cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High and low density PHA- (but not ConA-) activated T cells stimulate the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction

In this study, PHA- and ConA-activated cells (PAC and CAC) were used as stimulators in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) using autologous (auto) and allogeneic (allo) peripheral mononuclear cells as responders. PAC, but not CAC, were stimulatory in allo- and auto-MLR, and this stimulation was not due to residual PHA. In PAC which have been activated for 96 h, auto-MLR was due to determinants present on low density T-cell blasts, while with PAC which had been stimulated for more than 192 h, the determinants seemed to be associated with high density T cells. Anti-T3 monoclonal antibodies and certain anti-DR suppressed auto- and allo-MLR mediated by PAC when present throughout the entire MLR assays. CAC suppressed PAC-mediated auto-MLR in a dose-dependent fashion. This inhibition was not DR-restricted and was reversed by the addition of exogenous IL-2. Our results indicate that: depending upon the length of activation, both low density and high density PHA-activated T cells exhibited strong stimulatory capacity in auto-MLR; ConA-activated T cells failed to stimulate auto- or allo-MLR and suppressed MLR mediated by PAC; this suppression was due to suppressor cells, not to suppressor factors, and was readily reversed by exogenous IL-2; pretreatment of CAC with anti-TAC did not reverse the inhibition.
Local and systemic effects after adenoviral transfer of the murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene into mice.

Vectors encoding immunostimulatory genes are under investigation for their use as adjuvants for immunotherapy. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a prominent candidate gene for this approach because this cytokine can prime immune responses to 'self' tumour or other weak antigens. Prior studies suggested that GM-CSF induces accumulation and differentiation of antigen-presenting cells, particularly dendritic cells that can initiate immunity. To evaluate this model in vivo, we performed i.m. and i.p. injections of an adenovirus vector encoding murine GM-CSF (Ad-mGM-CSF) and evaluated local and systemic effects. After intramuscular injection, local changes were characterized by the accumulation of myeloid cells, a subsequent infiltration of lymphocytes and then myonecrosis. Intraperitoneal injection also induced an accumulation of myeloid cells, an increase in CD3-positive T and a decrease in B220-positive B lymphocytes. Expression of the dendritic cell marker CD11c on 48 +/- 9% of the peritoneal cells (n = 6) along with high levels of surface MHC class II, a characteristic morphology, and endocytosis of FITC-dextran suggested in vivo differentiation of dendritic cells after i.p. injection of Ad-mGM-CSF. Systemic effects were observed after i.m. and i.p. injection of Ad-mGM-CSF. All mice developed hepatosplenomegaly resulting from extramedullary haematopoiesis. These changes were specific to GM-CSF as they were not seen in mice injected with an adenovirus vector without a transgene. Our observations indicate that adenoviral transfer of GM-CSF is a powerful tool for inducing local and systemic expansion of haematopoietic cells. The local expansion of myeloid cells displaying signs of dendritic cell differentiation, as characterized for the peritoneal cell compartment, can explain the potency of GM-CSF when used as an adjuvant in genetic immunotherapy.
Excitation of cells in the rostral medial medulla of the rat by the nitric oxidecyclic guanosine monophosphate messenger system

Abstract Analgesia has been reported to be facilitated by supraspinal nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). In the rostromedial medulla, an important pain-suppressing region, iontophoretically delivered 8-bromo-cGMP excited most single recorded cells ( 9 10 ), and methylene blue (a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) inhibited all cells ( 7 7 ). Nitrite and ferrous ions together, shown voltammetrically ex vivo to yield nitric oxide (NO), excited some cells ( 14 28 ) and inhibited others ( 7 28 ). Methylene blue blocked excitation ( 3 3 ) but not inhibition ( 4 4 ) by the putative NO. Spontaneous or glutamate-evoked firing was gradually inhibited ( 23 32 ) or unaffected by Nω-nitro- l -arginine (a NO synthase inhibitor), but was mostly inhibited by l -arginine (the NO precursor) ( 23 26 ), although a rapid onset militated against elevated NO production. These substances, excepting l -arginine, produced changes consistent with an excitatory cGMP-NO cascade contributing to analgesia.
A method to infer time of observation at US Cooperative Observer Network stations using model analyses

A method to estimate the time of observation employed at US Cooperative Observer Network stations has been developed using rapid update cycle model analyses. This method uses the day-to-day variability in model temperature biases to estimate observation schedules on a time scale of weeks, making it ideal for use in ‘real-time’ applications. Observation time estimates from a two-category system (morning and ‘non-morning’) and three-category system (morning, afternoon and midnight) were both evaluated. The performance of the two-category system was compared with existing techniques that employ this system on monthly time scales. The results were comparable, showing dependence on season and climatological characteristics, but reveal an ability to reach high levels of accuracy (>90% of stations have observation schedules correctly estimated) over similar time periods (10–50 days). To our knowledge, the evaluation of three-category estimation performance for the time scales investigated has not been documented. Accuracy remained high for morning and midnight stations (>90%), and decreased for stations with afternoon observation schedules (85–65%). Additionally, the three-category estimation technique was extended to four categories in order to identify observers who shift temperature records temporally. The accuracy of detecting shifted records within the context of the four-category estimation technique was comparable to the performance of the three-category system, with shifted observations correctly identified more than 75% of the time in most cases. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society
Converging free energies of binding in cucurbit(7)uril and octa-acid host-guest systems from SAMPL4 using expanded ensemble simulations

