cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Vivid Present: Visualization Abilities Are Associated with Steep Discounting of Future Rewards.

Humans and other animals discount the value of future rewards, a phenomenon known as delay discounting. Individuals vary widely in the extent to which they discount future rewards, and these tendencies have been associated with important life outcomes. Recent studies have demonstrated that imagining the future reduces subsequent discounting behavior, but no research to date has examined whether a similar principle applies at the trait level, and whether training visualization changes discounting. The current study examined if individual differences in visualization abilities are linked to individual differences in discounting and whether practicing visualization can change discounting behaviors in a lasting way. Participants (n = 48) completed the Visualization of Vivid Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) and delay discounting task and then underwent a four-week intervention consisting of visualization training (intervention) or relaxation training (control). Contrary to our hypotheses, participants who reported greater visualization abilities (lower scores) on the VVIQ were higher discounters. To further examine this relationship, an additional 106 participants completed the VVIQ and delay discounting task. In the total sample (n= 154), there was a significant negative correlation between VVIQ scores and discount rates, showing that individuals who are better visualizers are also higher discounters. Consistent with this relationship but again to our surprise, visualization training tended, albeit weakly, to increase discount rates, and those whose VVIQ decreased the most were those whose discount rates increased the most. These results suggest a novel association between visualization abilities and delay discounting.
Personality assessment and model comparison with behavioral data: A statistical framework and empirical demonstration with bonobos (Pan paniscus)

Interest in quantifying consistent among-individual variation in primate behavior, also known as personality, has grown rapidly in recent decades. Although behavioral coding is the most frequently utilized method for assessing primate personality, limitations in current statistical practice prevent researchers' from utilizing the full potential of their coding datasets. These limitations include the use of extensive data aggregation, not modeling biologically relevant sources of individual variance during repeatability estimation, not partitioning between-individual (co)variance prior to modeling personality structure, the misuse of principal component analysis, and an over-reliance upon exploratory statistical techniques to compare personality models across populations, species, and data collection methods. In this paper, we propose a statistical framework for primate personality research designed to address these limitations. Our framework synthesizes recently developed mixed-effects modeling approaches for quantifying behavioral variation with an information-theoretic model selection paradigm for confirmatory personality research. After detailing a multi-step analytic procedure for personality assessment and model comparison, we employ this framework to evaluate seven models of personality structure in zoo-housed bonobos (Pan paniscus). We find that differences between sexes, ages, zoos, time of observation, and social group composition contributed to significant behavioral variance. Independently of these factors, however, personality nonetheless accounted for a moderate to high proportion of variance in average behavior across observational periods. A personality structure derived from past rating research receives the strongest support relative to our model set. This model suggests that personality variation across the measured behavioral traits is best described by two correlated but distinct dimensions reflecting individual differences in affiliation and sociability (Agreeableness) as well as activity level, social play, and neophilia toward non-threatening stimuli (Openness). These results underscore the utility of our framework for quantifying personality in primates and facilitating greater integration between the behavioral ecological and comparative psychological approaches to personality research.
Gemcitabine-vitamin E conjugates: Synthesis, characterization, entrapment into nanoemulsions, and in-vitro deamination and antitumor activity

Gemcitabine is the first line therapy for pancreatic cancer. It is, however, extensively metabolized to the inactive form by deamination enzymatic reaction. Conjugation of gemcitabine with fatty acids on its 4-amino group was found to protect it from deamination deactivation reaction. The objective of the present study was to test the in-vitro anticancer activity of gemcitabine conjugated to the γ-tocotrienol isomer of vitamin E against pancreatic tumor cells. This objective was based on reported studies in which it was demonstrated that free tocotrienol isomers of vitamin E can potentiate the anticancer activity of gemcitabine. To accomplish this objective, a full synthesis scheme for gemcitabine conjugation to fatty acids (stearic and linoleic) and the tocopherol and tocotrienol isomers of vitamin E (α-T and γ-T3) was presented. The conjugates were characterized by 1H NMR and mass spectrometry analysis and tested for their susceptibility to deamination. Also discussed is the impact of entrapping the conjugates into nanoemulsions on the physiochemical properties of the delivery system and the in vitro anticancer activity of gemcitabine against Bx-PC-3 and PNAC-1 pancreatic cancer cells. In-vitro enzymatic deamination study showed that the γ-T3 conjugate of gemcitabine was least affected by deamination deactivation reaction when compared with the free and conjugated gemcitabine in solution. Furthermore, in-vitro cytotoxicity study demonstrated that entrapment of gemcitabine-lipid conjugates into nanoemulsions significantly enhanced their anticancer activity when compared to the free drug. It was concluded that conjugation to the γ-T3 isomer is a viable option for gemcitabine delivery and is worthy of further investigation.
CD40 expression on CD4+ T cells (Th40 cells) as a biomarker for multiple sclerosis (HUM3P.265)

