cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Bigger Always Better? How Targeting Aid Windfalls Affects Capture and Social Cohesion:

A central challenge in development involves ensuring that aid reaches those in greatest need. Aid agencies typically try to achieve this by targeting aid to vulnerable individuals or groups. Despit...
Scrutinizing number charts

KJ ne of the goals of any complete educational program for children is the encouragement of a child's natural curiosity about the world and the development of his ability to recognize the patterns and regularities of the universe about him. Mathematics classes offer an opportunity almost unequalled by any other current curriculum to serve this goal because of the frequency with which very compelling patterns emerge in the midst of rather ordinary-looking work. This paper presents some activities as an example of the kind of mathematical research that young children can enjoy. The object of this close scrutiny is the humble number chart (sometimes called a hundred-chart or number lattice) that appears commonly in texts, visual aids, and some manipulative materials. The number chart in figure 1 is prob-
Influence of red-light violation warning systems on driver behavior - a driving simulator study

Objective: With the advent of connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology, there is an increasing need to evaluate driver behavior with the advent of connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology. This study introduced a red-light violation warning (RLVW) system using CAV technology in a driving simulator environment, to evaluate driver braking behavior when the light changes suddenly from green to yellow.Methods: Researchers recruited a total of 93 participants from diverse socio-economic backgrounds for this study and created a virtual network of downtown Baltimore. An eye tracking device was used to observe distractions and head movements. A Lognormal accelerated failure time (AFT) distribution model was used for this analysis, to calculate speed reduction times from the moment the traffic light changes from green to yellow, to the point where a minimum speed was reached.Results: It was observed that speed reduction times were significantly higher in the presence of a RLVW system, requiring a longer period of time to come to a complete stop at the red light. Inferences can be drawn from the jerk analysis that, the RLVW system results in a highly unsafe jerk at the onset of the warning. Without the RLVW system though, a highly uncomfortable positive jerk occurs closer to the signal, which is due to sudden acceleration, as the participants possibly slowed down a lot initially. Gaze analysis showed that the system was able to attract the attention of the drivers, as the majority of the drivers noticed the displayed warning.Conclusions: The findings suggest that the presence of an RLVW system sends a clear message to the driver about the change in traffic light and gives the driver ample time to adapt their initial approach speed to stop at the signal, avoiding potential intersection crashes.
Disparities in health related quality of life among Illinoisans diagnosed with depressive disorder: findings from the 2017 BRFSS.

The United States experienced severe mental health budget cuts in many states across the nation during the years of the largest recession since the Great Depression. Illinois had one of the hardest hit mental health budgets in the country. The massive mental health funding cuts in Illinois, combined with the state’s budget impasse, left fewer facilities available to provide treatment and support to those in need. Many of Illinois’s most vulnerable populations either had reduced access, or no access to care. Serious spillover effects were felt by emergency rooms, community hospitals, and the criminal justice system. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine disparities in Health Related Quality of Life for those with depression after the funding cuts in Illinois. Data from the 2017 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System was analyzed by using multivariate logistic regression models of the Health Related Quality of Life measures for Illinoisans diagnosed with depressive disorders. According to the regression models in this study, disparities exist in HRQOL for Illinoisans with depressive disorders. In all of the HRQOL models, income was associated with a reduction in HRQOL. Additionally, disparities exist in HRQOL for certain age groups and those who are unemployed. Interestingly, the models did not show any racial disparities as anticipated. Without the basic policy-level deficiencies addressed, disparities in Health Related Quality of Life for Illinois’s most vulnerable populations will continue to exist as will costly economic spillover effects.
Communicative Participation and Quality of Life in Pretreatment Oral and Oropharyngeal Head and Neck Cancer.

ObjectiveTo determine how communicative participation is affected in patients with oral and oropharyngeal head and neck cancers (HNCs) pretreatment and whether communication function predicts HNC-s...
Structural and Functional Imaging

In this chapter, we review pertinent indications and contraindications for commonly used structural and functional imaging techniques in geriatric psychiatry.
Uterovaginal prolapse following suspected sexual abuse to a child: a case report

Uterovaginal prolapse occurs when damaged connective tissues allow the uterus to drop into the vagina. Rare in children, uterovaginal prolapse can occur as a result of violent sexual assault. This case is being reported because there has been no previous report of acquired pelvic organ prolapse following trauma suspected to be sexual abuse in a child in our setting. Two-year-old female presented to our hospital with a 3-day history of abnormal protrusion from the vagina and a 2-day history of bleeding per vagina. Traumatic rupture of the hymen was observed. The urethra was not edematous or hyperemic. The reduction was done successfully under sedation and maintained using a crepe bandage. There was no recurrence after 3-month follow-up. Uterovaginal prolapse presenting among children below 5 years is rare. If bleeding per vagina is reported in a child, the clinician should be aware of the possibility of uterovaginal prolapse.
Emphasizing Malleability in the biology of depression: Durable effects on perceived agency and prognostic pessimism.

