cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The monocotyledonous underground: global climatic and phylogenetic patterns of geophyte diversity.

Premise Geophytes-plants that typically possess a bulb, corm, tuber, and/or rhizome-have long captured the attention of hobbyists and researchers. However, despite the economic and evolutionary importance of these traits, the potential drivers of their morphological diversity remain unknown. Using a comprehensive phylogeny of monocots, we test for correlations between climate and geophyte growth form to better understand why we observe such a diversity of underground traits in geophytes. Understanding the evolutionary factors promoting independent origins of these potentially adaptive organs will lend insights into how plants adapt to environmental hardships. Methods Using a comprehensive phylogeny incorporated with global occurrence and climate data for the monocots, we investigated whether climatic patterns could explain differences between geophytes and non-geophytes, as well as differences among bulbous, cormous, tuberous, rhizomatous, and non-geophytic taxa. We used phylogenetically-informed ANOVAs, MANOVAs, and PCAs to test differences in climatic variables between the different growth forms. Results Geophytes inhabit cooler, drier, and more thermally variable climates compared to non-geophytes. Although some underground traits (i.e., bulb, corm, and tuber) appear to inhabit particular niches, a result supported by strong phylogenetic signal, our data has limited evidence for an overall role of climate in the evolution of these traits. However, temperature may be a driving force in rhizome evolution, as well as the evolution of taxa which we considered here as non-geophytic (e.g., trees, epiphytes, etc.). Conclusions While precipitation patterns have played a role in the evolution of geophytism, our results suggest that temperature should be more strongly considered as a contributing factor promoting the evolution of belowground bud placement, specifically in rhizomatous and non-geophytic taxa. Bulbous, cormous, and tuberous taxa need closer examination of other mechanisms, such as anatomical constraints or genetic controls, in order to begin to understand the causes behind the evolution of their underground morphology.
Gross Total Resection of a Grade IV Astrocytoma Adjacent to the Precentral Gyrus With Nonawake Motor Mapping and Motor-Evoked Potential Monitoring: 3-Dimensional Operative Video.

Surgical treatment of the gliomas located in or adjacent to the eloquent areas poses significant challenge to neurosurgeons. The main goal of the surgery is to achieve maximal safe resection while preserving the neurological function. This might be possible with utilizing pre- and intraoperative adjuncts such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), image guidance, mapping of the function of interest, intraoperative MRI, and neurophysiological monitoring. In this video, we demonstrate the utilization of nonawake mapping and motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring for the resection of a right-sided posterior superior frontal gyrus grade IV astrocytoma adjacent to the primary motor cortex. The patient is a 69-yr-old woman presented with multiple episodes of simple partial seizures involving her left leg and spreading to the left arm. MRI and functional MRI examinations showed a heterogeneously enhancing mass with peritumoral edema adjacent to the primary motor cortex. Because the patient did not want to undergo an awake craniotomy, a decision was made to perform the resection of the tumor with nonawake motor mapping and continuous MEP monitoring. Nonawake motor mapping and MEP monitoring enabled us to perform gross total resection. Because it has been shown that supratotal resection may provide improved survival outcome,1,2 we extended the white matter resection beyond the contrast enhancing area in noneloquent parts of the tumor. Surgical steps in dealing with vascular anatomy as well as utilizing intraoperative adjuncts such as motor mapping and MEP monitoring to enhance the extent of resection while preserving the function are demonstrated in this 3-dimensional surgical video. The patient consented to publication of her operative video.
Tolerance Orders of Open and Closed Unit Intervals

