cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interpretability and Analysis in Neural NLP

While deep learning has transformed the natural language processing (NLP) field and impacted the larger computational linguistics community, the rise of neural networks is stained by their opaque nature: It is challenging to interpret the inner workings of neural network models, and explicate their behavior. Therefore, in the last few years, an increasingly large body of work has been devoted to the analysis and interpretation of neural network models in NLP. This body of work is so far lacking a common framework and methodology. Moreover, approaching the analysis of modern neural networks can be difficult for newcomers to the field. This tutorial aims to fill this gap and introduce the nascent field of interpretability and analysis of neural networks in NLP. The tutorial will cover the main lines of analysis work, such as structural analyses using probing classifiers, behavioral studies and test suites, and interactive visualizations. We will highlight not only the most commonly applied analysis methods, but also the specific limitations and shortcomings of current approaches, in order to inform participants where to focus future efforts.
Customer Experience Engineering Amidst COVID-19. 'Swim or Drown'?

The purpose of this article is to explain the role of customer experience engineering as a crucial strategic lever companies should adopt amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in order to stay afloat During global revolutions such as COVID-19, the usual soft skills when dealing with customers are inadequate because companies are nowadays faced with “difficult customers” due to direct or indirect lock down or COVID-19 related effects These include but are not limited to anger arising from reduction in pay, loss of job, loss of loved ones, immobility, limited association and resources, extended stay of children and relatives at home with ambiguity on when school will resume Certainly the usual basics of customer service such as smile, be polite, listen actively to the customer, send them their bills on time seem inadequate and are less likely to elicit the previous satisfactory response from the clients How can a customer who has not received salary for the last three months be expected to pay for a product or service? Does a company close “its ears” to this plight dubbed the “new normal” or empathize, adapt, re-invent and be flexible when dealing with the customer? As a business, do you “swim” (maneuver through making the best of opportunities) or drown (close shop)? The need for Customer Experience Engineering has never been more amplified Companies that would like to not only stay afloat but increase their customer base and profitability amidst ambiguity and increasing complex customer behavior need to prioritize their customer experience and strengthen its engineering
The Birth of a New Teaching Idea

As we know, 65% of the population is visually dominated, and therefore I presume that this statistic applies to most of my class as well. The visual "magnet" to which my students are attracted in the classroom is my screen. So, what could I do with that "magnet" that would hold their attention, be collaborative, and build upon their ability to retain what they saw in the "magnet" and use that retained information to enhance their performance in law school and in their future practice?
A Road Map for Geotechnical Monitoring of Transportation Infrastructure Assets using Three-Dimensional Models Developed from Unmanned Aerial Data

Infrastructure forms the backbone of a nation’s growth and economy. The smooth operation of those infrastructure assets depends on many factors including proper use of construction materials under different loading, environmental and durability assessments, and the frequency of monitoring after construction. The performance and maintenance of an infrastructure asset thus depend on the behavior of the system in a built geological environment. Proactive monitoring of infrastructure often leads to preventive maintenance. However, it is not economically feasible to use the current traditional monitoring techniques, especially considering the vastness of the infrastructure networks. In this study, unmanned aerial vehicle–close-range photogrammetry (UAV–CRP) technology is being proposed as a supplemental data collection tool to complement existing traditional monitoring techniques for geotechnical infrastructure. Two case studies covering a pavement structure built over rehabilitated subgrade rich with sulfates and stability of a rock slope adjacent to an old rail line were monitored aerially to understand their state of health conditions. The pavement site had a history of experiencing sulfate-induced heaving and was rehabilitated using extended mellowing after lime stabilization. The rail line under inspection was constructed more than a century ago, and the stability of the weathered rock cut holds the key for safe operations on the rail line. The rock was highly weathered and considered to undergo circular failure. Aerial images were collected and processed to build three-dimensional models to evaluate and assess the condition of these geotechnical assets. This approach not only provides a comprehensive idea through dense point cloud models offering real-field-like view of the asset conditions but also is expected to result in significant savings in data collection time and costs.
The Effects of Shadow Banking on the Transmission of Monetary Policy

I present empirical evidence that shadow banks weaken the pass through of monetary policy to the real economy by weakening the bank lending channel. I construct a novel dataset of home mortgage loan originations from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) matched with county level home prices and labor market outcomes for years 2000 through 2019. I fi nd that shadow banks expand mortgage originations relative to traditional banks as the monetary policy rate increases. This effect is economically large even when controlling for loan demand by comparing shadow and traditional bank lenders within the same county. In addition, I estimate the impact of shadow bank presence on the transmission of monetary policy to the real economy by exploiting county level heterogeneity in shadow bank exposure. My results indicate that as the monetary policy rate increases counties with more exposure to shadow banking experience smaller contractions in home prices, employment, and wages relative to those with less exposure to shadow banking. These results indicate that the recent expansion in shadow mortgage banking has weakened an important channel through which monetary policy affects the real economy.
Technologies and aging: understanding use, impacts, and future needs

