positions along the reaction coordinate, on a scale from 0 (closed-like) to 1 (open-like). The resulting map reveals a spatial gradient of positional values, which suggests that the conformational change proceeds in a wave-like manner, with the low-to-high affinity change at the transmitter-binding sites preceding the complete opening of the pore.
Canonical wall-bounded flows: how do they differ?

Orlandi et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 770, 2015, pp. 424–441) present direct numerical simulations over a very wide Reynolds number range for plane Couette and Poiseuille flows. The results reveal new information on the abrupt nature of transition in these flows, and the comparisons between Couette and Poiseuille flows help to provide a clearer picture of Reynolds number trends, especially with regard to inner/outer layer interactions. The stress distributions give strong support to Townsend’s attached eddy hypothesis, particularly for the wall-parallel component where there has been little experimental data available. The results pose some intriguing questions regarding the reconciliation of the present results with data at higher Reynolds numbers in different canonical flows.
[23] Probing structural and physical basis of protein energetics linked to protons and salt

Publisher Summary This chapter outlines molecular mechanisms of salt- and pH-sensitive processes in proteins. The strategy employs experimental methods to measure and dissect the energetics of chemical equilibria that are sensitive to salts and pH, and computational methods to understand the physicochemical and structural origins of the measured energetics. The regulation of function and structure of human hemoglobin by protons and anions is used to illustrate the nature, utility, and limitations of molecular mechanisms that can be defined at present. The spectacular success of macromolecular crystallography has had a strong impact on how proteins are understood. Crystallographic structures are gold mines of information and provide invaluable insights into the origins of protein stability and function. Molecular mechanisms defined from the strictly structural perspective can be invaluable heuristically. Proteins, however, are energy-transducing machines, capable of interconverting energy in its different forms for biochemical purposes. Energetics rule, all aspects of the structure, function, and regulation of macromolecules. Useful and realistic molecular mechanisms of stability or function of proteins must consider energetics explicitly.
Age effects on intracortical microstructure and cortical thickness in adult saddle-back tamarins

Intracortical bone remodeling and cortical thickness data were collected from middiaphyseal thin sections of the humerus, ulna and tibia for 47 specimens ofSaguinus fuscicollis. Individuals were classified into age cohorts: Young Adult, Mid-adult I, Mid-adult II and Old Adult. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between age cohort and the number of osteons for the humerus and ulna, and between age cohort and non-Haversian canals for each of the three long bone elements. Significant relationships between age cohort and dimension of cortex size suggested an age-related pattern of cortical shifting in the ulna and older-age bone loss in the tibia.
Intrinsic gate delay of GaAs/AlGaAs single and double heterostructure I/sup 2/L circuits

An analytical model is used to compare minimum gate delay in GaAs/AlGaAs single and double heterostructure I/sup 2/L circuits. It is shown that for a moderate base doping level a single heterojunction bipolar transistor incorporated in Schottky coupled I/sup 2/L circuit offers the smallest delay.
Phase equilibria in a model microemulsion

Abstract The phase equilibria in an earlier model of a microemulsion are determined for varying values of the surfactant-film-curvature and interaction-energy parameters. When there is no curvature bias (Bancroft parameter = 0), so that the oil and water components play symmetrical roles, we find a critical endpoint, at which the locus of critical points between oil- and water-rich phases and the locus of oil-water-microemulsion triple points both terminate. This is the analog of the Lifshitz point (although the ordering is different) in the anisotropic next-nearest-neighbor Ising (ANNNI) model in vanishing external field. The evolution of the phase diagram as the curvature-bias parameter departs from 0 and as the oil-water interaction energy varies is traced.
ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINIMAL LATTICE KNOTS AND MINIMAL CUBE KNOTS

Lattice knots have been studied in recent years, especially in ℤ3 and with respect to how many edges are required to form a knot. Knots formed from cubes have also been investigated for their ability to tessellate space. In this article, we demonstrate that there is a relationship between the minimum number of edges required to form a lattice knot and the minimum number of cubes required to form the same kind of knot. We further investigate the relationship in the face-centered cubic lattice.
Structural stability on manifolds with boundary

