cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An epidemic surge of influenza A(H3N2) virus at the end of the 2016-2017 season in Taiwan with an increased viral genetic heterogeneity.

Abstract Background The epidemic of the 2016–2017 influenza season in Taiwan started early with moderate activity and was predominated by the influenza A(H3N2) virus. However, the influenza activity increased dramatically during the late stage of the 2016–2017 season. Objectives The genetic and antigenic characteristics of the influenza A(H3N2) virus circulating in Taiwan during the 2016–2017 season were investigated. The relationship between virus clades and the patients’ 2016–2017 vaccination histories was determined. Study design Respiratory samples from patients with influenza-like illness in the community, clustered outbreaks, and inpatients with severe complications were tested for influenza virus. Influenza gene sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and hemagglutination inhibition assay were performed. Results A total of 1185, 690 and 353 cases of outpatients, inpatients and cluster events were tested positive for the A(H3N2) virus in this report. Multiple clades of the H3N2 virus co-circulated. New genetic variants were detected, including clade 3C.2a.1 with additional N121 K, K92R or T135 K mutations, 3C.2a.3a with T135 K and R150 K mutations and 3C.2a.4. The proportions of N121 K and T135 K mutations were continuously increasing. Most of the viruses (85.4%, 111/130) were antigenically related to the current vaccine strain. Infection by different clade H3N2 viruses did not correlate with immunization with the 2016–2017 vaccine. Conclusions The data in this study indicate that antigenic drift is not the primary determinant of the epidemic wave at the end of the 2016–2017 season. The fitness changes in new variants, waning immunity and climatic changes are considered as possible contributors to the resurgence of the influenza A(H3N2) virus.
Effect of Intrasubassembly Incoherencies on the Fast Test Reactor Unprotected Transient Overpower Accident

Intrasubassembly incoherencies affecting the fuel pin failure pattern within a fast test reactor (FTR) subassembly during an unprotected transient overpower/hypothetical core disruptive accident have been investigated using the COBRA-III/MELT code. Two dominant intrasubassembly incoherencies in an FTR subassembly were studied, namely, (a) the hydraulic effect, or the variation in pin-power-to-effective-coolant ratio between pins in the inner region and those in the outer region of the subassembly, and (b) the power skew, or variation in pinwise power density for pins throughout the subassembly.
Iterative Solution of the Boundary-Value Problem of Traction

The routine approach to non-linear problems is through a process of perturbation. In elasticity a method of series expansion was introduced by SIGNORINI along standard lines, for the boundary-value problem of traction.
DIALYZABLE LEUKOCYTE EXTRACT CONTAINING TRANSFER FACTOR–ITS FUTURE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

The purpose of this article is to highlight past and prospective uses of dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE) containing transfer factor (TF) in veterinary medicine. In addition, the current state of knowledge concerning TF in comparative studies is presented. Recent review articles on TF in domestic animals should be referred to for additional details ( 1 , 2 , 3 ).
Towards Liberating Voices 2.0

At PDC 2002 in Malmo, Sweden, I presented a vision of a broad participatory project to create a "pattern language" that would encourage and foster the creation of new information and communication systems to empower civil society and encourage positive social change. Although these systems can't solve problems by themselves, it is impossible to imagine any coordinated approach to social change without them. The project was called "Liberating Voices" for two reasons: It describes "voices" that are being sounded that are helping to liberate people and it raises the idea that working together towards the liberation of all voices worldwide is important.In 2008, the goal of positive social change is still primary -- and, indeed, has more urgency now. Since the publication of the Liberating Voices pattern language [9] represents a single milestone of a broader vision rather than the culmination, I would like to invite the participatory design community to advise and critique the ideas that the organizers are contemplating as the project moves forward. We now have an excellent opportunity to take stock of where we are, evaluate our opportunities, and make decisions about next steps.
Matter parametric neutrino flavor transformation through Rabi resonances

We consider the flavor transformation of neutrinos through oscillatory matter profiles. We show that the neutrino oscillation Hamiltonian in this case describes a Rabi system with an infinite number of Rabi modes. We further show that, in a given physics problem, the majority of the Rabi modes have too small amplitudes to be relevant. We also go beyond the rotating wave approximation and derive the relative detuning of the Rabi resonance when multiple Rabi modes with small amplitudes are present. We provide an explicit criterion of whether an off-resonance Rabi mode can affect the parametric flavor transformation of the neutrino.
Television News Coverage of Public Health Issues and Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice.

