cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Study of Emotional Labor in Librarianship

Abstract Librarianship, like many occupations, requires emotional labor, which is an awareness of job requirements for emotional expression and the strategies used to express those emotions. Research on emotional labor suggests that performing emotional labor results in both positive and negative effects on individual outcomes, such as job satisfaction and job burnout. Since affective events are prevalent in library work and evidence suggests positive outcomes from emotional labor can be fostered, the ways emotional labor is performed in libraries should be studied. This research explores the key components of emotional labor: perceptions of display rules and the emotion regulation strategies of surface and deep acting. Data were collected from a sample of American librarians in 46 states from public, academic, special, and K–12 libraries who completed a survey. Bi-variate and multi-variate correlations, as well as ANOVAs, were used to test relationships among emotional labor constructs, job satisfaction, and job burnout. Results show evidence of significant associations with emotional labor among library employees in both the perception of display rules, as well as in surface and deep acting. Perception of display rules showed mixed results with job burnout and job satisfaction. Surface acting was found to be associated consistently with job burnout and decreased job satisfaction, while deep acting strategies were less strongly associated with negative outcomes. Findings suggest that library managers should clearly communicate display rule expectations to employees and work to build staff support to help meet those expectations. Library employees should be aware of occasions when they use surface acting and work to develop stronger deep acting techniques. The study contributes to an understanding of the influence of emotion management in the library workplace.
Lattice Boltzmann method for multimode wave propagation in viscoelastic media and in elastic solids

This paper reports the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) based formulation for viscoelastic fluids with both volumetric and shear viscoelasticity. The relaxation limit of the viscoelastic fluid formulation yields the LBM for elastic solids with both volumetric or pressure (p) and shear (s) wave propagation modes. The reflection of a two-dimensional p wave from an obstacle (wedge) inclined to the propagation direction of the p wave is studied together with the convergence and stability behavior of the LBM as the lattice size and lattice time step decrease. The model is capable of accurately predicting the mode change (p to s) due to the reflection. The model provides a unique unified approach capable of simulating fluids, viscoelastic fluids, and solids within a single LBM framework, thus avoiding interface problems between different simulation methods. The paper concentrates on the wave propagation part of the model, in the quasielastic regime.
Electrodeposition of platinum and palladium particles into base-hydrolyzed cellulose acetate films. Electrocatalytic/permselective surface microstructures

Abstract The behavior and advantages of new surface coatings, prepared by electrodeposition of platinum and palladium microparticles into base-hydrolyzed cellulose acetate (CA) films on glassy carbon electrodes, are described. The multifunctional character of these microstructures arises from the coupling of the permselective properties of CA with the catalytic power of dispersed metal particles. Control of the film porosity, via base hydrolysis, affects the size and distribution of the metal particles, and hence offers tailoring of the catalytic response. In particular, access to the catalytic sites (based on solute size) is manipulated via change of the hydrolysis time. Various experimental variables affecting the catalytic and transport properties are explored using different techniques. Scanning electron microscopy offers useful insights into the distribution of the metal microparticles within the CA matrix. Amperometric detection for flow injection and liquid chromatography systems is greatly improved by the multifunctional character of the metal/CA coatings.
An examination of the potential role of spider digestive proteases as a causative factor in spider bite necrosis

Tissue necrosis following spider bites is a widespread problem. In the continental United States, the brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa), hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis), garden spider (Argiope aurantia) and Chiracanthium species, among others, reportedly cause such lesions. The exact mechanism producing such lesions is controversial. There is evidence for both venom sphingomyelinase and spider digestive collagenases. We have examined the role of spider digestive proteases in spider bite necrosis. The digestive fluid of A. aurantia was assayed for its ability to cleave a variety of connective tissue proteins, including collagen. Having confirmed that the fluid has collagenases, the digestive fluid was injected into the skin of rabbits to observe whether it would cause necrotic lesions. It did not. The data do not support the suggestions that spider digestive collagenases have a primary role in spider bite necrosis.
Changes in body temperature after administration of antipyretics, LSD, Δ9-THC and related agents: II

Antipyretics, in particular acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen, constitute the single most important class of drugs used therapeutically for an effect on body temperature. Hallucinogens exert prominent actions on the central nervous system, and it is not surprising that, like so many other centrally-acting agents, they too often affect temperature. This compilation primarily covers the considerable amount of data published from 1981 through 1985 on the interactions of these drugs and thermoregulation, but data from many earlier papers not included in a previous compilation are also tabulated. The effects of agents not classically considered as antipyretics on temperatures of febrile subjects are also covered. The information listed includes the species used, the route of administration and dose of drug, the environmental temperature at which experiments were performed, the number of tests, the direction and magnitude of change in body temperature and remarks on special conditions, such as age or brain lesions. Also indicated is the influence of other drugs, such as antagonists, on the response to the primary agent.
Thermal residual strains in depleted α-U