Abstract Older adults are increasingly crossing the digital divide and becoming users of a range of technologies. This chapter provides an overview of research on technology use and its impacts, including identification of critical insights into contemporary research and gaps in knowledge. I focus on information and communication technologies, as well as select emerging technologies, that are likely to have significant impacts on older adults’ lives in the coming years; in addition, I discuss impacts of technology use in relation to psychosocial and physical health, as well as unanticipated outcomes. Though research on older adults and technology use is increasing, I call for increased longitudinal studies focusing on in-depth examinations of technology use among older adults, and that more fully exploit behavioral and health data. As research progresses over time, better collaboration between device manufacturers and researchers will allow for collection of objective use and variation data from devices and applications, as well as enable a symbiotic relationship whereby research results are translated into better-designed devices that accommodate the changing nature of older adults’ lives.
Offshore Currency Markets: Non-Deliverable Forwards (NDFs) in Asia

Non-deliverable forward (NDF) markets in many Asian emerging market currencies are large, rapidly growing, and often exceed onshore markets in transaction volume. NDFs tend to price significant depreciation during market stress episodes including COVID-19. Spillovers from NDFs to onshore markets are a policymaker concern. Our analysis shows that influences tend to run both ways after controlling for differences in timezones between markets. For the COVID-19 pandemic there is some evidence of NDFs leading onshore markets for a few currencies. Policy approaches to NDFs vary widely across Asia from close integration with onshore markets to severe restrictions on NDF trading.
9 Future Opportunities in Thermodynamics

Publisher Summary There are core future opportunities in the use of thermodynamics in chemical engineering. It is presumed that the future will witness a substantial increase in the number of chemical engineers using computer-aided molecular theory and molecular dynamics as routine tools for elucidation of thermodynamic mechanisms and for prediction of properties. Currently, one can simulate realistic water, electrolytic solutions, and small polyatomic molecular fluids. Even some of the properties of micellar solutions and liquid crystals can be captured by idealized models. In the future, experimentation will play an increasingly important role in understanding thermodynamic behavior. Current and emerging instrumentation will enable study of structure and dynamics on the molecular or colloidal scale (angstroms to hundreds of nanometers). With the aid of the rotating anode and synchrotron radiation sources and sophisticated computer-aided data analysis, x-ray scattering now provides an accurate noninvasive probe of molecular-level organization. At national and international facilities, neutron scattering competes with x-ray scattering in structural analysis and provides dynamical data on molecular rearrangement not accessible by x-rays. Experimental thermodynamics has a more proactive role to play in establishing the conceptual basis on which theoretical models will be built. The canonization of generic behavior or patterns shared by a large class of thermodynamic systems is indeed theory. This chapter identifies the corresponding states theory, perturbation and cluster expansion theory, and density functional theory as those of particular interest to chemical engineers.
Invasion of the Whiteflies

An invading whitefly is successful because invading males interfere with mating by native males and invading females produce more female offspring.
Did You Hear About the Girl Who…?: Contemporary Legends, Folklore, and Human Sexuality

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Mariamne H. Whatley and Elissa R. Henken Year: 2000 Pages: xi + 211 Publisher: New York University Press Prices: $24.95(hard cover).
Dopamine D2 receptor function is compromised in the brain of the methionine sulfoxide reductase A knockout mouse

Previous research suggests that brain oxidative stress and altered rodent locomotor behavior are linked. We observed bio-behavioral changes in methionine sulfoxide reductase A knockout mice associated with abnormal dopamine signaling. Compromised ability of these knockout mice to reduce methionine sulfoxide enhances accumulation of sulfoxides in proteins. We examined the dopamine D(2)-receptor function and expression, which has an atypical arrangement and quantity of methionine residues. Indeed, protein expression levels of dopamine D(2)-receptor were higher in knockout mice compared with wild-type. However, the binding of dopamine D(2)-receptor agonist was compromised in the same fractions of knockout mice. Coupling efficiency of dopamine D(2)-receptors to G-proteins was also significantly reduced in knockout mice, supporting the compromised agonist binding. Furthermore, pre-synaptic dopamine release in knockout striatal sections was less responsive than control sections to dopamine D(2)-receptor ligands. Behaviorally, the locomotor activity of knockout mice was less responsive to the inhibitory effect of quinpirole than wild-type mice. Involvement of specific methionine residue oxidation in the dopamine D(2)-receptor third intracellular loop is suggested by in vitro studies. We conclude that ablation of methionine sulfoxide reductase can affect dopamine signaling through altering dopamine D(2)-receptor physiology and may be related to symptoms associated with neurological disorders and diseases.
Transonic flowfield in a supersonic nozzle with small throat radius of curvature.