Abstract In application of dynamical systems, we are often interested in the motion in a compact subset of Euclidean space or possibly of a torus cross a Euclidean space. The natural way to study these problems is in a manifold with boundary, e.g., a disk. This paper gives sufficient conditions for a C1 flow ƒ t on a compact manifold with boundary, M, to be weakly structurally stable. In particular, if ƒ has a hyperbolic chain-recurrent set (Axiom A) and satisfies the transversality condition then it is weakly structurally stable. Since we impose no assumptions on the type of tangencies of trajectories with the boundary of M, we need to weaken the notion of conjugacy to allow a homeomorphism h from M into a collared manifold M′ which contains M in its interior. Such a homeomorphism allows us to bypass the singularity theory used by Percell and Sotomayor. A similar result for diffeomorphisms of manifolds with boundary is obtained. If the flow satisfies a quadratic external boundary condition, then it is possible to demand that the conjugacy preserve the boundary. These results also allow an infinite chain-recurrent set rather than the finite set of periodic orbits allowed in the previous results on manifolds with boundary.
Coupling laser radiation to a fabry-perot cavity with a single-mode optical fiber

Three aspects of coupling to Fabry-Perot cavities used in optical frequency standards are discussed: the use of a single-mode optical fiber to maintain coupling stability while improving vibration isolation of the cavity, the required stability of the coupling geometry, and the phase and polarization variations resulting from fiber movement. Optical fiber coupling should be useful when laser linewidths and stabilities at the Hertz level are desired.
Visuospatial selective attention in chickens

Voluntary control of attention promotes intelligent, adaptive behaviors by enabling the selective processing of information that is most relevant for making decisions. Despite extensive research on attention in primates, the capacity for selective attention in nonprimate species has never been quantified. Here we demonstrate selective attention in chickens by applying protocols that have been used to characterize visual spatial attention in primates. Chickens were trained to localize and report the vertical position of a target in the presence of task-relevant distracters. A spatial cue, the location of which varied across individual trials, indicated the horizontal, but not vertical, position of the upcoming target. Spatial cueing improved localization performance: accuracy (d′) increased and reaction times decreased in a space-specific manner. Distracters severely impaired perceptual performance, and this impairment was greatly reduced by spatial cueing. Signal detection analysis with an “indecision” model demonstrated that spatial cueing significantly increased choice certainty in localizing targets. By contrast, error-aversion certainty (certainty of not making an error) remained essentially constant across cueing protocols, target contrasts, and individuals. The results show that chickens shift spatial attention rapidly and dynamically, following principles of stimulus selection that closely parallel those documented in primates. The findings suggest that the mechanisms that control attention have been conserved through evolution, and establish chickens—a highly visual species that is easily trained and amenable to cutting-edge experimental technologies—as an attractive model for linking behavior to neural mechanisms of selective attention.
Reexamination of data used for establishing toxicity equivalence factors (TEFs) for chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDDs and CDFs)

Abstract Recent literature reports on the relative toxicity and pharmacokinetics of CDDs and CDFs were examined in order to estimate their impact on current toxicity equivalence factors (TEFs) for chlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins (CDDs) and -dibenzofurans (CDFs).
Ocular toxoplasmosis in the immunocompromised host

Disseminated toxoplasmosis is a well-known complication of immunodeficiency states, including those induced by malignancies, steroid and cytotoxic drug therapy, and AIDS. In immunodeficient patients, toxoplasmic infections of the eye are less common than toxoplasmic infections of other organs for unknown reasons. When ocular toxoplasmosis does occur in the immunodeficient host, or if immunosuppressive therapy is administered to patients with active disease, widespread tissue destruction by proliferating organisms may result. Immunodeficiency alone may not be sufficient, however, to cause reactivation of encysted organisms in retinochoroidal scars.
Topical nasal anesthesia for flexible bronchoscopy. A comparison of four methods in normal subjects and in patients undergoing transnasal bronchoscopy.