Lattice strains induced by cooling textured, depleted U, from 500 °C to ambient temperature are measured using in situ neutron diffraction and simulated using an elastoplastic self-consistent polycrystal model. The results show that the high anisotropy of the single-crystal thermoelastic response induces thermal stresses sufficient to cause plastic relaxation. Incorporation of ½ 〈 1 1 ¯ 0 〉 { 1 1 0 } slip enables modeling of the observed internal strain evolution, although diffusional effects may also contribute to the observed relaxation.
Effect of non-linear damping on the structural dynamics of flapping beams

Abstract In this paper we investigate, through experiment and simulation, the effects of non-linear damping forces on the large amplitude structural dynamics of slender cantilever beams undergoing flapping motion in air. The aluminum beams are set into flapping motion through actuation at the beam base via a 4-bar crank-and-rocker mechanism. The beam strain response dynamics are investigated for two flapping amplitudes, 15° and 30°, and a range of flapping frequencies up to 1.3 times the first modal frequency. In addition to flapping at standard air pressure, flapping simulations and experiments are also performed at reduced air pressure (70% vacuum). In the simulations, linear and non-linear, internal and external damping force models in different functional forms are incorporated into a non-linear, inextensible beam theory. The external non-linear damping models are assumed to depend, parametrically, on ambient air density, beam width, and an empirically determined constant. Periodic solutions to the model equation are obtained numerically with a 1-mode Galerkin method and a high order time-spectral scheme. The effect of different damping forces on the stability of the computed periodic solutions is analyzed with the aid of Floquet theory. The strain-frequency response curves obtained with the various damping models suggest that, when compared to the linear viscous and non-linear internal damping models, the non-linear external damping models better represent the experimental damping forces in regions of primary and secondary resonances. In addition to providing improved correlation with experimental strain response amplitudes over the tested range of flapping frequencies, the non-linear (external) damping models yield stable periodic solutions for each flapping frequency which is consistent with the experimental observations. Changes in both the experimental ambient pressure and flapping amplitude are determined to result in some variation in the non-dimensional parameters associated with each of the non-linear external damping models. This result likely indicates an incomplete description of the model parameter dependence and/or non-linear functional form of the damping force.
Brittle fracture in polycrystalline microstructures with the extended finite element method

A two-dimensional numerical model of microstructural effects in brittle fracture is presented, with an aim towards the understanding of toughening mechanisms in polycrystalline materials such as ceramics. Quasi-static crack propagation is modelled using the extended finite element method (X-FEM) and microstructures are simulated within the framework of the Potts model for grain growth. In the X-FEM, a discontinuous function and the two-dimensional asymptotic crack-tip displacement fields are added to the finite element approximation to account for the crack using the notion of partition of unity. This enables the domain to be modelled by finite elements with no explicit meshing of the crack surfaces. Hence, crack propagation can be simulated without any user-intervention or the need to remesh as the crack advances. The microstructural calculations are carried out on a regular lattice using a kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm for grain growth. We present a novel constrained Delaunay triangulation algorithm with grain boundary smoothing to create a finite element mesh of the microstructure. The fracture properties of the microstructure are characterized by assuming that the critical fracture energy of the grain boundary (Gcgb) is different from that of the grain interior (Gci). Numerical crack propagation simulations for varying toughness ratios Gcgb/Gci are presented, to study the transition from the intergranular to the transgranular mode of crack growth. This study has demonstrated the capability of modelling crack propagation through a material microstructure within a finite element framework, which opens-up exciting possibilities for the fracture analysis of functionally graded material systems. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A common auditory-visual space” Evidence for its reality

This experiment compares two hypotheses concerning the relation between auditory anti, visual direction. The first, the “common space” hypothesis, is that both auditory and visual direction are represented on a single underlying direction dimension, so that comparisons between auditory and visual direction may be made directly. The second, the “disjunct space” hypothesis, is that there are two distinct internal dimensions, one for auditory direction and one for visual direction, and that comparison between auditory and visual direction involves a translation between these two dimensions. Both these hypotheses are explicated, using a signal detection theory framework, and evidence is provided for the common space hypothesis.
Signal Processing In Ultrasound