Television (TV) news, and especially local TV news, remains an important vehicle through which Americans obtain information about health-related topics. In this review, we synthesize theory and evi...
Theoretical modeling of forced convection condensation of steam in a vertical tube in the presence of a noncondensable gas

An analytical study was conducted to characterize the local condensation heat transfer coefficient of a vapor in the presence of a noncondensable gas, where the gas mixture is flowing downward insi...
[5.1] to [5.2] Moderate Versions of the Inflection Point and Positive Derivative

In the discussion of the shift from [4.0] to the different versions of [5.x] inflection points, we will introduce a secondary degree typology to categorize the developments along the change in direction (and along the positive derivative) using the labels of moderate and radical regarding the intersection of technology with ageing issues. The demarcation between the two will be determined by the direct relevance to and association with the GRIN technologies (Garreau 2005), (genetic, robotic, information, and nano processes). The moderate versions of the [5.x] inflection point have ample connections and references to technology and Ageing in the publications and still represent the prevailing view, but the topics have primarily focused on assistive technology, the human factor, applied psychology and cognitive science (see Helal et al. 2008).The moderate versions have focused on the use of the Internet by older adults, computer-mediated and computer-based communication, household and safety monitoring, and tele-health applications (see Grierson et al. 2009; Kang et al. 2010; Orlov 2010). In order to reach the radical version of the emergent inflection point—and thus merit a greater inflection point “score” [5.x]—the publication would have to explicitly indicate the intersection of technologies and bioengineering issues with the ageing process to which Garreau (2005) has alluded.
Common circuit or paradigm shift? The functional brain in emotional scene perception and emotional imagery.

Meta-analytic and experimental studies investigating the neural basis of emotion often compare functional activation in different emotional induction contexts, assessing evidence for a "core affect" or "salience" network. Meta-analyses necessarily aggregate effects across diverse paradigms and different samples, which ignore potential neural differences specific to the method of affect induction. Data from repeated measures designs are few, reporting contradictory results with a small N. In the current study, functional brain activity is assessed in a large (N = 61) group of healthy participants during two common emotion inductions-scene perception and narrative imagery-to evaluate cross-paradigm consistency. Results indicate that limbic and paralimbic regions, together with visual and parietal cortex, are reliably engaged during emotional scene perception. For emotional imagery, in contrast, enhanced functional activity is found in several cerebellar regions, hippocampus, caudate, and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, consistent with the conception that imagery is an action disposition. Taken together, the data suggest that a common emotion network is not engaged across paradigms, but that the specific neural regions activated during emotional processing can vary significantly with the context of the emotional induction.
The Impact of Music and Noise-Cancellation on Sedation Requirements During Total Knee Replacement: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background:Music has emerged as a well-received medical intervention. Patients may be uncomfortable during total joint replacement, which can result in high sedation requirements. These requirement...
Narrow-Bandgap Mixed Lead/Tin-Based 2D Dion-Jacobson Perovskites Boost the Performance of Solar Cells.

The advent of the two-dimensional (2D) family of halide perovskites and their demonstration in 2D/three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical film structures broke new ground toward high device performance...
Cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage: Developing treatments

Abstract Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can be devastating with high morbidity and mortality. A common sequela is cerebral vasospasm, the narrowing of cerebral blood vessels that can lead to ischemic stroke if not reversed. The current management can vary, though proven treatments include monitoring with transcranial Doppler, avoiding negative fluid balance, a three week course of oral nimodipine, and potential endovascular treatment for direct mechanical reversal of vessel narrowing. However, despite these proven treatment options, vasospasm continues to be poorly understood, anticipated, and ultimately treated. Current research has shown some promise for alternative treatment options, including haptoglobin usage, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) blood-load reduction, retrieval stent angioplasty, and multimodality monitoring. Here we review the current methods of treatment and research for future treatment modalities being evaluated to combat vasospasm.
Cryptonevra nigritarsis (Duda) (Diptera: Chloropidae): Taxonomic and Host Plant Status

A species of Cryptonevra, which are miners of Lipara galls on common reed, Phragmites australis, was found to infest non-gall tissues of giant cane, Arundo donax. Based on somatic morphology and male genitalia, the species was determined to be Cryptonevra nigritarsis. previously considered to be a color form of Cryptonevra flavitarsis.
Mutual Fund Directors: governance changes proposed for independent directors in the US

T he last ten years has seen the mutual fund industry balloon in the USA to over $4.579 trillion in assets. Mutual funds have become the dominant asset class going into the 21 century passing up Bank Deposits in popularity. Art Levitt Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said in 1995 ``As recently as 1980, only one in 16 American households invested in mutual funds; today, that number is almost ONE IN THREE. I contend that this rapid growth mandates that we come up with new regulatory frameworks to supplement laws that will soon be 60 years old. I believe my proposed solution, even if it would lower fees by only 10 basis points (1/10 of 1 percent) a year, would benefit shareholders by over $4 billion a year. Since mutual funds have become the top asset among the public, it is paramount that the trust and confidence of this asset class be elevated to the level of trust of FDIC (Federal Depository Insurance Corporation a US Government Agency) insured bank deposits. While there are over 14,000 banking regulators, there are only about 500 SEC personnel working in the mutual fund area. For a high level of trust shareholders must believe that mutual funds are safe and honestly managed, and have faith that someone is looking out for their interests. In the next market downturn millions of investors will be turning to the US Government and asking why did you allow fund companies to mislead us on future performance and risk, while at the same time overcharging on fees. Current board structure ± the independence problem
Cancer-Targeted Controlled Delivery of Chemotherapeutic Anthracycline Derivatives Using Apoferritin Nanocage Carriers.