Molecular containers such as cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and the octa-acid (OA) host are ideal simplified model test systems for optimizing and analyzing methods for computing free energies of binding intended for use with biologically relevant protein–ligand complexes. To this end, we have performed initially blind free energy calculations to determine the free energies of binding for ligands of both the CB7 and OA hosts. A subset of the selected guest molecules were those included in the SAMPL4 prediction challenge. Using expanded ensemble simulations in the dimension of coupling host–guest intermolecular interactions, we are able to show that our estimates in most cases can be demonstrated to fully converge and that the errors in our estimates are due almost entirely to the assigned force field parameters and the choice of environmental conditions used to model experiment. We confirm the convergence through the use of alternative simulation methodologies and thermodynamic pathways, analyzing sampled conformations, and directly observing changes of the free energy with respect to simulation time. Our results demonstrate the benefits of enhanced sampling of multiple local free energy minima made possible by the use of expanded ensemble molecular dynamics and may indicate the presence of significant problems with current transferable force fields for organic molecules when used for calculating binding affinities, especially in non-protein chemistries.
Language Skills of Young Low-Vision Children: Performance on the Preschool Language Scale:

When the Preschool Language Scale performance of 18 low-vision children ranging from 2 to 4 years of age was analyzed, low-vision children were found to have performed significantly less well than their normally sighted peers on the Auditory Comprehension Quotient, the Verbal Ability Quotient, and the overall Language Quotient. Further analysis revealed a profile of abilities in which low-vision children performed significantly below normally sighted age mates. The language skills in which visually impaired children were delayed are reported here.
The effect of orientation on tactual braille recognition: Optimal touching positions

Subjects in five experiments matched tangible braille against a visible matching code. In Experiment 1, braille recognition suffered when entire lines of braille characters were tilted in varying amounts from the upright. Experiment 2 showed that tilt lowered performance for tangible, large embossed letters, as well as for braille. However, recognition was better for print letters than it was for braille. In Experiment 3, subjects attempted to match the upright array against embossed braille that was left/right reversed, inverted up/down, or rotated +180°. Performance was close to that for normal braille in the left/right reversal condition, and very low for the +180° rotation group. These results on braille tilt in the “picture plane” may reflect difficulty in manipulating the tangible “image.” Braille recognition performance was not lowered whenthe visible matching array was tilted −45° or −90° from the upright but the tangible stimuli were upright. In Experiment 4, recognition of left/right reversed braille that was physically horizontal (on the bottom of a shelf) was compared with that of braille left/right reversed due to its location on the back of a panel, in the vertical plane. Braille recognition accuracy was higher with braille located vertically. An additional experiment showed the beneficial effect of locating braille in the vertical, frontoparallel plane, obtained with +90° degree rotated braille. It is proposed that optimal tactual performance with tangible arrays might depend on touching position, and on the physical position of stimuli in space. Just as there are good and poor viewing positions, there may be optimal touching positions. The effects of tilt on braille identification were diminished for blind subjects, suggesting the importance of tactile experience and skill.
Contact Damage Resistance and Strength Degradation of Glass-infiltrated Alumina and Spinel Ceramics

All-ceramic crowns are coming into widespread use because of their superior esthetics and chemical inertness. This study examines the hypothesis that glass-infiltrated alumina and spinel core ceramics are resistant to damage accumulation and strength degradation under representative oral contact conditions. Accordingly, Hertzian indentation testing with hard spheres is used to evaluate damage accumulation in alumina and spinel ceramics with different pre-form grain morphologies and porosities. Indentation stress-strain curves measured on fully infiltrated materials reveal a marked insensitivity to the starting pre-form state. The glass phase is shown to play a vital role in providing mechanical rigidity and strength to the ceramic structures. All the infiltrated ceramics show subsurface cone fracture and quasi-plastic deformation above critical loads P(C) (cracking) and P(Y) (yield), depending on sphere radius, with P(Y) < P(C). Strength degradation from accumulation of damage in Hertzian contacts above these critical loads is conspicuously small, suggesting that the infiltrated materials should be highly damage-tolerant to the "blunt" contacts encountered during mastication. Failure in the strength tests originates from either cone cracks ("brittle mode") or yield zones ("quasi-plastic mode"), with the brittle mode more dominant in the spinels and the quasi-plastic mode more dominant in the aluminas. Multi-cycle contacts at lower loads, but still above loads typical of oral function, are found to be innocuous up to 10(5) cycles in air and water, although contacts at 10(6) cycles in water do cause significant strength degradation. By contrast, contacts with Vickers indenters produce substantial strength losses at low loads, suggesting that the mechanical integrity of these materials may be compromised by inadvertent "sharp" contacts.
How Similar is the Coordination of Parental Roles Among Different Pairs? An Examination of a Monogamous Fish