In this paper we combine ideas from tolerance orders with recent work on OC interval orders. We consider representations of posets by unit intervals Iv in which the interval endpoints (L(v) and R(v)) may be open or closed as well as the center point (c(v)). This yields four types of intervals: A (endpoints and center points closed), B (endpoints and center points open), C (endpoints closed, center points open), and D (endpoints open, center points closed). For any non-empty subset S of {A, B, C, D}, we define an S-order as a poset P that has a representation as follows: each element v of P is assigned a unit interval Iv of type belonging to S, and x ≺ y if and only if either (i) R(x) < c(y) or (ii) R(x) = c(y) and at least one of R(x), c(y) is open and at least one of L(y), c(x) is open. We characterize several of the classes of S-orders and provide separating examples between unequal classes. In addition, for each S ⊆{A, B, C, D} we present a polynomial-time algorithm that recognizes S-orders, providing a representation when one exists and otherwise providing a certificate showing it is not an S-order.
Private Policing and Public Health: A Neglected Relationship:

Policing, in its various forms and dimensions, has indelible and complex connections to public health. The conventional functions of policing—promoting social order, security, and crime prevention—...
Causes of Pleural Effusions

Pleural effusions are defined as a term. The broad categories of pleural fluid are discussed, including the pathophysiologic basis for each and the differential diagnosis for each type. Typical radiographic findings, including on radiographs and cross-sectional imaging, are discussed. Complications of pleural fluid collections are discussed. Specific signs are discussed.
An Inexpensive Semiconducting Device Laboratory: Building a Schottky Barrier Diode

Semiconductor devices, usually made from silicon wafers, are present in the electronic gadgets that we use on a daily basis. In an introductory physics class, the textbook usually devotes a few pages to these devices and moves on. As a result, students may readily forget the material or fail to see how it relates to their lives. A solution is to have the student build a simple semiconductor device such as a diode. Generally, the process for making these devices is expensive, dangerous, and time consuming. While there has been some success in reducing these challenges for certain devices, labs that do this are mostly limited to upper-division engineering or physics classes. The purpose of this paper is to describe a method that can be followed to build a diode from a silicon wafer in less than an hour with limited equipment and with no exposure to dangerous chemicals. This lab can be conducted at the high school level or in an introductory college physics class. It requires an investment of less than $100 for the equipment and consumable materials.
Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis

The etiopathogenesis of osteoarthritis is complex. Genetic factors may influence the macromolecules constituting cartilage and other joint tissues. The normal tissue remodeling process may be altered by mechanical factors, by hormones, or by particulates such as wear particles and/or crystals which have biological influences on cells. These factors may accelerate the catabolic arm of tissue remodeling to the point where anabolic synthesis is overwhelmed, producing irreversible or only partially reversible damage, which is perceived clinically as joint degeneration.
Atomistic model of a ceria nanoparticle with Ce3 + and Ce4 + atoms.

We develop an atomistic model of a cerium dioxide CeO2 nanoparticle, which we then extend to our model of a ceria nanoparticle with a varied Ce3 + /Ce4 + composition. For a pure CeO2 particle we compute the radial distribution function for all pairs of atoms in the nanoparticle, which we find is in excellent agreement with the reported experimental data. For a particle with a mixed Ce3 + /Ce4 + we adjust the parameters and modify the crystallization procedure to produce a realistic distribution of Ce3 + atoms on the particle. We improve our initial guess of the Lennard-Jones parameters by melting and recrystallizing the nanoparticle, as well as computing the radial distribution function for the nanoparticle at room temperature.
Impermanence in relationships: Trait mindfulness attenuates the negative personal consequences of everyday dips in relationship satisfaction:

Satisfying intimate relationships are crucial to human health and well-being. Yet even the best relationships include good days and bad ones, and when people experience bad days in terms of relatio...
Reliability of the Modified TICI Score among Endovascular Neurosurgeons

