cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Keyword Assisted Topic Models

In recent years, fully automated content analysis based on probabilistic topic models has become popular among social scientists because of their scalability. The unsupervised nature of the models makes them suitable for exploring topics in a corpus without prior knowledge. However, researchers find that these models often fail to measure specific concepts of substantive interest by inadvertently creating multiple topics with similar content and combining distinct themes into a single topic. In this paper, we empirically demonstrate that providing a small number of keywords can substantially enhance the measurement performance of topic models. An important advantage of the proposed keyword assisted topic model (keyATM) is that the specification of keywords requires researchers to label topics prior to fitting a model to the data. This contrasts with a widespread practice of post-hoc topic interpretation and adjustments that compromises the objectivity of empirical findings. In our application, we find that keyATM provides more interpretable results, has better document classification performance, and is less sensitive to the number of topics than the standard topic models. Finally, we show that keyATM can also incorporate covariates and model time trends. An open-source software package is available for implementing the proposed methodology.
HLH Associated with Disseminated Tuberculosis.

HLH Associated with Disseminated Tuberculosis A 63-year-old man presented with fever, dyspnea, and weight loss. Bone marrow biopsy revealed hemophagocytosis and noncaseating granulomas. A diagnosis...
Toward a “treadmill test” for cognition: Improved prediction of general cognitive ability from the task activated brain

General cognitive ability (GCA) refers to a trait-like ability that contributes to performance across diverse cognitive tasks. Identifying brain-based markers of GCA has been a longstanding goal of cognitive and clinical neuroscience. Recently, predictive modeling methods have emerged that build whole-brain, distributed neural signatures for phenotypes of interest. In this study, we employ a predictive modeling approach to predict GCA based on fMRI task activation patterns during the N-back working memory task as well as six other tasks in the Human Connectome Project dataset (n = 967), encompassing 15 task contrasts in total. We found tasks are a highly effective basis for prediction of GCA: The 2-back versus 0-back contrast achieved a 0.50 correlation with GCA scores in 10-fold cross-validation, and 13 out of 15 task contrasts afforded statistically significant prediction of GCA. Additionally, we found that task contrasts that produce greater frontoparietal activation and default mode network deactivation-a brain activation pattern associated with executive processing and higher cognitive demand-are more effective in the prediction of GCA. These results suggest a picture analogous to treadmill testing for cardiac function: Placing the brain in a more cognitively demanding task state significantly improves brain-based prediction of GCA.
Genome Analysis of a Novel Tembusu Virus in Taiwan

We identified and isolated a novel Tembusu virus (TMUV) strain TP1906 (TMUV-TP1906) from a Culex annulus mosquito pool collected from the northern part of Taiwan in 2019. The TMUV-TP1906 genome is a 10,990-nucleotide-long, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA, consisting of a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polyprotein of 3425 amino acids, with 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of 94 and 618 nucleotides, respectively. The nucleotide sequence of the TMUV-TP1906 of ORF exhibited 93.71% and 91.27% similarity with Sitiawan virus (STWV) and the TMUV prototype strain MM1775, respectively. The 3′-UTR variable region of TMUV-TP1906 showed nucleotide sequence divergence with other TMUV strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete ORF and polyprotein sequences revealed that TMUV-TP1906 is most closely related to STWV which causes encephalitis and retarded growth in chickens. We found that the TMUV-TP1906 caused a cytopathic effect (CPE) in the DF-1 chicken fibroblast cell line, while no apparent CPE was observed in Vero and C6/36 cells. In this study, we first identified and isolated a novel TMUV strain in Taiwan. In addition, to our knowledge, it is the first time that the TMUV strain was isolated from the Cx. annulus mosquitoes. Further study is warranted to investigate the host range and virulence of TMUV-TP1906.
The Death Throes of Mercy - Our Shared Responsibility When Hospitals Close.

The Death Throes of Mercy Soon after Hahnemann Hospital closed, another Philadelphia institution, Mercy Philadelphia Hospital, announced that it, too, will close. But for all the disruption they ca...
Caching in Dynamic IoT Networks by Deep Reinforcement Learning

The sensing service of Internet-of-Things (IoT) networks enables IoT sensors to sense the environment information (e.g., temperature and traffic conditions) and send them through the IoT gateway to the users who request those information. The explosive growth of IoT users and sensors injects massive traffic into IoT networks and easily depletes the battery of IoT sensors. Caching at the IoT gateway is hence a promising solution to mitigate this problem by storing popular IoT data at the IoT gateway and sending them directly to the users instead of activating IoT sensors to transmit the data. In our work, we investigate the content placement problem, which determines data to be cached at each time epoch in dynamic IoT networks with the objective to minimize the average data transmission delay constrained by the cache storage capacity and IoT data freshness. We formulate our problem as an integer linear programming (ILP) problem and then model it as a Markov decision process (MDP). A deep reinforcement learning algorithm is proposed to solve this problem and its performances are demonstrated via extensive simulations.
Photocatalytic α-Alkylation of Amines with Alkyl Halides

α-Branched amines represent essential building blocks for organic synthesis. They are traditionally prepared through nucleophilic addition to imines. These methods often require highly reactive org...
Changes in Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent Use Under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program.

Risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) programs are intended to improve safe use of US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. However, controversy exists over whether they consistently accomplish this goal. We aimed to assess how initiation of the erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa changed following implementation and enforcement (following a 1-year post-implementation grace period) of a prominent REMS program warning physicians against use in cancer patients with hemoglobin above 10 g/dL. Using claims data from a large US commercial insurance company, we conducted interrupted time-series analyses of darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa initiation among adult cancer patients in the 12 months before REMS program implementation, after REMS program implementation, and after REMS program enforcement. We also evaluated differences in inappropriate initiation (hemoglobin tests all above 10 g/dL in the prior month) between the periods. In total, we identified 3456 darbepoetin alfa initiators and 2632 epoetin alfa initiators. Over the study period, the monthly number of initiators per 100,000 patients with cancer fell from 119 to 32 for darbepoetin alfa and from 82 to 34 for epoetin alfa. However, non-significant post-REMS program implementation level and slope changes per 100,000 adult patients with cancer were observed for darbepoetin alfa (level 0.03 [95% confidence interval (CI) −14.98 to 15.05]; slope 1.94 [95% CI −0.22 to 4.10]) and epoetin alfa (level −4.10 [95% CI −16.85 to 8.65]; slope −0.52 [95% CI −2.35 to 1.32]). Non-significant post-REMS program enforcement level and slope changes were also seen for both drugs (darbepoetin alfa level 1.58 [95% CI −0.58 to 3.74, slope −0.28 [95% CI −15.29 to 14.73]; epoetin alfa level 1.58 (95% CI −0.26 to 3.42], slope 5.74 [95% CI −7.01 to 18.49]). Finally, non-significant changes in inappropriate darbepoetin alfa (60% vs. 53% vs. 57%, p = 0.68) and epoetin alfa (53% vs. 53% vs. 46%, p = 0.41) initiation were observed between the three study periods. REMS program implementation and enforcement were not associated with significant changes in ESA initiation, adding to concerns over the degree to which certain REMS programs enhance patient safety.
Depigmenting effect of Xanthohumol from hop extract in MNT-1 human melanoma cells and normal human melanocytes

Abstract Xanthohumol (XH) is the most abundant prenylated flavonoid found in the hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) and has previously been shown to have depigmenting effects in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells; however, studies of its depigmenting efficacy in human melanocytes are still lacking. In this work, we explored the effects of XH on melanogenesis in MNT-1 human melanoma cells and normal human melanocytes from darkly-pigmented skin (HEM-DP). XH was screened for cytotoxicity over 48 h, and subsequently tested on melanogenesis in MNT-1 cells. XH was further tested in HEM-DP cells for melanin synthesis and melanosome export; dendricity was quantitated to assess effects on melanosome export. Melanosome degradation was studied in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Our results showed that XH inhibited melanin synthesis in MNT-1 cells at 30 μM but increased intracellular tyrosinase activity without affecting ROS levels. In HEM-DP cells, XH robustly suppressed cellular tyrosinase activity at nontoxic concentrations (2.5–5 μM) without any effect on melanin synthesis. However, XH inhibited melanosome export by reducing dendrite number and total dendrite length. Further testing in HaCaT cells demonstrated that XH induced melanosome degradation at low micromolar concentrations without any cytotoxicity. In summary, our results demonstrate that XH at low micromolar concentrations might hold promise as a potent inhibitor of human pigmentation by primarily targeting melanin export and melanin degradation. Further studies to elucidate the signaling mechanisms of action of melanosome export inhibition by XH and in vivo efficacy are warranted.
Feasibility, preliminary efficacy, and accessibility of a twitter-based social support group vs Fitbit only to decrease sedentary behavior in women.