Abstract Biological attributions for depression, which are currently ascendant, can lead to prognostic pessimism—the perception that symptoms are relatively immutable and unlikely to abate (Kvaale, Haslam, & Gottdiener, 2013; Lebowitz, Ahn, & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2013). Among symptomatic individuals, this may have important clinical ramifications, as reduced confidence in one's own ability to overcome depression carries the risk of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Previous research (Lebowitz, Ahn, et al., 2013) has demonstrated that educational interventions teaching symptomatic individuals about how the effects of genetic and neurobiological factors involved in depression are malleable and can be modified by experiences and environmental factors can reduce prognostic pessimism. While previous research demonstrated such effects only in the immediate term, the present research extends these findings by testing whether such benefits persist six weeks after the intervention. Indeed, among individuals who initially considered biological factors to play a major role in influencing their levels of depression, exposure to malleability-focused psychoeducation reduced levels of depression-related prognostic pessimism and stronger belief in their ability to regulate their moods. Critically, this benefit persisted six weeks after the intervention. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
Sleep and menopause: A narrative review

AbstractObjectiveOur overall aim—through a narrative review—is to critically profile key extant evidence of menopause-related sleep, mostly from studies published in the last decade.MethodsWe searched the database PubMed using selected Medical Subject Headings for sleep and menopause (n = 588 articl
Iris Quality Metrics for Adaptive Authentication

Iris sample quality has a number of important applications. It can be used at a variety of processing levels in iris recognition systems, for example, at the acquisition stage, at image enhancement stage, or at matching and fusion stage. Metrics designed to evaluate iris sample quality are used as figures of merit to quantify degradations in iris images due to environmental conditions, unconstrained presentation of individuals or due to postprocessing that can reduce iris information in the data. This chapter presents a short summary of quality factors traditionally used in iris recognition systems. It further introduces new metrics that can be used to evaluate iris image quality. The performance of the individual quality measures is analyzed, and their adaptive inclusion into iris recognition systems is demonstrated. Three methods to improve the performance of biometric matchers based on vectors of quality measures are described. For all the three methods, the reported experimental results show significant performance improvement when applied to iris biometrics. This confirms that the newly proposed quality measures are informative in the sense that their involvement results in improved iris recognition performance.
The REDD+ Programme: Affects on Governance Theory, Market Theory, and a Post-Kyoto World

The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Programme (REDD+) is an international agreement that aims to address the issue of climate change due to deforestation and forest degradation while also encouraging the enhancement of forest stocks in developing countries with tropical forests. This paper aims to address the ways in which REDD+ would fundamentally affect governance and market theories if it is applied, and it discusses REDD+’s potential as a successor of the Kyoto Protocol.
The Biosynthesis of Capsular Polysaccharide in Aerobacter aerogenes

Abstract Aerobacter aerogenes produces a capsular polysaccharide composed of tetrasaccharide repeating units containing galactose, mannose, and glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 2:1:1. Particulate cell envelope fractions of the organism catalyze the incorporation of galactose, mannose, and glucuronic acid from their respective nucleotide derivatives into capsular polysaccharide and into a lipid fraction. Kinetic studies of galactose-14C transfer from UDP-galactose-14C into the lipid fraction and into capsular polysaccharide suggested that a lipid-bound oligosaccharide intermediate is a precursor of the capsular polysaccharide. The biosynthesis of the intermediate oligosaccharide was shown to be initiated by the incorporation of galactose into an endogenous phospholipid. This reaction was characterized as a phosphogalactosyltransferase on the basis of its reversibility by UMP, but not UDP, and the alkali-catalyzed release of cyclic galactose 1,2-phosphate from the intermediate, indicating that galactose is bound to the lipid by a pyrophosphate linkage. The carrier phospholipid was isolated and purified by column chromatography on silicic acid and DEAE-cellulose, and finally, by preparative thin layer chromatography. The pure phospholipid, identified as undecaprenyl phosphate by mass spectrometry, restored the polysaccharide-synthesizing capacity of enzyme preparations which had been depleted of endogenous lipid by treatment with organic solvents. The particulate fraction catalyzes the sequential transfer of mannose, glucuronic acid, and a second galactose moiety to galactosyl-P-P-undecaprenol to form the di-, tri-, and tetrasaccharide derivatives, each of which was isolated and characterized, establishing the following sequence: UDP-Gal + P-lipid ⇌ Gal-P-P-lipid + UMP Gal-P-P-lipid + GDP-Man → Man-Gal-P-P-lipid + (GDP) Man-Gal-P-P-lipid + UDP-GlcUA → GlcUA-Man-Gal-P-P-lipid + (UDP) GlcUA-Man-Gal-P-P-lipid + UDP-Gal → Gal-(GlcUA)-Man-Gal-P-P-lipid + (UDP) The lipid-linked tetrasaccharide is polymerized to form a macromolecular product which is identical with native capsular polysaccharide, based on its composition and its susceptibility to degradation by a specific, phage-induced depolymerase.
The presence of edge contact and its influence on the debonding of patched panels

