cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Politics As Usual, or Politics Unusual? Position Taking and Dialogue on Campaign Websites in the 2002 U.S. Elections

Many consider the World Wide Web to be nothing more than an additional medium alongside others in which established patterns of political behavior and information flows are played out anew; others contend that the special characteristics of the Web hold the potential to produce fundamentally different patterns of political behavior than those found offline. This article analyzes the occurrence of position taking and issue dialogue on campaign websites associated with a random sample of 200 races from the U.S. 2002 election cycle. Though this study found some similarities between online and offline campaigning, it also identified ways in which the individual messages and overall political information environment created by candidates and available to voters through the Web in 2002 did not conform to the usual patterns found in the offline world of print and broadcast communication.
Representation of the cochlea within the anterior auditory field (AAF) of the cat

Abstract The anterior auditory field (AAF) is a large auditory representation in the cerebral cortex of the cat rostral to the ‘primary’ auditory cortex (AI) on the middle and anterior ectosylvian gyri. Fine-grained microelectrode maps of unit best frequencies were made in AAF of 16 ketamine anesthetized cats. Among the results were the following. (1) Most units in AAF that were driven by tonal stimuli had tuning curves with a single, sharply definable minimum (the best frequency). Occasionally, units were found to have multiple tuning curve minima. (2) In penetrations normal to the cortical surface of AAF, isolated units had remarkably similar tuning curves througout the middle and deep cortical layers. (3) In most of AAF, a restricted sector of the cochlear partition is represented by a straight belt of cortex crossing the entire field. (4) There is a highly ordered representation of the cochlea within AAF. The cortical belt representing the most basal sector of the cochlea (highest best frequencies) is oriented dorsoventrally along the border with the high frequency region of AI. Proceeding rostrally for some distance with AAF, lower frequency cortical belts are parallel to one another and maintain a highly ordered representation of progressively more apical cochlear sectors. The orientation of the lowest frequency representation usually rotates following the ventral curvature of the anterior ectosylvian gyrus. (5) In the portion of the field caudal to the axis of rotation of the representation, best frequency (represented cochlear position) is a simple (and apparently relatively constant) function of distance from the mutual high frequency AI-AAF border. (6) There is a propootionately larger representation of the highest frequency octaves within AAF. (7) The results of penetrations down the banks of the suprasylvian sulcus indicate that there may be units of vertical organization within AAF similar to those in AI, and in somatosensory and visual cortical fields. (8) The boundaries of AAF as well as the frequency representation within it are highly variable when referenced to cortical surface landmarks. (9) The cytoarchitectonic boundaries of AAF approximately correspond with the physiologically defined boundaries. (10) There were no cells driven to discharge by tonal stimuli in the fields dorsal and ventral to AAF. Comparison of the properties of AAF and AI show that these two fields are remarkably similar in many important features including unit response properties under ketamine anesthesia, short latency to earliest unit discharge, organization in depth, units of vertical organization, size, spatial representation of frequency and proportionately greater representation of higher frequency octaves. They also share some common thalamocortical inputs. These similarities suggest that AAF is not a ‘secondary’ cortical field, but, rather, that AAF and AI are virtually mirror images of one another and are co-participants in the earliest and fundamental processing of acoustic information at the cortical level.
Copenhangen Standard Sea Water: Conductivity and salinity

In the present work, the conductivity of Standard Sea Water was studied over the temperature range 12–40°C using high-precision conductance techniques. One of the purposes of this investigation was to extend the temperature range of the equation that describes the conductivities tabulated by Cox. The conductivities reported in this work differ from the Cox equation by no more than 0.1% in the range of temperature overlap (to 30°C). The combined data base leads to the expression $$\begin{gathered} \kappa \left( {mmho - cm^{ - 1} } \right) = 29.05128 + 0.88082t - 1.98312 \times 10^{ - 4} t^2 + 3.33663 \hfill \\ \times 10^{ - 4} t^3 - 1.0776 \times 10^{ - 5} t^4 + 1.12518 \times 10^{ - 7} t^5 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ for the electrical conductance of Copenhagen Standard Sea Water, with an overall uncertainty estimate (absolute accuracy) of ±0.1% for the temperature range of 0–40°C.
On Witten's proof of the positive energy theorem

This paper gives a mathematically rigorous proof of the positive energy theorem using spinors. This completes and simplifies the original argument presented by Edward Witten. We clarify the geometric aspects of this argument and prove the necessary analytic theorems concerning the relevant Dirac operator.
A numerical method for solving rough contact problems based on the multi-level multi-summation and conjugate gradient techniques