Author(s): Oppezzo, MA; Tremmel, JA; Kapphahn, K; Desai, M; Baiocchi, M; Sanders, M; Prochaska, JJ | Abstract: BackgroundHealth behavior change interventions delivered by social media allow for real-time, dynamic interaction, peer social support, and experimenter-provided content.AimsWe tested the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel Twitter-based walking break intervention with daily behavior change strategies and prompts for social support, combined with a Fitbit, vs. Fitbit alone.MethodsIn a 2-group pilot, 45 sedentary women from a heart clinic were randomized to Twitter + Fitbit activity tracker (Tweet4Wellness, nn=n23) or Fitbit-only (control, nn=n22). All received a Fitbit and 13nweeks of tailored weekly step goals. Tweet4Wellness consisted of a private Twitter support group, with daily automated behavior change "tweets" informed by behavior change theory, and encouragement to communicate within the group. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and enrollment numbers, implementation challenges, and number and type of help requests from participants throughout the study period. Preliminary efficacy outcomes provided by Fitbit data were sedentary minutes, number of hours with g250 steps, maximum sitting bout, weighted sedentary median bout length, total steps, intensity minutes (g3.0 METS), and ratio of time spent sitting-to-moving. Acceptability outcomes included level of Twitter participation within Tweet4Wellness, and Likert scale plus open-ended survey questions on enjoyment and perceived effectiveness of intervention components. Survey data on acceptability of the features of the intervention were collected at 13nweeks (end-of-treatment [EOT]) and 22nweeks (follow-up).ResultsThe study was feasible, with addressable implementation challenges. Tweet4Wellness participants changed significantly from baseline to EOT relative to control participants on number of active hours pn=n.018, total steps pn=n.028, and ratio of sitting-to-moving, pn=n.014. Only sitting-to-moving was significant at follow-up (pn=n.047). Among Tweet4Wellness participants, each tweet sent during treatment was associated with a 0.11 increase in active hours per day (pn=n.04) and a 292-step increase per day (pnln.001). Tweet4Wellness participants averaged 54.8 (SDn=n35.4) tweets, totaling 1304 tweets, and reported liking the accountability and peer support provided by the intervention.ConclusionA Twitter-delivered intervention for promoting physical activity among inactive women from a heart clinic was feasible, acceptable, and demonstrated preliminary efficacy in increasing daily active hours, daily total steps, and the ratio of sitting-to-moving from pre to post for the intervention compared with the control. Lessons learned from this pilot suggest that the next study should expand the recruitment pool, refine the intervention to increase group engagement, and select active hours, total steps, and ratio of sitting-to-movement as primary sedentary behavior measures.
TSM: Tinkering Superficially at the Margin—

This paper summarizes the findings of a 2 yr. evaluation of the Transportation System Management (TSM) program of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The study assessed both the technical options commonly associated with TSM—such as car pool matching, flexible work hours, exclusive lanes for buses and car pools, and discriminating pricing? and the planning philosophy implicit in the federal regulations. The analysis suggests that a package of TSM measures combining preferential freeway entry, car pool matching, paratransit, and flexible working hours, which emphasize exploiting underutilized capacity, are technically and politically superior to the more drastic penalty-centered alternatives, such as dedicating freeway and arterial lanes to high-occupancy vehicles, removing parking in congested areas, and heavy auto-disincentive surcharges (in excess of marginal cost pricing). The research concludes that time-management strategies, such as variable work hours, are the least exploited of the promising measures available, and thus deserve increased attention.
The Application of NEPA to Nuclear Weapons Production, Storage, and Testing: Weinberger v. Catholic Action of Hawaii/Peace Education Project

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirement of environmental impact statements for the testing of military equipment, specifically nuclear weapons, conflicts with national security objectives. The author examines NEPA and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in terms of the environmental effects of weapons testing and the relevant case law. The Supreme Court's decision in Catholic Action of Hawaii/Peace Education Project sought to resolve the conflict by distinguishing between a project which is contemplated and one which is proposed. The classification scheme embodied in the FOIA exemption for national security may cause unwarranted frustration of NEPA's goals. The author outlines a new classification system and review mechanism that could curb military abuse in this area.
Mapping Evidence Law

This paper advances a contextualist approach to empirical legal research, arguing that legal scholars should seek to map behavioral regularities in discrete legal contexts rather than develop a broad theory of legal judgment. The need for this cartographic approach to legal behavior, and the inadequacy of a strictly nomothetic approach, is illustrated through discussion of recent applications of heuristics and biases research to evidence law. Arguments for broad reforms of evidence law based on a "cognitive miser" view of legal judgment fail to recognize the contextual limitations on this model of human judgment and fail to provide the kinds of evidence that would justify reforms to evidence law. A set of key research questions and strategies for future studies of legal judgment and decision-making is proposed, with an emphasis on developing information about the practical significance and superability of judgmental biases and errors.
Cloning and expression of a novel angiotensin II receptor subtype.

Abstract Angiotensin II (AII) is a major regulator of cardiovascular function and fluid homeostasis. Recently, the cDNA for an AII receptor (AT1) was cloned from rat smooth muscle and bovine adrenal. To search for AII receptor subtypes, we amplified rat adrenal cortex cDNA by PCR using primers based on the AT1 receptor. The product was distinct from the AT1 receptor as indicated by restriction enzyme analysis and DNA sequencing. A full-length cDNA clone (2.2 kilobase pairs) encoding a novel AII receptor (AT3) was obtained by screening an adrenal cortex library. The AT3 cDNA encodes a Mr 40,959 protein with 95% amino acid identity to the rat smooth muscle receptor, but the overall nucleotide similarity is 71% due to low homology in the 5'- (58%) and 3'- (62%) untranslated regions. Expressed AT3 receptors in Xenopus oocytes and COS-7 cells mediate agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization but are pharmacologically distinct from the AT1 receptors. AT3 mRNA is most abundant in the adrenal cortex and pituitary and differs from AT1 mRNA in its tissue distribution. The structural features of the AT3 receptor, including two additional potential phosphorylation sites for protein kinase C, could be related to the distinctive binding properties of the adrenal and vascular receptors and to their differential regulation during altered sodium intake.
Longevity and aging: beneficial effects of exposure to mild stress.