Multiple Sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease with autoimmune components. Diagnosis is invasive and time consuming. The etiology is unclear as are clues for disease progression. The autoimmune components have largely been defined in the EAE mouse model. The problem has been defining a reliable biomarker for pathogenic cells. We described a unique T cell subset, Th40 cells that is highly auto-aggressive. We compared Th40 levels in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing/remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS) and primary progressive (PPMS) patients to non-autoimmune controls. MS subjects have significantly increased percentages of Th40 cells compared to controls. In CIS and RRMS Th40 cell levels cover a broad range while in SPMS and PPMS the range is centralized. Longitudinal studies show that Th40 cell levels remain elevated. Th40 cells produce IFNg, TNFa and IL-17. HLA haplotypes were diverse with only 50% of patients expressing the DR2 (DR15) haplotype or DR3 and DR4. Th40 cells are significantly elevated in MS regardless of HLA haplotype and responded to CNS antigens creating antigen signatures. The ratio of Th40 to or to Tr1 cells is 7 to 1. Th40 cells have a memory phenotype. The chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR3 were detected. Samples from patients on disease-modifying-therapy (DMT) demonstrated lymphopenia, but the Th40 percentage was not altered. Th40 cells provide a unique diagnostic tool for MS with significant improvement over current options.
Testing the Higgs Mechanism at High Energy Colliders

In this talk I will review the implications of symmetry and unitarity for the physics of electroweak symmetry breaking and describe some of the signals of that physics that may emerge above 1 TeV at multi-TeV pp colliders. Though there is no direct experimental evidence, the Higgs mechanism1 is universally regarded as the only viable agent of SU(2) L × U(1) Y symmetry breaking.2 General considerations3,4 based only on unitarity and gauge symmetry insure that decisive experiments can be done within the next ten years to test the Higgs mechanism. (This ten-year unitarity bound does require the cooperation of the Good Lord and the U.S. Congress. Caution is therefore advisable: while the Former has always honored unitarity, the latter is a known source of unitarity violations.) The outcome of these experiments is certain to be exciting. If the Higgs mechanism is not confirmed, it would mean either that the electroweak interactions are not described by a gauge theory or that a breaking mechanism exists which is unimagined today. If the Higgs mechanism is confirmed than there may or may not be Higgs bosons, but there is necessarily a new force (the real #5) and associated new quanta.
Negative posttraumatic cognitions among military sexual trauma survivors.

Abstract Background Unique aspects of military sexual trauma (MST) may result in specific maladaptive cognitions among survivors. Understanding which posttraumatic cognitions are particularly strong among MST survivors could help clinicians target and improve treatment for these individuals. This study explored the impact of experiencing MST on posttraumatic cognitions among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods Veterans enrolled in an Intensive Outpatient Program for PTSD (N = 226) were assessed for MST, PTSD severity, depression severity, and posttraumatic cognitions as part of a standard clinical intake. Multivariate analyses examined differences in posttraumatic cognitions between veterans who did and did not experience MST. Results MST survivors (n = 88) endorsed significantly stronger posttraumatic cognitions related to self-blame compared to non-MST counterparts (n = 138), even when accounting for current symptom severity. Specifically, MST predicted the following cognitions: “The event happened to me because of the sort of person I am,” “Somebody else would have stopped the event from happening,” “Somebody else would not have gotten into this situation,” and “There is something about me that made the event happen,” after controlling for severity of PTSD and depression. Limitations Study population was a treatment-seeking sample of veterans diagnosed with PTSD from a non-VA clinic. Veterans in MST group endorsed either sexual harassment, sexual assault, or both. Sample size of males who endorsed MST (n = 21) may be too small to generalize to all males. Conclusions Beliefs related to self-blame may be important treatment targets for MST survivors.
Pulmonary Artery Catheter Placement Aided by Transesophageal Echocardiography versus Pressure Waveform Transduction