Internal flow measurements in transonic region of supersonic nozzle with small throat radius of curvature compared with prediction data
The mechanism of aminoacylation of transfer RNA.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the discovery of the amino acid: tRNA ligases and the discovery of transfer ribonucleic acid. Each of the techniques for estimating the kinetic parameters of the ligases is critically reviewed and a comprehensive tabulation of all the chemical and physical properties of the purified enzymes is presented. The physiological concentrations of enzyme and tRNA, and the association constants of these macromolecules suggest that essentially the entire enzyme is present in the cell as Enz·tRNA complex. In several cases, the tRNA-free enzyme is totally unable to form Enz·(AA ∼ AMP). In other cases, the kinetic parameters of the Enz·tRNA complex are as different from those of the free enzyme as to make studies on the free enzyme difficult to interpret. The available evidence suggests that the reaction of Enz·(AA ∼ AMP) with tRNA in vitro is so slow and incomplete that this reaction fails by a factor of a hundred or a thousand to account for the in vitro esterification of tRNA or the in vivo rate of protein synthesis. The generally accepted mechanism of tRNA esterification is not acceptable for many amino acids and is of doubtful application in other cases. It is probable that in the unphysiological absence of tRNA these ligases do catalyze the synthesis of Enz·(AA ∼ AMP), but this complex is not ordinarily an intermediate in protein synthesis.
Plasmon-induced transparency in subwavelength metal-dielectric-metal waveguides

Plasmonic devices, based on surface plasmons propagating at metal-dielectric interfaces, have shown the potential to guide and manipulate light at deep subwavelength scales. In addition, slowing down light in plasmonic waveguides leads to enhanced light-matter interaction, and could therefore enhance the performance of nanoscale plasmonic devices such as switches and sensors. In this paper, we introduce slow-light subwavelength plasmonic waveguides based on a plasmonic analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Both the operating wavelength range and the slowdown factor of the waveguides are tunable. The structure consists of a periodic array of two metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) stub resonators side-coupled to a MDM waveguide. The two cavities in each unit cell have a resonant frequency separation which can be tuned by adjusting the cavity dimensions. We show that in the vicinity of the two cavity resonant frequencies, the system supports three photonic bands, and the band diagram is similar to that of EIT systems. The middle band corresponds to a mode with slow group velocity and zero group velocity dispersion in the middle of the band. Decreasing the resonant frequency separation, increases the slowdown factor, and decreases the bandwidth of the middle band. We also find that metal losses lead to a tradeoff between the slowdown factor and the propagation length of the supported optical mode. We use a single-mode scattering matrix theory to account for the behavior of the waveguides, and show that it is in excellent agreement with numerical results obtained with the finite-difference frequency-domain method.
Endocytosis of activated receptors and clathrin-coated pit formation: deciphering the chicken or egg relationship

The fundamental mechanisms by which receptors once targeted for endocytosis are found in coated pits is an important yet unresolved question. Specifically, are activated receptors simply trapped on encountering preexisting coated pits, subsequently being rapidly internalized? Or do the receptors themselves, by active recruitment, gather soluble coat and cytosolic components and initiate the rapid assembly of new coated pits that then mediate their internalization? To explore this question, we studied the relationship between activation of IgE-bound high affinity Fc receptors (FCepsilonRI) and coated pit formation. Because these receptors are rapidly internalized via clathrin-coated pits only when cross-linked by the binding of multivalent antigens, we were able to separate activation from internalization by using an immobilized antigen. The FCepsilonRIs, initially uniformly distributed over the cell surface. relocalized and aggregated on the antigen-exposed membrane. The process was specific for the antigen, and temperature- and time-dependent. This stimulation initiated a cascade of cellular responses typical of FCepsilonRI signaling including membrane ruffling, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and, in the presence of Ca2+, exocytosis. Despite these responses, no change in coated pit disposition or in the distribution of clathrin and assembly protein AP2 was detected, as monitored by immunoblotting and by quantitative (vertical sectioning) confocal microscopy analysis of immunofluorescently stained cells. Specifically, there was no decrease in the density of clathrin-coated pits in regions of the cell membrane not in contact with the antigen, and there was no apparent increase in clathrin-coated pits in proximity to stimulated FCepsilonRI receptors as would have been expected if the receptors were inducing formation of new pits by active recruitment. These results indicate that de novo formation of clathrin-coated pits is not a prerequisite for rapid internalization or a direct response to stimulation of FCepsilonRI receptors. Therefore, increases in coated pits reported to occur in response to activation of some signaling receptors must be consequences of the signal transduction processes, rather than strictly serving the purpose of the internalization of the receptors.
Nuclease activity of ribosomal and soluble fractions of Acheta domesticus.