Every organism has to deal with exposure to stresses.Animals have developed various strategies to cope with stress. It appears that the developed resistanceto stress is often related to longevity. Somescientists have advanced the hypothesis that thestress response may also counteract the negativeeffects of aging, and that exposing organisms to amild, sublethal stress, inducing a stress response,may help them to live longer. Several mild stresseshave been reported to increase longevity (irradiation,heat and cold shock, hypergravity, exercise, etc.), andone of them, hypergravity, to decrease the rate ofbehavioral aging. The mechanisms whereby thesestresses increase longevity have not yet been elucidated.However, the studies conducted so far show that theymay involve metabolic regulation and stress protein(hsps) induction.
Lithium-cooled blankets for advanced tokamaks

The main objective of the Tokamak Power System Studies (TPSS) at Argonne National Lab. during fiscal year 1985 was to explore innovative design concepts that have the potential for significant enhancement of the attractiveness of a tokamak-based power plant. Activities in the area of plasma engineering resulted in a reference reactor concept, which served as a model for the impurity control and first-wall/blanket/shield studies. The liquid-metal-cooled first-wall/blanket/shield design activity was centered around the vanadium alloy structure and liquid-lithium coolant leading blanket concept as identified by the Blanket Comparison and Selection Study (BCSS). A ferritic steel structure and a LiPb breeder were considered as backup options. The magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) effects associated with self-cooled liquid-metal blanket/first-wall systems are substantially reduced by the lower magnetic fields required for higher plasmas, the lower neutron wall loading resulting from reduced power output, and the smaller reactor size of the TPSS model reactor. Therefore, improved performance characteristics of self-cooled liquid-metal blanket concepts are achievable mainly because the design constraints are more relaxed compared to the BCSS guidelines. Key aspects of the designs evaluated in the current study include the following: (1) design simplicity; (2) use of the first wall as an impurity control device; (3) modularmore » first-wall/blanket/reflector/shield construction; and (4) integrated first-wall/blanket/reflector/shield.« less
The Worst Case GEO Environment and the Frequency of Arcs in GEO

Proper spacecraft design and testing depend on a knowledge of the worst case environment and the number of arcs to be endured during the spacecraft lifetime. In this paper, we define the criteria to be used to specify the worst case geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) charging environment (plasma density and temperature), including the physical constraints on particle and magnetic field energy densities and the relative importance of frame charging and differential charging. A previous estimate of the frequency of arcing (found in the literature and incorporated into an International Standards Organization standard) and the consequent total number of arcs to be encountered in a GEO satellite lifetime are found to be incorrect because they were based on environmental measurements using a faulty algorithm to determine spacecraft charging and plasma density. Using more accurate estimates of the frequency of GEO plasma densities and temperatures, we arrive at a much lower estimate of the total number of arcs during a GEO satellite lifetime. Finally, the worst case GEO charging environment seen to date is determined from Nascap-2k simulations. Our estimates of worst case charging environments and arc frequencies may be more confidently used by GEO spacecraft designers and test engineers.
Cohesion of Languages in Grammar Networks

The long term goal of our research is to produce a collection of heterogeneous agents that learn about their environment, communicate with one another about it, affect the environment in ways that take advantage of one another’s special abilities and circumstances, and report to human observers. A principal challenge of this research is to define the cognitive and linguistic features that allow agents to develop a high-level language among themselves. For most purposes we would like all agents to agree on a common language so that each can communicate with all others. This is in some ways analogous to wishing convergent control of distributed adaptive agents. There are several reasons why it is desirable for autonomous agents to acquire their own language [5, 17]. First, an acquired language can evolve over time to adopt its structure to various types of noise and different types of information to be transmitted, thus providing a truly flexible communication channel. Second, agents with heterogeneous sensors can map the same symbol to an environmental stimulus despite having very different internal representations. This feature also allows agents to express observations that were not anticipated by the designer of the system. Third, with a learned high-level language, agents
Investigating Environmental Flows for Riparian Vegetation Recruitment Using System Dynamics Modelling

System dynamics modelling is an underutilized tool that can provide flexible and system-response analyses of environmental flows. Because system dynamics models are able to incorporate causal connections between social, economic and environmental aspects of a system, they are well suited to study water management problems. In addition, system dynamics models are excellent tools for incorporating expert and stakeholder feedback, which is an important component of any environmental flow study. Given the benefits of using a system dynamics modelling approach, our objective was to develop and demonstrate a stochastic system dynamics modelling framework to evaluate environmental flow alternatives. Specifically, our research examined the influence of flow alternatives on cottonwood recruitment and reservoir storage within the Rio Chama basin, New Mexico, USA. We used the ‘recruitment box model’ to investigate the impact of three alternatives on cottonwood recruitment within the project reach. The recruitment box model attributes seedling survival to floodplain elevation, annual timing of peak flows and river stage declines that match seedling root growth. We also demonstrate how flow alternatives can be evaluated using comparative metrics, which allow water resource managers to more easily evaluate alternatives before incorporating environmental flows into existing operations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Different molecular and messenger ribonucleic acid forms of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in the pregnant baboon (Papio anubis)