The interactions of chemotherapeutic drugs with nanocage protein apoferritin (APO) are the key features in the effective encapsulation and release of highly toxic drugs in APO-based controlled drug delivery systems. The encapsulation enables mitigating the drugs’ side effects, collateral damage to healthy cells, and adverse immune reactions. Herein, the interactions of anthracycline drugs with APO were studied to assess the effect of drug lipophilicity on their encapsulation excess n and in vitro activity. Anthracycline drugs, including doxorubicin (DOX), epirubicin (EPI), daunorubicin (DAU), and idarubicin (IDA), with lipophilicity P from 0.8 to 15, were investigated. We have found that in addition to hydrogen-bonded supramolecular ensemble formation with n = 24, there are two other competing contributions that enable increasing n under strong polar interactions (APO(DOX)) or under strong hydrophobic interactions (APO(IDA) of the highest efficacy). The encapsulation/release processes were investigated using UV-Vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism, and FTIR spectroscopies. The in vitro cytotoxicity/growth inhibition tests and flow cytometry corroborate high apoptotic activity of APO(drugs) against targeted MDA-MB-231 adenocarcinoma and HeLa cells, and low activity against healthy MCF10A cells, demonstrating targeting ability of nanodrugs. A model for molecular interactions between anthracyclines and APO nanocarriers was developed, and the relationships derived compared with experimental results.
Annual Report Readability and Dividend Payout Policy

This paper examines the association between firms’ annual report readability and corporate dividend policy. Using bog index, which captures the plain English attributes of disclosures, we find that firms with lower readability pay lower dividends. This relation is more pronounced for financially constraint firms. Our results are robust to potential endogeneity concerns and alternative proxies for both annual report readability and dividend payouts.
Naturalism and the Normative Domain: Accounting for Normativity with the Help of 18th Century Empathy-Sentimentalism

Abstract : Moral sentimentalism has seen a tremendous rise in popularity in recent years within contemporary meta-ethical theory, since it promises to delineate the normative domain in a naturalistically unobjectionable manner. After showing that both Michael Slote and Jesse Prinz’s sentimentalist positions fall short of fulfilling this promise, this essay argues that contemporary sentimentalists are advised to take their clues from Adam Smith rather than David Hume. While Hume was absolutely right in emphasizing the importance of empathy in the moral context, his official description of the mechanisms of empathy as articulated in the Treatise falls fundamentally short for this purpose. Adam Smith’s conception of empathy, a conception that in fact is closer to some of Hume’ remarks in the Enquiry rather than the Treatise, as essentially involving perspective taking and his appeal to the impartial spectator perspective proves to be more fertile. Only in this manner do sentimentalists have any hope of accounting for the intersubjective normative and obligatory dimension of moral judgments. Keywords : Moral Sentimentalism; Empathy; Adam Smith; David Hume; Michael Slote; Jesse Prinz Naturalismo e dominio normativo: affermare il normativo con l’aiuto delle teorie dell’empatia e del sentimentalismo del XVIII secolo Riassunto : Negli ultimi anni il sentimentalismo morale ha conosciuto un incredibile incremento di popolarita nel dibattito meta-etico contemporaneo, poiche promette di delineare il dominio del normativo secondo una prospettiva inequivocabilmente naturalistica. Dopo aver mostrato come le posizioni sentimentaliste di Michael Slote e Jesse Prinz non sono in grado di mantenere questa promessa, in questo lavoro si afferma che i sostenitori contemporanei del sentimentalismo sono invitati a trarre ispirazione da Adam Smith piuttosto che da David Hume. Se Hume aveva assolutamente ragione nel sottolineare l’importanza dell’empatia in ambito morale, la sua descrizione ufficiale dei meccanismi dell’empatia, cosi come viene presentata nel Treatise , in fin dei conti non si mostra all’altezza di questo compito. La concezione dell’empatia di Adam Smith, che nei fatti e piu vicina ad alcuni tratti dello Hume dell’ Enquiry piuttosto che a quello del Treatise , implicando fondamentalmente l’assunzione di prospettiva e richiamando la prospettiva dello spettatore disinteressato, dimostra di essere piu feconda. Solo cosi i teorici del sentimentalismo possono sperare di render conto del carattere necessitante e intersoggettivamente normativo dei giudizi morali. Parole chiave : Sentimentalismo morale; Empatia; Adam Smith; David Hume; Michael Slote; Jesse Prinz
Structural Integrity and Cohesion in Insurgent Organizations: Evidence from Protracted Conflicts in Ireland and Burma