Abstract Acheta domesticus ribosomes, microsomes, the soluble fraction, and several of its derivatives, including a pH 5 enzymes fraction, transfer enzymes, and a preparation containing transfer and amino-acid-activating enzymes, were assayed for the presence of nucleases. All components possessed RNA-degrading capacity; optimal activity was observed at pH 5·5 and 7·8. Nuclease contamination of ribosomes could be reduced when isolation was carried out in the presence of bentonite. Ribosomes prepared in the presence of bentonite possessed nuclease activity equivalent to 2·3 mμg of pancreatic ribonuclease/mg protein, when assayed in 0·05 M Tris buffer at pH 7·8. At pH 5·5 the ribosomal nuclease was inhibited by Mg 2+ and stimulated by low concentrations of K + ; at pH 7·8 both cations were inhibitory at all concentrations tested.
Comparison of pesticide root zone model 3.12: Runoff predictions with field data

As part of a process to improve confidence in the results of regulatory modeling, predictions of the pesticide root zone model (PRZM) 3.12 were compared with measured data collected in nine different field leaching studies. Reasonable estimates of leaching were obtained with PRZM 3.12 in homogeneous soils where preferential flow is not significant. The PRZM 3.12 usually did a good job of predicting movement of bromide in soil (soil and soil pore-water concentrations were generally within a factor of two of predicted values). For simulations based on the best choices for input parameters, predictions of soil pore-water concentrations for pesticides were usually within a factor of three and soil pore-water estimates within a factor of 11. When the model input parameters were calibrated to improve the simulation of hydrology, predicted pesticide concentrations in soil pore water were usually within a factor of two of measured concentrations. Because of the sensitivity of leaching to degradation rate, the most accurate predictions were obtained with pesticides with relatively slow degradation rates. When conservative assumptions were used to define input pesticide parameters, predictions of pesticide concentrations were usually a factor of two greater than when using the best estimate of input parameters without any built-in conservatism.
A small scale procedure for the isolation of transport competent vesicles from plant tissues.

Abstract A microscale method for the isolation of selectively sealed microsomal membrane fractions from plant tissue is presented. The method is based on differential centrifugation in a table top microcentrifuge to accommodate small sample size (10–25 g tissue) and the addition of KI or KCl in the homogenization medium for isolating selectively sealed plasma membrane or tonoplast vesicles. This microscale procedure was found to be useful in isolating membranes from red beet (Beta vulgaris) storage tissue, sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) storage tissue, corn (Zea mays) roots, and soybean (Glycine max) roots. This paper also describes the ability to further purify an enriched red beet plasma membrane fraction on a discontinuous sucrose density gradient, in a microcentrifuge, that is highly competent in ATP-dependent H+-transport. The speed and wide applicability of this procedure make it ideal when a large number of samples need to be processed.
Detection of supershear rupture in 2013 Craig, Alaska, earthquake

Seismic ruptures are akin to opening a zipper—a gap in the crust starts in one location and travels along the fault in a particular direction. When a strained fault ruptures in an earthquake, seismic waves also spread out from the epicenter. In some cases, the waves' passage can trigger the initiation of a new rupture ahead of the initial expanding rupture in locked portions of the fault. If the triggered rupture grows successfully, the overall rupture front can then outpace the passage of the shear waves, secondary seismic waves that travel slowly after the earthquake begins and are responsible for the bulk of violent shaking. These earthquakes display what is known as supershear rupture; only seven such earthquakes have previously been recorded.
Ocean acoustic source localization via Bayesian inversion

In this article we examine time evolution of the a posteriori probability distribution for the source location in an elementary passive sonar model. The approach employs Bayesian inversion to obtain the a posteriori distributions. The resulting multimodal distributions reflect the nonlinear relationship between source location and array output. This probabilistic approach allows us to include a priori information, utilize ocean acoustic modeling, and make direct use of increased data integration time.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Potato Seed Piece Size, Spacing, and Seeding Rate Effects on Yield, Quality and Economic Return