The ratio of the serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factors (IGF) to IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 is highly correlated (Baxter & Martin 1986). During pregnancy in the baboon, this ratio is perturbed; serum IGFBP-3 concentrations increase 10-fold, yet IGF-I levels are unaltered and IGF-II is increased only 2-fold (Giudice et al. 1993). The aims of this study were to determine the molecular distribution of IGFBP-3 and to identify the tissue source and form(s) of IGFBP-3 during pregnancy in the baboon. Serum of non-pregnant and pregnant baboons, and conditioned media of decidua and placental explant cultures were characterized using neutral size-exclusion chromatography in combination with Western ligand blot, Western immunoblot, an IGFBP-3 radioimmunoassay (RIA) and an IGFBP-3 protease assay. Localization of immunoreactive IGFBP-3 was determined by immunocytochemistry, and expression of IGFBP-3 mRNA in the placental and decidual explants was examined by Northern blot analysis. RIA confirmed that immunoreactive IGFBP-3 is increased 10-fold in pregnancy serum compared with non-pregnancy serum. Size-exclusion chromatography combined with an IGFBP-3 RIA revealed that, unlike non-pregnancy serum where 70% of the immunoreactive IGFBP-3 elutes in the 150 kDa ternary complex, equal amounts of immunoreactive IGFBP-3 were measured in pregnancy serum in the < or = 150 and 60 kDa IGFBP regions. Western analysis revealed that non-pregnancy serum contained predominantly a 45-40 kDa IGFBP-3 doublet and a 28 kDa immunoreactive form of IGFBP-3, while in pregnancy serum IGFBP-3 existed as a 45-40 kDa doublet, as well as 26-28 kDa and 18 kDa immunoreactive forms. These alternative forms of IGFBP-3 were not attributable to detectable IGFBP-3 protease activity. To identify the source of the increased serum levels of IGFBP-3 during pregnancy, we examined explant culture media of baboon decidua and placenta. Size-exclusion chromatography combined with RIA and Western analysis revealed that: (1) more immunoreactive IGFBP-3 was produced by decidual cultures than by placental explants, but less 45-40 kDa IGFBP-3 was present in decidua; (2) the immunoreactive forms of IGFBP-3 detected in decidua were similar to those found in maternal serum; (3) placental explants secreted only 45-40 kDa IGFBP-3 in culture. IGFBP-3 was immunohistochemically localized to the cells of placental villi, and to the perinuclear region of the decidual cells and staining for IGFBP-3 was more intense in the decidua than in the placenta. Northern analysis of the explant cultures revealed two IGFBP-3 mRNA transcripts of 2.4 and 1.7 kb in both decidua and placenta which may account for the different immunoreactive forms of IGFBP-3 detected in the baboon. However analysis of non-pregnancy liver also revealed two IGFBP-3 transcripts of 2.4 and 1.7 kb. These data suggest that the two transcripts are not solely pregnancy-associated and levels of protein may be the reason for detection of multiple immunoreactive IGFBP-3 fragments in pregnancy.
Adenovirus-mediated over-expression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist reduces susceptibility to excitotoxic brain injury in perinatal rats

Abstract In seven-day-old rats, intracerebral injection of N-methyl- d -aspartate transiently stimulates expression of Interleukin-1β messenger RNA. To evaluate the role of Interleukin-1β in the pathogenesis of excitotoxic injury, we sought to determine if Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, an endogenous competitive inhibitor of Interleukin-1β, could attenuate N-methyl- d -aspartate-induced injury. To induce sustained over-expression of Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in the brain, a recombinant adenovirus encoding Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was administered by intracerebroventricular injection into three-day-old rats. Increased brain concentrations of Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist two to six days later were documented by assays of tissue homogenates and by immunocytochemistry. To evaluate the impact of Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist on N-methyl- d -aspartate neurotoxicity, three-day-old animals received intracerebroventricular injections of either adenovirus encoding Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist or a control adenovirus encoding β-galactosidase, followed four days later by right intrastriatal injections of N-methyl- d -aspartate (10 nmol/0.5 μl), a dose that typically elicits excitotoxic injury in the ipsilateral striatum and adjacent hippocampus, or saline. Animals were killed five days later, and brain damage was quantitated by measurement of bilateral cross-sectional areas of the striatum and anterior hippocampus. In three independent experiments, in N-methyl- d -aspartate-lesioned animals, both striatal and hippocampal injuries were reduced in animals that had been infected with adenovirus that encoded Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, in comparison with littermates infected with the control adenovirus (right striatal volume loss ranged from 16 to 24%, compared with 54–65% volume loss in controls). There was no striatal atrophy in adenovirus-infected saline-injected animals. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that Interleukin-1β is a mediator of excitotoxic brain injury in perinatal rats.
Mechanistic studies of oxygen reduction on Fe-PEI derived non-PGM electrocatalysts