We evaluated nasal anesthesia regimens by comparing, in seven normal men, four drug regimens: 1) 1 percent phenylephrine; 2) 4 percent lidocaine; 3) 1 percent phenylephrine + 4 percent lidocaine; and 4) 5 percent cocaine. After spraying each drug into the anterior nares, vasoconstriction, decongestion, and nasal anesthesia (measured as transnasal depth of nasogastric (NG) tube insertion before discomfort) were assessed. There were no significant differences in NG tube insertion depth between the regimens (p = 0.54). Insertion depth was significantly increased after 10 ml of 2 percent viscous lidocaine were sniffed (p (Chest 1991; 99:1093-96)
Analytical study of He II flow characteristics in the SHOOT transfer line

Pressure and temperature profiles for He II flow in the transfer line for the Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) experiment are determined using a finite difference method to solve the one-dimensional two-fluid conservation equations. For practical purposes, forced flow of He II with Re greater than 10 to the 6th can be treated as a classical turbulent flow For a maximum SHOOT transfer rate of 800 cu dm/h, the temperature rise between the pump outlet and the receiver tank is about 80 mk with a 7-W heat load imposed on the 4-m-long transfer line. A pump outlet pressure of 160 torr is required to sustain the 800 cu dm/h flow without causing vapor formation within the transfer line.
Moving toward cultural competence in the child welfare system

Abstract This paper uses a culturally competent (Cross, Bazron, Dennis & Isaacs, 1989) perspective to examine the child welfare system's, namely protective services, response to children of color. The purpose of the paper is to indicate how the absence of cross-cultural considerations in both child welfare policy and practice, limits the effectiveness of service delivery to children of color and their families. Specifically, three key aspects of the child welfare system are addressed: past responses to children of color, worker-client interactions, and child protective service agencies. The paper ends with several recommendations.
Medical costs of coronary artery disease in the United States.

Abstract A model has been developed to determine the cost of coronary artery disease (CAD) based on the 5 primary events identified in the Framingham Study: acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, unstable angina pectoris, sudden death and non-sudden death. The costs for diagnostic and therapeutic service for patients with CAD were linked to medical decision algorithms outlining the diagnosis and management of patients with CAD. Because CAD is a changing illness not represented by a single event, the algorithm tracked patients for 5 years after the time of diagnosis, or until death, to develop average cost estimates. The estimated 5-year costs (in 1986 United States dollars) of the 5 CAD events were: acute myocardial infarction $51,211, angina pectoris $24,980, unstable angina pectoris $40,581, sudden death $9,078 and nonsudden death $19,697. The costs of major CAD surgical procedures were also calculated because of their impact on health care costs for patients with CAD. These include: coronary artery bypass surgery per case over 5 years $32,465, and angioplasty per case over 5 years $26,916. The high cost of CAD reflects the improved technology and more effective and expensive therapies now available.
Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of RP-1 Rocket Propellant

As part of a thermophysical and transport property measurement project, the global decomposition kinetics of the kerosene-based rocket propellant, RP-1, was investigated. We measured the decomposition of RP-1 at elevated temperatures (that is, under thermal stress) as a function of time and then derived a global pseudo-first-order rate constant that describes the overall mixture decomposition. While not as rigorous as a component-by-component kinetics analysis, this approach is, nevertheless, instructive and can be used to guide the aforementioned property measurements. Decomposition measurements were made at 375, 400, 425, and 500 °C for two separate samples of RP-1. One sample was a typical batch, showing the expected fractions of paraffins, cycloparaffins, olefins, and aromatics. The other was an off-specification batch that had unusually high olefin and aromatic contents. Decomposition rate constants ranged from 6.92 × 10-5 s-1 at 375 °C to 1.07 × 10-3 s-1 at 500 °C. While the primary purpose of this ...
CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein Activates the CD14 Promoter and Mediates Transforming Growth Factor β Signaling in Monocyte Development

Transcription factors from the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) family play important roles in myeloid cell differentiation. CD14 is a monocyte/macrophage differentiation marker and is strongly up-regulated during monocytic cell differentiation. Here, we report the direct binding of C/EBP to the monocyte-specific promoter of CD14. Transactivation analyses demonstrate that C/EBP family members significantly activate the CD14 promoter. These data indicate that C/EBP is directly involved in the regulation of CD14 gene expression. When myelomonoblastic U937 cells are treated with vitamin D3 and TGF-β, they differentiate toward monocytic cells. Using specific antibodies against different C/EBP family members in electrophoretic mobility shift assays and Western blot assays, we have identified a specific increase in the DNA binding and the expression of C/EBPα and C/EBPβ during U937 monocytic cell differentiation, and we found C/EBPα and C/EBPβ bind to the promoter in heterodimer. Furthermore, with stably transfected cell lines, we demonstrate that the C/EBP binding site in the CD14 promoter plays a critical role for mediating TGF-β signaling in the synergistic activation of CD14 expression by vitamin D3 and TGF-β during U937 differentiation. This may indicate that C/EBPs have important functions in the process of TGF-β signal transduction during monocyte differentiation.
Effects of Obstructions and Surface Roughness on Film Cooling Effectiveness With and Without a Transverse Trench