Although most studies on biparental care assume that parents cooperate in raising offspring, few studies have documented how parents coordinate their activities. Using the biparental convict cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatum) we compared the parental behavior of both single (‘widowed’) parents and individuals within pairs during the 5 d when the offspring were in the relatively uniform and stationary wriggler stage. In particular, we were interested in the consistency of day-to-day parental activities among single individuals and among individuals within pairs. Single parents showed differences in most parental activities that were consistent from one day to the next. This day-to-day consistency remained after an intruder was added and / or the mate was present. Thus, although the social context changed (i.e., presence or absence of mate, presence or absence of an intruder), an individual's consistency remained. The male and female within pairs were significantly correlated in the time spent on most parental activities across experimental pairs. Thus, while individuals within pairs were unique in their performance of a parental activity, paired males and females managed a high degree of correlation (i.e., coordination). In general, pairs were homogeneous in the degree to which males and females were correlated across different parental activities.
Tonic release of serotonin

I n their Focus article, Mason and Gao question the long-held idea that morphine administration or electrical stimulation in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) excites descending bulbospinal serotonergic neurons in the raphe magnus (RM) and the adjacent nucleus reticular magnocellularis, and thus causes the release of serotonin (5-HT) from the terminals of these neurons in the dorsal horn and inhibition of nociceptive neurons in the spinal cord [2]. Although many physiologic and anatomic studies have shown that 5-HT modulates nociceptive transmission in the spinal cord, the correlation between PAG stimulation/morphine administration and the firing activity of 5-HT neurons in the RM has never been studied in detail. This gap in knowledge is addressed by a series of elegant studies by Mason and co-workers [6,7,19]. Recording from RM neurons and subsequently immunolabeling the cells, Mason has established a discriminant function to classify 5-HT neurons in the RM [19]. Because this method of classification gives less than 5% of error, one can, with a certain degree of confidence, use a set of physiologic criteria established by the discriminant function to identify 5-HT cells, thus avoiding laborious labeling of each recorded cell. Using this approach, Mason and colleagues have shown that 5-HT neurons in the RM fire slowly and steadily, resembling many 5-HT cells in other regions of the brain [13]. More interestingly, the discharge patterns of most RM 5-HT cells are hardly affected by noxious tail heat, paw or tail pinch, and tail-flick withdrawal [19]. Furthermore, most 5-HT cells do not respond to PAG stimulation or by morphine administration, even though some 5-HT neurons are inhibited or excited by these manipulations [6,7]. In those 5-HT cells that are excited
PetaBricks: a language and compiler for algorithmic choice

It is often impossible to obtain a one-size-fits-all solution for high performance algorithms when considering different choices for data distributions, parallelism, transformations, and blocking. The best solution to these choices is often tightly coupled to different architectures, problem sizes, data, and available system resources. In some cases, completely different algorithms may provide the best performance. Current compiler and programming language techniques are able to change some of these parameters, but today there is no simple way for the programmer to express or the compiler to choose different algorithms to handle different parts of the data. Existing solutions normally can handle only coarse-grained, library level selections or hand coded cutoffs between base cases and recursive cases.We present PetaBricks, a new implicitly parallel language and compiler where having multiple implementations of multiple algorithms to solve a problem is the natural way of programming. We make algorithmic choice a first class construct of the language. Choices are provided in a way that also allows our compiler to tune at a finer granularity. The PetaBricks compiler autotunes programs by making both fine-grained as well as algorithmic choices. Choices also include different automatic parallelization techniques, data distributions, algorithmic parameters, transformations, and blocking.Additionally, we introduce novel techniques to autotune algorithms for different convergence criteria. When choosing between various direct and iterative methods, the PetaBricks compiler is able to tune a program in such a way that delivers near-optimal efficiency for any desired level of accuracy. The compiler has the flexibility of utilizing different convergence criteria for the various components within a single algorithm, providing the user with accuracy choice alongside algorithmic choice.
DNA barcoding will frequently fail in complicated groups: An example in wild potatoes