Abstract Mechanistic studies of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on electrocatalysts derived from the pyrolysis of iron salts and polyethyleneimine (PEI) were performed in acidic and alkaline media. The prepared materials have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) methods. Systematic studies of catalyst loading on working electrode allowed establishing a working range suitable for mechanistic studies. It was found that the overall mechanism of ORR in acid electrolyte is not identical with that in alkaline media indicating complex interplay. The dependence of electron transfer numbers on catalyst loading indicates 2 × 2e − mechanism. The analysis of the Tafel plots corresponding to electrode polarizations have demonstrated difference of the reaction rate limiting steps in alkaline and acid media.
Surface Reflectance Factor Retrieval from Thematic Mapper Data

Based on the absolute radiometric calibration of the TM and the use of a radiative transfer program for atmospheric correction, ground reflectances were retrieved for several fields of crops and bare soil in TM bands 1-4 for six TM scenes acquired over a 12-month period. These reflectances were compared to those measured using ground-based and low-altitude, aircraft-mounted radiometers. When, for four TM acquisitions, the comparison was made between areas that had been carefully selected for their high uniformity, the reflectance factors agreed to + or - 0.01 over the reflectance range 0.02-0.55. When the comparison was made for two of the above acquisitions and two others on different dates, for larger areas not carefully selected to be of uniform reflectance, the reflectance factors agreed to + or - 0.02 (1 sigma RMS), over same reflectance range.
A conditional 'limit law result on the location of the maximum of Brownian motion

Conditional on the maximum of Brownian motion exceeding a high level, an asymptotic result on the distribution of the location of the maximum is obtained.
Study of gallium arsenide surfaces

Abstract A.c. and d.c. field effect experiments have been performed on etched n and p-type GaAs samples. On (111) surfaces of n-type GaAs, quasi-equilibrium measurements are possible at very low frequencies, and a surface conductance minimum can be observed. From this the existence of acceptor levels, to a large extent bulk states, can be concluded. From optical measurements three levels (1·09, 0·88, 0·73 eV) can be deduced at room temperature. A second quasi-equilibrium situation with much larger relative conductance changes exists at high frequencies (around 8 kc s ) where the surface appears to be n-type. The slow bulk trapping has been investigated more directly with d.c. measurements, and results concerning trapping times and temperature dependences are presented. On p-type samples with (110) surfaces, evidence for slow surface states, which are ambientdependent, similar to those of Ge surfaces, has been found.
Putting The Pieces Together: It Takes a Whole Village To Raise a Novice Nurse

Poster Presentation Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program Being a part of the leadership team, I have discovered that our new nurses completed the internship program and learned the basic skills to care for patients in labor but did not always know why they were doing what they were doing. The new nurses were going through the motions but were not always seeing the big picture and putting all the pieces together. The more experienced staff and physicians were not working to help educate and engage our new nurses, nor were these staff and physicians always engaged or accountable for their own practice. Proposed Change When staff are provided the knowledge to care for their patients and are engaged and accountable, they provide safer patient care with less errors and an increased patient focus. Better collaboration between the nurses and physicians and an internship with qualified clinical coaches will allow them to take ownership of their practice and provide patient-centered care. This will give the nurses the desire to continue to learn and advance in their career. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation The process began by having the staff complete a short survey, including their perception of teamwork, engagement, accountability, education, patient focus and safety, and collaboration among the nurses and physicians. We then tallied the results, which yielded engagement, registered nurse (RN) to medical doctor (MD) collaboration, patient safety, and our education/internship with the lowest scores. We will now have teams work on these areas of focus to include physician attendance at staff meetings, classes for clinical coaches, policy education, weekly educational inservices, and much more. At the end of our project, we will resurvey the staff to see if we made improvement in these areas. We also will track our staff reporting system to determine if we had decreased errors. Implications for Nursing Practice With today's changing health care system, it will be imperative to provide nurses with the necessary education and support to provide safe patient care. By starting with your new graduates, the knowledge, engagement, and accountability of your staff will start to increase and in turn produce better patient outcomes.
The Psychology of Teen Hamlets: Edgar G. Ulmer's Strange Illusion

In her influential study A Theory of Adaptation, Linda Hutcheon locates in an awareness of the source text a substantial amount of the pleasure enjoyed in encountering an adaptation. This can occur...
Stabilization and incorporation into biomass of specific plant carbons during biodegradation in soil