It has been observed that potato producers often focus more on the quantity of potato seed pieces being planted per unit area than on seed piece size and placement within the row. This study compared the effects of seed quantity per unit area (Mg ha−1) or seed piece size and in-row spacing on potato yield and quality. Hand-cut certified seed of three potato cultivars (Alturas, Russet Norkotah, Ranger Russet) of three size classes (42, 64 or 85 g) were planted at in-row seed piece spacings of 20, 30 or 40 cm. Three of the treatments (42-g seed pieces planted at 20 cm, 64-g seed pieces planted at 30 cm, and 85-g seed pieces planted at 40 cm) resulted in equal weights of seed planted (2.28 Mg ha−1). Increasing seed piece size from 42 to 85 g resulted in higher total yield regardless of in-row spacing. U.S. No. 1 yield was increased only at the 40-cm in-row spacing when 42- and 85-g seed pieces were planted. Increasing seed piece spacing from 20 to 40 cm resulted in lower total and U.S. No. 1 yields at all three seed piece size treatments. However, equal seeding rates of 2.28 Mg ha−1 resulted in equal total and U.S. No. 1 yields. Altering seed piece size or in-row spacing had little effect on tuber yields in the 285–397-g size category. A fresh-pack economic gross returns analysis of Russet Norkotah based on tuber size distribution less seed costs resulted in higher gross returns per ha only for 85-g seed pieces planted at 40 cm compared with planting 42- or 64-g seed pieces at a the 40 cm. At an equal seeding rate of 2.28 Mg ha−1, paired t-tests indicated there were no differences in gross returns per ha. However, the effects of seed piece size and spacing on economic return will depend on cost of seed and the selling price of the harvested potatoes.
Mandibular distraction osteogenesis for neonatal airway obstruction

Micrognathia as a cause for airway obstruction is a very difficult problem encountered in the neonate with craniofacial disorders. Recognition and treatment of obstruction is necessary to prevent significant morbidity. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is an option in selected patients that prevents the need for tracheostomy.
Production and characterization of gelatinous protein extracts from turkey deboner residue

Abstract Mechanically deboned turkey residue (MDTR) is a turkey processing waste with a high collagen content. The objectives of this investigation were to produce gelatinous protein extracts from MDTR by heating at 55, 70 and 85°C following an acid pre-treatment method and then to characterize them using physicochemical methods. The three extractions recovered 15·5% of total MDTR proteins and reduced the original weight of the MDTR by 55%. All the gelatinous protein extracts were rich in protein and the amino acids proline, glycine and alanine. The samples had higher mineral contents than a commerical gelatin sample, and exhibited similar molecular weight patterns. However, they had different colours, lower viscosities and gel strength than the commercial gelatin sample. The gelatinous protein extracts prepared at 55 and 70°C had better buffering capacities and higher gel strengths than those produced at 85°C.
Sediment flux modeling: Simulating nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica cycles

Abstract Sediment-water exchanges of nutrients and oxygen play an important role in the biogeochemistry of shallow coastal environments. Sediments process, store, and release particulate and dissolved forms of carbon and nutrients and sediment-water solute fluxes are significant components of nutrient, carbon, and oxygen cycles. Consequently, sediment biogeochemical models of varying complexity have been developed to understand the processes regulating porewater profiles and sediment-water exchanges. We have calibrated and validated a two-layer sediment biogeochemical model (aerobic and anaerobic) that is suitable for application as a stand-alone tool or coupled to water-column biogeochemical models. We calibrated and tested a stand-alone version of the model against observations of sediment-water flux, porewater concentrations, and process rates at 12 stations in Chesapeake Bay during a 4–17 year period. The model successfully reproduced sediment-water fluxes of ammonium ( NH 4 + ), nitrate ( NO 3 − ), phosphate ( PO 4 3 − ), and dissolved silica (Si(OH)4 or DSi) for diverse chemical and physical environments. A root mean square error (RMSE)-minimizing optimization routine was used to identify best-fit values for many kinetic parameters. The resulting simulations improved the performance of the model in Chesapeake Bay and revealed (1) the need for an aerobic-layer denitrification formulation to account for NO3- reduction in this zone, (2) regional variability in denitrification that depends on oxygen levels in the overlying water, (3) a regionally-dependent solid-solute PO 4 3 − partitioning that accounts for patterns in Fe availability, and (4) a simplified model formulation for DSi, including limited sorption of DSi onto iron oxyhydroxides. This new calibration balances the need for a universal set of parameters that remain true to biogeochemical processes with site-specificity that represents differences in physical conditions. This stand-alone model can be rapidly executed on a personal computer and is well-suited to complement observational studies in a wide range of environments.
Addressing Physical and Emotional Issues in Children's Literature

The purpose of this paper is to examine how physical and mental disabilities are addressed in children's literature. Many authors are able to integrate the issues into their work in a way that enhances the story and benefits the reader. As young readers learn about the issues and struggles faced by children with mental and physical disabilities, they will begin to sympathize with others who are different from their peers.
Screening for developmental disabilities in developing countries.