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The modified TICI score is the benchmark for quantifying reperfusion after mechanical thrombectomy. There has been limited investigation into the reliability of this score. We aim to identify intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the mTICI score among endovascular neurosurgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four independent endovascular neurosurgeons (raters) reviewed angiograms of 67 patients at 2 time points. κ statistics assessed inter- and intrarater reliability and compared raters’-versus-proceduralists’ scores. Reliability was also assessed for occlusion location and by dichotomizing modified TICI scores (0–2a versus 2b–3). RESULTS: Interrater reliability was moderate-to-substantial, weighted κ = 0.417–0.703, overall κ = 0.374 (P CONCLUSIONS: The modified TICI score is a practical metric for assessing reperfusion after mechanical thrombectomy, though not without limitations. Agreement improved when scores were dichotomized around the clinically relevant threshold of successful revascularization. Interrater reliability improved with time, suggesting that formal training of interventionalists may improve reporting reliability. Agreement of the modified TICI scale is best with M1 and ICA occlusion and becomes less reliable with more distal or posterior circulation occlusions. These findings should be considered when developing research trials.
Impact of age on antibiotic distribution and efficacy in calves

Calfhood diseases have a major economic impact on beef and dairy operations, due to the costs associated with mortality, treatment, and the long-term effects on growth and performance. With very limited approved drugs for use in "pre-ruminant” calves and heifers, questions remain about the effectiveness of these drugs in young animals. It is important to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics in calves to limit the development of resistant bacteria and residues, as well as take into account the developmental changes that occur in neonatal calves that would affect the distribution, therefore efficacy of selected drug therapy. The purpose of this article will give an overview of the effects of age on absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination of commonly administered drugs and its impact on efficacy in different ages of calves.
Similarities and differences between actigraphy and parent-reported sleep in a Hispanic and non-Hispanic White sample.

Abstract Objective Despite concerns about the inaccuracy of parents' reports of children's sleep, it remains unclear whether the bias of parents' reports varies across racial/ethnic groups. To address this limitation, the current study systematically investigated the concordance among parent-reported sleep questionnaires, sleep diaries, and actigraphy-based sleep in a sample of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White children. Methods Parents of 51 Hispanic and 38 non-Hispanic White children (N = 89; Mage = 6.46, SD = 0.62; 50.6% male) reported their child's bedtime and wake time on school days using sleep diaries and questionnaires. Children's sleep also was assessed with actigraphy for five consecutive school days. Results Parents reported longer sleep duration, earlier bedtime, and later wake time using sleep diaries and questionnaires compared to actigraphy-based assessments. Larger discrepancies between diaries and actigraphy of sleep duration, and between questionnaires and actigraphy of wake time were found in non-Hispanic White children, compared to Hispanic children. Conclusions Although parents tended to overestimate their child's sleep as compared to actigraphy, parents of Hispanic children may be more accurate in some estimates of children's sleep than parents of non-Hispanic White children. Researchers, clinicians, and parents should be aware of the potential biases in parents' reports and estimates of their child's sleep and that the degree of bias could vary across racial/ethnic groups.
Biologic Therapies for Allergic Rhinitis and Nasal Polyposis

There is an emerging body of research on targeted biologic therapies for the treatment of severe inflammatory nasal disorders, especially chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). This paper will evaluate the efficacy of biologic therapies for severe nasal inflammation by summarizing key preclinical trials of biologics for animal models of allergic rhinitis and the recent phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of biologic therapies for CRSwNP. Biologics that target the IL-4 receptor (dupilumab), IgE (omalizumab), and IL-5 (mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab) in patients with CRSwNP have shown improvement of various metrics including Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores, Nasal Polyp Scores (NPS), Nasal Congestion Scores (NCS), and Lund-Mackay sinus opacification scores. The efficacy demonstrated through the dupilumab phase 3 trials (LIBERTY NP SINUS-24 and SINUS-52) led to approval of the first biologic for the treatment of CRSwNP. Phase 3 trials for omalizumab (POLYP 1 and 2) and mepolizumab (SYNAPSE study) and post hoc analyses of phase 3 asthma studies for reslizumab and benralizumab have also demonstrated positive results for the use of biologics for patients with CRSwNP. Future efficacy studies and risk/benefit and cost analyses of these biologics and other cytokine targets for allergic rhinitis with and without nasal polyposis need to be performed.
Facile synthesis of silver/gold alloy nanoparticles for ultra-sensitive rhodamine B detection