Why insurgent organizations stay together over time and why they maintain the fight under stress are questions of major concern for our understanding of war duration, conduct, and outcome. Structural integrity is the property of an organization remaining as a single intact entity, while cohesion refers to the creation and maintenance of cooperative effort toward the attainment of the organization’s goals. Although closely related, the conflation of structural integrity and cohesion is problematic. The body of the paper is a structured comparative analysis of two cases, the Irish Republican Army and the Karen National Union. First, this analysis demonstrates that cohesion and structural integrity are discrete concepts that each helps us to understand part of why, and how, insurgent organizations keep up the fight. Thus, despite much recent emphasis on “spoilers” in the conflict literature, understanding why armed organizations stay together or fragment is not enough. We also need to understand what makes insurgents perform effectively in the organization’s interest. Second, it points to some limitations of existing theories of structural integrity and cohesion in insurgent organizations and allows the author to conclude by suggesting some fruitful avenues for future research on these dynamics.
Visió psicològica del dolor: dolor clínic i dolor experimental

Pain is a complex phenomena difficult to define. In spite of the wide research it has been subject to there still remain many conceptual, experimental and practica1 questions unsolved. The aim of this present work is, first of al1 to show that pain reactions are mainly determined by psychological variables and can therefore be dealt with as behavioural phenomena and be the subject of psychological study. Secondly, to stress the fact that notwithstanding the differences between experimental and clinical pain, experimental studies in bothfields are needed to achieve a better and more accurate definition and understanding of pain reactions and of the methods to control them.
Reactions to antipneumococcal rabbit serum: II. Failure to adsorb sensitizing antibody by kieselguhr, fullers' earth, berkefeld filtrations, and aluminum hydroxide

Abstract 1.1. The anaphylactic antibody was not absorbed demonstrably from antipneumococcal rabbit serum by fullers' earth, kieselguhr, multiple Berkefeld filtration, or aluminum hydroxide. This is in contrast with the reported 3 adsorption of the E-E reaction factor from a variety of antisera by these substances. 2.2. It is of some importance that the possible identity of the E-E reaction and local reversed passive anaphylaxis be proved or disproved. Foshay 3 claims that anaphylaxis from antisera (other than antipneumococcal) is not predisposed to by the presence of the E-E reaction. There is evidence 4 to suggest that an excess of specific polysaccharide does predispose to anaphylaxis from antipneumococcal rabbit serum.
Attentional Modulation of Language Performance

Harold Goodglass Aphasia Research Center, Department of Neurology, Boston UniversitySchool of Medicine and Research Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs MedicalCenter, Boston; Language in the Aging Brain Laboratory, Boston University School ofMedicine; and CUNY Graduate Center, Program in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Hydroxyurea: Differential Lethal Effects on Cultured Mammalian Cells during the Cell Cycle

Hydroxyurea has a differential lethal effect on cultured Chinesehamster cells that are at different stages in their cell cycle. Cells synthesizing DNA at the time of exposure to the drug are lethally damaged. Cells in the phase of growth preceding DNA synthesis (G 1 ) survive but are prevented from beginning DNA synthesis. Cells in the phase after DNA synthesis (G 2 ) survive and appear to progress until just before the beginning of the next period of DNA synthesis. This differential lethal and inhibitory effect of hydroxyurea may be useful for synchronizing asynchronous cell populations and explaining effects of the drug in human therapy.
Fracture Risk in Patients with Parkinsonism: A Population-based Study in Olmsted County, Minnesota

In this population-based retrospective cohort study, the 138 Olmsted County, Minnesota residents first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease during 1967-79 were matched by age and sex to an equal number of control subjects from the community. Fractures were assessed through review of each subject's complete (inpatient and outpatient) medical records. At the time of diagnosis, County residents with parkinsonism were no more likely to have a history of selected fractures than control subjects (32% in each group). Subsequently, 33% of cases and 20% of controls experienced one or more new fractures during 696 person-years of follow-up (p = 0.008). The greatest increase in risk was seen for proximal femur fractures, confirming previous case-control studies. By 10 years after diagnosis, an estimated 27% of the parkinsonism cohort had experienced a new hip fracture. The pattern of fractures that was observed suggested that the increased risk was due more to specific types of falls than to disuse osteoporosis.
Restoration of inactivation in mutants of Shaker potassium channels by a peptide derived from ShB

Site-directed mutagenesis experiments have suggested a model for the inactivation mechanism of Shaker potassium channels from Drosophila melanogaster. In this model, the first 20 amino acids form a cytoplasmic domain that interacts with the open channel to cause inactivation. The model was tested by the internal application of a synthetic peptide, with the sequence of the first 20 residues of the ShB alternatively spliced variant, to noninactivating mutant channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The peptide restored inactivation in a concentration-dependent manner. Like normal inactivation, peptide-induced inactivation was not noticeably voltage-dependent. Trypsin-treated peptide and peptides with sequences derived from the first 20 residues of noninactivating mutants did not restore inactivation. These results support the proposal that inactivation occurs by a cytoplasmic domain that occludes the ion-conducting pore of the channel.
It's No Laffer’Matter: Claim That Increasing Welfare Aid Breeds Poverty and Dependence Fails Statistical Test

Abstract. The claim is analyzed that there is a Laffer-type relationship between welfare spending and poverty. Conservative analysts in recent years have asserted that over the last several decades poverty declined with increased welfare spending up to a point, beyond which increases in spending produced increases in poverty. Measures of pre-transfer and pre-welfare poverty are used in order to account for poverty due to welfare dependency. Employing data for 1959-1983, the authors find evidence which casts doubt on the validity of the hypothesis that there has been a Laffer-type relationship between welfare spending and poverty.
The effect of time of heating on the thermal polymerization of L-lysine.