Objective To compare pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) placement by transesophageal echocardiography combined with pressure waveform transduction versus the traditional technique of pressure waveform transduction alone. Design A prospective, randomized trial. Setting Single university hospital. Participants Forty-eight patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) scheduled for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Interventions PACs were placed in 48 patients with CTEPH scheduled for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy by either a combined approach (eg, transesophageal echocardiography [TEE] and pressure waveform transduction) or by pressure waveform transduction alone. Measurements and Main Results Successful placement of the PAC via a combined technique or pressure waveform transduction alone was timed, number of attempts recorded, and final location noted. The final location of the pressure waveform-guided catheters was the proximal right pulmonary artery in 6 of 24 cases (25%), whereas the combined method resulted in successful placement in the proximal right pulmonary artery in 24 of 24 cases (100%). The pressure waveform technique resulted in a mean time to placement and mean number of attempts of 74 seconds and 1.70 attempts, respectively. The combined approach resulted in a mean time to placement and mean number of attempts of 89 seconds and 1.79 attempts, respectively. The combined method resulted in placement in the proximal right pulmonary artery significantly more often than the pressure-only method but did not reduce significantly the number of attempts or time required to place the catheter successfully. Additionally, among those cases that required more than 1 attempt or manipulation, there was no difference in the time to successful placement or the number of attempts required for successful placement. Conclusion TEE guidance during PAC insertion was hypothesized to result in a higher success rate, precise placement, and shorter times to placement. One hundred percent of the PACs inserted with TEE guidance were positioned successfully in the proximal right pulmonary artery, which is the institutional preference. Although the combined technique resulted in greater precision, the clinical significance of this is unknown. The time to placement benefit was not confirmed by this study.
A Case Study of Elementary Science Teaching as Mediated Action: Transformations of Context, Meaning, and Action

The research described in this article is a case study of a fifth grade teacher's (Melissa) efforts to construct a teaching and learning environment within her science teaching. Qualitative research methods were used to examine and analyze Melissa's science teaching practice. Drawing from socio-cultural theories, I argue that her teaching and learning environment was constructed as a form of mediated action through which she articulated and transformed the context, meaning, and action of her science teaching. In particular, she forged links between a number of factors, such as historically recognizable forms of pedagogy, perceptions of her students' socio-economic positions, knowledge of appropriate science teaching, and her experiences in a preservice teacher education program. Through her pedagogical work, the teaching and learning environment was articulated into a complex network of meanings, physical spaces, and concrete actions in which each element transformed the other. I suggest that mediated action is a form of transformation that constitutes context, meaning, and action into a dynamic and constantly-shifting teaching and learning environment.
Determinants and outcomes of superstitious beliefs: a multi-study approach

Two studies grounded in experiential consumption theory – law of apparent reality and model of emotion-driven choice – test path models exploring determinants and outcomes of superstitious beliefs....
Borrelia parkeri in Ornithodoros parkeri (Ixodida: Argasidae) collected using compact dry ice traps in Madera county, California.

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a potentially serious vector-borne disease endemic to the western United States. Vector surveillance is compromised by the nidicolous life history of the three Ornithodoros species that transmit TBRF to people in this region. Large-scale stationary trapping methods were developed to survey a wide geographical range of Ornithodoros spp. which are known to vector relapsing fever Borrelia spp. in California. Ninety-six Ornithodoros parkeri were collected from four locations in the foothills of Fresno and Madera Counties. Two of these O. parkeri nymphs were PCR positive for Borrelia parkeri, and their collection at a popular recreation site increases the public health concern.
Zones matter: Hemodynamic effects of zone 1 vs zone 3 resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta placement in trauma patients.

Abstract Introduction Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has emerged as a therapy for hemorrhagic shock to limit ongoing bleeding and support proximal arterial pressures. Current REBOA algorithms recommend zone selection based on suspected anatomic location of injury rather than severity of shock. We examined the effects of Zone 1 versus Zone 3 REBOA in patients enrolled in the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Aortic Occlusion for Resuscitation in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (AORTA) Registry. Patients and methods The prospective observational AORTA Registry was queried from November 2013 to November 2017. Patients who received REBOA were included if their initial systolic blood pressure (SBP) was less than 90 mmHg upon arrival and they were not receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Results There were 762 patients recorded in the AORTA database during the study period. Of these, 245 underwent REBOA and 99 patients met inclusion criteria. The initial balloon position was Zone 1 in 55 patients, Zone 3 in 36 patients, and unknown or Zone 2 in 8 patients. The change in proximal SBP was greater after REBOA in the Zone 1 group compared to the Zone 3 group (58 ± 4 mmHg vs 41 ± 4 mmHg, P = 0.008). The zone of occlusion was significantly associated with the change in proximal SBP in a linear regression analysis which included initial SBP, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and Injury Severity Score (Coefficient 26.82, 95% Confidence Interval 8.11–45.54, P = 0.006). Conclusions In the hypotensive trauma patient, initial Zone 1 REBOA provides maximal hemodynamic support. Algorithms recommending initial Zone 3 placement for hypotensive trauma patients should be reconsidered.
Great Lakes Fisheries: Are Explicit Controls Necessary?