Despite waxing international interest in child disability, little information exists about the situation of children with disabilities in developing countries. Using a culture-free screen for child disability from the 2005–2007 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, this study reports percentages of children in 16 developing countries who screened positive for cognitive, language, sensory, and motor disabilities, covariation among disabilities, deviation contrasts that compare each country to the overall effect of country (including effects of age and gender and their interactions), and associations of disabilities with the Human Development Index. Developmental disabilities vary by child age and country, and younger children in developing countries with lower standards of living are more likely to screen positive for disabilities. The discussion of these findings revolves around research and policy implications.
Programming Pervasive Spaces: Workshop on Semantic Interoperability in Smart Spaces

In principle, the entire world can exploit smart spaces to great societal benefits. In practice, however, there is as yet little fundamental basis or widely accepted programming models for such systems. There are also very few established standards for interoperability and for promoting a much needed ecosystem. In this talk, I will present our ongoing research efforts in defining and supporting programmable pervasive spaces. I will start by presenting our experience and lessons learnt in building "assistive environments" for the elderly, to demonstrate the need for space programmability and to define critical new requirements particular to smart spaces. I will then present ATLAS, a middleware architecture and a sensor platform that supports self-integration and enables SODA -- a Service-Oriented Device Architecture standard. I will show how ATLAS was used as the foundation on which we built and programmed the Gator Tech Smart House, and how it enabled pervasive application development, and scalable data collection and analysis. I will then delineate the limitations of SODA and present programming model extensions that address space and user safety as well as reliability and scalability. Finally, I will present our views of a possible ecosystem within which our programming models and system support can be used to promote the interoperation and the proliferation of programmable and manageable smart spaces.
EVIDENCE FOR METHYL JASMONATE‐INDUCED PHLOROTANNIN PRODUCTION IN FUCUS VESICULOSUS (PHAEOPHYCEAE)

The plant growth regulators jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) have recently been identified in a variety of marine algae; however, their role in these organisms is currently unknown. Here we report that exposure to MeJA, during periods of tidal emergence causes the induction of polyphenolic chemical defenses (the phlorotannins) in two populations of the common rockweed Fucus vesiculosus (Linnaeus). Phlorotannin concentrations were up to 1.6 times higher in the growing apices of F. vesiculosus from both Avery Point (Connecticut, USA) and Roosevelt Inlet (Delaware, USA) within 10–14 days after a single brief exposure to airborne MeJA at concentrations ranging from 5.42 to 542 nM. The timing and magnitude of this induced increase in phlorotannin concentration are similar to that caused by real and simulated herbivory, raising the question of whether jasmonates, or their oxylipin relatives, are natural elements of antiherbivore responses in Fucus, as they are in vascular plants.
On Matrix Equations of Twinning in Crystals

The algebraic equation of twinning involves a unimodular matrix, a general nonsingular matrix, a rotation, and two vectors. This paper generalizes the investigations of Ericksen, Pitteri, Zanzotto, and Gurtin by listing for each given unimodular matrix all the solutions of the twinning equation; that is, listing all the possibilities of the other variables. In an almost equivalent way, it assumes a rotation and a vector given and lists all the solutions. But in a different approach, it assumes that the nonsingular matrix is the identity and gives all the solutions. The last approach is linked to elementary number theory. One finding of the work here is that the twinning equation merely asks that a part of the orbit of the rotation matrix be synchronized with some part of the orbit of the unimodular matrix by the nonsingular matrix.
Potentials of skin diagnostic with digital photometric patterning of backscattered linearly polarized light

Potentials of two modalities of skin diagnostic with focused and expanded linearly polarized probe light are studied. For the focused beam (wavelength 650 nm) the photometric patterns of light backscattered from skin and collagenous tissue phantoms were recorded using digital camera. It is shown that equiintensity contours are well fitted with ellipses that appeared to follow the orientation of collagen fibers. In the peripheral zone from the entry point of the probe beam the ratio of the ellipses semi-axes is correlated with the ratio ofreduced scattering coefficients obtained from intensity profiles. In the vicinity of the entry point it depends on the mutual orientation of polarization vector and collagen fibers. For the expanded probe beam the digital mapping of the residual polarization degree of backscattered linearly polarized light allowed visualization of the hidden structure of earlier fibrosis of the mouse skin arisen from X-ray treatment. The structure of the skin fibrosis was enhanced using Fourier transform filtering of polarization degree pattern. The pattern scanning with Pearson correlation coefficient was developed to determine the orientation and characteristic size of hidden structure. Both modalities may be potentially used for diagnostic ofskin abnormalities, such as fibrosis.
On the application of immunological techniques in geographic group studies of Atlantic sea herring, Clupea harengus. II. Herring serum analysis by gel diffusion.