Signal is the term used to denote the characteristic in the time or frequency domain of the probing energy of the system. Processing of this signal in diagnostic ultrasound occurs as the signal travels through the ultrasonic and electrical sections of the apparatus. The paper discusses current signal processing methods, postreception processing, display devices, real-time imaging, and quantitative measurements in noninvasive cardiology. The possibility of using deconvolution in a single transducer system is examined, and some future developments using digital techniques are outlined.
Use of Compensatory Growth to Double Hybrid Sunfish Growth Rates

Abstract We studied the use of compensatory growth (CG) to grow fish larger than control fish that were fed every day without restriction. Five treatment groups of 10 juvenile hybrid sunfish (F1 hybrid of female green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus × male bluegill L. niacrochirus) received repeating cycles of no feeding and refeeding; fixed no-feed periods of either 2, 4, 6, 10, or 14 d distinguished the treatment groups. No-feed periods elicited the CG state and were immediately followed by days of ad libitum refeeding. Refeeding periods within each treatment group (D2, D4, D6, D 10, or D14) were continued until mean daily food consumption by fish no longer exceeded that of controls fed ad libitum every day (i.e., ad libitum refeeding was continued for as long as hyperphagia persisted, then another no-feed period began). Fish in two groups, D2 and D 14, consumed more food and significantly outgrew controls by 2 and 1.4 times, respectively, in 105-d experiments. Gross growth efficiency (GGE, fish weight gained...
Investigation of the interaction between arsenic species and thiols via electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract Arsenic species have been known to participate in a number of chemical and biological reactions, including oxidation–reduction reactions, acid–base reactions, covalent interactions, and methylation–demethylation reactions because of the element's multiple and interconvertible oxidation states. Little is known about the structure or bonding behavior between arsenic species and thiolcontaining biomolecules. Therefore, a better understanding of the bonding behavior and detailed information on the molecular structure for arsenic–thiol complexes is needed. As a result, we have investigated the interaction between arsenic species (arsenate (AsV), arsenite (AsIII), monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV)) with biomolecules containing thiol groups (glutathione and cysteine) by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). These compounds were dissolved in methanol/water solution and introduced into the MS instrument in order to elucidate the direct bonding behavior of thiol group of biomolecules with arsenic species. In addition, further detailed structural information on this complex was obtained by collision-induced dissociation (CID) measurements. In each mass spectrum for mixture solutions between arsenic species and thiol compounds, various peaks such as protonated arsenic–thiol complexes, protonated noncomplexed thiol compounds, sodium bound cluster ions, and proton bound cluster ions were observed. In these mass spectra, the arsenic complexes were formed by interaction with thiol groups on the cysteine residues. These arsenic–thiol complexes produced a variety of fragment ions by cleavage of chemical bonds, and by interaction of other binding site on thiol compounds in tandem mass spectrometry experiments.
Transient optical sky survey automated telescope system

ABSTRACT We describe the optical design of a sky survey system comprised of small aperture telescope tube assemblies mounted on a common semi-equatorial frame with a single polar axis. It is the first ground-based instrument to create a map of transients down to optical m=17 by imaging a fixed-declination strip of the sky on a nightly basis. The system is fully remotely automated and physically robust. The mount tracks the sky using a motion controlle r, drive motor, and a laser rotary encoder. The prototype configuration is suited to house up to 6 telescopes on the current mount and is easily expandable to accommodate up to 30 telescopes which would enab le full sky coverage if one system each were placed in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres 1 . Keywords: sky survey, small aperture telescope, transients 1. TOSS OVERVIEW The Transient Optical Sky Survey (TOSS) is a system of optical telescopes designed to survey the sky to a limit of 17th magnitude, and to catalog transients by analyzing time-series luminosity measurements of detected objects from nightly observations
Global CALIPSO Observations of Aerosol Changes Near Clouds

Several recent studies have found that clouds are surrounded by a transition zone of rapidly changing aerosol optical properties and particle size. Characterizing this transition zone is important for better understanding aerosol-cloud interactions and aerosol radiative effects, and also for improving satellite retrievals of aerosol properties. This letter presents a statistical analysis of a monthlong global data set of Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) lidar observations over oceans. The results show that the transition zone is ubiquitous over all oceans and extends up to 15 km away from clouds. They also show that near-cloud enhancements in backscatter and particle size are strongest at low altitudes, slightly below the top of the nearest clouds. Also, the enhancements are similar near illuminated and shadowy cloud sides, which confirms that the asymmetry of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer reflectances found in an earlier study comes from 3-D radiative processes and not from differences in aerosol properties. Finally, the effects of CALIPSO aerosol detection and cloud identification uncertainties are discussed. The findings underline the importance of accounting for the transition zone to avoid potential biases in studies of satellite aerosol products, aerosol-cloud interactions, and aerosol direct radiative effects.
Leading Distributed Teams: The Communicative Constitution of Leadership