Abstract An alternative numerical method for solving contact problems for real rough surfaces is proposed. The real area of contact and the contact pressure distribution are determined using a single-loop iteration scheme based on the conjugate gradient method, which converges for arbitrary rough surfaces. The surface deflections and subsurface stresses are computed using an alternative two-dimensional multi-level multi-summation algorithm, which allows the summation error to be kept under the discretization error for any number of contact points. The proposed method is fast: rough contact problems for surface samples with 10 5 –10 6 data points are solved on a personal computer in a few hours. The numerical algorithms are described in full detail so that an interested reader can implement the new contact solver in a computer code. Numerical examples demonstrating the method advantages are presented. The method is compared with other fast contact solvers that have emerged in the last few years.
The wired mother

Abstract Simple Simon Inc., a promising online grocer, believes the Twin Cities is the especially ripe for home delivery service, with the highest proportion of working women in the nation, thereby targeting at those time-starved consumers who would rather shop for groceries from their home PCs and have them delivered to their doors. Surveys also consistently told us that two-thirds of grocery shoppers dislike the task and 70–80% of groceries we buy every week are the same. With the innovative, sophisticated customer relationship management program, the items customers buy every week are stored at SimonDelivers.com . The company also offers the right web site, superior service, and just-in-time delivery to establish solid customer relationship, thus gaining the competitive advantage. Differentiation through niching, the company creates a new meaning of saving time and providing convenience for the working mothers by connecting them to a world of information technology.
Hip Pain in an 18-year-old Man

An 18-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of left hip pain. There was no antecedent trauma but a gradual onset of pain that became persistent over the 6-month period. The patient’s pain intensified with time and a bothersome limp on the left side was affecting his activity level. He had no other complaints or constitutional symptoms, nor did he report any chest pain or shortness of breath. His medical history was unremarkable. Family medical history was significant for B cell lymphoma in the patient’s maternal grandfather. On physical examination, the patient appeared healthy with stable vital signs and no apparent distress. No regional or distant lymphadenopathy and no soft tissue mass were present around the hip. He was tender to palpation in the left groin and greater trochanter. Range of motion of the hip revealed pain with rotation, greater with external than internal rotation. Flexion and extension did not produce pain. The neurovascular exam was normal, with 2 + dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses. Motor examination was 5/5 and sensation was intact throughout all dermatomes. Laboratory examination revealed an elevated white blood cell count of 12.7 · 10/lL, an elevated sedimentation rate of 21 mm/hour, and an elevated C-reactive protein of 15.4 mg/L. Imaging studies included anteroposterior and lateral radiographs (Fig. 1), radionuclide Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate bone scan (Fig. 2), computed tomography (CT) scan (Fig. 3), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Fig. 4). Based on the history, physical examination, laboratory studies, and imaging studies, what is the differential diagnosis?
Glucocorticoids Decrease Interleukin-6 Levels and Induce Mineralization of Cultured Osteogenic Cells from Children with Fibrous Dysplasia

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a progressive bone disease in which abnormal fibroblast proliferation results in the replacement of normal cancellous bone with an immature fibrous tissue that is poorly mineralized. The disease manifests itself in the monostotic form in which only one bone is involved and the polyostotic form in which multiple bones at different sites are affected. The McCune–Albright syndrome is a variation of the polyostotic form in which patients demonstrate a greater extent of bone involvement and a variety of endocrinopathies. Somatic activating mutations in the GNAS gene have been demonstrated in the fibrotic lesions of patients affected with either monostotic or polyostotic FD. The increased cAMP levels caused by the G-protein mutations lead to increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the affected tissues, resulting in abnormal osteoblast differentiation and increased osteoclastic activity. Utilizing cell culture techniques that have been developed for mammalian bone marrow stromal cells, we have successfully cultured osteogenic stem cells from the affected stroma of 11 FD patients. Cells cultured from patients with polyostotic FD showed a high frequency of the Gsα mutation, whereas cells from monostotic FD patients showed a low frequency of the mutation. Both the normal and FD cells displayed the osteogenic phenotype when exposed to medium containing glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids also caused a dramatic inhibition of IL-6 mRNA and protein levels in osteogenic cells cultured from the FD patients. These findings suggest that chemical alteration of cellular function may lead to new treatment options for patients with FD.
Reactions of niobium and tantalum clusters with aliphatic alcohols. Synthesis and properties of [M6X12(ROH)6]X2, M = Nb or Ta, X = Cl or Br, R = Me, Et, i-Pr or i-Bu

Abstract The dissolution and subsequent evaporation of the aliphatic alcohol solutions of [(M6X12b)(H2O)4X2t]·4H2O (M = Nb or Ta, X = Cl or Br; b, bridging; t, terminal) in a vacuum have resulted in complete exchange of the four coordinated water molecules and two terminal halide atoms by aliphatic alcohols forming insoluble, crystalline, diamagnetic clusters of the composition [M6X12(ROH)6]X2 (R = CH3, C2H5, i-C3H7 and i-C4H9). Spectral evidence indicates occupation of all octahedral coordination sites by aliphatic alcohol molecules.
Feasibility of initiating extracorporeal life support during mechanical chest compression CPR: A porcine pilot study