The sera of Atlantic sea herring, collected from 13 contiguous oceanic locations, were assayed by gel (double) diffusion for precipitinogen differences. An immune serum (rabbit) against the sera of each location was required. Gel diffusion patterns characteristic of specific geographic origins of herring sera were not detected. Immune serum aliquots were therefore individually neutralized with one of a series of dilutions of herring serum from the various geographic locations prior to diffusion (the use of undiluted serum results in complete precipitin neutralization regardless of its origin). The neutralization capacity of origin-separate precipitinogens appears to be related to the geographical distance separating the origins of immunizing and neutralizing sera. Sera of unknown origins, providing they originate from the overall area sampled, can be related to sera of specific origins by comparison of their neutralization capacities. The gel diffusion results are in agreement with previously reported immunoelectrophoretic data (DiCapua, 1966) and are consistent regardless of sex, pool size constituting the sample or collection date. The serological relationship of the five dominant clupeoid species is examined.
Problematics in the history of philosophy

Marjorie Grene has been a member of our department at Virginia Tech for only a short while and yet it is hard to imagine a time when she was not. Not only has her energy inspired us, and often exhausted us, but her interests complement the interests of so many of us that this place in particular seems to be especially fitting for her. Since we are a department heavily weighted with historians, her long-standing concerns about how to do the history of philos0phy makes her a natural addition to our group. Her views in this area are of immediate import since many of us in the department also participate in an interdisciplinary program in the history, philosophy and sociology of science. As might be expected, a major topic of concern in those circles is how best to use the various disciplinary approaches to complement one another so as to illuminate the issues under discussion. Her strong views on historical methodology put Marjorie right into the middle of those discussions, in many cases forcing a reconsideration of issues we thought long settled, and all to good results. By way of appreciation for all that reconsidering, for many hours of provocative discussion, with many thanks for 'tons' of proof-reading and good-natured jibes about rampant pragmatism, I offer the following brief considerations on a historiographical issue, with an open apology to Marjorie for the pragmatic twist. Marjorie Grene begins her marvelous book on Descartes with some comments on the unfortunate consequences of doing Whiggish history of philosophy. Her complaint in brief, is that "much that has been written recently, especially on Descartes and especially in English... is so narrowly confined to the terms of the late twentieth-century debate that the real Descartes is simply left aside altogether" (Grene 1985, p. 3). For Marjorie, the proper role of historical philosophy is subtly different. In her view, "we w~mt on the one hand to put our questions into historical context and on the other to illuminate history, to comprehend and criticize the arguments of dead philosophers in the light of what seems to us live issues here and now". The illumination of history comes from two directions. With respect to Descartes, it requires care
Frequency Rates and Correlates of Contrapower Harassment in Higher Education

The current study investigated incivility, sexual harassment, and racial-ethnic harassment simultaneously when the targets were faculty members and the perpetrators were students (i.e., academic contrapower harassment; ACH). The sample constituted 257 faculty members (90% were White and 53% were women) from a medium-sized state university in the Midwestern United States. They completed an anonymous survey, including an openended question about a critical ACH incident. The findings revealed that 72% of the total sample had experienced some type of mistreatment from students during the past 2 years. The author hypothesized gender differences in frequency rates for overall ACH, incivility, and sexual harassment; however, there were none. Hence, this hypothesis was not supported. The author also hypothesized that incivility would predict sexual and ethnic harassment. This hypothesis was generally supported. Furthermore, he hypothesized that demographic, work-related, and tolerance for faculty-student romance would predict ACH and its subscales. The findings generally supported this hypothesis, with somewhat different predictors by gender. He also hypothesized that harassed faculty, especially women, would experience worse job-related outcomes than never harassed faculty. Neither gender nor the interaction was significant, but the main effect for harassment was, with harassed faculty members experiencing worse job-related outcomes than nonharassed faculty members. Thus this hypothesis was partially supported. Practical implications are discussed.
Progressive Amnestic Dementia, Hippocampal Sclerosis, and Mutation in C9ORF72

The most common cause of familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TAR DNA-binding protein-43 pathology (FTLD-TDP) has been found to be an expansion of a hexanucleotide repeat (GGGGCC) in a noncoding region of the gene C9ORF72. Hippocampal sclerosis (HpScl) is a common finding in FTLD-TDP. Our objective was to screen for the presence of C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions in a pathologically confirmed cohort of “pure” hippocampal sclerosis cases (n = 33), outside the setting of FTLD-TDP and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using a recently described repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation (C9RANT) antibody that was found to be highly specific for c9FTD/ALS, we identified a single “pure” HpScl autopsy case with a repeat expansion in C9ORF72 (c9HpScl). Mutation screening was also performed with repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction and further confirmed with Southern blotting. The c9HpScl patient had a 14-year history of a slowly progressive amnestic syndrome and a clinical diagnosis of probable AD. Neuropsychological testing revealed memory impairment, but no deficits in other cognitive domains. Autopsy showed hippocampal sclerosis with TDP-43 immunoreactive neuronal inclusions relatively limited to limbic lobe structures. Neuritic pathology immunoreactive for p62 was more frequent than TDP-43 in amygdala and hippocampus. Frequent p62-positive neuronal inclusions were present in cerebellar granule neurons as is typical of C9ORF72 mutation carriers. There was no significant FTLD or motor neuron disease. C9RANT was found to be sensitive and specific in this autopsy-confirmed series of HpScl cases. The findings in this patient suggest that the clinical and pathologic spectrum of C9ORF72 repeat expansion is wider than frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease, including cases of progressive amnestic dementia with restricted TDP-43 pathology associated with HpScl.
The associations of alcohol drinking and drinking cessation to measures of the immune system in middle-aged men.