Recent studies have shown that film cooling with holes embedded in a shallow trench significantly improves cooling performance. In this study, the performance of shallow trench configurations was investigated for simulated deteriorated surface conditions, i.e., increased surface roughness and near-hole obstructions. Experiments were conducted on the suction side of a scaled-up simulated turbine vane. Results from the study indicated that as much as 50% degradation occurred with upstream obstructions, but downstream obstructions actually enhanced film cooling effectiveness. However, the transverse trench configuration performed significantly better than the traditional cylindrical holes, both with and without obstructions and almost eliminated the effects of both surface roughness and obstructions.
CdS nanowire layers of enhanced transmittance for window layer applications in thin film solar cells

Arrays of n-CdS nanowires were investigated as replacement for the planar n-CdS film; the latter is presently used as a window layer in important photovoltaic devices like CdS-CdTe and CdS-CIGS. CdS nanowire arrays continued to exhibit substantial transmission even when the wavelength of incident radiation was well below 512 nm, which is the wavelength corresponding to the energy band gap of single crystal CdS. Theoretical calculation involving the number of excess photons transmitted through the CdS nanowire window layer indicated a potential enhancement in photocurrent by as much as 38% over the planar CdS film window layer device. Next, Au/CdS Schottky diodes were formed by depositing thin films of gold on the nanowire arrays. Analysis of the current-voltage characteristics of these Schottky diodes showed smaller diode ideality factors and higher carrier concentrations in devices with CdS nanowires than in devices with planar CdS films; these are desirable junction characteristics when the designer is trying to maximize the open circuit voltage and the power output.
A Shorter Synthesis of Muscimol

Abstract The naturally occurring zwitterionic alkaloid muscimol 3 1 has been of considerable pharmacological interest in recent years, it being the best example of an in vivo active mimetic of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).2 A number of syntheses of this compound have been reported over the past fourteen years, culminating in the recent report of Jager and Frey who prepared 1 in three steps and 30% overall yield.3 These latter authors suggested the shorter two step route depicted in Equation 1 but were apparently unable to synthesize the requisite hydroxamic acid 2 in adequate yield and purity to complete the synthesis. The original preparation of this hydroxamic acid had been reported by Hines and Stammer in 1977′ from dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and hydroxylamine. This procedure also gave a relatively crude and low melting product.
Increased brain bio-distribution and chemical stability and decreased immunogenicity of an engineered variant of GDNF

Abstract Several lines of evidence indicate that Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a trophic factor for dopaminergic neurons. Direct parenchymal administration of GDNF is robustly neuroprotective and neurorestorative in multiple neurotoxin-based animal models (rat and non-human primate (NHP)) of Parkinson's Disease (PD), suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent. Although small, open-label clinical trials of intra-putamenal administration of bacteria-derived, full length, wild type GDNF (GDNFwt) were efficacious in improving standardized behavioral scores, a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial failed to do so. We hypothesize that the lack of clinical efficacy of GDNFwt in the larger randomized trial was due to poor bio-distribution in the putamen and/or poor chemical stability while in the delivery device for prolonged time periods at 37 °C. The development of neutralizing antibodies in some patients may also have been a contributing factor. GDNFv is an engineered form of GDNFwt, expressed and purified from mammalian cells, designed to overcome these limitations, including removal of the N-terminal heparin-binding domain to improve its diffusivity in brain parenchyma by reducing its binding to extracellular matrix (ECM), and key amino acid substitutions to improve chemical stability. Intra-striatal administration of a single injection of GDNFv in the rat produced significantly greater brain distribution than GDNFwt, consistent with reduced binding to ECM. Using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LS/MS) methods GDNFv was shown to have improved chemical stability compared to GDNFwt when stored at 37 °C for 4 weeks. In addition, GDNFv resulted in lower predicted clinical immunogenicity compared to GDNFwt, as demonstrated by reduced CD4 + T cell proliferation and reduced IL-2-induced secretion in peripheral blood mononucleated cells collected from volunteers representing the world's major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes. GDNFv was demonstrated to be pharmacologically equivalent to GDNFwt in the key parameters in vitro of GFRα1 receptor binding, c-Ret phosphorylation, neurite outgrowth, and in vivo in its ability to increase dopamine turnover (DA). GDNFv protected dopamine nerve terminals and neurons in a 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA) rat model. In summary, we empirically demonstrate the superior properties of GDNFv compared to GDNFwt through enhanced bio-distribution and chemical stability concurrently with decreased predicted clinical immunogenicity while maintaining pharmacological and neurotrophic activity. These data indicate that GDNFv is an improved version of GDNF suitable for clinical assessment as a targeted regenerative therapy for PD.
Dara Birnbaum: Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman by T. J. Demos. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: MIT Press, Afterall Books, 2010