This is an essay on the current state of fisheries management in the Laurentian Great Lakes. It is presented here to introduce the subject to an audience of control specialists who may have somewhat different theoretical and ecological perspectives on fishery management than do biologists practicing in the Great Lakes region. Following a brief history of Great Lakes fishery problems2, I will review the corrective measures that have been taken and identify the critical uncertainties surrounding past and present management activities. Where possible, I will identify those processes which may be amenable to significant intervention or control by management agencies.
Leveraging existing outreach programs to reach underrepresented minorities

Because majoring in computer science often requires taking a CS1 course by the end of one's first year in college, high school students need to be made aware of computer science as a potential major so that they can plan their college coursework accordingly. We describe two robot-based activities that were offered as part of a broader summer program aimed at preparing local high school students from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education for college. The goal was to give these students a more accurate understanding of what computer science is and what computer scientists do, to share our excitement about computer science, and to get them to think about taking a CS1 course their first year in college. While both activities were good for exposing students to computer science, students' experiences in the two were quite different.
A thermodynamically consistent chemo-mechanically coupled large deformation model for polymer oxidation

Abstract In this paper, a thermodynamically consistent continuum level model is developed for high temperature oxidation in polymers, that incorporates the coupling between diffusion, chemical reaction and large deformation of polymers. The kinetics of the oxidative reactions have been incorporated in the continuum model in a consistent way. The specific constitutive forms for all the physical-chemical processes are derived based on the thermodynamic inequality conditions. Deformation due to the oxidative shrinkage has been incorporated in the kinematics as an irreversible effect. Subsequently, the model is implemented in a finite element framework to analyze numerically the coupled diffusion-reaction and mechanical behavior of polymers undergoing oxidation. Several numerical simulations are performed to understand the effect of various ambient conditions and the general stress-coupled effect on the oxidative response. The model is shown to be capable of predicting the heterogeneous oxidation profile for the diffusion-limited, reaction-limited cases within a polymer material. The model has been used to track the growth of oxide layer in the case of a long-term thermo-oxidative aging process.
Dense Organosilane Monolayer Resist That Directs Highly Selective Atomic Layer Deposition

Organosilane monolayers are part of many process flows in nanoelectronics and biotechnology because of their versatility. Monolayers that inhibit reactions on silicon/silicon oxide surfaces are nee...
“Thou map of woe, that dost talk in signs”: The Speaker-Listener Dialogue of Poetry and the Practice of Selecting Poems for Poetry Therapy

Shakespeare's Lavinia of Titus Andronicus not only embodies the physical wounds given Procne and Philomel of Greek myth; she is Shakespeare's metaphor for the wounds of division—the map of woe—between spoken and written word. As a person, she is disenfranchised from her language community. As a poem, she talks in signs—the compressed and silent gestures beneath human speech. As a person in the poem, she is both poet and agent of healing. This study focuses upon healing Lavinia's wounds: the cut tongue and severed hands. With respect to Lavinia, the archetypal poet and person in the poem, two criteria are derived for selecting poems to serve her poem-making/healing process and the dialogue of self-realization: 1) a poem's capacity to sustain her rapture—her wonder and patience—as this passion sustains the play-spirit with its primary motive of moral constraint against harm and 2) a poem's capacity to shape a house of consciousness for the particular movement within the psychodynamic model for therapeutic action—a house of consciousness with which Lavinia may identify and to which she may accommodate.
Atmospheric Dust Inputs, Iron Cycling, and Biogeochemical Connections in the South Pacific Ocean From Thorium Isotopes

One of the primary sources of micronutrients to the sea surface in remote ocean regions is the deposition of atmospheric dust. Geographic patterns in biogeochemical processes such as primary production and nitrogen fixation that require micronutrients like iron (Fe) are modulated in part by the spatial distribution of dust supply. Global models of dust deposition rates are poorly calibrated in the open ocean, owing to the difficulty of determining dust fluxes in sparsely sampled regions. We present new estimates of dust and Fe input rates from measurements of dissolved and particulate thorium isotopes ²³⁰Th and ²³²Th on the FS Sonne SO245 section (GEOTRACES process study GPpr09) in the South Pacific. We first discuss high‐resolution upper water column profiles of Th isotopes and the implications for the systematics of dust flux reconstructions from seawater Th measurements. We find dust fluxes in the center of the highly oligotrophic South Pacific Gyre that are the lowest of any mean annual dust input rates measured in the global oceans, but that are 1‐2 orders of magnitude higher than those estimated by global dust models. We also determine dust‐borne Fe fluxes and re‐assess the importance of individual Fe sources to the surface South Pacific Gyre, finding that dust dissolution, not vertical or lateral diffusion, is the primary Fe source. Finally, we combine our estimates of Fe flux in dust with previously‐published cellular and enzymatic quotas to determine theoretical upper limits on annual average nitrogen fixation rates for a given Fe deposition rate.
Consider a CT angiogram before invasive coronary angiogram in patients with NSTEMI.

Patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) may have coronary artery disease requiring revascularisation. However, many patients with NSTEMI do not. CT angiogram appears to be an effective way to stratify these patients . Patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) present a challenging clinical conundrum.1 Some of these patients have severe coronary artery disease requiring urgent revascularisation, while others have such little coronary stenosis that no revascularisation nor antithrombotic treatment is, ultimately, required. The difficulty facing clinicians is how they can identify those who need urgent revascularisation. The conventional answer to this has been to offer all of these patients, in time, invasive coronary angiograms. However, these procedures are resource intensive and carry non-insignificant risks for patients.2 Furthermore, conventional practice has been to prioritise patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, often resulting in patients with NSTEMI to be given prolonged (often days) antithrombotic and anticoagulation treatment while they await their diagnostic angiogram. These treatments increase one’s risk of bleeding and, in the absence of coronary stenosis, >50% provide no benefit.2 In an effort to better identify patients with NSTEMI who do truly require coronary angiogram and revascularisation, Danish investigators conducted an observational, diagnostic …
RF-photonic filters using coupled Brillouin-active waveguides in silicon

We demonstrate multi-pole RF-photonic filters in an integrated silicon platform. Using Brillouin interactions, the filters yield a narrow passband (~MHZ), high out-of-band rejection (70 dB), and can be tuned over a wide range (GHz).
Molecular Targets in Precision Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer: An Update from Pre-Clinical to Clinical Trials.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. The initiation and progression of CRC is a multi-step process that proceeds via precursor lesions to carcinoma, with each stage characterized by its distinct molecular and tissue microenvironment changes. Precursor lesions of CRC, aberrant crypt foci, and adenoma exhibit drastic changes in genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiles compared to normal tissue. The identification of these changes is essential and provides further validation as an initiator or promoter of CRC and, more so, as lesion-specific druggable molecular targets for the precision chemoprevention of CRC. Mutated/dysregulated signaling (adenomatous polyposis coli, β-catenin, epidermal growth factor receptor, V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), tumor protein53, Akt, etc.), inflammatory (cyclooxygenase-2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and other pro-inflammatory mediators), and metabolic/growth factor (fatty acid synthase, β-Hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, and ornithine decarboxylase) related targets are some of the well-characterized molecular targets in the precision chemoprevention of CRC. In this review, we discuss precursor-lesion specific targets of CRC and the current status of pre-clinical studies regarding clinical interventions and combinations for better efficacy and safety toward future precision clinical chemoprevention. In addition, we provide a brief discussion on the usefulness of secondary precision chemopreventive targets for tertiary precision chemoprevention to improve the disease-free and overall survival of advanced stage CRC patients.
Hierarchical Convolutional Neural Networks for Event Classification on PMU Measurements

Event classification is one of the central components of automated disturbance analysis based on phasor measurement unit (PMU) measurements. Obtaining high-quality event labels remains a challenge for supervised learning-based classification of local and system-wide events in power grids due to its labor-intensive requirement. We present a sensitivity study considering rapidly refined, partially, and fully inspected event labels that leads to evidence that hierarchical convolutional neural networks (HCNNs) outperform traditional classification models regardless of the quality of the available event labels. It is demonstrated that performance similar to the one obtained using entirely domain-driven labeling can be achieved as long as the involved expert does not mislabel more than ~5% of the event data captured by PMU measurements.
The Unity of Plato's 'Gorgias': Rhetoric, Justice, and the Philosophic Life

Introduction 1. Examining the master of rhetoric 2. Polus and the dispute about justice 3. The confrontation between Socrates and Callicles 4. Socrates' situation and the rehabilitation of rhetoric Conclusion: a final reflection on noble rhetoric.
Small-Break LOCA Recovery in B&W Plants

A break of approximately 0.0012 m2 in the cold leg of a B&W plant results in an interruption of natural circulation when steam accumulates in the hot-leg U-bend. A small-break loss-of-coolant accident of this size was simulated by TRAC-PF1 to evaluate strategies for recovery and for re-establishing natural circulation. In the absence of operator action, core cooling occurs when water supplied by the high-pressure-injection system boils, then is discharged through the break. Raising the steam-generator secondary level, venting steam from the steam-generator secondary, venting steam from the hot-leg U-bend, “bumping” the reactor-coolant pumps, and injecting a portion of the high-pressure-injection system into the hot-leg U-bend aided in cooling and depressurizing the primary system but were ineffective in reestablishing natural-circulation flows in the primary-coolant loops.
An improved dithizone method for the determination of small quantities of zinc in blood and tissue samples.