A formulation is presented which accounts for configurations of debonding patched cylindrical panels for which the edge of the debonded segment of the patch maintains sliding contact with the corresponding base structure. The formulation is incorporated with that which accounts for configurations for which a contact zone is present and for which no contact between the debonded segments of the patch and base structure occurs during debonding. Analyses are performed for two types of loading conditions: Applied circumferential tension and applied internal pressure. Results of numerical simulations based on analytical solutions of the problems of interest are presented in the form of threshold and stiffness degradation curves for specific structures with various geometries, material properties and support conditions, and reveal characteristic behavior of the evolving composite structure. In particular, the effects of edge contact on the debonding scenarios of the evolving structure are elucidated.
Ethics on the web: Applying moral decision-making to the new media

This paper examines the advent of the Web as a critical media tool in the promotion and sale of goods to consumers and the ethical questions it raises that are issues of public policy. We examine four traditional ethical rationales that guide organizational decision-making - utilitarianism, distributive justice, moral rights of man and relativism, further charac- terized as "ends-based", "equity-based", "rules- based" and "comparison-based" rationales - and we apply them to four moral dilemmas attributed to the proliferation of dot.com companies as they relate to consumer welfare. We find that ethical rationale in the New Media is largely non-existent, and where it exists, it is primarily reactive and driven by utilitarian or relativistic reasoning. We attribute this condition to the newness of the industry and to its economic context, representing, as it does, many characteristics embodied in the concept of the "perfect market." We offer some remedies to improve ethical conduct by e-business.
Real-Time Computation Of Moments With Acousto-Optics

Reference EPFL-ARTICLE-158580View record in Web of Science Record created on 2010-11-25, modified on 2017-05-10
T1 Genes Which Affect Transduction

Abstract Amber mutants of T1 were grown on each of three donor strains which were identical except that they carried different suppressors: respectively, supD, supE, and supB. The efficiency with which the mutants were able to transduce was tested after growth on each donor. In general, it was found that functions which control the synthesis of phage DNA usually caused significant increases in the efficiency of transduction (EOT). A few mutants located in genes essential for head production caused significant decreases in EOT. The presence of a particular suppressor in a donor can cause noteworthy changes in the EOT by certain of the mutant phages. Amber mutations in gene 3 of T1 were extremely sensitive to the particular suppressor present in the donor, showing a 17-fold decrease in EOT compared with other mutants after growth in donors with the supD suppressor and a 75-fold increase after growth in supE donors. Increases in EOT by early genes of T1 do not seem to be caused by a lack of competition of bacterial DNA with phage DNA during packaging since, in most instances, infective phage were produced in relatively normal amounts compared with wild-type T1. Phage DNA synthesis and degradations of the host chromosome are closely coupled in T1 infections; we believe that increases in EOT by mutants of early functions are due to inefficient degradation of the host chromosome.
Who volunteers? Constructing a hybrid theory

This paper describes three major theoretical perspectives in research on volunteering: social theories that stress the importance of context, roles, and integration; individual characteristic theories that emphasize values, traits, and motivations; and resource theories that focus on skills and free time. It unites research from multiple disciplines into a single hybrid model, performs a preliminary test of the model on a nationally representative US dataset, and concludes with recommendations for scholars and practitioners. Using the 1995 Midlife in the US dataset, we operationalized concepts from each theoretical category and found that variables measuring each perspective played a substantial and independent role in predicting volunteering. Our hybrid model, which includes significant variables from each theory, offers some directions for recruitment and retention by showing how social roles and networks can constrain or encourage volunteering at different stages of the life course. As social roles and networks are both highly predictive and easily observed, volunteer managers can use them to recruit and retain volunteers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Submarine Fernandina: Magmatism at the leading edge of the Galápagos hot spot