Background Recently, portable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines have become commercially available. This creates the potential to utilize extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest in the emergency department, and potentially in the out-of-hospital setting.
MODELING OF SOLID FLOWS IN A FLUIDIZED BED WITH SECONDARY TANGENTIAL AIR INJECTION IN THE FREEBOARD

Abstract The Vortexing Fluidized-Bed Combustion (VFBC) technique was recently developed for small- and medium-scale coal-burning boiler applications. Experimental observations showed that the general solid flows in the freeboard of a vortexing fluidized bed consisted of three successive stages: (1) spirally ascending motion before colliding the freeboard wall, (2) bouncing on the wall, and (3) sliding on the wall and exiting the freeboard. This study attempts to model these three stages of solid flows. The dimensionless governing equations for particle motion in the swirling field were presented taking into account the interactions of particle inertia, centrifugal force, viscous fluid drag, and gravity. Numerical solutions of particle velocities and trajectories were pursued, and effects of particle momentum transfer number, Froude number, and particle-wall restitution coefficient were delineated. The experimental validation of solid flows in the swirling freeboard was furnished with an 18 cm ID laborator...
Allergy to chymotrypsin.

HIS report presents a case of allergic sensitivity to chymotrypsin (bovine) in a laboratory worker. The sensitivity apparently was induced by inhalation of the powdered material. With the increasing use of purified enzyme preparations, the hazard of sensitization should be recognized. A larger number of scientific workers are being exposed to inhalation of the dried materials. Injectible chymotrypsin is being used to reduce tissue swelling following trauma and infection.’ The other pancreatic proteolytic enzyme, trypsin, is used medically, both by injection in inflammatory disorders”, 3 and in the form of an aerosol to liquefy mucus in cases of asthma, bronchitis, and bronchiectasis.4, 5 Chymotrypsin is produced by the action of trypsin on chymotrypsinogen. It acts on the peptide link in the carboxylic side of aromatic amino acids. Because of the proteolytic action, the enzymes have been used to dissolve mucus or fibrin. During tests for specific skin sensitivity, the proteolytic activity of trypsin and chymotrypsin, with its resulting irritative wheal and tla,re, introduces the factor of nonspecific reactions, and this must be evaluated in each individual test. To reduce this source of error, we used the nonproteolytic precursor of chymotrypsin (chymotrypsinogen) in the passive transfer tests reported below. Chymotrypsinogen and chymotrypsin have been reported to be distinguishable by means of the Schultz-Dale reaction in the guinea pig$ however, t,hey are very closely related immunologically. Their cross reactivity is sufficiently strong to have permitted the use of chymotrypsinogen to test for chpmotrypsin sensitivity in the case reported here.
Primary care management of the liver transplant patient

The patient referred for liver transplantation typically has complications from a progressive, irreversible liver injury. Less traditional complications of end-stage liver disease, such as bone disease and some hepatobiliary malignancies, may also prompt referral. However, there are contraindications to liver transplantation, such as metastatic malignancy and persistent substance abuse. Each patient should be referred as early as possible. The evaluation process includes a complete physical examination and social and psychologic evaluations. If transplantation is agreed upon, the patient is listed by clinical status and enters a waiting period for a donor liver. Following transplantation, the patient is maintained on a regimen of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent allograft rejection. Each patient is also maintained on prophylactic medications, to decrease the risk of opportunistic infection. Many of the postoperative problems in liver transplantation are a result of immunosuppression, either as side effects of the medications used to prevent and control rejection or from the intensity of the resulting immunosuppression. These problems include headaches, systemic hypertension, acute and chronic allograft rejection, renal dysfunction, opportunistic infection with cytomegalovirus or Pneumocystis carinii, disease recurrence, and neoplasia. Routine, long-term care includes systematic clinical follow-up and repetitive blood tests. Communication among the transplant center, the patient, and the referring physician are essential to a successful outcome over the long term.
Confidence Interval Estimation for Sensitivity at a Fixed Level of Specificity for Combined Biomarkers

In diagnostic studies, we often need to combine several biomarkers to increase the diagnostic accuracy. For continuous-scaled biomarkers or diagnostic tests, it is often of interest to estimate the confidence interval for sensitivity at a fixed level of specificity. Despite the fact that there exist many literature reports on confidence interval estimation of sensitivity at a fixed level of specificity for a single marker, the inference procedures for sensitivity at a fixed level of specificity for combined markers have rarely been addressed. This article fills this gap by investigating a generalized variable procedure for this purpose. The performance of the proposed generalized approach is numerically studied. For the optimal linear combination proposed by Su and Liu (1993), simulation study demonstrates that the proposed approach generally can provide confidence intervals with excellent coverage probabilities. The robustness of the proposed approach is investigated for categorical data. In the end, the...
Tactics-Based Behavioural Planning for Goal-Driven Rigid Body Control