The effect of soil type and incubation period on the biodegradation, incorporation into biomass, and stabilization in humus of14C-labeled cornstalk and/or wheat straw lignin, polysaccharide, and protein fractions were followed for one year. After 6 months, 56–68%, 6–21%, 71–81%, 63–75%, and 56–68% from wheat straw and from the lignin, polysaccharide, and protein fraction of wheat straw had been lost as CO2, respectively. Loss of CO2 increased only slightly with further incubation. Greater amounts of CO2, especially during the early incubation stages, were evolved from neutral and alkaline soils (pH 7.0, 7.4, 7.8) than from acid soils (pH 5.0, 5.5). After one year, a major portion of the residual C from lignin was recovered in the humic acid fraction, relatively small amounts, 5 to 17%, were lost upon acid hydrolysis, and generally <1% was found present in the biomass. Lesser amounts of the polysaccharide and protein carbons were incorporated into the humic acid, 17–20% and 16–27%, respectively. Relatively greater amounts of the residual carbons of the polysaccharide and protein were incorporated into the biomass, 4.9–7.8% and 4.6–13.4%, respectively and higher percentages were lost upon acid hydrolysis, 56 to 81%. The results for the whole wheat straw were very similar to those of the protein fraction. Overall, more residual C was stabilized into humic acid in the acid soils than in the neutral soils.
HST High-Resolution Backscatter Image of Saturn's G Ring

Abstract On 14 October 1996, we imaged Saturn's faint G ring with the Hubble Space Telescope's WFPC2 Planetary Camera. This is the highest resolution image of the G ring ever obtained in backscattered light, with an image scale of only 282 km per pixel. The 400-s exposure was taken using the F555W filter at a solar phase angle of α=1.93° and a ring tilt of B =−3.82° as seen from Earth. The radial profile of the ring was derived from azimuthal averages of the ring brightness. It is highly asymmetric, with a sharp inner edge that is abrupt at the limit of our resolution, rising from 20 to 80% of maximum intensity over a distance of less than 700 km. Outward of its peak at r =169,000 km, the G ring brightness gradually diminishes over several thousand kilometers. From a high SNR profile, averaged over ring longitudes within 25° of the East (morning) ansa, the full-width at half-maximum intensity of the G ring is ∼5200 km; higher resolution, lower SNR, profiles suggest a somewhat smaller ring width. The similarities between the radial structure seen from the HST in backscatter, and the highest resolution Voyager 1 and 2 profiles obtained in forward scattered light, imply that dust and macroscopic particles have similar distributions within the G ring.
An Exploration of the Characteristics of Effective Undergraduate Peer-Mentoring Relationships.

In this article, we explored the effectiveness of peer mentoring of undergraduate education students enrolled in core curriculum, writing-intensive courses. The context for our study was the use of peer mentors in undergraduate education writing-intensive courses. Peer mentors who had previously taken the courses were selected and trained as undergraduate peer mentors to work to facilitate students’ learning and achievement with required writing assignments. Survey rankings of important characteristics of mentors identified in previous research were examined to determine the commonality of perceptions of mentors and students of the importance of these characteristics in the mentoring relationship. The findings should be useful in the selection of mentors and implementation of other peer mentoring programs.
Weak decays of the H dibaryon

We posit the existence of a flavor, color and spin singlet six‐quark configuration called the H dibaryon. A wave function for this particle is written down, and its weak decays for a range of possible H‐masses are computed. Both ΔS=2 and ΔS=1 transitions are considered.
The CODATA/IUIS Hybridoma Data Bank: development of a hybrid system to handle complex data relationships

Abstract System design for the Hybridoma Data Bank, a database of comprehensive information on immunoreagents for use by scientists in diverse disciplines, is described. Unique problems include: use of nomenclature from diverse fields that is neither static nor standard; the need for two representations of the database — textual for readability and numeric for complex search capabilities, analysis and data compression; and a method of translating between the two representations of the database.
Highly reliable and high-yield 1300-nm InGaAlAs directly modulated ridge fabry-Perot lasers, operating at 10-gb/s, up to 110/spl deg/C, with constant current swing

Transceivers for 300-m multimode links, based on a serial 10-Gb/s laser source and incorporating a receiver based on electronic dispersion compensation (EDC), are creating the first high-volume application for a 10-Gb Fabry-Perot (FP). A highly reliable and high-yield uncooled ridge FP laser is presented. The device shows excellent power characteristics in the 25/spl divide/150/spl deg/C temperature range with very high T/sub 0/ (95 K in the temperature range 0/spl divide/85/spl deg/C and still 78 K at 150/spl deg/C). Outstanding dynamic performances are also shown: 6 dB of extinction ratio can be achieved up to 110/spl deg/C by using a constant current swing of 50 mA. Because of their enhanced performances, these devices have enabled single temperature setting of the optical module, leading to a significant test cost reduction.
HIV and depression: 2008 review and update

Since the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic, clinicians have been concerned about the prevalence of depression among their patients. Epidemiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, sociologists, and a broad array of other specialists have studied this topic, trying to determine the prevalence of depressive disorders and depressive symptoms as well as antecedents, correlates, and consequences. This review addresses the methodologic difficulties in determining depression prevalence, major findings regarding rates of disorder and correlates among different segments of the HIV community, effects of depression on HIV illness progression, psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatment findings, and behavioral effects of depression, such as its impact on medication adherence, employment, and risk behavior. Finally, the article summarizes international studies of depression prevalence in developing countries and the challenges regarding cross-national diagnostic definitions and measures.
HEMOLYSIS OF ERYTHROCYTES IN CONTACT WITH GLASS