New multibeam and side-scan sonar surveys of Fernandina volcano and the geochemistry of lavas provide clues to the structural and magmatic development of Galapagos volcanoes. Submarine Fernandina has three well-developed rift zones, whereas the subaerial edifice has circumferential fissures associated with a large summit caldera and diffuse radial fissures on the lower slopes. Rift zone development is controlled by changes in deviatoric stresses with increasing distance from the caldera. Large lava flows are present on the gently sloping and deep seafloor west of Fernandina. Fernandina's submarine lavas are petrographically more diverse than the subaerial suite and include picrites. Most submarine glasses are similar in composition to aphyric subaerially erupted lavas, however. These rocks are termed the “normal” series and are believed to result from cooling and crystallization in the subcaldera magma system, which buffers the magmas both thermally and chemically. These normal-series magmas are extruded laterally through the flanks of the volcano, where they scavenge and disaggregate olivine-gabbro mush to produce picritic lavas. A suite of lavas recovered from the terminus of the SW submarine rift and terraces to the south comprises evolved basalts and icelandites with MgO = 3.1 to 5.0 wt.%. This “evolved series” is believed to form by fractional crystallization at 3 to 5 kb, involving extensive crystallization of clinopyroxene and titanomagnetite in addition to plagioclase. “High-K” lavas were recovered from the southwest rift and are attributed to hybridization between normal-series basalt and evolved-series magma. The geochemical and structural findings are used to develop an evolutionary model for the construction of the Galapagos Platform and better understand the petrogenesis of the erupted lavas. The earliest stage is represented by the deep-water lava flows, which over time construct a broad submarine platform. The deep-water lavas originate from the subcaldera plumbing system of the adjacent volcano. After construction of the platform, eruptions focus to a point source, building an island with rift zones extending away from the adjacent, buttressing volcanoes. Most rift zone magmas intrude laterally from the subcaldera magma chamber, although a few evolve by crystallization in the upper mantle and deep crust.
Habitat restoration facilitates an ecological trap for a locally rare, wetland‐restricted butterfly

. 1. Ecological traps occur when organisms preferentially reproduce in low quality reproductive habitats because the co-evolved cues associated with high quality habitat become re-associated with low quality habitat due to anthropogenically mediated habitat changes. Although the proximate mechanisms underpinning nearly all empirical examples of ecological traps involve exotic species, agriculturalization, or artificial structures, habitat restoration may also facilitate ecological traps because it directly targets species assemblages with a long-standing co-evolutionary history. 2. In western Oregon, USA, a locally rare, wetland-restricted population of the butterfly, Lycaena xanthoides, laid more eggs per host plant and more frequently oviposited on Rumex salicifolius growing in seasonally flooded, restored wetlands where survival is approximately seven-fold lower than adjacent non-flooded habitats. Outside of the restored wetlands, Rumex salicifolius is found almost exclusively in non-flooded habitats adjacent to seasonally flooded wetlands. 3. In the non-flooded habitat, host plant apparency appears to be reduced by tall, invasive exotic grasses (Festuca arundinacea and Phalaris aquatica), whereas host plants in seasonally flooded, restored wetlands were surrounded by low-growing, native vegetation and bare ground, rendering host plants more physically conspicuous. The devaluing of higher quality host plants by overtopping exotic grasses immediately adjacent to conspicuous low quality host plants in restored wetlands appeared to facilitate an unintended ecological trap for Lycaena xanthoides via inaccurate host plant niche replacement. 4. Although there are few published examples of restoration traps, increased scrutiny of restored habitats will be necessary to determine how common and what type of situations facilitate ecological traps.
WATER LOSS RATES AND TEMPERATURE PROFILES OF DRY COOKED BOVINE MUSCLE

Experimental data are presented for water emission rates and temperature profiles of beef muscle that is heated in an especially constructed controlled environment oven in which air temperature, flow rate and humidity are continuously monitored and controlled at all times. Moisture loss rates and temperature rise in bovine semitendinosus muscle were measured for oven temperatures between 121°C and 204° C and for an air flow rate of 13.7 m3/hr in which fiber direction was parallel to the direction of the air flow. A qualitative model of heat and mass transfer is deduced that illustrates the interaction of heat and mass transfer during dry air roasting. The transport mechanisms known to be operative in the drying of rigid, nonproteinous porous media provide the basis for understanding the water emission behavior of cooking muscle.
Effects of post‐Hurricane Katrina New Orleans (LA, USA) sediments on early development of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

When Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast, levees surrounding New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, were breached, leading to widespread flooding of the city and potential contamination from industrial spills, residential sources, and redistribution of pre-existing pollutants. We chemically characterized sediment samples from five New Orleans locations and used early development and mutagenesis in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as metrics of the toxic effects of these sediments. Sediment samples were analyzed for organohalogen pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and metals. One month after Hurricane Katrina, four of the five sites had unsafe concentrations of arsenic and one or more pesticides, pesticide metabolites, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Medaka embryonic mortality and time to hatching both increased during exposure to aqueous extracts of sediments, with the greatest toxicity observed for the most heavily contaminated sediment. Exposure to sediment extracts did not, however, result in significantly elevated rates of mutagenesis. When the most contaminated site was resampled 4.5 months later, the sediment had lower contaminant concentrations and fewer deleterious effects on medaka development. Using the medaka bioassay, therefore, we demonstrate toxic effects of post-Hurricane Katrina sediments immediately following the storm, with some amelioration over time of contaminant concentrations and their negative biological effects.
Integrating cavities: temporal response.