Abstract Several parameters of the thermal polymerization of l -lysine free base at 195 ° were investigated over the time period from 15 min to 4 hr. Free lysine disappeared within 1 hr. The concentration of α-aminocaprolactam and of oligomers of several sizes reached a maximum after 30–45 min. and subsequently decreased. Molecular size, as judged by biuret color intensity and by gel filtration, increased rapidly and, in part, ultimately exceeded 100,000. Racemization was extensive and paralleled the disappearance of free lysine. Catalytic activity for the decarboxylation of oxaloacetic acid increased rapidly and reached a maximum after 2 hr. Dinitrophenylation and subsequent hydrolysis indicated that the polymers were branched, and that the linear portions contained more ϵ- than α-peptide bonds. A partial understanding of the method of chain growth could be inferred.
Enhanced magnetoelectric properties in three-phase composites with 2-1-2 connectivity

An investigation is reported on a 2-1-2 magnetoelectric (ME) laminate composite having Metglas/PZNT/Metglas configuration with ferrite pillars embedded in the PZNT phase. The piezoelectric layer with composition 0.2Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.8Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O3 (PZNT) consisted of co-fired (Ni0.6Cu0.2Zn0.2)Fe2O3 (NCZF) pillars. The top and bottom Metglas layers in the sandwich structure had a thickness of 100 µm, whereas the middle piezoelectric layer had thickness of 800 µm. This 2-1-2 composite was found to exhibit a ME coefficient of the order of 352 mV/cm Oe. Interestingly, the performance of the 2-1-2 composite is 15% higher than that of conventional 2-2 laminate composite.
Influence of Sex and Age on Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes Among Older Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Graham JE, Radice-Neumann DM, Reistetter TA, Hammond FM, Dijkers M, Granger CV. Influence of sex and age on inpatient rehabilitation outcomes among older adults with traumatic brain injury. Objective To assess the influence of sex and age on inpatient rehabilitation outcomes in a large national sample of older adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design Prospective case series. Setting Eight hundred forty-eight inpatient rehabilitation facilities that subscribe to the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation. Participants Patients (n=18,413) age 65 years and older admitted for inpatient rehabilitation after TBI from 2005 through 2007. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Rehabilitation length of stay, discharge FIM motor and cognitive ratings, discharge setting, and scheduled home health services at discharge. Results Mean age ± SD of the sample was 79±7 years, and 47% were women. In multivariable models, higher age was associated with shorter lengths of stay ( P P P P =.006) and greater odds of being scheduled for home health services at discharge ( P Conclusions Sex and age patterns in rehabilitation outcomes among older adults with TBI varied by outcome. The current findings related to rehabilitation length of stay may be helpful for facility-level resource planning. Additional studies are warranted to identify the factors associated with returning to home and to assess the long-term benefits of combined inpatient rehabilitation and home health services for older adults with TBI.
A novel collaborative practice model for treatment of mental illness in indigent and uninsured patients.

Purpose The implementation and evaluation of a collaborative practice model (CPM) of mental health care at a free clinic are described. Summary Since 2004, the mental health clinic of the Cape Fear Clinic in Wilmington, NC, has provided pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy services to a mostly female population of poor and uninsured patients (average age, about 45 years) under a CPM that includes a state-licensed Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner with prescribing privileges. Spanish is the primary language of about 28% of the clinic’s patients. At patient intake and (when possible) six months later, three measures of physical and mental health are administered: the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), the physical and mental component summaries of the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression (PHQ-9), and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); psychological counseling, psychotropic medications, and laboratory monitoring are provided as appropriate. In 2009, the clinic’s volunteer health care providers served 56 patients (a total of 316 office visits), providing about 165 hours of free clinical services valued at more than $15,000 and free prescription medications valued at about $123,000. Although the clinic’s experience has demonstrated the feasibility of CPM-based mental health care for the indigent and uninsured, a comparison of pretest and posttest data on a sample of clinic patients did not show significant changes from mean baseline SF-12, PHQ-9, and AUDIT scores, possibly due in large part to sampling challenges resulting from the loss of many clinic patients to follow-up. Conclusion A CPM that includes a pharmacist with prescribing authority and psychologists was implemented to provide care for a low-income, uninsured, partly Spanish-speaking patient population.
Polyhedral Embeddings of Cayley Graphs

Abstract When is a Cayley graph the graph of a convex d -polytope? We show that while this is not always the case, some interesting finite groups have this property.
Fractal dimension and logarithmic loss unpredictability