DNA barcoding ("barcoding") has been proposed as a rapid and practical molecular method to identify species via diagnostic variation in short orthologous DNA sequences from one or a few universal genomic regions. It seeks to address in a rapid and simple way the "taxonomic impediment" of a greater need for taxonomic identifications than can be supplied by taxonomists. Using a complicated plant group, Solanum sect. Petota (wild potatoes), I tested barcoding with the most variable and frequently suggested plant barcoding regions: the internal nontranscribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) and the plastid markers trnH-psbA intergenic spacer and matK. These DNA regions fail to provide species-specific markers in sect. Petota because the ITS has too much intraspecific variation and the plastid markers lack sufficient polymorphism. The complications seen in wild potatoes are common in many plant groups, but they have not been assessed with barcoding. Barcoding is a retroactive procedure that relies on well-defined species to function, is based solely on a limited number of DNA sequences that are often inappropriate at the species level, has been poorly tested with geographically well-dispersed replicate samples from difficult taxonomic groups, and discounts substantial practical and theoretical problems in defining species.
Determination of traces of bismuth with dithizone after iodide extraction

Abstract A method for the determination of μg quantities of bismuth in the presence of much iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphate is described. Bismuth is extracted as BiI3 by isoamyl acetate from perchloric acid medium in the presence of ascorbic acid and sulfite, and determined as dithizonate in the isoamyl acetate phase. The method is intended particularly for natural materials such as silicates and phosphates in which bismuth exceeds a few tenths of a p.p.m. and lead is present in amounts below 500 p.p.m.
Structure and aging characteristics of H2-permselective SiO2-Vycor membranes

Hydrogen-permselective membranes were prepared by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) of SiO_2 layers in porous Vycor tubes. The deposition was carried out by passing the reactants SiCl_4 and H_2O through the bore of the support tubes at temperatures ranging from 600 to 800°C. The deposit layers were examined by TEM, SEM, and EPMA. When the deposit was confined inside the pores of the Vycor substrate, the membranes were mechanically stable but when it extended substantially outside of the porous matrix the stresses induced by thermal cycling led to crack formation and propagation. Electron microscopy revealed that the SiO_2 deposit density is maximum in a region ≈0.5 μm thick adjacent to the bore surface and gradually declines to zero within a depth of ≈10 μm from the surface. The thin region of maximum deposit density is responsible for permselectivity, for it essentially blocks the permeation of nitrogen and larger molecules while allowing substantial permeation of hydrogen. This region contains ≈10% by volume trapped voids and as a result has relatively high permeability as suggested by the percolation theory. Annealing at high temperatures causes densification of the deposited material as evidenced by increased activation energy for H_2 permeation and correspondingly reduced permeance. The presence of H_2O vapor accelerates the densification process. The densified membranes had a H_2 permeance as high as 0.1 cm^3(STP)/min-atm-cm^2 at 500°C and a H_2/N_2 permeance ratio above 500.
Morality, ethics and East‐European Marxism

In recent years an orthodox Marxist‐Leninist ethics has been developing in the Soviet Union. It is metaphysically based, teleologically oriented, and objectivist in its claims. Soviet ethical writings encompass five different activities: description, interpretative classification, prescription, content‐analysis, and refutation. Among the distinctive features of the new Soviet Moral Code are its requirement of devotion to the Communist cause, its exclusively social orientation, and its emphasis on work. Upon analysis it turns out to prescribe a completely externalized and provincial morality. A comparison of Soviet ethics with recent ethical writings from other East‐European countries, however, shows that Marxist ethics need not follow the Soviet pattern.
“That really was a good method for beginners”: How narratives are used to situate objects and techniques in a quilting guild

Using conversational data from an ethnographic study of a quilting guild, this article examines the way narratives are used to situate quilted objects and techniques by indexing particular alignment frames for the viewer recipient. As a community of practice, the quilting guild provides an excellent interactional context to explore how narratives are used to construct and reinforce community practices. Working within the framework of conversation analysis, the study found that quilters utilized narratives argumentatively to support specific characterizations of quilted objects and quilting techniques. In the data, situating narratives initiate an interactional sequence consisting of two parts: the narrative and an expansion and integration sequence. Quilters make use of different syntactic and story elements in order to signal the appropriate alignment frames. Further, the expansion and integration segments provide space for the women to negotiate and integrate individual and group meanings for the quilting practices presented in the narrative.
West Nile Virus Infection in the United States

West Nile virus (WNV), an arthropod-borne flavivirus belonging to the Japanese encephalitis virus antigenic complex, first appeared as a cause of naturally acquired meningitis and encephalitis in the United States in the New York City area in the summer of 1999. 1 During succeeding years, the virus has spread rapidly throughout North America, becoming enzootic in bird and mosquito populations throughout much of the continental United States. In 2003, WNV was responsible for one of the largest arboviral encephalitis epidemics in US history (9858 cases; 2863 with meningoencephalitis and 262 deaths) and one of the largest WNV meningoencephalitis epidemics yet recorded.
Sterile neutrino-enhanced supernova explosions