The temporal response of an integrating cavity is examined and compared with the results of a Monte Carlo analysis. An important parameter in the temporal response is the average distance d¯ between successive reflections at the cavity wall; d¯ was calculated for several specific cavity designs--spherical shell, cube, right circular cylinder, irregular tetrahedron, and prism; however, only the calculation for the spherical shell and the right circular cylinder will be presented. A completely general formulation of d¯ for arbitrary cavity shapes is then derived, d¯=4V/S where V is the volume of the cavity, and S is the surface area of the cavity. Finally, we consider an arbitrary cavity shape for which each flat face is tangent to a single inscribed sphere of diameter D (a curved surface is considered to be an infinite number of flat surfaces). We will prove that for such a cavity d¯=2D/3, exactly the same as d¯ for the inscribed sphere.
The Influence of Neuronal-Glial Interactions on Glia-Specific Gene Expression in Embryonic Retina

The role of cell-cell interactions in morphogenesis and differentiation of neural cells and tissues has been increasingly the focus of considerable research activity (especially in recent years). One of the most popular model systems for investigating these problems is the embryonic neural retina. It is widely accepted that interactions between heterotypic cells in the retina influence various developmental processes (Moscona, 1974; Moscona & Linser, 1983). Our studies have addressed specifically the role of cell interactions in regulating the expression of developmentally programmed gene products. Since the avian retina is avascular, biochemical and other studies on this tissue are not complicated by the presence of non-neural cells. Also, since the avian retina contains only one kind of neuroglia, Muller cells (Cajal, 1973), it is possible to investigate the influence of retinal neurons on gene expressions in the glial cell compartment. In this paper, we review some of our observations concerning the role of neuron-glia interactions in regulating the expression of specific gene products which are sequestered in the glial compartment of the mature retina.
Obstructive uropathy from a cystocele

A case is presented of bilateral hydronephrosis secondary to a lower ureteral obstruction from a cystocele. An effective method of surgical correction in a poor-risk patient is discussed.
Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 1990

Abstract The 1990 eastern Pacific hurricane season is summarized. Twenty tropical storms were tracked of which 16 became hurricanes. Hurricanes Hernan and Trudy were among the strongest ever observed in this area. Rachel was the only system to make landfall.
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional, Glass Powder, and Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete and Mortar

AbstractThis study compares the cradle-to-gate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), energy use, water use, and potential environmental toxicity of conventional (Conv), glass powder (GP), and alkali-activated slag (AAS) concrete and mortar. The comparison is based on 1 m3 of concrete/mortar with similar 28-day compressive strength, so the same concrete/mortar member with same dimensions may be manufactured from Conv, GP, or AAS materials and used for same applications. The result shows that compared to a 35-MPa Conv concrete, a 35-MPa GP concrete has, on average, 19% lower GHGs, 17% less energy, 14% less water, and 14–21% lower environmental toxicity. A 35-MPa AAS concrete has 73% lower GHGs, 43% less energy, 25% less water, and 22–94% lower effects for all environmental toxicity categories except an 72% higher ecotoxicity effect. Environmental impact reductions are also found for using GP as a cement replacement in concrete with lower strengths and replacing cement with GP or AAS in mortars with different st...
Validation of embryo tests for determining effects of fungal pest control agents on nontarget aquatic animals

Developing embryos of the inland silverside fish, Menidia beryllina, and grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, were exposed to conidiospores of the fungal weed control agent, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene and the entomopathogen, Metarhizium anisopliae. Only Metarhizium anisopliae caused significant (p≤0.05) mortalities in the exposed embryos. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides did, however, cause fatal infections in adults when conidia were injected into the peritoneum of fish or the hemocoel of shrimp.
Career problems and issues of senior level public servants in Papua New Guinea

This paper describes some of the career problems and issues faced by senior level officers of the Papua New Guinea public service. Restrictive educational and personnel policies prior to independence and subsequent rapid localization of the public service have led to a senior level administrative corps that is predominantly male, relatively young and inexperienced. These circumstances provide the context for a description and analysis of the perceived career impediments of 46 senior level officers, including career opportunity deficiencies; inadequacies of management; inadequacies of knowledge, skills, and abilities; lack of opportunity for decision making and implementation; political influence; inadequacies of staffing; decentralization; lack of procedural guidelines and professional standards; and miscellaneous problems. The analysis suggests that the twin purposes of establishing a career service and rapidly localizing the public service have worked against each other and resulted in career problems such as those perceived by the officers. Greater attention needs to be focused on organizational design, interpersonal relationships, and career development in order to reduce these impediments.
How rational is the imagination

Byrne has written a terrific book that is, nevertheless, based on a mistaken assumption – that imagination is largely rational. I argue in this commentary that her book follows very well, if one accepts her assumption of rationality, but that the bulk of the evidence available to us contradicts this assumption.
Thymidine metabolism and the monitoring of DNA synthesis in insects.