A key aspect of leadership effectiveness across geographical distance is communication. However, researchers are only beginning to empirically explore the communicative aspects and constitution of ...
The parallel coordinate plot in action: design and use for geographic visualization

Implementations of interactive parallel coordinate plots in geographic visualization systems are presented. The plots represent spatial and spatio-temporal data, and are linked to maps and scatterplots. The interactive features of the parallel coordinate representations are discussed, with particular emphasis on their ability to facilitate geographic data exploration and understanding. The paper will present the systems as "case studies" to demonstrate the philosophical and practical advantages of highly interactive, multiple-perspective environments, including parallel coordinate plots, for the exploration of complex spatial and spatiotemporal information. Emphasis is placed on the encouragement and facilitation of creative thinking about geographic phenomena through the use of such data-rich graphical tools.
Identification of thermodynamic controls defining the concentrations of hazardous elements in potable ground waters and the potential impact of increasing carbon dioxide partial pressure

Abstract Concern has been expressed that carbon dioxide leaking from deep storage reservoirs could adversely impact water quality in overlying potable aquifers by mobilizing hazardous elements present in the aquifer rocks to the extent that their concentrations might exceed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). To evaluate this issue, 38,000 ground water quality analyses from aquifers throughout the United States, each containing one or more analyses for As, Ba, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se, U or Zn, were retrieved from the Unites States National Water Information System (NWIS). The analyses were used to calculate the saturation indices (SIs) of all identified and thermodynamically characterized minerals containing the listed elements as essential components. These minerals were initially selected through literature surveys to establish whether field evidence supported their postulated presence in potable water aquifers. SI frequency histograms were plotted to evaluate whether these minerals are at saturation in NWIS ground waters (i.e., they show modes at SI 0). Mineral assemblages meeting the criterion of thermodynamic saturation were assumed to control the aqueous concentrations of the hazardous elements at initial system state as well as at elevated CO 2 partial pressure caused by the ingress of leaking CO 2 . The impact on the identified mineral solubilities of increasing CO 2 partial pressures was then predicted over the range from −4 to +1 (i.e., 10 −4 ≤P(CO 2 ) in bar ≤10). Under reducing conditions (characteristic of most ground waters), the most serious problem resulting from intrusion of CO 2 into shallow groundwater may arise through enhanced dissolution of pyrite and solubilization of arsenic. At the highest P(CO 2 ) assumed in our study, Ba, Pb and Zn may also approach or exceed regulatory concentration limits. Of the remaining elements, the MCLs of Cd, and Sb are unlikely to be exceeded, and Hg, Se and U concentrations are unaffected by CO 2 intrusion.
Constraints on the neutral hydrogen corona at Uranus from its interaction with magnetospheric plasma

Models of collisional reactions between the hot (several keV) protons and neutral atomic hydrogen corona observed at Uranus by Voyager 2 are compared with observations in order to deduce constraints on the coronal density. An upper limit is found for n sub H (5R sub U) of several tens of H/cu cm on the sunward side of Uranus and several H/cu cm on the dark side. The possibility that the hot plasma population might arise from photoionization and electron impact ionization of coronal and interstellar medium hydrogen in the magnetotail, followed by pickup and energization while convecting toward Uranus, is examined and rejected.
Initial Mental Graphemic Representation Acquisition and Later Literacy Achievement in Children With Language Impairment A Longitudinal Study

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between the ability to quickly acquire initial mental graphemic representations (MGRs) in kindergarten and fourth grade literacy skills in children with typical language (TL) and children with language impairment (LI). The study is a longitudinal extension of a study conducted by Wolter and Apel in which kindergarten children with LI and TL were administered early literacy measures as well as a novel written pseudoword task of MGR learning (spelling and identification of target pseudowords). In the current study (4 years later), the authors administered reading and spelling measures to 37 of the original 45 children (18 children with LI, 19 children with TL). The children with LI performed significantly lower than their peers with TL on all fourth grade literacy measures. For both groups, kindergarten initial MGR acquisition ability significantly related to fourth grade real-word reading and spelling. For the children with LI, kindergarten initial MGR acquisition ability also related to fourth grade pseudoword decoding and reading comprehension. Collectively, the findings suggest that initial MGR learning in kindergarten is an essential skill that may uniquely relate to later literacy abilities.
On "A guide to interpretation of studies..." Hancock M, et al. Phys Ther. 2009;89:698-704.