T. J. Demos offers a detailed consideration of Dara Birnbaum's short video, Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman (1978–79) as part of the One Work series, which features volumes on individual wo...
Examining the effect of negative Turkish stereotypes on evaluative workplace outcomes in Germany

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact that negative stereotypes have on suitability ratings of Turkish applicants in a simulated hiring scenario.Design/methodology/approach – This paper utilizes a within subjects experimental design in which participants assessed four fictitious male candidates ostensibly applying for a managerial position; two of German descent, two of Turkish descent. Participants also completed a newly developed measure designed to assess the degree to which people endorse negative stereotypes of Turkish males in managerial positions.Findings – The results suggest that the endorsement of a negative Turkish stereotype significantly predicts suitability ratings for highly qualified Turkish candidates.Research limitations/implications – Stereotype endorsement should be considered when investigating, and making claims about the impact of demographic characteristics on evaluative workplace outcomes.Practical implications – In the service of diversity, organizations sho...
What's behind the smile?

Many species' non-threat facial expression involves an open mouth and retracted lip corners – the smile. This served to make an accompanying vocalization sound like it originated from a smaller vocalizer. That such signals are deceptive and benefit primarily the signaler undermines the notion that the perception of the smile employs embodied simulation of the smiler's state.
High Stakes Casinos and Controversies

ABSTRACT With the expansion of casino gambling across the United States, casino proposals generate huge controversy and increasingly pose challenges for community organizing. This article analyzes the impact of controversies over casino proposals in Hartford and elsewhere in Connecticut. In Connecticut, after the establishment of Fox-woods Casino of Native American lands, casino proposals were considered for Hartford and other locations. Within a unique constellation of local and statewide forces, a heated public debate ensued that was extremely divisive for the local community. As an economic development strategy for distressed communities casinos present tantalizing opportunities, but also may produce problematic results and prove destructive to community coalitions and cohesion, regardless of whether or not they are even built.
Measurement of tidal volume during high frequency ventilation by impedance plethysmography.

ABSTRACT: Electrical impedance plethysmography was evaluated in lambs as a method of measuring tidal volume (VT). Over tidal volumes ranging from 15 to 414% of estimated dead space, and frequencies of 300 to 1000 breaths/min, correlation between VT measured by the impedance technique and VT measured by whole-body plethysmography was 0.98. Above 600 breaths/min, the correlation between the two methods was 0.94. Independent calibration of the impedance technique using a pneumotachograph at conventional rates of ventilation yielded absolute values of VT which closely corresponded to values obtained with the whole-body plethysmograph (slope = 1.05, intercept = 1.4 ml, r = 0.99). These results support the potential utility of impedance plethysmography in clinical applications of high frequency ventilation.
Outcome validation of the AO/OTA fracture classification system.

Objectives: To determine whether a greater severity of injury as documented by the AO/OTA code would correlate with poor scores of impairment, functional performance, and self-reported health status. Design: Prospective, functional outcome. Setting: Three Level One Trauma Centers. Patients/Participants: Two hundred patients with unilateral and isolated lower extremity fractures. Main Outcome Measurements: Six- and twelve-month SIP, AMA impairment, and functional performance measures of self-selected walking speed, stair climbing, heel raises, rising from a chair, balance work. Results: At six months post injury, overall impairment was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for patients with Type C versus Type B fractures. A significant difference was found among the A, B, C types and the ROM impairment rating at six months (p = 0.004). Using the Scheffe method, the significant difference was determined to be between the B- and C-type fractures. Overall functional performance scores at six months were shown to have significant (p = 0.01) variation using an ANOVA with the significant variation being between the B and C type. At twelve months, the overall functional performance was significant (p = 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with C-type fractures had significantly worse functional performance and impairment compared with patients with B-type fractures but were not significantly different from patients with A-type fractures. AO/OTA code may not be a good predictor of six- and twelve-month functional performance and impairment for patients with isolated unilateral lower extremity fractures.
Formation and stability of a nitric oxide donor: S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine.