The study of zinc metabolism in experimental animals and humans is dependent upon a reliable analytical method. Numerous methods, gravimetric, turbidimetric, and calorimetric (l), have been tried and found wanting. Fischer (2) first introduced diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone) for the analysis of metals with relation to industrial processes. This organic dye combines with a number of the heavy metals (Sandell (3)). The combination is selective for any one metal, depending upon the pH of the solution containing the metals, and the presence of salts which form complexes with other metals in solution. It was not until 1937 that Fischer and Leopoldi (4) adapted the dithizone method to the analysis of inorganic zinc. Holland and Ritchie (5) and Cowling and BIiller (6) used this dye for zinc analyses in plants, and Hove et al. (7) in the measurement of carbonic anhydrase. The procedure employed by these authors, however, involved a preliminary extraction of other metals, principally copper, and a final extraction of zinc. Gettler (8) simplified the method by the use of a buffered solution of complex-forming salts, obviating the preliminary separation. We have further refined the method to obtain greater accuracy in the analysis of the zinc content of samples of whole blood, plasma, erythrocytes, and leucocytes and samples of tissue. Samples of the size which can be practicably obtained may contain as little as 1 to 5 y of zinc. Diphenylthiocarbazone has the following structural formula:
THE VARIABILITY IN MANIFESTATIONS OF UNTREATED PATIENTS WITH PHENYLKETONURIA (PHENYLPYRUVIC ACIDURIA)

One hundred six cases of phenylketonuria have been surveyed in 11 institutions in New England and Eastern Canada. Data not previously available (and of some degree of uncertainty as to reliability) are presented as to the ages at which patients with phenylketonuria achieve the ability to sit unsupported, to walk independently, and to say recognizable words. A small number of patients achieve these steps at reasonably near the normal age and the degree of variability is such that early developmental timetables should not be overemphasized in interpreting possible effects of any treatment of the disease. Both eczema and seizures are proportionately more frequent in severely retarded patients with phenylketonuria than in those with lesser degrees of intellectual defect. If present at the time an experimental treatment is instituted, they would provide more objective evidence of possible benefit. Electroencephalograms were abnormal in 79% of patients for whom tracings were available and would provide one means of evaluating plans of treatment even in the absence of seizures. While the majority of these patients have blue eyes and blond hair, there is enough evidence to suggest a tendency to darkening of the hair with age that this also should be used with caution in evaluation of treatment. Frequencies of various neurologic manifestations are presented, including unusual hand posturing, tremor, hyperreflexia, clonus and spasticity. These are all variable enough that a reasonably positive diagnosis [See FIG. 2. in Source Pdf.] by physical examination is not possible, and further, they are not well adapted to evaluation of treatment. The distribution of intelligence quotients in patients with phenylketonuria appears to follow a continuous curve and to include a small number of persons with borderline normal or better intelligence. In assessing the effect of any treatment, it is unwarranted to ascribe to that treatment the attainment of borderline normal intellectual levels that may be reached by small numbers of patients, especially if originally tested in infancy or early childhood. The effect of any therapy can be adequately evaluated only by comparing changes in a number of treated patients with phenylketonuria, with changes in comparable control patients, selected on the basis of intelligence, age, physical accomplishments, and status with respect to hair color, eczema, convulsive seizures and electroencephalographic findings.
Breast cancer treatment in older women: impact of the patient-physician interaction.

Objectives: To assess the impact of the patient-physician interaction on breast cancer care in older women. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Los Angeles County, California. Participants: Two hundred twenty-two consecutively identified breast cancer patients aged 55 and older who were within 6 months of breast cancer diagnosis and/or 1 month posttreatment. Measurements: Dependent variables were patient breast cancer knowledge, treatment delay, and receipt of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Key independent variables were five dimensions of the patient-physician interaction by patient report, including physician provision of tangible and interactive informational support, physician provision of emotional support, physician participatory decision-making style, and patient perceived self-efficacy in the patient-physician interaction. Age and ethnicity were additional important independent variables. Results: In multiple logistic regression models, only physician interactive informational support had significant relationships with all three dependent variables, controlling for a wide range of patient sociodemographic and case-mix characteristics, visit length, number of physicians seen, social support, and physician sociodemographic and practice characteristics. Specifically, informational support positively predicted patient breast cancer knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.00–1.38), negatively predicted treatment delays (AOR=0.80, 95% CI=0.67–0.94), and positively predicted receipt of BCS (AOR=1.29, 95% CI=1.07–1.56). Age and ethnicity were not significant predictors in these models. Conclusion: One specific domain of the patient-physician interaction, interactive informational support, may provide an avenue to ensure adequate breast cancer knowledge for patient treatment decision-making, decrease treatment delay, and increase rates of BCS for older breast cancer patients, thereby potentially mitigating known healthcare disparities in this vulnerable population of breast cancer patients.
The upper and lower critical fields of high-κ amorphous superconductors