We investigate the enhancement of lepton number, energy, and entropy transport resulting from active-sterile neutrino conversion {nu}{sub e}{yields}{nu}{sub s} deep in the post-bounce supernova core followed by reconversion {nu}{sub s}{yields}{nu}{sub e} further out, near the neutrino sphere. We explicitly take account of shock wave and neutrino heating modification of the active neutrino forward scattering potential which governs sterile neutrino production. We find that the {nu}{sub e} luminosity at the neutrino sphere could be increased by between {approx}10% and {approx}100% during the crucial shock reheating epoch if the sterile neutrino has a rest mass and vacuum mixing parameters in ranges which include those required for viable sterile neutrino dark matter. We also find sterile neutrino transport-enhanced entropy deposition ahead of the shock. This 'preheating' can help melt heavy nuclei and thereby reduce the nuclear photo-dissociation burden on the shock. Both neutrino luminosity enhancement and preheating could increase the likelihood of a successful core collapse supernova explosion.
Challenges in supporting virtual infrastructures in the cloud

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) is one of the main paradigms of cloud computing, where virtual infrastructures -- individual virtual machines (VMs) or mutually isolated networks of VMs -- are created in datacenters for cloud users. In this talk, I will discuss a number of research challenges in supporting virtual infrastructures in the cloud, in the aspects of performance, reliability, and security. I will then report our recent efforts in (1) optimizing VM network transport performance and (2) supporting virtual networked infrastructure reliability in datacenters. In the first effort, we propose and instantiate the methodology of protocol responsibility offloading to mitigate the impact of VM consolidation on VM TCP transport throughput. In the second effort, we develop a technique that takes live, distributed snapshots of virtual networked infrastructures for future recovery or replay. I will present both network-level and application-level evaluation results to demonstrate the effectiveness of our solutions.
Adult chicken alarm calls enhance tonic immobility in chicks.

Abstract An experimenter induced tonic immobility (TI) in parentally naive chicks (G. gallus domesticus). The chicks remained in TI longer when they were exposed to a conspecific adult fear squawk alarm call than when exposed to an equally novel attraction call or white noise. In a second experiment, both aerial-predator and ground-predator alarm calls enhanced TI similarly to the fear squawk call which is elicited by capture. These results support the hypotheses that TI is an antipredator defense mechanism and that alarm calls evolved through kin-selection.
A note on multiple pure tone noise

A theoretical investigation of multiple pure tone noise is presented. An analysis based on a two-dimensional inviscid flow model is developed to predict the generation and subsequent evolution of multiple pure tone noise from prescribed blade-to-blade nonuniformities in the rotor geometry. The results show that even small nonuniformities within manufacturing tolerances can be a significant source of multiple pure tone noise. Among the nonuniformities investigated, errors in blade spacing are less significant multiple pure tone noise sources than errors in blade stagger or blade contours.
Interactions between GSK3β and amyloid genes explain variance in amyloid burden.

Abstract The driving theoretical framework of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been built around the amyloid-β (Aβ) cascade in which amyloid pathology precedes and drives tau pathology. Other evidence has suggested that tau and amyloid pathology may arise independently. Both lines of research suggest that there may be epistatic relationships between genes involved in amyloid and tau pathophysiology. In the current study, we hypothesized that genes coding glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) and comparable tau kinases would modify genetic risk for amyloid plaque pathology. Quantitative amyloid positron emission tomography data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative served as the quantitative outcome in regression analyses, covarying for age, gender, and diagnosis. Three interactions reached statistical significance, all involving the GSK3β single nucleotide polymorphism rs334543—2 with APBB2 (rs2585590, rs3098914) and 1 with APP (rs457581). These interactions explained 1.2%, 1.5%, and 1.5% of the variance in amyloid deposition respectively. Our results add to a growing literature on the role of GSK-3 activity in amyloid processing and suggest that combined variation in GSK3β and APP-related genes may result in increased amyloid burden.
The Effects of Bleaching Application Time on the Dental Pulp

A study of pulpal response to a 10 percent carbamide peroxide bleaching gel using short and extended application times. This study evaluated and compared pulpal responses of teeth exposed to a 10 percent carbamide peroxide bleaching gel using short and extended application times. Of 28 subjects, four discontinued use because of thermal sensitivity. For the remaining participants, there was no difference between the pulpal readings recorded before the use of the gel or at any point during the study.
Experimental validation of a finite element model of the temporomandibular joint

Purpose: A 2-dimensional finite model of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was previously developed to provide a way of studying the specific roles of individual components as well as the overall dynamics of joint motion. This study was undertaken to show that the previously reported finite element model provides results that are consistent with the experimentally obtained results. Materials and Methods: The upper compartment of a TMJ of a fresh cadaver specimen was exposed to allow the insertion of a small strip of pressure-sensitive film. Measured loads were applied to the chin and angle of the mandible, pressing the condyle into the glenoid fossa. The resulting stresses in the joint stained the film, providing a way to determine their magnitude. Similar loads were applied to the finite element model and the stresses in the TMJ were mathematically calculated. Results: Experimental results were successfully obtained in 4 separate attempts, recording maximum stresses of 5.6, 8.6, 6.4, and 9.9 MPa (megapascals), respectively. The corresponding finite element model predictions were 7.3, 6.9, 6.4, and 8.2 MPa, respectively. Conclusions: This study indicates that the results of the previously reported finite element model of the TMJ provide a reasonable approximation of the actual physical situation. © 2001 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Public Culture in America: A Review of Cultural Policy Debates