The formation, reaction dynamics, and detailed kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between nitrous acid and N-acetylpenicillamine (NAP) to produce S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) was studied in acidic medium. The nitrous acid was prepared in situ by the rapid reaction between sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid. The reaction is first order in nitrite and NAP. It is also first order in acid in pH conditions at or slightly higher than the pKa of nitrous acid. In lower pH conditions, the catalytic effect of acid quickly saturates. Higher acid concentrations also induce a faster decomposition rate of the SNAP, thus precluding the quantitative formation of SNAP from HNO2 and NAP. Both HPLC and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques proved that SNAP was the sole product produced. No nitrosation occurred on the secondary amine center in NAP, and only the thiol group reacted to form the nitrosothiol. Cu(I) ions were found to be effective SNAP-decomposition catalysts. Cu(II) ions had no ...
A User's Guide To Plastic Optics

Plastic optics have found widespread use in a variety of optical systems ranging from amateur photographic products to projection television optics and fiber optics. This paper serves to survey the current state-of-the-art in plastic optics and to describe the advan-tages and limitations of their use. Special attention will be paid to injection molded optics.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Irrational beliefs and social constructionism: Correlations with attitudes about reality, beliefs about people, and collective self-esteem

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is theoretically consistent with the postmodern social constructionist assumption of a reciprocal causality between the individual and society. In a test of this claim, REBT irrationalities as measured by the Irrational Belief Scale and by the Survey of Personal Beliefs were correlated with Attitudes toward Reality, Cynicism, Beliefs in the Conventional Goodness of People, and Collective Self-Esteem. All measures of irrationality identified the postmodern social constructionism recorded by the Attitudes toward Reality Scale as rational. Especially the Irrational Belief Scale identified Cynicism and Beliefs in the Conventional Goodness of People as irrational and Collective Self-Esteem as rational. The Survey of Personal Beliefs described Collective Self-Esteem as irrational and therefore suggested that the conceptual framework of REBT can promote negative assessments of collectivistic forms of adjustment. Most importantly, however, these data confirmed that REBT includes potentials that are compatible with postmodern social constructionism.
Arylsulfatase A lysosomal enzyme Map position 22q13.3

Metachromat ic l eukodys t rophy is an au tosomal recessive d i sorder of myel in metabol i sm caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme arylsul fa tase A (ARSA) [1]. The ARSA gene has p rev ious ly been local ized to chromosome 22 between 22q13 and qter us ing h u m a n rodent hybr id clones [2]. The human ARSA cDNA probe conta ined the whole coding region and consis ted of a 2.0-kb insert in pBluescript [3]. Fluorescence in situ hybr id iza t ion was as descr ibed in [4], except that no prereassocia t ion was necessary and chromosomes were s ta ined before analysis with both p r o p i d i u m iod ide (as counters ta in) and DAPI (for chromosome identification). Twenty metaphases from a normal male all showed specific label l ing of one or both chromat ids of chromosome 22 in the region ex tending from dis ta l 22q13.31 to 22q13.33. Two non-specific backg round dots were observed. A similar result was shown in a second normal male (15 h igh-resolu t ion metaphases) , conf irming the distal 22q13.3 posi t ion. 1. Gieselmann Vet al. (1995) Hum Mutat 4: 233-242. 2. Geurts van Kissel AHM et al. (1980) Cytogenet Cell Ganet 28: 169-!72. 3. Stein C et al. (1989) J Biol Chem 264: 1252-1259. 4. Callen DF et al. (1990) Ann Gfnft 33: 219-221.
Dialectical behavior therapy skills for transdiagnostic emotion dysregulation: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Difficulties with emotions are common across mood and anxiety disorders. Dialectical behavior therapy skills training (DBT-ST) reduces emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Preliminary evidence suggests that use of DBT skills mediates changes seen in BPD treatments. Therefore, we assessed DBT-ST as a stand-alone, transdiagnostic treatment for emotion dysregulation and DBT skills use as a mediator of outcome. Forty-four anxious and/or depressed, non-BPD adults with high emotion dysregulation were randomized to 16 weeks of either DBT-ST or an activities-based support group (ASG). Participants completed measures of emotion dysregulation, DBT skills use, and psychopathology every 2 months through 2 months posttreatment. Longitudinal analyses indicated that DBT-ST was superior to ASG in decreasing emotion dysregulation (d = 1.86), increasing skills use (d = 1.02), and decreasing anxiety (d = 1.37) but not depression (d = 0.73). Skills use mediated these differential changes. Participants found DBT-ST acceptable. Thirty-two percent of DBT-ST and 59% of ASG participants dropped treatment. Fifty-nine percent of DBT-ST and 50% of ASG participants complied with the research protocol of avoiding ancillary psychotherapy and/or medication changes. In summary, DBT-ST is a promising treatment for emotion dysregulation for depressed and anxious transdiagnostic adults, although more assessment of feasibility is needed.
Shot-noise control in ac-driven nanoscale conductors