I read with interest and some puzzlement the article titled “A Guide to Interpretation of Studies Investigating Subgroups of Responders to Physical Therapy Interventions” by Hancock et al1 in the July 2009 issue of PTJ . In their article, these authors expressed the opinion that treatment-related clinical prediction rules (CPRs) are flawed when derived using single-arm studies. The single-arm research design has been used for virtually all published CPRs in this category, so the implication seems to be that all currently published CPR derivations of this type are inherently flawed. These authors drew distinctions among treatment effect modifiers, prognostic factors, and diagnostic tests. They asserted that although a single-arm research design is appropriate for prognostic and diagnostic studies, this design is inappropriate for determining treatment effect modifiers, which are best determined with randomized controlled trials (RCTs). As an author who has participated in several CPR derivation studies,2–4 I believe it is unnecessarily limiting to rigidly compartmentalize patient attributes quantitatively …
The effect of noninvasive brain stimulation on neural connectivity in Tinnitus: A randomized trial

Objectives/Hypothesis To explore neural connectivity changes associated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the temporoparietal junction for patients with bothersome tinnitus. Study Design Randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Methods Thirty patients with subjective, nonpulsatile tinnitus for 6 months duration or longer and a score of 36 or greater on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory completed the study. Participants were randomized to receive either sham or active treatment with rTMS to the temporoparietal junction for either 2 or 4 weeks of therapy. Participants underwent resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging before therapy and immediately following treatment. Functional connectivity changes between active and sham treatment groups were compared using regions of interest in auditory, default mode, ventral attention, and executive attention networks. Results Sixteen patients received active rTMS treatment; 14 patients received sham treatment. There were no differences between the active and sham groups in baseline functional connectivity. Neither treatment with rTMS nor sham therapy resulted in statistically significant functional connectivity changes in the examined brain networks. Conclusions The analysis did not identify any changes in neural connectivity following treatment in patients with bothersome tinnitus. These results are consistent with our findings of lack of symptom changes previously reported in the same group of patients. Measures of neural connectivity may inform future work using rTMS to better understand the possible benefits of neural stimulation for tinnitus. Level of Evidence 1b. Laryngoscope, 2015
Epitope-specific T-cell responses and allergic phenotypes: implications for T-cell peptide therapy.

In the 1990s, elucidation of the primary amino acid sequence of several major allergens using molecular cloning techniques opened the door to T-cell epitope mapping studies. Such analyses underscored the complexity of the allergen-specific T-cell repertoire and the challenges to using allergen-derived peptides to identify epitope-specific differences associated with allergic and nonallergic responses. This review highlights important factors that may influence the nature of epitope-specific T-cell responses observed in vitro. These include the properties of the allergen, genetics of the host and selection of patients with defined allergic phenotypes based on serum antibody profiles and skin test reactivity. By taking these factors into account, T-cell epitope-specific differences associated with distinct allergic phenotypes can be identified. Observations at the T-cell epitope level undermine the Th1/Th2 paradigm as a model for the development of allergic versus nonallergic responses. Instead, they suppor...
The response of the haemoglobin system of fed and starved rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, to bleeding.

Seven days after a 15% reduction in blood volume by bleeding, the haemoglobin system of rainbow trout showed a modification in relative abundance of two of the four haemoglobins present in the haemolyate. The least anodic non-Root effect haemoglobin increased proportionally whereas the major component, with its Root effect properties, showed a decline. A total of 30 days of starvation did not influence the relative proportions of the fractions. However, bleeding of these starved S. gairdneri provoked a shift similar to that of fed trout. In this case, however, both non-Root haemoglobins, and the minor Root fraction, increased proportionally. The major Root fraction declined. The response of the starved group was more acute since all four components were significantly affected in contrast to two fractions in fed animals.
RuleBender: a visual interface for rule-based modeling.

Summary: Rule-based modeling (RBM) is a powerful and increasingly popular approach to modeling intracellular biochemistry. Current interfaces for RBM are predominantly text-based and command-line driven. Better visual tools are needed to make RBM accessible to a broad range of users, to make specification of models less error prone and to improve workflows. We present RULEBENDER, an open-source visual interface that facilitates interactive debugging, simulation and analysis of RBMs. Availability: RULEBENDER is freely available for Mac, Windows and Linux at http://rulebender.org.
Functional restoration of the traumatically injured spinal cord in cats by clonidine

The long-term, chronic, paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury in the cat has been reversed by the use of an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist, clonidine. Administration of this drug resulted in "normalization" of sensory-motor and autonomic dysfunctions. Preliminary studies of the clonidine in humans with traumatically injured spinal cord indicate that autonomic dysreflexia can be controlled and spasticity minimized. The data suggest that biochemical and pharmacologic manipulation of receptors may ameliorate paralysis following traumatic injury to the spinal cord as well as to the brain and brainstem.
Error processing and gender-shared and -specific neural predictors of relapse in cocaine dependence