Controlling rigid body dynamic simulations can pose a difficult challenge when constraints exist on the bodies' goal states and the sequence of intermediate states in the resulting animation. Manually adjusting individual rigid body control actions (forces and torques) can become a very labour-intensive and non-trivial task, especially if the domain includes a large number of bodies or if it requires complicated chains of inter-body collisions to achieve the desired goal state. Furthermore, there are some interactive applications that rely on rigid body models where no control guidance by a human animator can be offered at runtime, such as video games. In this work, we present techniques to automatically generate intelligent control actions for rigid body simulations. We introduce sampling-based motion planning methods that allow us to model goal-driven behaviour through the use of non-deterministic Tactics that consist of intelligent, sampling-based control-blocks, called Skills. We introduce and compare two variations of a Tactics-driven planning algorithm, namely behavioural Kinodynamic Rapidly Exploring Random Trees (BK-RRT) and Behavioural Kinodynamic Balanced Growth Trees (BK-BGT). We show how our planner can be applied to automatically compute the control sequences for challenging physics-based domains and that is scalable to solve control problems involving several hundred interacting bodies, each carrying unique goal constraints.
Reducing Dislocation Density by Sequential Implantation of Ge and C in Si

Carbon implantation was performed after high dose(5 x 1016/cm2) Ge implantation into [100] oriented Si substrates to study the effect of sequential implantation on dislocation nucleation. When the nominal peak concentration of implanted C is over 0.55 at%, Dislocations in the SiGe layer containing C are considerably reduced in density after solid phase epitaxial(SPE) annealing at 800°C for 1 hour, compared to the SiGe layer without C. These results suggest that during annealing, C atoms compensate the Geinduced misfit strain which causes dislocation generation in the region of peak Ge concentration. Channeling spectra obtained by RBS analysis show only 5% to 6% minimum back scattering yield as C atoms suppress the dislocation generation.
Structural and Kinetic Characterization of an Archaeal β-Class Carbonic Anhydrase

The beta-class carbonic anhydrase from the archaeon Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (Cab) was structurally and kinetically characterized. Analytical ultracentrifugation experiments show that Cab is a tetramer. Circular dichroism studies of Cab and the Spinacia oleracea (spinach) beta-class carbonic anhydrase indicate that the secondary structure of the beta-class enzymes is predominantly alpha-helical, unlike that of the alpha- or gamma-class enzymes. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure results indicate the active zinc site of Cab is coordinated by two sulfur and two O/N ligands, with the possibility that one of the O/N ligands is derived from histidine and the other from water. Both the steady-state parameters k(cat) and k(cat)/K(m) for CO(2) hydration are pH dependent. The steady-state parameter k(cat) is buffer-dependent in a saturable manner at both pH 8.5 and 6.5, and the analysis suggested a ping-pong mechanism in which buffer is the second substrate. At saturating buffer conditions and pH 8.5, k(cat) is 2.1-fold higher in H(2)O than in D(2)O, consistent with an intramolecular proton transfer step being rate contributing. The steady-state parameter k(cat)/K(m) is not dependent on buffer, and no solvent hydrogen isotope effect was observed. The results suggest a zinc hydroxide mechanism for Cab. The overall results indicate that prokaryotic beta-class carbonic anhydrases have fundamental characteristics similar to the eukaryotic beta-class enzymes and firmly establish that the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-classes are convergently evolved enzymes that, although structurally distinct, are functionally equivalent.
Response cost: The removal of conditioned reinforcers for therapeutic change

Response cost (RC), a punishment procedure in which conditioned reinforcers (points, tokens, or money) are withdrawn to suppress a response, has been used as a behavior therapy technique on its own and in conjunction with reinforcement in token economies. Studies in both laboratory and clinical settings are reviewed. The following conclusions are made: (1) RC has suppressed a variety of behaviors (e.g., smoking, overeating, stuttering, psychotic talk) with diverse clinical populations (e.g., psychotics, sociopaths, retardates, school children); (2) Behaviors suppressed with RC often do not recover when the punishment contingency is withdrawn; and (3) Undesirable side effects frequently associated with punishment typically are not found with RC. The paucity of studies with long-term followup periods and careful examination of side effects makes the last two conclusions tentative. Aspects of RC which may contribute to its efficacy are discussed. These include cost magnitude, instructions, and informative feedback. Recommendations are made for increased use of RC as a behavior therapy technique.
Propagation of femtosecond laser pulses through water in the linear absorption regime