We show that the Hausdorff dimension equals the logarithmic loss unpredictability for any set of infinite sequences over a finite alphabet. Using computable, feasible, and finite-state predictors, this equivalence also holds for the computable, feasible, and finite-state dimensions. Combining this with recent results of Fortnow and Lutz (Proc. 15th Ann. Conf. on Comput. Learning Theory (2002) 380), we have a tight relationship between prediction with respect to logarithmic loss and prediction with respect to absolute loss.
Short-term adolescent nicotine exposure in rats elicits immediate and delayed deficits in T-lymphocyte function: Critical periods, patterns of exposure, dose thresholds

Prenatal nicotine exposure elicits lasting deficiencies in T-lymphocyte mitogenesis, and the period of vulnerability extends into adolescence, the stage at which smoking typically commences. We explored the importance of nicotine exposure patterns (continuous infusion vs. repeated subcutaneous injections), dose-effect relationships, and specificity of the effects. Adolescent rats were given nicotine infusions for 1 week beginning on postnatal day (PN) 30, using a regimen (6 mg/kg/day) that produces plasma nicotine levels (25 ng/ml) similar to those in smokers; another group received 2 mg/kg/day. At the end of the infusion period (PN37), T-lymphocyte mitogenic responses to concanavalin A were deficient in the group receiving 6 mg/kg/day; values for the 2 mg/kg/day group were intermediate between controls and the 6 mg/kg/day group. One week after the termination of nicotine treatment, responses returned to normal, only to reemerge in young adulthood (PN65), at which stage adverse effects were significant even for the group that received 2 mg/kg/day. In contrast to the T-cell alterations, B-lymphocyte responses were unaffected. Administering the same total doses of nicotine by twice-daily subcutaneous injections over the 1-week treatment period (1 or 3 mg/kg per injection) did not evoke deficits in responses of either T-cells or B-cells, even though the high dose produced overt systemic toxicity and persistent weight loss. Our results indicate that adolescent nicotine exposure, even at levels below those associated with active smoking, elicits selective deficits in T-lymphocyte function. Although short-term adaptations may correct the effects, deficits reemerge in young adulthood despite cessation of nicotine exposure.
Spectrophotometric study of a direct determination of serum calcium

Abstract A modification of a direct manual procedure for serum calcium has been developed in which a one-piece color reagent is used. When a micro amount of serum is added to the reagent, rapid and stable color formation occurs enabling the procedure to serve either as a manual stat system of in robotized automatic instrumentation. Total color measurement is not attained in such a procedure owing to the described regressive nature of the reagent blank. However, accurate and linear reaction characteristics are effectively achieved. The use of a low dielectric solvent, EG, served well for repressing the ionization of the blank while allowing linear and reproducible calibration characteristics.
An experimental study of silver and palladium partitioning between solid and liquid metal, with applications to iron meteorites

— Solid metal/liquid metal partition coefficients for Ag and Pd were determined experimentally as a function of the S concentration of the metallic liquid. Silver is incompatible in solid metal and strongly sensitive to the S content of the metallic liquid; partition coefficients for Ag decrease more than an order of magnitude with increasing S content of the metallic liquid and can be expressed as: where k(Ag) is the molar solid metal/liquid metal partition coefficient and XS is the molar S content of the metallic liquid. The partition coefficient of Pd is less variable but changes from modestly incompatible to modestly compatible in solid metal with increasing S content of the metallic liquid: With these new partition coefficients for Pd and a fractional crystallization model, Pd abundance trends recorded in iron meteorite groups are modeled successfully. Measured Ag distribution between troilite-rich nodules and adjacent metal in iron meteorites also agree well with experimental solid metal/liquid metal equilibrium values. However, observed Pd metal/nodule distributions do not agree with experimentally determined partition coefficients, which suggests a more complex history than simple solid metal/liquid metal equilibrium.
Positive mood and social relatedness as information about meaning in life

Meaning in life is widely considered a cornerstone of human functioning, but relatively little is known about the factors that influence judgments of meaning in life. Four studies examined positive affect (PA) and social relatedness as sources of information for meaning in life judgments. Study 1 (N = 150) showed that relatedness need satisfaction (RNS) and PA each shared strong independent links to meaning in life. In Study 2 (N = 63), loneliness moderated the effects of a positive mood induction on meaning in life ratings. In Study 3 (N = 65), priming positive social relationships reduced the contribution of PA to subsequent judgments of meaning in life. In Study 4 (N = 95), relationship primes decreased reliance on PA and increased reliance on RNS compared to dessert primes. Results are discussed in terms of the value of integrating judgment processes in studies of meaning in life.
Selectivity and sensitivity of ultrathin purine-templated overoxidized polypyrrole film electrodes

Abstract Ultrathin overoxidized polypyrrole (OPPy) films templated with adenosine, inosine and adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), grown on glassy carbon (GC), have been characterized. High sensitivity for ruthenium hexaamine, uric acid and adenine at the ultrathin film electrodes indicates that the interactions with the film rather than in-film transport controlled the response of the film electrodes in slow scan voltammetry. The high sensitivity at the film electrodes allowed the analysis of the effect of templating on the probe-film interactions. The results show that templating with purines changes the selectivity and sensitivity of OPPy films. It is demonstrated that templating with ATP, via electrostatic interactions of ATP with the positively charged PPy, has a most significant effect on the response of the OPPy films, and the ATP-templated films show high selectivity to adenine. The sensitivity for adenosine is significantly enhanced at OPPy films considering that the response is not apparent at the bare glassy carbon.
THE INTRASPLENIC INJECTION OF SOME SYNTHETIC ESTROGENS AND PROESTROGENS