Deficits in cognitive control are implicated in cocaine dependence. Previously, combining functional magnetic resonance imaging and a stop signal task, we demonstrated altered cognitive control in cocaine-dependent individuals. However, the clinical implications of these cross-sectional findings and, in particular, whether the changes were associated with relapse to drug use, were not clear. In a prospective study, we recruited 97 treatment-seeking individuals with cocaine dependence to perform the stop signal task during functional magnetic resonance imaging and participate in follow-up assessments for 3 months, during which time cocaine use was evaluated with timeline follow back and ascertained by urine toxicology tests. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were analysed using general linear models as implemented in Statistical Parametric Mapping 8, with the contrast ‘stop error greater than stop success trials’ to index error processing. Using voxelwise analysis with logistic and Cox regressions, we identified brain activations of error processing that predict relapse and time to relapse. In females, decreased error-related activations of the thalamus and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex predicted relapse and an earlier time to relapse. In males, decreased error-related activations of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and left insula predicted relapse and an earlier time to relapse. These regional activations were validated with data resampling and predicted relapse with an average area under the curve of 0.849 in receiver operating characteristic analyses. These findings provide direct evidence linking deficits in cognitive control to clinical outcome in a moderate-sized cohort of cocaine-dependent individuals. These results may provide a useful basis for future studies to examine how psychosocial factors interact with cognitive control to determine drug use and to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological or behavioural treatment in remediating deficits of cognitive control in cocaine addicts.
An Epistemological Perspective on the Value of Gain-of-Function Experiments Involving Pathogens with Pandemic Potential

The views expressed in this Commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of this journal or of ASM. In recent years, scientists have engaged in a vigorous debate regarding the value of so-called gain-of-function (GOF) experiments involving highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and other pathogens with pandemic potential (PPP). Of particular concern have been experiments whereby something is done to PPP, such as HPAIV, and the pathogen acquires a new property, or GOF, that makes the microbe more dangerous, such as mammalian transmissibility, increased virulence, and/or the ability to defeat immunity and antimicrobial drugs. The debate has included arguments focused on biosecurity, biosafety, and ethics (1–5). Proponents of GOF experiments emphasized the utilitarian aspects of the work such as potential uses in vaccine development and strain surveillance, while opponents focused on risk (1). However, the debate has largely ignored the question of the epistemological value of such experiments, which is central to any scientific discussion of the merits of such work. Here we consider GOF experiments in the context of how information is acquired and valued in the fields of microbial pathogenesis and infectious diseases. Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity (6). Most scientists, and microbiologists in particular, practice their art within specialized areas that include a set of normative standards that influence the pursuit and acceptance of knowledge, and such normative standards are a major focus of epistemological research within the philosophy of science (7, 8). Normative standards in science include the methodology that is accepted for making and accepting scientific discoveries. In this regard, different fields rely on partially different methods for the questions that they pursue. Before exploring the value of GOF experiments, we need to consider the …
Acidification of testicular and epididymal fluids in the rat after surgically-induced varicocele.

Summary Experimental left varicocele (ELV) in adult rats produces a bilateral increase in testicular blood-flow and temperature which may alter the intraluminal environment in which sperm mature. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ELV on the in-situ pH, PCO2, and bicarbonate concentration ([HCO3]) in seminiferous tubules (ST), initial segment (IS), proximal caput (PCP), middle caput (MCP), middle corpus (MCR), and proximal cauda epididymidis (PCD) of the rat employing pH and PCO2, microelectrodes. Adult male rats with ELV or sham-surgeries (control) were studied after 30 days. Relative to controls, ELV significantly reduced the in-situ PCO2, in the testicular artery, ST, IS, PCP, MCP, MCR and PCD. In spite of this reduction, all values remained significantly higher than the systemic arterial blood PCO2. Values for in-situ pH in ST, IS, PCP, MCP, MCR, and PCD of control rats were significantly more acidic than systemic arterial blood. Furthermore, ELV decreased the pH in ST, IS, PCP, and MCP when compared to control values. The calculated [HCO-3] in ST from control animals was less than half that in systemic arterial blood and was reduced further in IS, PCP, and MCP. Varicocele did not change the [HCO-3] in systemic arterial blood but reduced markedly the values in ST, IS, PCP, and MCP. These alterations in the in-situ pH, PCO2, and [HCO-3] in structures of the rat testis and epididymis may play a role in the anti-spermatic effect of ELV.
Lymphokine-induced monocytic differentiation as a possible mechanism for hypercalcemia associated with adult T-cell lymphoma.