We derive within a time-dependent scattering formalism expressions for both the current through ac-driven nanoscale conductors and its fluctuations. The results for the time-dependent current, its time average, and, above all, the driven shot-noise properties assume an explicit and serviceable form by relating the propagator to a non-Hermitian Floquet theory. The driven noise cannot be expressed in terms of transmission probabilities. The results are valid for a driving of arbitrary strength and frequency. The connections with commonly known approximation schemes such as the Tien-Gordon approach or a high-frequency approximation are elucidated, together with a discussion of the corresponding validity regimes. Within this formalism, we study the coherent suppression of current and noise caused by properly chosen electromagnetic fields.
Motivational factors related to quitting smoking among prisoners during a smoking ban

Motivational factors and initial stages of change (precontemplation vs. contemplation) were investigated among incarcerated male smokers forced to quit smoking due to a statewide smoking ban. All smokers completed a baseline questionnaire, which assessed smoking history, nicotine dependence [Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND)], nicotine withdrawal [Hughes-Hatsukami Withdrawal Scale (HHWS)], and depression [Center for Epidemiological Studies on Depression (CES-D)]. These measures were given again 4 days (Time 2) and 1 month (Time 3) following the smoking ban. At baseline (n=314), 31.2% of smokers were contemplating quitting within 6 months (contemplators), while the majority of smokers (68.8%) indicated they had not considered quitting (precontemplators). Contemplators at Time 2 reported more success with quitting smoking than precontemplators, although this was no longer significant by Time 3. Logistic regression was used to determine the probability of determining initial stages of change based on demographic and smoking history variables. Smokers in precontemplation scored higher on the FTND, reported less agreement with the smoking policy at baseline, reported more difficulty with their previous quit attempts, and reported increased smoking in anticipation of the smoking ban. The risk of being a precontemplator was over twice as high for smokers who reported increasing the amount they smoked prior to the smoking ban (odds ratio=2.42). Overall, this model correctly classified 70.7% of the smokers. This suggests that initial stages of change plays an important role in eventual quitting even in environments in which smoking has been recently prohibited.
MEASUREMENTS OF MUON DISAPPEARANCE RATES vs TIME IN C, Mg, Al, Si, AND P

It is noted that a negative curvature (K), in the meson ( mu /sup -/) disappearance rate from mu -mesic atoms as a function of time, is evidence for the existence of a hfs effect in the capture of mu mesons by nuclei. The disappearance rates are examined for Mg and Al, and it is found that, to the limits of experimental accuracy, K = 0. The mu meson lifetimes in C, Mg, Al, Si, and P are reported. (T.F.H.)
The evolution of magnetic storage

Since delivery of the first vacuum-column magnetic-tape transport in 1953 and the first movable-head disk drivein 1957, tape and disk devices in many configurations have been the principal means for storage of the large volumes of data required by data processing systems. Magnetic drums and other device geometries have also been important system components, but to a lesser extent. Over the past twenty-five years significant developments have been made that increase the capacity, reduce the cost, and improve the performance and reliability of these devices. With each improved device the range and nature of the applications undertaken have expanded and, in turn, led to a need for further device improvement. This paper gives a general review and historical perspective of magnetic storage development within IBM and is an introduction to the subsequent papers on disk, diskette, and tape technology and on disk manufacturing.