We investigate the controversy regarding violations of the Bouguer-Lambert-Beer (BLB) law for ultrashort laser pulses propagating through water. By working at sufficiently low incident laser intensities, we make sure that any nonlinear component in the response of the medium is negligible. We measure the transmitted power and spectrum as functions of water cell length in an effort to confirm or disprove alleged deviations from the BLB law. We perform experiments at two different laser pulse repetition rates and explore the dependence of transmission on pulse duration. Specifically, we vary the laser pulse duration either by cutting its spectrum while keeping the pulse shape near transform-limited or by adjusting the pulses chirp while keeping the spectral intensities fixed. Over a wide range of parameters, we find no deviations from the BLB law and conclude that recent claims of BLB law violations are inconsistent with our experimental data. We present a simple linear theory (based on the BLB law) for propagation of ultrashort laser pulses through an absorbing medium and find our experimental results to be in excellent agreement with this theory.
Antitumor activity of 2-fluoro-2′-deoxyadenosine against tumors that express Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase

The selective expression of Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) in solid tumors has been successfully used to activate two purine nucleoside analogs [9-(2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-6-methylpurine (MeP-dR) and 9-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine (F-araA)] resulting in lasting tumor regressions and cures. E. coli PNP also cleaves 2-fluoro-2′-deoxyadenosine (F-dAdo) to 2-F-adenine, which is the toxic purine analog liberated from F-araA that has high bystander activity and is active against nonproliferating tumor cells. As F-dAdo is 3000 times better than F-araA as a substrate for E. coli PNP, we have evaluated its antitumor activity against D54 gliomas that express E. coli PNP and have characterized its in vivo metabolism in order to better understand its mechanism of action with respect to the other two agents. Like MeP-dR and F-araA-5′-monophosphate (F-araAMP, a prodrug of F-araA), treatment of mice bearing D54 tumors that express E. coli PNP with F-dAdo resulted in excellent antitumor activity. Although F-dAdo was as active as MeP-dR and better than F-araAMP, it was not dramatically better than either compound because of its short plasma half-life and the limited activation of F-adenine to toxic metabolites. Regardless, these results indicated that F-dAdo was also an excellent prodrug for use with gene vectors that deliver E. coli PNP to tumor cells.
Technology scanning: An evaluation procedure

Abstract This paper descibes an approach to the problem of evaluation in the public sector. The schema, called technology scanning, was developed during 1968 to create a research and development priority program for the State of Connecticut. In late 1969, a second major application was initiated in the Cohoes, New York, Model Cities program. The basis of technology scanning is a grid on which the problems or system's goals are arrayed against the solutions. The socio-economic importance of the goals and the effectiveness of the solutions in meeting these goals are rated by panels made up of the system's members ranging from technical experts to concerned citizens. The grid is then solved to produce a list of the most important solutions. These solutions are later evaluated against their projected contribution as described in the grid. The process may be repeated cyclically to allow programs to be replanned on an annual basis.
An Episodic Analysis of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behavior in a Racially Diverse Sample of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

Many studies have examined the relations between drug use and sexual behaviors; however, few have utilized episodic data to examine the co-occurrence of both behaviors within the same episode. This study surveyed 403 racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other young men who have sex with men (YMSM; ages 18–29) in New York City. Men were surveyed about their sexual behavior and concurrent use of illicit substances and alcohol during their most recent sexual encounter with their main and/or casual partner(s). Logistic regression models were built to analyze predictors of unprotected oral and anal intercourse with main and casual partners. Results suggest that use of inhalant nitrates and alcohol increased the odds of men engaging in unprotected receptive anal intercourse (URAI) and men who identified as middle or high socioeconomic status (SES) were at lower odds of engaging in URAI with their main partner. Use of other illicit substances was not associated with unprotected sexual intercourse. ...
Noxious Stimuli Sensitivity in Regular Spicy Food Users and Non-Users: Comparison of Visual Analog and General Labeled Magnitude Scaling

The visual analog scale (VAS) and the general labeled magnitude scale (gLMS) are common response formats for assessing chemosensory sensation. The gLMS is recommended when comparing sensations between individuals whose perceptual experiences vary in a manner that may not be accurately captured on the VAS. This may occur when one group has a wider range of perceived intensity (e.g., bitterness in 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) tasters and non-tasters). The purpose of this study was to compare responses generated by the VAS and the gLMS following exposure to chemical, thermal, tactile, and auditory stimuli at intensity levels encountered in daily activities. Subjects were 25 healthy, lean men and women (13 regular spicy food users and 12 non-users). PROP taster prevalence was equal among regular spicy food users and non-users. Replicating a well-documented phenomenon, the slope of the function describing the growth of sensation with stimulus strength was greater for PROP in tasters than non-tasters (41.4% and 7.6% gLMS usage, respectively). The slope was greater with the VAS compared to the gLMS for all other noxious stimuli (50.1% and 29.3% scale usage, respectively). However, the slopes of both scales were moderately to highly correlated both within (all subjects) and between groups (users versus non-users and men versus women; most >0.65). These findings suggest that scale selection is context-dependent. While the VAS and the gLMS generated similar results after exposure to potentially noxious stimuli at concentrations likely to be experienced in daily life, the gLMS is more appropriate when ratings of stimuli perceived as extreme are expected.
Highly Sensitive and Broadly Reactive Quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay for High-Throughput Detection of Rift Valley Fever Virus

Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus is a mosquito-borne virus associated with large-scale epizootics/epidemics throughout Africa and the Arabian peninsula. Virus infection can result in economically disastrous “abortion storms” and high newborn mortality in livestock. Human infections result in a flu-like illness, with 1 to 2% of patients developing severe complications, including encephalitis or hemorrhagic fever with high fatality rates. There is a critical need for a highly sensitive and specific molecular diagnostic assay capable of detecting the natural genetic spectrum of RVF viruses. We report here the establishment of a pan-RVF virus quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay with high analytical sensitivity (∼5 RNA copies of in vitro-transcribed RNA/reaction or ∼0.1 PFU of infectious virus/reaction) and efficiency (standard curve slope = −3.66). Based on the alignments of the complete genome sequences of 40 ecologically and biologically diverse virus isolates collected over 56 years (1944 to 2000), the primer and probe annealing sites targeted in this assay are known to be located in highly conserved genomic regions. The performance of this assay relative to serologic assays is illustrated by testing of known RVF case materials obtained during the Saudi Arabia outbreak in 2000. Furthermore, analysis of acute-phase blood samples collected from human patients (25 nonfatal, 8 fatal) during that outbreak revealed that patient viremia at time of presentation at hospital may be a useful prognostic tool in determining patient outcome.
Effects of biofeedback-aided relaxation on the psychological stress symptoms of college students.

Stress and the management of stress are very much an integral part of health and well-being today. In recent years, many papers, books, and journals have been written on the subject and multiple approaches have been advocated to manage it. This recent interest in stress stems not only from the apparent pace and change of a modern life-style but also from various studies supporting the age-old theory that life's stresses can lead to many health problems.
The Role of Abnormalities Related to the One Carbon Cycle in Depression and Schizophrenia

This paper reviews our present knowledge of the role of the one-carbon cycle in mood disorder and schizophrenia with particular attention to S-adenosyl methionine (SAM). After an historical introduction the clinical data is first reviewed of the anti-depressant action of SAM, in particular a survey of double blind placebo-controlled trials. Then follows an account of the biochemical parameters of the action of SAM, in particular the role of folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (vitamin B9), polyamines, homocysteine, together with epigenetic studies. In schizophrenia the effect of oral l-methionine on worsening the symptoms of some chronic schizophrenics has been known since 1961. Recent epigenetic research covered has addressed the mechanism of this reaction. This includes the role of SAM in modulating DNA methyltransferase-1 mRNA activity, cytosine 5-methylation, spine numbers and the expression of mRNAs encoding for reelin and GAD67 in GABAergic neurons in the frontal cortex in schizophrenia. There is also evidence that marker D8S542 located within the methionine sulfoxide reductase (MSRA) gene may be involved in schizophrenia as well as 677C > T polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. The possible roles of homocysteine and methionine S-adenosyl transferase kinetics are also discussed.
Proposed Modifications for Models of Heat Transfer Problems Involving Partially Melted Phase Change Processes

Air conditioning electricity consumption in summer represents a challenge in many areas with hot and humid climates. When incorporated into lightweight residential building walls, phase change materials (PCMs) can increase the effective thermal mass of the wall, which in turn will shift part of the cooling load to off-peak times and lower the peak space cooling load of the building. From analyses of experimental data, it was found that it was very likely that the PCMs, once integrated into the walls, would “start” the phase change process from partially melted states. Currently used simulation models, including the most widely accepted models, such as the effective heat capacity method and the enthalpy method, come short when handling phase change processes that start from partially melted states. The characteristics of how the heat is absorbed or released during the phase change process were studied through experimental and theoretical analyses. A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) method and its detailed steps, used to obtain latent heat of fusion distribution along the phase change temperature range, are presented. Based on the DSC test data, a modified PCM model for a paraffin-based PCM was developed.
Regulation of HIV‐1 transcription at 3% versus 21% oxygen concentration

HIV transcription is induced by the HIV-1 Tat protein, in concert with cellular co-factors including CDK9, CDK2, NF-kappaB, and others. The cells of most of the body's organs are exposed to approximately 3-6% oxygen, but most in vitro studies of HIV replication are conducted at 21% oxygen. We hypothesized that activities of host cell factors involved in HIV-1 replication may differ at 3% versus 21% O(2), and that such differences may affect HIV-1 replication. Here we show that Tat-induced HIV-1 transcription was reduced at 3% O(2) compared to 21% O(2). HIV-1 replication was also reduced in acutely or chronically infected cells cultured at 3% O(2) compared to 21% O(2). This reduction was not due the decreased cell growth or increased cellular toxicity and also not due to the induction of hypoxic response. At 3% O(2), the activity of CDK9/cyclin T1 was inhibited and Sp1 activity was reduced, whereas the activity of other host cell factors such as CDK2 or NF-kappaB was not affected. CDK9-specific inhibitor ARC was much less efficient at 3% compared to 21% O(2) and also expression of CDK9/cyclin T1-dependent IkappaB inhibitor alpha was repressed. Our results suggest that lower HIV-1 transcription at 3% O(2) compared to 21% O(2) may be mediated by lower activity of CDK9/cyclin T1 and Sp1 at 3% O(2) and that additional host cell factors such as CDK2 and NF-kappaB might be major regulators of HIV-1 transcription at low O(2) concentrations.
Forward-backward stochastic differential equations and their applications in finance