Abstract Patients with adult T-cell lymphoma frequently have hypercalcemia. Bone biopsies from these patients show increased numbers of osteoclasts. We hypothesized that substances produced by the malignant T-cell caused these phenomena by increasing the formation and/or activity of osteoclasts. To test this hypothesis, we cultured U937 cells in conditioned media from a clonal T-cell line derived from a patient with adult T-cell lymphoma and hypercalcemia. This conditioned media produced maturational changes in the U937 cells as evidenced by decreased proliferation, increased adherence, increased expression of complement receptors, and formation of multinucleated giant cells. These changes were synergistically enhanced by the addition of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 which is known to promote monocyte differentiation. We also tested interleukin 2 and γ- and α-interferon to see if they were responsible for the maturational changes. Although some effects were seen, these lympokines could not account for all the changes induced by the T-cell conditioned media. These findings support the above hypothesis and suggest that other unidentified factors may promote the differentiation of osteoclast precursors and be involved in the pathogenesis of the hypercalcemia.
Three-object two-bidder simultaneous auctions: chopsticks and tetrahedra

Symmetric equilibria are constructed for a class of symmetric auction games. The games all have two identical bidders bidding in three simultaneous first-price sealed-bid auctions for identical objects. Information is complete and the bidders' marginal valuations increase for the second object and then decrease for the third. In all cases the support of the mixture that generates the equilibrium is two-dimensional, and it surrounds a three-dimensional set of best responses. This appears to be a previously unknown structure.
MR imaging of the spleen: spectrum of abnormalities.

The spleen has the same relationship to the circulatory system that the lymph nodes have to the lymphatic system. A wide range of diseases can affect the spleen. Pathologic conditions of the spleen can be classified into the following categories: congenital diseases (accessory spleen, polysplenia, and asplenia); trauma; inflammation (abscess, candidiasis, histoplasmosis, and sarcoidosis); vascular disorders (infarction, diseases affecting the splenic vasculature, and arteriovenous malformation); hematologic disorders (sickle cell disease and extramedullary hematopoiesis); benign tumors (cysts, hemangioma, diffuse hemangiomatosis of the spleen, and hamartoma); malignant tumors (sarcoma, lymphoma, and metastases); and other disease processes that affect the spleen diffusely (portal hypertension, Gaucher disease, and sickle cell disease) or focally (Gamna-Gandy nodules). New magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques have increased the role of MR imaging in detection and characterization of splenic diseases....
On improving the accuracy of T1 mapping of the human brain

The focus of the presented research is to improve the ac-curacy in T1 mapping of the human brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Quantitative T1 imaging is essen-tial for the non-invasive detection and characterization of brain edema. Existing techniques are either very slow or provide inadequate accuracy. A method for improving the accuracy of the Inversion Recovery Fast Spin Echo MRI sequence is investigated. The approach is based on match-ing the image reconstruction algorithm to the noise present in the magnetic resonance echo signal measurements. A reduction in T 1 estimation error by 36% is achieved.
N2‐FIXATION (ACETYLENE REDUCTION) AND THE MICROBIAL COLONIZATION OF MANGROVE ROOTS

Summary Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were employed to study the microbial colonization of roots of three Florida mangrove species (Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans and Laguncularia racemosa). Observations of ultrathin sections revealed that all three species were colonized in the outer cortical cell layers and that colonization was primarily limited to the mucigel layer and sloughing cells. Interpretation of these observations in relation to biological nitrogen fixation associated with roots of these species of intertidal halophytes is presented.
Bortezomib-induced thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura

Thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy characterised by haemolytic anaemia, schistocytes on peripheral blood smear and thrombocytopaenia that can additionally present with fever, renal insufficiency and/or neurological abnormalities. While our understanding of idiopathic TTP has significantly advanced, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the pathophysiology of secondary TTP, which can be associated with malignancy, pregnancy, HIV infection, bone marrow transplantation and exposure to certain drugs including several chemotherapeutic agents. Here we present a case of bortezomib-associated TTP. Our patient developed microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopaenia and altered mental status after her ninth dose of bortezomib. The drug was subsequently discontinued and the patient underwent one session of plasma exchange with clinical improvement and recovery of her platelet counts, disappearance of schistocytes and resolution of both neurological symptoms and haemolysis in 2 days.
Longitudinal study of soy food intake and blood pressure among middle-aged and elderly Chinese women