Abstract The thymidine degradation pathway established for other organisms is confirmed in insects. When 3H-TdR is used as a marker for DNA synthesis in developing silkmoths, some is incorporated into DNA and some degraded to compounds not incorporated into DNA. After a single injection, 3H-TdR is rapidly cleared from haemolymph and other tissue, resulting in, at most, a 4 hr pulse. In wing tissue, detection of DNA synthesis is possible for a maximum of 4 hr after injection of precursor and for 6 hr in vitro. Continuous monitoring of DNA synthesis can be attained by perfusion, which maintains high levels of circulating 3H-TdR.
Exogenous nucleosides are required for the morphogenesis of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi

The nematode parasites Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and B. timori cause a human disease known as lymphatic filariasis, which afflicts approximately 120 million people worldwide. The parasites enter the human host from the mosquito as L3 or infective larvae and subsequently differentiate through 2 molts. In this communication, I report that B. malayi and B. pahangi depend on an exogenous source of at least 1 purine and 1 pyrimidine nucleoside to complete the L3 to L4 molt. The requirement for exogenous nucleosides opens the door for possible chemotherapeutic intervention.
A closed loop feedback system for synchrotron radiation double crystal monochromators

Abstract We report on a dc closed loop feedback system for a fixed exit double crystal monochromator. The feedback control is part of a complete system which includes beam position and current monitors. The monochromator consists of two identical crystals mechanically coupled so that the two diffraction planes are almost parallel to each other. The feedback system controls a piezoelectric transducer to maintain the new parallelism, and it can be set under computer control to be at any point in the rocking curve at all times. The system has been thoroughly tested and found to be adequate for EXAFS measurements performed on beamline X18B at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Building a Natural Disaster Risk Index for Supply Chain Operations

Risk for an organization is associated with uncertainties in all areas of its operations. As firms move toward global sourcing, supply chain risk increases dramatically, which is linked to lower financial performance and market value. One major type of supply chain risk is disruptions caused by natural or man-made disasters. In this paper, major factors causing supply chain disruptions are identified based on resource dependency theory and contingency theory. As a result of the study, a comprehensive supply chain risk index for natural disasters is proposed by including two major factors (i.e. location and single source). Actions are suggested for supply chain managers to lower disruption risks within a supply chain when they use the risk index as a measure.
The staphylococcal accessory regulator, SarA, is an RNA-binding protein that modulates the mRNA turnover properties of late-exponential and stationary phase Staphylococcus aureus cells

The modulation of mRNA turnover is gaining recognition as a mechanism by which Staphylococcus aureus regulates gene expression, but the factors that orchestrate alterations in transcript degradation are poorly understood. In that regard, we previously found that 138 mRNA species, including transcripts coding for the virulence factors protein A (spa) and collagen-binding protein (cna), are stabilized in a sarA-dependent manner during exponential phase growth, suggesting that SarA directly or indirectly affects the RNA turnover properties of these transcripts. Herein, we expanded our characterization of the effects of sarA on mRNA turnover during late-exponential and stationary phases of growth. Results revealed that the locus affects the RNA degradation properties of cells during both growth phases. Further, using gel mobility shift assays and RIP-Chip, it was found that SarA protein is capable of binding mRNA species that it stabilizes both in vitro and within bacterial cells. Taken together, these results suggest that SarA post-transcriptionally regulates S. aureus gene expression in a manner that involves binding to and consequently altering the mRNA turnover properties of target transcripts.
Scalable and precise symbolic analysis for atomicity violations

We present a symbolic testing tool BEST for finding atomicity violations. We automatically infer and generate potential atomicity properties from an observed run of a multi-threaded program, and use precise modeling and constraint-based symbolic search to find atomicity violating schedules in the most generalization of the observed run. We focus mainly on the tool scalability by devising various simplification steps to reduce the formula and the search space by orders-of-magnitude. To that effect, we also introduce a new notion of atomicity that is useful and simple to check. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the combined techniques on several public C/C++/Java benchmarks in finding known/unknown atomicity bugs.
The use of chiral phosphinites in asymmetric chemistry 4. Asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones effected by rhodium catalysts modified with glucophinite and camphinite

Abstract Five ketones were hydrosilylated, using either α-NpPhSiH2 or Ph2SiH2, in the presence of rhodium catalysts which had been modified with the chiral phosphinite glucophinite or camphinite. The best results were obtained using glucophinite as the chiral modifier and α-NpPhSiH2 as the hydrosilylating reagent.
Photomultiplier dark pulses.