1. Washed erythrocytes, in both acid and alkaline solutions, hemolyze more rapidly when allowed to settle out on a clean microscope slide than when kept in suspension. 2. This is also true on slides coated with paraffin, paraffin oil, or vaseline, and on mica surfaces. 3. The presence of as little as 0.1 per cent serum inhibits such contact hemolysis, particularly in alkaline solutions. 4. Contact hemolysis is most marked on slightly soiled glass, and may occur so rapidly with unfixed cells in a hemocytometer that accurate counts are rendered impossible. 5. Erythrocytes are more sticky than normally in acid solutions and less sticky in alkaline solutions. 6. The increased stickiness of erythrocytes in acid solutions and their larger size during contact hemolysis in acid media provide some experimental evidence for the view that contact hemolysis is to be correlated with an attempt on the part of the corpuscles, or some ingredient of the corpuscle, to spread on the glass after the manner of leucocytes and invertebrate blood cells.
Resonant absorption of an Alfvén wave: Hybrid simulations

[1] We examine the evolution of a planar Alfven wave propagating along and across a pressure-balanced structure. The structure has mostly a magnetic field component perpendicular to a uniform background magnetic field B0 and gives an almost sinusoidal Alfven speed gradient across B0. The Alfven wave propagates both oblique to the structure and B0. A hybrid simulation code with particle protons and massless fluid electrons is used to follow evolution. The structure advects little with the wave so that the wave evolves mostly in accord with a fixed Alfven speed gradient. The Alfven wave undergoes resonant absorption wherein one set of resonant field lines loses wave energy to another set of resonant field lines by cross-field energy transport. We derive the timescale of the cross-field transfer and associate it with global modes. This feature of wave evolution occurs independently of ion kinetics. On resonant field lines, wave refraction generates ever smaller scales perpendicular to B0. When the perpendicular scales are of order 10 proton inertial lengths (10c/ωpi), a nonpropagating density fluctuation begins to grow to large amplitudes. The growth saturates by exciting highly oblique, compressive, and low-frequency waves which dissipate and heat protons. Protons are heated approximately by equal amounts along and across the local magnetic field. Heating continues until most of the resonantly absorbed Alfven wave energy is exhausted. This process limits density fluctuations to scales across B0, which are greater than ≈ c/ωpi. This process could play a role in the solar corona where a cutoff of density fluctuations at scales near and below c/ωpi is inferred from radio observations.
Evaluation of the Recovery of a Polluted Urban Stream Using the Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera Index

ABSTRACT A survey of the benthic macroinvertebrate community of Dried Indian Creek, a second/third order stream in the Georgia Piedmont flowing through the city of Covington, was initially conducted in 1978. The study was repeated and expanded in 1993 to compare recent conditions with those in 1978 and to evaluate historical changes in the stream biota. The 1993 study revealed significant improvement in the structure of the invertebrate community measured by differences in the Ephemeroptera/Plecoptera/Trichoptera index values obtained from the two studies. The introduction of a tertiary phase in the wastewater treatment systems of local governments resulted in improved water quality. Furthermore, the appearance of a small wetland probably explains an improvement in conditions in the creek upstream from the original point of introduction of wastewater effluent.
The tree crown distribution of hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Hem., Adelgidae) from randomized branch sampling

: An exotic insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Hem., Adelgidae), is spreading through eastern North America, killing hemlock trees [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere], and thereby impoverishing ecosystems. Adelges tsugae, like many alien invasive insects, is difficult to monitor or sample in the forest. Monitoring of A. tsugae has been hampered by lack of information about its distribution within tree crowns. In order to assist future monitoring and biocontrol of A. tsugae, this study investigates the crown distribution of A. tsugae by sampling from the entire height of mature hemlock trees in a forest with an established infestation. In addition to A. tsugae, sampling includes scale insects, which are another group of important pests on hemlock trees. This study demonstrates the utility of a randomized branch sampling (RBS) plan for monitoring both invasive insects as well as native insects that are difficult to sample. Results from the RBS show that in trees with high populations of A. tsugae, branches from the lower crown have slightly higher densities of A. tsugae than upper crown branches. In trees with low A. tsugae populations, the upper crown may have higher A. tsugae densities than the lower crown. North pointing branches also have higher densities of A. tsugae than branches pointing in other cardinal directions. Future sampling efforts for A. tsugae can take advantage of higher densities in certain portions of the crown to increase accuracy.
The Systolic Reconfigurable Mesh

In this paper, we introduce the Systolic Reconfigurable Mesh (SRM), which combines aspects of the reconfigurable mesh with that of systolic arrays. Every processor controls a local switch that can be reconfigured during every clock cycle in order to control the physical connections between its four bi-directional bus lines. Data is input on one side of the systolic reconfigurable mesh and output from another side, one row/column per unit time. Efficient algorithms are presented for intermediate-level vision tasks, including histograming, connectivity, convexity, and proximity.