In this paper we present some results concerning the solvability of the adapted solutions to a class of forward-backward stochastic differential equations over an arbitrarily prescribed time duration, and several applications of such equations in mathematical finance. In particular, we introduce a direct scheme (called "four step scheme") initiated by Ma-Protter-Yong (1994), which enables one to derive the explicit relations between the forward and backward components of the adapted solutions. Using the extensions of such a scheme in different directions, we then study some problems in finance including a console rate problem, a problem of hedging options for a large investor, and a stochastic Black-Scholes formula.
Attention to Meaning by Algebra Teachers.

Non-attendance to meaning by students is a prevalent phenomenon in school mathematics. Our goal is to investigate features of instruction that might account for this phenomenon. Drawing on a case study of two high school algebra teachers, we cite episodes from the classroom to illustrate particular teaching actions that de-emphasize meaning. We categorize these actions as pertaining to (a) purpose of new concepts, (b) distinctions in mathematics, (c) mathematical terminology, and (d) mathematical symbols. The specificity of the actions that we identify allows us to suggest several conjectures as to the impact of the teaching practices observed on student learning: that students will develop the belief that mathematics involves executing standard procedures much more than meaning and reasoning, that students will come to see mathematical definitions and results as coincidental or arbitrary, and that students’ treatment of symbols will be largely non-referential.
Outcomes Management: Incorporating and Sustaining Processes Critical to Using Outcome Data to Guide Practice Improvement

An outcomes management system (OMS) greatly facilitates an organization or state achieving requirements regarding accountability and use of empirically based interventions. A case example of the authors’ experience with a successful and enduring OMS is presented, followed by a review of the literature and a proposed model delineating the key components and benefits of an OMS. Building capacity to measure performance requires embedding utilization of youth-specific, clinically meaningful outcome data into the organization’s processes and structures. An OMS measures outcomes associated with services, facilitates implementation of evidence-based practices, informs case decision making, enables better and more efficient clinical management, and provides aggregated information used to improve services. A case-specific supervisory model based on instantaneously available information, including progress to date, helps maximize consumer outcomes. Continuous quality improvement activities, which are databased and goal-oriented, become a positive change management tool. This paper describes organizational processes that facilitate the development of a highly functional OMS.
Circular formation control protocols for dynamic unicycles via hybrid stabilization of sets

In this paper, we develop a hybrid control framework for addressing circular formation control protocols for dynamic unicycles using stabilization of sets. The proposed framework develops a novel class of fixed-order, energy-based hybrid controllers as a means for achieving cooperative control formations. These dynamic controllers combine a logical switching architecture with the continuous system dynamics to guarantee that a system generalized energy function whose zero level set characterizes a specified system formation is strictly decreasing across switchings.
The Strange and the Native: Ritual and Activism in the Aymara Quest for Decolonization

The notion of spirit loss is widespread throughout the Bolivian Andes. Because of fright, a person loses her spirit whereupon another "strange" spirit may take its place and cause illness. In one and the same ailment, then, we find notions of "loss" and "imposition." In the context of "emergent indigeneities," colonialism too is frequently visualized and expressed in terms of both loss and imposition: loss of "native" identities, imposition of "strange" identities. This article argues that a study of Aymara ritual curing practices elucidates indigenous activism and vice versa. Certain underlying premises that inform ritual practice and activism alike are identified and scrutinized.Thus, the intertwining of ritual practice and decolonizing activism is explored,and it is claimed that in order to understand indigenous activism it is crucial to consider cosmologically embedded notions of "self" and "other" and ritual practices of relating to that which is "strange." (Less)
Episodic Brainstem Compression Masquerading as Electrodecremental Seizures

An 8-year-old boy developed generalized tonic spasms lasting minutes accompanied by an electrodecremental event on electroencephalogram in association with increased intracranial pressure caused by shunt malfunction. The electroencephalographic abnormalities and clinical attacks occurred despite an otherwise normal neurologic examination, normal initial opening pressure on lumbar puncture and shunt tap, and only mild ventricular dilation revealed by brain imaging. There was no improvement with antiepileptic drugs. Further signs of uncal herniation led to repeat tap of the shunt, revealing a pressure of 800 mm of water. After revision of the shunt "seizures" stopped and the electroencephalogram returned to normal. Antiepileptic drugs were discontinued, with no recurrence of events.
Conforming and divergence-free Stokes elements in three dimensions