Dark pulse distributions from three types of photomultiplier have been fitted to Poisson distributions, both for pulses originated by single electrons and for larger pulses. These distributions can be used to determine the first-dynode secondary-emission coefficients, the fraction of electrons that create positive ions, the number of secondary electrons created by each positive ion, and the rate of output pulses above a fixed discriminator level.
Male Preference for Large Females and Female Reproductive Condition in the Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract In the field, paired (in copula) female Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) tend to be larger than unpaired females. In this study, we investigated whether this size pattern could be explained by a male preference for large females, and whether larger females tended to have more and/or larger eggs than smaller females. In a laboratory study, both small and large males, when given a choice of a large and small female, tended to choose the large female. We dissected field-caught paired and unpaired females, measured their body size, and counted and measured their eggs. Larger females tended to have more and larger eggs than smaller females, indicating that males may benefit from choosing larger females due to the egg characteristics of these larger females. Paired females in the field were consistently larger than single females; paired females also had more and larger eggs, even when body width was statistically controlled. Thus, although body width of the female correlates with her fecund...
Abdominal-B protein isoforms exhibit distinct cuticular transformations and regulatory activities when ectopically expressed in Drosophila embryos.

The Drosophila homeotic gene Abdominal-B includes two genetically distinct elements, a morphogenetic (m) activity and a regulatory (r) activity. The proteins responsible for these activities were ectopically expressed in fly embryos. The larval cuticular transformations which result are consistent with the genetically defined role of each protein during normal embryogenesis. Both ABD-B proteins activat ectopic expression of transcripts encoding the m protein, but the levels of Antennapedia, Ultrabithorax and abdominal-A transcripts are differentially repressed. A structural and functional comparison of the ABD-B proteins and a chimeric DFD/ABD-B protein reaffirms that target specificity is largely determined by the homeodomain region and suggests protein domains outside of the homeodomain influence the activation or repression of target gene expression.
Numerical study of the Cahn-Hilliard equation in three dimensions.

We present results of the first numerical study of the Cahn-Hilliard equation in three dimensions. We study the asymptotic time dependence of the characteristic domain size $R(t)$, as well as the scaling of the pair correlation function and the structure factor. The results indicate that dynamical scaling holds at sufficiently late times and that the data for $R(t)$ are consistent with a Lifshitz-Slyozov growth law $R(t)\ensuremath{\sim}{t}^{\frac{1}{3}}$.
The condensation reaction between isocyanates and carboxylic acids. A practical synthesis of substituted amides and anilides.

Abstract Addition of a carboxylic acid to an isocyanate initially yields the mixed acid anhydride, decarboxylation of which leads to the N-substituted amide. The conversion of acid into amide was shown to proceed similarly for both aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids with a range of substituted isocyanates.
Biological activities of thionated thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogs

Abstract Analogs of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (Glp-His-Pro-NH 2 , TRH) have been prepared which contain thioamide moieties in the pyroglutamic acid ring, the car☐yamide proline terminus, and in both positions (dithio). These compounds have been tested for TSH-releasing activities ( in vitro and in vivo ), and for binding to TRH receptors in rat pituitary and cortex. The monothionated analogs showed no significant differences in TSH-releasing potency from TRH either in vitro or in vivo . However, with two thioamide replacements the potency decreases about 50%. Significantly, in terms of receptor selectivity, thionation has resulted in differentiation between brain receptor (pituitary and cortex). The Proψ[CSNH 2 ] and dithio analogs were more selective (higher affinity to pituitary receptors) than the parent hormone, while the analog containing a thioamide replacement in the pyroglutamyl ring had lower affinity and was not selective. These results suggest that the subtle exchange of sulphur for oxygen can have an important impact on both receptor selectivity and affinity within a biologically active peptide.
Densification and Grain Growth for Powder-Derived Ta2O5-TiO2 Ceramics