Amorphous superconductors exhibit very large values of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ due to the small electronic diffusivity characteristic of these materials. Measurements of both the upper and lower critical fields H c2 and H c1 have been made in an effort to characterize the properties of the mixed state in several of these materials. The temperature dependences of H c1 and H c2 are compared with the predictions of the microscopic theory in the limit where κ ≫ 1. Both the H c2 and H c2 curves are found experimentally to lie above the theoretically predicted curves. The extent of the discrepancy was found to vary among the amorphous alloys studied. Possible explanations for this behavior are discussed.
Characteristics of a Microsomal Dechlorination System

Microsomes were solubilized and the components of the mixed-function oxidase system were isolated. With a reconstituted system containing partially purified cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, NADPH, and phospholipid, dechlorination of 1,1,2-trichlorsethane was observed. Addition of cytochrome b/sub 5/, NADH-cytochrome b/sub 5/ reductase, and cyanide-sensitive factor to this system resulted in additional activity, but the cytochrome b/sub 5/ system by itself would not dechlorinate. The activity of the complete system was not altered by the presence of the cyanide-sensitive factor. Whole microsomes also were studied and the kinetics of the dechlorination reaction was determined. The K/sub m/ was 3.32 mM; V/sub max/ was 1.09 nmoles of substrate dechlorinated per minute per milligram of protein. The addition of NADH to the NADPH system significantly increased both K/sub m/ and v/sub max/. The microsomal enzyme system required molecular oxygen; the presence of the cell supernatant fraction produced an increase in the V/sub max/ of dechlorination.
Transportation fuels from biomass via fast pyrolysis and hydroprocessing.

Biomass is a renewable source of carbon, which could provide a means to reduce the greenhouse gas impact from fossil fuels in the transportation sector. Biomass is the only renewable source of liquid fuels, which could displace petroleum-derived products. Fast pyrolysis is a method of direct thermochemical conversion (non-bioconversion) of biomass to a liquid product. Although the direct conversion product, called bio-oil, is liquid; it is not compatible with the fuel handling systems currently used for transportation. Upgrading the product via catalytic processing with hydrogen gas, hydroprocessing, is a means that has been demonstrated in the laboratory. By this processing the bio-oil can be deoxygenated to hydrocarbons, which can be useful replacements of the hydrocarbon distillates in petroleum. While the fast pyrolysis of biomass is presently commercial, the upgrading of the liquid product by hydroprocessing remains in development, although it is moving out of the laboratory into scaled-up process demonstration systems.
Learning to participate in disciplinary discourses: what happens when the conversation ends?

Current research has found that participation in meaningful, disciplinary conversations in the classroom helps students develop their conceptual understandings of the subject matter. These findings are often shown through descriptions of design interventions that have taken place in ordinary classrooms. Little attention has been paid, however, to the diverse experiences of individual students within these contexts and what they take away from participation in such discourses. This longitudinal study followed two students who were active student participants in a design intervention that promoted disciplinary engagement in science and history through the following school year. The study found that the style of student participation in classroom discourses depended on the unique dispositions of the students themselves, but that this participation could be either encouraged or stifled by the participant structures that were made available by the curriculum and the teacher
Active filters for harmonics elimination in solar photovoltaic grid-connected and stand-alone systems

Power converter's output signal harmonic control is currently becoming immensely important in medium and high power applications due to the development of new grid codes. Advancement in transistor technology has lead to significant changes from large thyristor-equipped grid-connected inverters to smaller and fast switching IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) equipped converters. These IGBT's increases the power switching frequency in order to extract more energy and fulfill the grid connecting standards. Grid codes usually define a maximum allowed level for each specific harmonic and determine the maximum tolerated THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) of the output signals. Unfortunately, these IGBT-based power drivers generate harmonics that are subsequently transmitted into the power bus. The harmonics are normally eliminated by passive LC or RLC filters. However this passive filtering system has its own limitations. In this paper, we analyze the harmonics created by the IGBT-equipped converter using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis. The converters are connected to the PV (Photovoltaic) arrays and the utility grid for grid-connected applications and PV arrays & battery modules for stand-alone applications. Using a second-order Butterworth Filter we showed that the THD has been reduced from 32.59% to 1.59%.
Chemotactic response regulator mutant CheY95IV exhibits enhanced binding to the flagellar switch and phosphorylation‐dependent constitutive signalling