The synthesis of Ag/Au nanoparticles (NPs) in a controlled manner has been a challenge for a long time. The aim of this report is to present a systematic study on the fabrication, characterization of Ag/Au alloy NP-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates. Silver (Ag) and gold (Au) colloidal NPs were prepared by chemical reduction route of the corresponding metal salts by trisodium citrate (TSC). Ag/Au alloy nanoparticles with varying molar fractions are prepared in aqueous solution by the simultaneous reduction of AgNO3 and HAuCl4 by TSC. The composition of Ag and Au in the alloy samples was controlled by tuning the molar ratio of Ag+/Au3+ in the mixture solution. The morphologies of the different products were characterized by TEM, and the size of obtained samples was in the range of 40 to 60 nm. The resulting samples were denoted as AgNPs, AuNPs, Ag3Au, AgAu, and AgAu3 NPs. In order to compare the optical property of the Ag/Au alloy and Ag/Au mixture, we mixed the pure Ag and Au NPs with different ratios to obtain the aggregated nanoparticles. Ag/Au alloy NPs were demonstrated as an ultrasensitive SERS substrate for the detection of rhodamine B (RhB) molecules. The concentration of RhB ranged from 10−11 to 10−5 M. The effect of the Au content on the optical and SERS properties of the Ag/Au alloys was studied. The obtained results show that the Au content in the Ag/Au alloys play an important role in the physical properties of Ag/Au alloy NPs. The SERS spectra of RhB from the as-prepared Ag/Au alloy NP substrates indicated the superior enhancement with high reproducibility and sensitivity compared to those of Ag or Au samples. Interestingly, the highest SERS activity was achieved for the Ag3Au sample with an enhancement factor larger than 1010 for 10−11 M RhB and a limit of detection (LOD) at 10−11 M, as well as good long-term stability after storage for 1 year. As far as we know, this is the highest sensitivity record of RhB by SERS detection. Furthermore, the composition-dependent SERS activity was explained in detail. These advantages demonstrated the potential for growing Ag/Au alloy NP-based SERS substrates in food safety and bioanalysis.
Our Climate Change Challenge

Our climate is changing due to the anthropogenic addition of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. Greenhouse gases absorb heat and thus elevate the temperature of the atmosphere. Although there has been significant pushback on the science of climate change, particularly from some sectors of the economy—especially energy producers—the evidence is clear that the climate is changing rapidly. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change produced several reports detailing a range of evidence and they predict we will continue to see warming and changing weather patterns in the decades ahead. While there have been agreements like the Paris Accord, the world has not solved the climate problem and there is much work to be done to try to reach greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Schism and Solidarity in Social Movements: The Politics of Labor in the French Third Republic

Acknowledgments 1. The struggle and the conciliation 2. Schism and solidarity 3. Vox Populi, Vox Dei 4. Esprit de corps 5. Organizing the fourth estate 6. The new covenant 7. 'Above all we are syndicalists' 8. From congregation to reformed church 9. Dealignment 10. The party the syndicalists built 11. Conclusion Works cited Index.
Management of pediatric refractory epilepsy

About half of patients with epilepsy will become seizure free upon treatment with the first antiepileptic drug (AED). After trying further medications, overall, two thirds of patients will become seizure free on AED(s), while the remaining one third will continue having seizures. Patients who have failed treatment with adequate trials of two appropriate and tolerated AEDs, whether as monotherapy or in combination, are considered refractory (drug resistant). Appropriate diagnosis and optimal control of seizures are essential for a successful treatment and improved quality of life of patients with epilepsy. Since the introduction of a number of newer AEDs in the last decade, there have been improvements in tolerability and side effect profile of AED therapy. Failure to respond to the initial pharmacologic treatment should prompt trials of alternative options including reevaluation for accurate diagnosis and optimizing AED therapy, epilepsy (resective) surgery, vagus nerve stimulation, ketogenic diet, and a series of potentially effective pharmacological and surgical treatments currently under investigation.
A West European Style Populist Radical Right Movement in America? The Case of the Tea Party