Thermal processing of powder-derived Ta2O5-based ceramics reveals that rapid grain growth associated with a high temperature phase transformation hinders densification, necessitating the development of a reduced-temperature processing methodology. Data are reported for the densification behavior with emphasis on microstructural changes associated with the phase transformation between a stable low-temperature phase (L-Ta2O5) and a phase which is stable at high temperatures (H-Ta2O5). The H-Ta2O5 phase is metastable at room temperature and reverts back to the L-Ta2O5 phase with thermal or mechanical treatment. TiO2 additions stabilize the H-Ta2O5 phase and result in enhanced dielectric properties. Because TiO2 additions decrease the temperature of the densification-hindering phase transformation, an alternate reduced-temperature processing route is necessary. A simple solution-coated powder method was used to produce the first-ever dense and chemically homogeneous TiO2-modified Ta2O5 ceramics in both the L- and H-Ta2O5 forms. Thus, this work represents the first comprehensive study of the effects of composition and the L⇒H-Ta2O5 phase transformation on microstructural development. The results indicate that the effect of TiO2 additions on the sintering behavior of Ta2O5 ceramics was largely limited to a reduction in the temperature for the densification-hindering phase transformation.
Grouped discharges in ureter muscle

Abstract 1. 1. Intracellular action potentials of the guinea-pig ureter muscle consisted of about 10 spikes superimposed on a 20–50 mV sustained depolarization. 2. 2. Magnitudes of resting and action potentials were evaluated at various external K+ levels. 3. 3. Activity of the muscle could be modified by external K+ or Na+ level, transmembrane current or tetraethylammonium ions. 4. 4. Effects of the grouped-discharge-type and plateu-type action potentials on tension development were compared. 5. 5. Possible mechanisms for the repetitive discharge were discussed. It is suggested that the grouped discharge results from a mixture of the activity of the cell implated with the recording microelectrode and that of neighboring cells which spreads to the recording site electrontonically.
Molecular weight determination from amino acid analysis data: A numerical method

Abstract A least-square numerical method for calculating the minimal molecular weight of a protein from data on its amino acid analysis has been developed and tested on fourteen proteins. This technique was found to be more suitable than conventional methods for obtaining a priori values for protein molecular weights and for assessing the accuracy of the amino acid analysis.
Maintenance proctors for mainframe computer: Special-purpose computers supervise the proper operation of their host computer to improve reliability and reduce down time

A description is given of the maintenance processor whose function it is to supervise the proper operation of its host computer to improve reliability and reduce down time. A discussion is presented of concurrent monitoring of operation, fault diagnosis and recovery, retrying failed instructions, reconfiguring multiprocessor systems, and correcting memory errors.
Novel Benzoxazole Inhibitor of Dengue Virus Replication That Targets the NS3 Helicase

Dengue virus (DENV) is the predominant mosquito-borne viral pathogen that infects humans with an estimated 50 to 100 million infections per year worldwide. Over the past 50 years, the incidence of dengue disease has increased dramatically and the virus is now endemic in more than 100 countries. Moreover, multiple serotypes of DENV are now found in the same geographic region, increasing the likelihood of more severe forms of disease. Despite extensive research, there are still no approved vaccines or therapeutics commercially available to treat DENV infection. Here we report the results of a high-throughput screen of a chemical compound library using a whole-virus assay that identified a novel small-molecule inhibitor of DENV, ST-610, that potently and selectively inhibits all four serotypes of DENV replication in vitro. Sequence analysis of drug-resistant virus isolates has identified a single point mutation, A263T, in the NS3 helicase domain that confers resistance to this compound. ST-610 inhibits DENV NS3 helicase RNA unwinding activity in a molecular-beacon-based helicase assay but does not inhibit nucleoside triphosphatase activity based on a malachite green ATPase assay. ST-610 is nonmutagenic, is well tolerated (nontoxic) in mice, and has shown efficacy in a sublethal murine model of DENV infection with the ability to significantly reduce viremia and viral load compared to vehicle controls.
A Psychometric Evaluation of the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Use in Chemistry

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the psychometric properties of The Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS). The 50-item instrument was administered to 311 college students from a public institution in the United States enrolled in General Chemistry I Laboratory. Confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach's estimates were used to examine the reliability and validity of the CLASS instrument scores. Detailed information regarding this process is discussed. Initial results revealed a lack of evidence for simultaneous measurement of all of the constructs underlying the nine CLASS subscales. However, further work, including the administration of two small, single-scale instruments taken directly from CLASS, suggests that concise, easy-to-administer measures of individual constructs can be derived from CLASS.
Trichohyaline Granules in Hair Cortex

A granular structure was found in the keratogenous zone of the cortex in human hair follicles. This granule was a round, relatively electron-dense, homogeneous structure 0.1–0.3 μ m in diameter and not membrane-limited. It appeared in cortical cells in the keratogenous zone, fused to the tonofilaments, and disappeared before the complete keratinization of the cortex. Thus, this granule was considered to be a trichohyaline granule. Similar granules were found in the nuclei of cortical cells in the keratogenous zone. A comprehensive survey of various human hairs confirmed tins observation. Trichohyaline granules were also present in the cortical cells of guinea pig hair in the keratogenous zone. However, a similar survey on mouse hair cortex did not reveal trichohyaline granules in this species.