WE HAVE previously reported that the intrasplenic injection of natural estrogens permits the evaluation of the role of the liver in their inactivation in vivo (Segaloff, 1943). The present study was undertaken in an attempt to ascertain if similar evidence could be obtained regarding the metabolism of synthetic estrogens and proestrogens. Intrasplenic injections were made exactly as in our previous studies. (Segaloff, 1943.) The required amount of estrogen was injected in 0.05 cc. of 5% benzyl alcohol in sesame oil into spayed female rats which had been primed fourteen days previously with 50 µg. of estrone in 0.1 cc. peanut oil. As suggested by Nicholas (1933) we substituted staples for the skin clips which had been used previously to close skin incisions. The results are recorded in Table I. Each figure represents the injection of not less than ten nor more than twenty animals.
Shutter-speed analysis of contrast reagent bolus-tracking data: Preliminary observations in benign and malignant breast disease

The standard pharmacokinetic model applied to contrast reagent (CR) bolus-tracking (B-T) MRI (dynamic-contrast-enhanced) data makes the intrinsic assumption that equilibrium transcytolemmal water molecule exchange is effectively infinitely fast. Theory and simulation have suggested that this assumption can lead to significant errors. Recent analyses of animal model experimental data have confirmed two predicted signature inadequacies: a specific temporal mismatch with the B-T time-course and a CR dose-dependent underestimation of model parameters. The most parsimonious adjustment to account for this aspect leads to the "shutter-speed" pharmacokinetic model. Application of the latter to the animal model data mostly eliminates the two signature inadequacies. Here, the standard and shutter-speed models are applied to B-T data obtained from routine human breast examinations. The signature standard model temporal mismatch is found for each of the three invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) cases and for each of the three fibroadenoma (FA) cases studied. It is effectively eliminated by use of the shutter-speed model. The size of the mismatch is considerably greater for the IDC lesions than for the FA lesions, causing the shutter-speed model to exhibit improved discrimination of malignant IDC tumors from the benign FA lesions compared with the standard model. Furthermore, the shutter-speed model clearly reveals focal "hot spots" of elevated CR perfusion/permeation present in only the malignant tumors.
Predicting query performance on the web

Predicting the performance of web queries is useful for several applications such as automatic query reformulation and automatic spell correction. In the web environment, accurate performance prediction is challenging because measures such as clarity that work well on homogeneous TREC-like collections, are not as effective and are often expensive to compute. We present Rank-time Performance Prediction (RAPP), an effective and efficient approach for online performance prediction on the web. RAPP uses retrieval scores, and aggregates of the rank-time features used by the document- ranking algorithm to train regressors for query performance prediction. On a set of over 12,000 queries sampled from the query logs of a major search engine, RAPP achieves a linear correlation of 0.78 with DCG@5, and 0.52 with NDCG@5. Analysis of prediction accuracy shows that hard queries are easier to identify while easy queries are harder to identify.
Electronic structure and thermodynamics of defects in NiAl 3

We present first-principles calculations of the structural and electronic properties of orthorhombic ${\mathrm{NiAl}}_{3},$ including the intrinsic point defects. The energies obtained from these calculations are employed in a statistical mechanics model to investigate the role of ${\mathrm{NiAl}}_{3}$ in the Ni-Al phase diagram. Our calculations show that the preferred constituent defect mechanisms for ${\mathrm{NiAl}}_{3}$ off stoichiometry are the $8d$ Ni antisites on the Ni-rich side and Ni vacancies on the Al-rich side. The calculated free energy is in agreement with the observation that ${\mathrm{NiAl}}_{3}$ is a stoichiometric compound.
Effect of smooth vs step interval gradients upon interval gap detection

The effect of smooth and step-wise auditory interval gradients upon the discrimination of an interval change, or gap, was studied. Gap discrimination was substantially better with smooth interval gradients than with step gradients when the gap was surrounded by a large number of intervals. This result leads us to ask whether gradient phenomena of the Mach-band type are critically dependen t upon the existence of smooth, rather than step, gradients
Testing quantitative traits for association and linkage in the presence or absence of parental data.