CheY, a response regulator protein in bacterial chemotaxis, mediates swimming behaviour through interaction with the flagellar switch protein, FliM. In its active, phosphorylated state, CheY binds to the motor switch complex and induces a change from counterclockwise (CCW) to clockwise (CW) flagellar rotation. The conformation of a conserved aromatic residue, tyrosine 106, has been proposed to play an important role in this signalling process. Here, we show that an isoleucine to valine substitution in CheY at position 95 — in close proximity to residue 106 — results in an extremely CW, hyperactive phenotype that is dependent on phosphorylation. Further biochemical characterization of this mutant protein revealed phosphorylation and dephosphorylation rates that were indistinguishable from those of wild-type CheY. CheY95IV, however, exhibited an increased binding affinity to FliM. Taken together, these results show for the first time a correlation between enhanced switch binding and constitutive signalling in bacterial chemotaxis. Considering present structural information, we also propose possible models for the role of residue 95 in the mechanism of CheY signal transduction.
Use of titanates to achieve a temperature-stable low-temperature cofired ceramic dielectric for wireless applications

A low-loss and near-zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (T f ) low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) host dielectric was developed for portable consumer wireless device applications. The low T f was realized by compensating the Al 2 O 3 -filled-glass dielectric with admixtures of TiO 2 (negative temperature coefficient of dielectric constant (T e )) in the starting formulation. XRD data indicated a portion of the TiO 2 in the starting formulation dissolved into the glass, and extensive formation of crystalline titanium compounds was observed via a nucleation and growth mechanism. The dissolution of TiO 2 in the glass and subsequent formation of titanium compounds was believed to result in the relatively small amount of TiO 2 required to achieve a near-zero T f in the final sintered structure.
The effect of indigenous bacteria on virus survival in ground water

Abstract Over one‐half of the waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States are due to the consumption of contaminated ground water. Although viruses are a major cause of illness in these outbreaks, very little is known about the factors which influence how long viruses can remain infective in ground water. Experiments were conducted using several ground water samples obtained from drinking water wells to determine the effects of the naturally‐occurring bacteria on the survival of coliphage MS‐2 and poliovirus type 1 inoculated into the samples. The numbers of bacteria and viruses were monitored over a 30‐day period. Parallel experiments were conducted using water which had been filtered to remove the bacteria. The increase in bacterial numbers in the first 24 hours of incubation was significantly correlated with the decay rate of coliphage MS‐2. However, consistent trends were found in the ability of the viruses to persist in the presence or absence of bacteria.
Cointegration tests of purchasing power parity: the impact of non-traded goods

Abstract This paper explores the relationship between non-traded goods relative prices and the real exchange rate. We apply the Johansen maximum likelihood procedure to two different data sets of traded and non-traded prices. First, we develop a model which highlights the importance of non-traded relative price movements in causing deviations in the real exchange rate away from PPP. We find a strong association. A rise (fall) in the domestic relative price of non-traded goods is associated with an appreciation (depreciation) in the real exchange rate while the opposite is true for the foreign relative price. We conclude that non-traded goods relative price movements are an important determinant of real exchange rate behavior.
The case for developmental ecology

We call for renewed emphasis on the tasks confronting animals as they develop and learn. We are extending the use of the term ‘developmental ecology’ employed by plant biologists who have studied how fitness can be influenced by the ecological context present during development (Watson et al. 2001, Evolutionary Ecology,15, 425–442). We seek an expanded venue for the term, arguing that for animal behaviourists to understand some of the traits so familiar in behavioural ecology, they must consider the fundamental phenomena of development. Not doing so runs the risk of misidentifying both the proximal and functional causes of traits. For example, without a developmental view, macrogeographical variation in species-typical behaviour may be viewed as evidence of genotypic differences when, in fact, the variation is being produced by developmental contexts. Detailed below are some general issues about how development can be studied if it is to contribute to our knowledge of the adaptive value of behavioural systems. We argue for a prospective and longitudinal orientation, with an emphasis on relatively continuous observation and measurement. Both behaviours and contexts that may only occur during ontogeny are examined, as well as the reproductive outcome of the traits of interest. We present examples from our work on courtship and communication in brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater, to show that a prospective and ecological view of development reveals pronounced variation in patterns of reproductive behaviour that cannot be understood without taking into account developmental ecology.
Transcriptional bias: a non-Lamarckian mechanism for substrate-induced mutations

Abstract In bacterial cultures in the stationary phase, substrates can selectively stimulate mutations that lead to their own utilization, but because of apparent conflict with the neo-Darwinian view of evolution the phenomenon has encountered widespread resistance. Building on further evidence for this process, Cairns et al. [Cairns, J., Overbaugh, J. & Miller, S. (1988) Nature (London) 335, 142-145] have suggested a Lamarckian mechanism of directed mutation. This paper proposes an alternative mechanism: transcription induced by the substrate introduces a bias in the random process of mutation, because the resulting single-stranded regions of DNA are more mutable. This stimulation of adaptive mutations by the environment has implications for evolution similar to those of directed mutation, but without contradicting the central "dogma" of molecular genetics. In addition, in eukaryotic cells a mutagenic effect of induction on protooncogenes could contribute to the stimulatory effect of proliferation on carcinogenesis.