Conforming finite element pairs for the three-dimensional Stokes problem on general simplicial triangulations are constructed. The pressure space simply consists of piecewise constants, where as the velocity space consists of cubic polynomials augmented with rational functions. We show the existence of a bounded Fortin projection and therefore the necessary LBB condition is satisfied. In addition the divergence operator maps the velocity space into the space of piecewise constants. Consequently, the method produces exactly divergence-free velocity approximations.
Single-Molecule Imaging Reveals a Switch between Spurious and Functional ncRNA Transcription

Eukaryotic transcription is pervasive, and many of the resulting RNAs are non-coding. It is unknown whether ubiquitous transcription is functional or simply reflects stochastic transcriptional noise. By single-molecule visualization of the dynamic interplay between coding and non-coding transcription at the GAL locus in living yeast cells, we show that antisense GAL10 ncRNA transcription can switch between functional and spurious under different conditions. During galactose induction, GAL10 sense transcription occurs in short stochastic bursts, which are unaffected by transcription of antisense GAL10 ncRNA, even when both are present simultaneously at the same locus. In contrast, when GAL10 is not induced, ncRNA transcription is critical to prevent transcriptional leakage of GAL1 and GAL10. Suppression of ncRNA transcription by strand-specific CRISPR/dCas9 results in transcriptional leakage of the inducer GAL1, leading to a more sensitive transcription activation threshold, an alteration of metabolic switching, and a fitness defect in competition experiments.
Black hole attack in mobile Ad Hoc networks

The black hole problem is one of the security attacks that occur in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). We present two possible solutions. The first is to find more than one route to the destination. The second is to exploit the packet sequence number included in any packet header. Computer simulation shows that compared to the original ad hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV) routing scheme, the second solution can verify 75% to 98% of the route to the destination depending on the pause times at a minimum cost of the delay in the networks.
Thermodynamics of molybdenum-niobium-hydrogen ternary solid solutions

Abstract The enthalpy of solution of hydrogen has been measured in a series of Mo-Nb solid solutions in the composition range 0–77 at.% Nb. In the solid solutions of Mo and Nb there is good evidence that the enthalpy of solution of H will not be influenced by strain energy factors or by a change in the electronic work function of the metal surface with composition. No correlation between the measured enthalpies and the density of electron states at the Fermi surface was found. The binary Mo-Nb system was chosen because the density of states varies drastically across the system, exhibiting an extremum.
Microbial exposure alters HIV-1-induced mucosal CD4 + T cell death pathways Ex vivo

Early HIV-1 infection causes massive CD4+ T cell death in the gut and translocation of bacteria into the circulation. However, the programmed cell death (PCD) pathways used by HIV-1 to kill CD4+ T cells in the gut, and the impact of microbial exposure on T cell loss, remain unclear. Understanding mucosal HIV-1 triggered PCD could be advanced by an ex vivo system involving lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs). We therefore modeled the interactions of gut LPMCs, CCR5-tropic HIV-1 and a commensal gut bacterial species, Escherichia coli. In this Lamina Propria Aggregate Culture (LPAC) model, LPMCs were infected with HIV-1BaL by spinoculation and cultured in the presence or absence of heat killed E.coli. CD4+ T cell numbers derived from flow cytometry and viable cell counts were reported relative to mock infection. Viable cells were identified by viability dye exclusion (AqVi), and intracellular HIV-1 Gag p24 protein was used to identify infected cells. Annexin V and AqVi were used to identify apoptotic versus necrotic cells. Caspase-1 and Caspase-3 activities were blocked using specific inhibitors YVAD and DEVD, respectively. CD4+ T cell depletion following HIV-1 infection was reproducibly observed by 6 days post infection (dpi). Depletion at 6 dpi strongly correlated with infection frequency at 4 dpi, was significantly blocked by Efavirenz treatment, and was primarily driven by p24-negative cells that were predominantly necrotic. HIV-1 infection significantly induced CD4+ T-cell intrinsic Caspase-1 activity, whereas Caspase-1 inhibition, but not Caspase-3 inhibition, significantly blocked CD4+ T cell depletion. Exposure to E.coli enhanced HIV-1 infection and CD4+ T depletion, and significantly increased the number of apoptotic p24+ cells. Notably, CD4+ T cell depletion in the presence of E.coli was partially blocked by Caspase-3, but not by Caspase-1 inhibition. In the LPAC model, HIV-1 induced Caspase-1 mediated pyroptosis in bystander CD4+ T cells, but microbial exposure shifted the PCD mechanism toward apoptosis of productively infected T cells. These results suggest that mucosal CD4+ T cell death pathways may be altered in HIV-infected individuals after gut barrier function is compromised, with potential consequences for mucosal inflammation, viral dissemination and systemic immune activation.