Background: Several small-scale clinical trials have suggested a potential beneficial effect of short-term soy consumption on blood pressure (BP). Data are scanty on long-term effects of the usual intake of soy foods on BP in general populations. Objective: Our aim was to examine the association between usual intake of soy foods and BP. Design: The usual intake of soy foods was assessed at baseline, and BP was measured 2–3 y after the baseline survey among 45 694 participants of the Shanghai Women’s Health Study aged 40–70 y who had no history of hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease at recruitment. Multiple regression models were used to estimate mean differences in BP associated with various intakes of soy foods. Results: Soy protein intake was inversely associated with both systolic BP (P for trend 0.01) and diastolic BP (P for trend 0.009) after adjustment for age, body mass index, and lifestyle and otherdietaryfactors.TheadjustedmeansystolicBPwas1.9mmHg lower(95%CI:3.0,0.8mmHg)andthediastolicBPwas0.9mm Hglower(1.6,0.2mmHg)inwomenwhoconsumed25gsoy protein/d than in women consuming 2.5 g/d. The inverse associationsbecamestrongerwithincreasingage(Pforinteraction0.05 for both BPs). Among women 60 y old, the corresponding differences were 4.9 mm Hg (95% CI: 8.0, 1.9 mm Hg) for systolic BPand2.2mmHg(95%CI:3.8,0.6mmHg)fordiastolicBP. Conclusion: Usual intake of soy foods was inversely associated with both systolic and diastolic BPs, particularly among elderly women. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:1012–7.
What Parents Tell Us About Paraeducators

This study examined parent perceptions of the paraeducator's role. Observations of paraeducators and students with disabilities were conducted in inclusive classrooms. Some paraeducators worked as general classroom assistants, while others worked one-on-one with students with special needs. Each parent of a child with special needs was shown graphs reflecting the percentage of time their child's paraeducator was observed in various roles and interacting with students and adults. Parents were interviewed about their knowledge and perceptions of the paraeducator working in their child's classroom. Results indicated parents were pleased with their children's paraeducators. However, parents offered several recommendations for improving the use of paraeducators, including the need for more training and better communication between parents and school personnel. Responses of parents suggest paraeducators are perceived as “teachers” and should be professionally valued and present at Individualized Education Progr...
Defining new categories of pregnancy intention in African-American women

OBJECTIVE: Half of all U.S. pregnancies are categorized as unintended at conception but concerns persist that existing measures of pregnancy intention do not adequately reflect the complexities of reproductive desires and preferences. We explored new strategies for categorizing viewpoints toward future pregnancy focusing on young low-income African-American women and assessed the stability of these viewpoints over time. For pregnancies that occurred during the study we examined the utility of the newly derived categories for predicting retrospective measures of intendedness. METHODS: Data were collected using Q-methodology a technique for eliciting subjective viewpoints and identifying shared patterns among individuals. African-American women ages 15 to 25 and at risk for pregnancy were recruited at clinics serving low-income populations. The women sorted statements reflecting attitudes and preferences regarding future pregnancy into a distribution on a continuum from "least true for me" to "most true for me." We used by-person factor analysis to derive latent viewpoints. RESULTS: We identified six factors each reflecting a unique viewpoint about future pregnancy. These were a pregnancy seeking factor one reflecting both ambivalence and low reproductive control and four reflecting pregnancy avoidance with distinctions around social support reproductive control and desired pregnancy timing. Distribution of factors differed by age group as well as by retrospective categorization of pregnancy intention for those women who became pregnant during the study. CONCLUSION: Our categories provide a nuanced reflection of womens points of view about future pregnancies and with further validation may prove useful for predicting or preventing contraceptive nonuse undesired conceptions and associated adverse outcomes. Copyright (c) 2010 Jacobs Institute of Womens Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Improved relaxation processor for parallel solution of linear algebraic equations

A bidirection matrix-vector multiplication scheme leads to faster convergence as well as guaranteed convergence in a relaxationp rocessorfo r parallel solutiono f lineara lgebraic equations when used in a bimodal optical computer.
Applications of list decoding to tracing traitors

We apply results from algebraic coding theory to solve problems in cryptography, by using recent results on list decoding of error-correcting codes to efficiently find traitors who collude to create pirates. We produce schemes for which the traceability (TA) traitor tracing algorithm is very fast. We compare the TA and identifiable parent property (IPP) traitor tracing algorithms, and give evidence that when using an algebraic structure, the ability to trace traitors with the IPP algorithm implies the ability to trace with the TA algorithm. We also demonstrate that list decoding techniques can be used to find all possible pirate coalitions. Finally, we raise some related open questions about linear codes, and suggest uses for other decoding techniques in the presence of additional information about traitor behavior.