To estimate the association between the immunologic responses of the cell-mediated and humoral systems and alcohol drinking, we used data from the Vietnam Experience Study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control. That study, conducted from 1985 to 1986, was based on a random sample of 4462 male, Vietnam-era, U.S. veterans. By using linear regression, we evaluated how (1) the number of alcoholic drinks the subjects consumed per month and (2) the drinking cessation of certain subjects were associated with their relative and absolute T, B, CD4, and CD8 lymphocyte counts and immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM, and IgG levels. We used geometric means and percentage differences in geometric means of immune status to measure the associations and adjusted these values to account for the effect of covariates. The results indicated that measures of immune status differed among the drinking categories and that, generally, the differences changed after adjustment for covariates. These differences consisted, as alcohol consumption increased, of higher IgA and IgM levels, relative T and CD4 lymphocytes, and the ratio of CD4 to CD8 cells, and of lower IgG levels, relative B and CD8 lymphocytes, absolute lymphocyte, and lymphocyte subset counts after adjusting for other covariates. Among former drinkers, we found no clear-cut pattern in measures of immunity for a few years after cessation and then found that values of former drinkers tended to return toward values of nondrinkers as they continued to abstain.
Metal gettering by boron-silicide precipitates in boron-implanted silicon

We show that Fe, Co, Cu, and Au impurities in Si are strongly gettered to boron-silicide precipitates formed by supersaturation B implantation and annealing. Effective binding free energies relative to interstitial solution range form somewhat above 1 to more than 2 eV. The B-Si precipitates formed at temperatures {le}1100{degrees}C lack long range structural order but closely resemble and icosahedral B{sub 3}Si phase in composition, local bonding, and chemical potential. Evidence indicates that the metal atoms go into solution in the B-Si phase, and this is interpreted in terms of the novel bonding and structural characteristics of B-rich icosahedral compounds.
Auroral radar observations at Siple Station, Antarctica

Abstract A dual coherent 50 MHz auroral radar installed at Siple Station, Antarctica, continuously monitored echo intensity and mean-Doppler velocity from 29 December 1976 until late March 1978. We describe here the experimental technique and present some statistical results including yearly averaged echooccurrence patterns and irregularity drift velocity characteristics. Our results show that: 1. (1) the irregularity drifts are approximately westward (poleward electric fields) in the evening, and eastward (equatorward electric fields) in the morning following the electric field reversal in the region of the Harang discontinuity; 2. (2) the Harang discontinuity under disturbed conditions (average K p = 5 0 ) as seen by both radars is located around 2100–2300 MLT; 3. (3) the relationship between the irregularity drift velocity and the actual electron drift velocity is strongly dependent on the angle between the radar beam and the earth's magnetic field, as predicted by linear theory.
Comparison of direct harvest and cultures for karyotyping EDTA anticoagulated marrow

Studies were undertaken to determine whether EDTA was a satisfactory anticoagulant for tissue specimens for cytogenetic analysis and to investigate a modification of a currently used culture technique for obtaining metaphases. The latter involved to prolonged exposure to very low-dose colcemid and was successful in qualitative or quantitative enhancement, or both, of the temperature yield over that obtained from direct harvest in 53% of the patients studied. EDTA is a suitable anticoagulant for cytogenetic studies of specimens from either direct harvest or short-term culture if the specimen is either processed within 24 hr after collection or diluted 1:1 with Eagles minimal essential media, supplemented with fetal bovine serum and refrigerated until processed. Success has been obtained with specimens stored up to 144 hr.
Proposed method of measuring the current distribution in a Tokamak plasma

It is shown that the current distribution in a typical Tokamak plasma can be measured by a light scattering technique. The direction of the total magnetic field is measured accurately enough that the magnitude of the small poloidal component can be found. The field direction is measured by observing the scattered frequency spectrum of CO2 laser light. The usual Gaussian spectrum becomes modulated at the electron cyclotron frequency when the difference between the incident and scattered wave vectors is nearly perpendicular to the magnetic field. The harmonics can be superimposed with a Fabry-Perot interferometer and their collective width resolved as the scattering direction is changed. The SNR is high only when the detector is shielded against background radiation.