Zhu and Elston developed a transmission disequilibrium test for quantitative traits by defining a linear transformation to condition out founder information. The method tests the null hypothesis of no linkage or association and can be applied to general pedigree structures. However, this method requires both genotype and phenotype parental information, which may be difficult to obtain. In this paper, we describe parametric and non-parametric methods to relax this requirement when only nuclear families are sampled. We show that neither method is affected by population stratification in the absence of linkage. The statistical power and validity of the tests are investigated by simulation. A simple simulation method to calculate the power of the nonparametric method is also discussed. In practice, the data may have some families with parental phenotype and genotype information available and some without. We briefly discuss how all the data may be analyzed jointly.
Response of Solid-State Detectors to Fission Fragments

Pulse amplitude spectra for fission fragments from the spontaneous fission of Cf252 have been studied for more than 50 silicon surface-barrier detectors. Silicon resistivities ranged from 100 to 2000 Ohm-cm; spectra were obtained for several bias voltages for each detector. A search for correlations among shape parameters associated with Cf252 fragment pulse-amplitude spectra was carried out. Such correlations were, in fact, observed and are shown to be related to the pulse-height response characteristics of surface-barrier detectors for fission fragments. Some guide lines by which the quality of a fission-fragment detector may be determined from the spectrum parameters are given.
Haplotype diversity in four genes (CLCNKA, CLCNKB, BSND, NEDD4L) involved in renal salt reabsorption.

Objective: Differences exist among various populations with regards to hypertension prevalence, severity, progression and response to therapy. Such differences may be due to genetic
Quantum dynamical model for laser excitation of a two-level adatom: Surface-dressed Bloch equations

Abstract Surface-dressed Bloch equations are derived from a microscopic Hamiltonian which includes the interactions among an adatom, the laser photon and the phonon modes. The influence of the surface on the population inversion of the adatom is analyzed in terms of: (1) the reflected-field-induced damping factor which depends on the orientation of the transition dipole and the adatom-surface separation and (2) the frequency shift and damping factor induced by the phonon modes.
Comparison of RANS Turbulence Models for Prediction of Film Cooling Performance

The realizable k-e, standard k-ω, and RSM turbulence models were used to simulate flat plate film cooling experiments that are commonly described in literature. Adiabatic effectiveness simulations revealed that using the standard k-ω model resulted in the closest agreement with experimentally determined laterally averaged adiabatic effectiveness, but the worst agreement with centerline adiabatic effectiveness. Conversely, the realizable k-e model agreed worst with experimental laterally averaged adiabatic effectiveness values and best with centerline values. Use of the anisotropic RSM model was not found to predict more realistic coolant spreading than the other models. Simulations to find heat transfer coefficients without film cooling showed good agreement with correlations for all three models, and the closest agreement resulted from using the realizable k-e model. Heat transfer coefficient augmentation was also examined for two configurations: unit density ratio with and without upstream heating. Laterally averaged heat transfer coefficient augmentation simulations using all three turbulence models agreed well with experiments. However, the spanwise variation in heat transfer coefficient augmentation in all cases was greater than is typically seen experimentally.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Towards Autonomous Robot-Assisted Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery

Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) promises to reduce the invasiveness of surgical procedures by accessing the peritoneal cavity through a natural orifice. Current tools for performing NOTES are based on the flexible endoscopy platform, and are significantly limited in imaging and manipulation by the size and geometry of the natural lumen. For NOTES to revolutionize minimally invasive surgery, new approaches are necessary that enable the surgeon to perform procedures with vision and dexterity equivalent to laparoscopic procedures. An image-guided, two-armed, dexterous miniature NOTES robot has been developed that can be placed into the peritoneal cavity through a transgastric incision. Using this robot, the surgeon has effectively demonstrated tissue dissection in non-survivable animal model procedures. A next step in the development of miniature in vivo robots is the automation of routinely performed, low level surgical tasks. This paper details work towards autonomous tissue dissection using the NOTES robot. As a first step, visual tracking and robot control methods are being developed.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Unfolding of Escherichia coli ribosomes by removal of magnesium

Removal of magnesium ions from RNase I-free ribosomes by dialysis against 0·01 M -tris-1 m M -EDTA results in conversion of 50 s ribosomes to 21 s particles via a 36 s intermediate, and conversion of 30 s ribosomes to 16 s particles via a 26 s intermediate. These changes occur without loss of appreciable protein or degradation of rRNA, and are thus interpreted as an expansion or unfolding of the structures. Correlation of sedimentation analyses and in vitro assays of protein synthesis suggests that the 50 s → 36 s and 30 s → 26 s conversions are reversible by slow dialysis back into magnesium.
Molecular-statics and molecular-dynamics study of diffusion along [001] tilt grain boundaries in Ag

Self-diffusion parameters of Ag along \ensuremath{\Sigma}5(310)[001] and \ensuremath{\Sigma}13(320)[001] tilt grain boundaries are determined using both molecular-statics (MS) and molecular-dynamics (MD) techniques with a Ag potential based on the embedded-atom method. The MS calculations provide the diffusion energetics in the low-temperature regime for possible diffusion paths along the grain boundaries, while the MD simulations provide information on the effect of temperature on the diffusion parameters. The MD results indicate that diffusion mechanisms change from low temperatures to high temperatures. In the low-temperature regime, interstitial-related diffusion mechanisms are dominant. Vacancy-related diffusion mechanisms, while unimportant at low temperatures, become dominant at high temperatures due to increased vacancy concentration and mobility. These observations are supported by changing slopes in the Arrhenius plots for both our simulation results and experimental data. The calculated diffusion parameters are in satisfactory agreement with available experimental results.