This article examines debates about public culture from the late 1980s to the present and identifies thirteen arguments that have been used to justify an investment in public culture: public interest, national security, merit, moral worth, the good life, economic development, politics, education, democracy, American identity, shared symbols, diversity, and innovation. The article then asserts four positions: (1) public culture and democracy are mutually constitutive, (2) elite culture can be detrimental to democracy, (3) the deliberate pursuit of diversity is a democratic endeavor, and (4) culture can bridge social differences. The article closes with a discussion about whether any form of public culture has yet been achieved in America, drawing on the work of Tyler Cowen and Bill Ivey.
The Hurricane’s Inner Core Region. I. Symmetric and Asymmetric Structure

Abstract Observational information from 533 radial flight legs executed by the National Hurricane Research Laboratory over a 13-year period (1957–69) is used to present the structural characteristics and the variability of the hurricane’s inner core region. Tangential and radial winds, D-values, and adjusted temperatures are composited with respect to the Radius of Maximum Wind (RMW) in order to construct a five-level mean symmetric storm and a five-level mean asymmetric storm. The slope of the RMW with height and the position of the RMW relative to the inner cloud wall are presented. Utilizing these results, an idealized, steady-state schematic model of the flow conditions in the inner hurricane core is presented. Storms are stratified by deepening and filling tendency, intensity and storm speed. Finally, the variations of the RMW with latitude, maximum wind, inner radar radius, central pressure, and other features are discussed. Many significant features are noted: 1) storm inflow is confined almost exc...
Privacy Beyond Confidentiality

The computer science community has had a growing research focus in Privacy over the last decade. Much of this has really focused on confidentiality: Anonymization, computing on encrypted data, access control policy, etc. This talk will look at a variety of research results in this area, including "weaker" approaches than the absolutes typically considered in the security community, and how they all come down to the same basic concept of providing confidentiality. Privacy is much more complex. People are often willing to allow use of their data -- but not just for anything. This talk will look at such other privacy issues, such as harm to individuals and society from the fear of disclosure or misuse of private data. The talk will conclude with ideas for new research directions in privacy.
Correlation of Serum Immunoglobulin E Elevations with Clinical Stages of Dysthyroid Orbitopathy

Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay in serum samples from patients with dysthyroid orbitopathy and from a group of healthy volunteers. All the serum donors had no symptoms of allergy or infection and were not given any immunoregulative treatments for at least 6 months before the sampling. One hundred thirty-seven dysthyroid orbitopathy patients were rated clinically as belonging to one of the following groups: (1) stable dysthyroid orbitopathy; (2) active dysthyroid orbitopathy; (3) chronic or recurrent dysthyroid orbitopathy; or (4) dysthyroid orbitopathy characterized by limited myopathy. The serum IgE levels of all these groups were compared with 26 healthy, nonatopic volunteers. The mean IgE levels of groups 3 and 4 were significantly higher than the mean IgE level of the control group as well as that of the group with stable dysthyroid orbitopathy. Furthermore, serial readings on several patients were consistent with the hypothesis that serum IgE is elevated in connection with certain stages of rapid dysthyroid orbitopathy progression and also with two unusual clinical forms of dysthyroid orbitopathy.
Influence of statistical and constraint loss size effects on cleavage fracture toughness in the transition – A model based analysis

Abstract A database derived from tests on specimens with a large range of ligament (b) and thickness (B) dimensions was systematically analyzed to evaluate constraint loss and statistical size effects on cleavage fracture toughness. The objectives were to: (1) decouple size effects related to constraint loss, mediated by b and B, from those arising from statistical effects, primarily associated with B; and, (2) develop procedures to transfer toughness data to different conditions of constraint and B. The toughness database for a Shoreham pressure vessel steel plate, tested at a common set of conditions, was described in a companion paper. Quantification of constraint loss was based on an independently calibrated 3D finite-element critical stress-area, σ ∗ - [ K J m / K J c ] , model. The measured toughness data, KJm, were first adjusted using computed [ K J m / K J c ] constraint loss factors to the corresponding values for small scale yielding conditions, K J c = K J m / [ K J m / K J c ] . The KJc were then statistically adjusted to a KJr for a reference Br = 25.4 mm. The B adjustment was based on a critically stressed volume criterion, modified to account for a minimum toughness, Kmin, consistent with modest modifications of the ASTM E 1921 Standard procedure. The combined σ ∗ - [ K J m / K J c ] - K min adjustment procedure was applied to the Shoreham b − B database, producing a homogeneous population of KJr data, generally within the expected scatter. The analysis suggests that: (1) there may be a maximum B beyond which statistical size effects diminish, and (2) constraint loss in the three-point bend specimens begins at a relatively low deformation level. A corresponding analysis, based on a Weibull stress, σ w - [ K J m / K J c ] - K min , adjustment procedure, yielded similar, but somewhat less satisfactory, results. The optimized adjustment procedure was also applied to other KJm data for the Shoreham plate from this study, as well as a large database taken from the literature. The population of 489KJr data points, covering an enormous range of specimen sizes, geometries and test temperatures, was found to be consistent with the same master curve T0 = −84 °C derived from the b − B database. Thus, calibrated micromechanical models can be used to treat size and geometry effects on KJm, facilitating using small specimens and data transfer to predict the fracture limits of structures.
Effects of Pluronic F 68, poloralkol, on vascular resistance in vivo.

Abstract Pluronic F 68® poloralkol, a surfactant proven beneficial in extra-corporeal circulation, in organ perfusions and in experimental shock did not improve the flow characteristics of blood measured by vascular resistance, renal and superior mesenteric blood flow in either normal or thrombin infused dogs in vivo.
Effect of methylalkanes on male house fly, Musca domestica, sexual behavior

Abstract Methylalkane fractions from the cuticular lipids of sexually mature female Musca domestica were bioassayed at a concentration of 1–2 female equivalents for their effects on male courtship behavior that was directed towards treated knots or thumb tacks. Two hydrocarbons, 2-methyltriacontane and 10,14-dimethyltriacontane, were identified in the active fractions and increased the total amount of time spent on male models from 126 s in the controls to 696 s for 2-methyltriacontane at 0.05 μg and 732 s for 10,14-dimethyltriacontane at 0.25 μg. The longest time per contact, 76.8 s, was found for models treated with 0.25 μg of 10,14-dimethyltriacontane. Both of these materials also increased the number of contacts and copulatory attempts made with the treated models.
New parity, same old attitude towards psychotherapy?

Full parity of health insurance benefits for treatment of mental illness, including substance use disorders, is a major achievement. However, the newly-published regulations implementing the legislation strongly endorse aggressive managed care as a way of containing costs for the new equality of cov
Field-Study Evidence of an Ego-Defensive Bias in Attribution among Two Categories of Observers

Data from a field stud)' originally' conducted for a different purpose were reanalyzed for evidence of attributional bias. Coaches rated players' abilities and efforts at preseason and midway through a losing season. Results were consistent with predictions derived from an analysis of differential role demands: The head coach perceived players as having greater abilities but poorer efforts at midseason than preseason; assistant coaches perceived less ability but greater efforts at midseason than preseason. The findings are seen as consistent with the notion of a self-esteem-protecting bias in causal attribution.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Recovery Approach

There is growing evidence that recovery in the presence of schizophrenia is achievable. Taken from the perspective of those experiencing this illness, recovery may or may not involve complete symptom relief and seems to occur in stages involving the restoration of stability, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and a sense of connectedness to the world. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is now a well-established treatment for the positive symptoms of psychosis, and preliminary data suggest that it might be effective in aiding other aspects of recovery. In an effort to facilitate a more systematic approach to psychotherapy for individuals with schizophrenia, we present a framework that integrates specific recovery tasks and CBT techniques that are well suited for achieving them.
Synthesis and physical properties of regiochemically well-defined, head-to-tail coupled poly(3-alkylthiophenes)

Abstract We have recently developed a regiospecific synthetic method that produces poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (PAT's) that, for the first time, contain almost exclusively head-to-tail (HT) couplings [1]. Details on the synthesis, NMR characterization of structural regularity, UV-VIS data on solutions and thin films, and preliminary X-ray, electrical conductivity, and thermal data are presented herein. NMR spectral characterization reveals >93% head-to-tail-head-to-tail (HT-HT) couplings in poly(3-butylthiophene) (PBT), poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PHT), poly(3-octylthiophene) (POT), and poly(3-dodecylthiophene) (PDDT). In the UV-VIS, these PAT's show lower energy absorption maximum shifts of up to 14 nm in solution, 46 nm in the solid state, and other intense lower energy peaks with shifts of up to 129 nm (609 nm) from PAT's prepared by the usual methods. X-ray analysis of unoriented (as cast) thin films of PHT on glass indicate a much more ordered structure than PHT made from FeCl 3 . It also appears that our unoriented PHT is at least as ordered as stretch oriented PHT. Preliminary maximum room temperature electrical conductivity values for PAT's (doped with I 2 ) are 1000 S cm −1 for PDDT, 200 S cm −1 for POT, and 60 S cm −1 for PHT. Thermal analysis of POT prepared by this method is also presented and these samples are found to be highly crystalline.
Intensive dryland farming on the leeward slopes of Haleakala, Maui, Hawaiian Islands : archaeological, archaeobotanical, and geochemical perspectives

Polynesians settled and farmed the leeward, relatively arid slopes of Haleakala Volcano beginning about ad 1400. Archaeological investigations at two sites revealed dense concentrations of conical impressions in a subsurface 20cm cinder layer that was previously undisturbed, interpreted as resulting from cultivation practices involving digging sticks. Ethnographic accounts of Hawaiian sweet potato and dryland taro cultivation techniques provide details on the use of such digging sticks. By puncturing this cinder layer, farmers created a loamy mixture of ash and cinder suited to root crop development. Archaeobotanical analyses suggest an intensive, short-fallow regime: macroscopic wood charcoal was absent (therefore no fallow sufficient for secondary re-growth of dryland forest) and evidence of disturbance-tolerant, weedy species is abundant. Geochemical analyses relying on stratigraphic relationships show that cultivation depleted nutrient levels in the digging-stick impressions, through harvest and leach...
APOE e4 genotype and cigarette smoking in adults with normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment: a retrospective baseline analysis of a national dataset.

AbstractBackground: APOE e4 genotype is known to be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and atherosclerosis. Recently, published evidence has shown that APOE e4 genotype may also be associated with the cessation of cigarette smoking. Objectives: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to explore whether any past smoking outcomes differed based on APOE e4 genotype in a large national dataset. Methods: Data were extracted from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s longitudinal Uniform Data Set study. We limited this retrospective baseline analysis to the normal cognition (n = 2995) and mild cognitive impairment (n = 1627) groups that had APOE genotype and smoking data. Because this was an exploratory retrospective analysis, we conducted descriptive analyses on all variables based on APOE e4 genotype. We controlled for demographic, clinical, medication and neurocognitive data in the analyses. Results: In both the normal cognition group and the mild cognitive impairment group, e4 carriers and e4...
Initial equilibrium solution methods for cable reinforced membranes part I—formulations

Abstract This paper describes the initial equilibrium problem for tension structures and presents a variety of methods for solving it. Two least squares techniques are presented in which the prestress distribution in the reference configuration is the problem unknown and the reference shape is explicitly defined by the designer. The existing force density method is shown to be a special case of the new assumed geometric stiffness method where both the reference shape and prestress distribution are unknowns in the solution. The iterative smoothing technique allows the designer to solve for the shape of the reference configuration in terms of an assumed prestress distribution. Also, an extension of the nonlinear displacement analysis method is presented which is based on a special slip formulation which accounts for relative movement between membranes and other structural components. Finally, the possibility of a combined solution process is discussed.
A parallel algorithm for record clustering

We present an efficient heuristic algorithm for record clustering that can run on a SIMD machine. We introduce the P-tree, and its associated numbering scheme, which in the split phase allows each processor independently to compute the unique cluster number of a record satisfying an arbitrary query. We show that by restricting ourselves in the merge phase to combining only sibling clusters, we obtain a parallel algorithm whose speedup ratio is optimal in the number of processors used. Finally, we report on experiments showing that our method produces substantial savings in an enviornment with relatively little overlap among the queries.
A method for determination of methionine containing radioactivity in the thiomethyl moiety.

Abstract A method is described for the determination of methionine containing a radioactive label in the thiomethyl moiety. Cyanogen bromide in aqueous acetic acid is used to convert the labeled thiomethyl moiety to labeled methylthiocyanate which is then extracted into toluene and counted by liquid scintillation.
Giant dipole resonance in highly excited thorium: Evidence for strong fission hindrance.

The giant dipole resonance in $^{224}\mathrm{Th}$ excited to 44, 64, and 82 MeV was observed following the fusion of $^{16}\mathrm{O}$+$^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$. The total $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ spectrum is analyzed in terms of prefission and postfission $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ decay. The data can only be fitted by our requiring an enhancement of the giant-dipole-resonance $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays from the prefission nuclei which is explained by a large fission hindrance in the early decay steps from the compound system. A measurement of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-fission angular correlation supports this conclusion and establishes a deformed shape of the compound nucleus.
Models and material properties for erosion of ceramics

Models for erosion in ceramics are summarized, and recent results for the combined role of target and erodent material properties are presented. Using indentation fracture mechanics concepts for crack initiation, a new approach to erodent versus target properties is developed that points to erodent fragmentation as an important consideration. Hardness, toughness, and flaw characteristics are pertinent for fragmentation phenomena. Fracture toughness emerges as an important property. Toughness is not always easy to characterize because of crack growth resistance behavior in microstructurally complex ceramics.
Old Parasites for a New World: The Future of Paleoparasitological Research. A Review

Paleoparasitological research has made important contributions to our understanding of parasite evolution and ecology since the 1960s. Since then, most studies have focused on paleoparasitological evidence from single sites or samples. With the development of high throughput sequencing techniques, new avenues of investigation for paleoparasitological material are opening up. Here, I provide an overview of recent developments and highlight how these results will broaden the scope of the field, placing paleoparasitology at the interface of a wide array of studies, including parasitology, climate change, human evolution, and evolutionary processes.