The Tea Party (TP), whose candidates made significant gains in the 2010-midterm elections, lacks a place in the comparative party literature and also defies ready classification. Is it solely a movement to reduce the size of government and cut taxes as its name – some refer to it as the Taxed Enough Already party – implies? Or do its supporters share a broader set of conservative positions on social as well as economic issues? Does the movement draw support from across the religious spectrum? Or has the religious right “taken over” the TP, as some commentators have suggested (Koelkebeck, 2010)? In light of these various claims, this comparative study seeks to characterize the TP and asks: (1) Is it a populist party? (2) Is it a populist radical right party? The aim is to locate the TP in multi-dimensional space using a careful reading of the party literature as the primary data source and to do so by reference to three fundamental “isms” attributed to West European populist radical right parties – that is, populism, socio-cultural authoritarianism and ethno-nationalism (nativism). It is argued that the TP is indeed a populist radical right party – with Americanism as its pivotal concept – albeit one (thus far) lacking the xenophobic extremism of the likes of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPA) or the Danish People's Party (DPP).
Statistical studies of mortality and air pollution

Multiple regression analyses are presented relating age-specific mortality rates for up to 158 U.S. cities for 1969–1971 to community air pollution and socioeconomic variables, including an index of cigarette smoking. The results showed that excess mortality was associated with concentrations of airborne manganese and, to a lesser extent, total suspended particulates (TSP). The associations tended to be stronger for the older age groups (>65). In exploring these associations further, it was shown that the regression results were not inconsistent with a lag effect, i.e., that pollution from a 10 year or more earlier time period was implicated. Analysis for pollutant thresholds indicated none for manganese, but the suggestion of a no-effect threshold for TSP at 85–130 μg/m3. In contrast to some previous studies by other authors, no consistent (positive) associations were found between excess mortality and suspended sulfates.
Marriage and the Economy: Theory and Evidence from Advanced Industrial Societies

1. Marriage and the economy Shoshana Grossbard-Shechtman Part I. The Economics of Marriage and Divorce: 2. The economics of marriage and household formation Michael Brien and Michelle Sheran 3. The economics of divorce Evelyn L. Lehrer 4. The effects of public policy Leslie Whittington and James Alm Part II. Effects of Marriage on Income Uses: 5. Control over money in marriage Frances Woolley 6. Marriage, assets, and savings Joseph Lupton and James Smith 7. The economics of child support Andrea Beller and John Graham 8. Marriage prospects and welfare use John Fitzgerald Part III. Effects of Marriage on Time Uses: 9. Marriage, household production and earnings Joni Hersch 10. Marriage and work for pay Shoshana Grossbard-Shechtman and Shoshana Neuman 11. Marriage, work for pay, and child care Rachel Connelly and Jean Kimmel 12. Marriage and home-based paid employment Elizabeth Field-Hendrey and Linda Edwards Part IV. Marriage and the Macro Economy: 13. Married households and gross household product Duncan Ironmonger and Faye Soupourmas 14. Marriage, parental investment, and the macroeconomy Shirley Burggraf.
Managed Solidarity: Institutions and Intralabor Conflict in Postwar Britain and Germany

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of institutional legacy on the capacities of labor movements to maintain solidarity. The role of industrial and political institutions is assessed through a comparative study of two key strikes in late postwar Britain and Germany. The three types of institutions expected to affect strike solidarity are: first, the internal structure of unions (in this case, the British National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the German metalworkers union (IG Metall)); second, their relations to the larger labor movement, including the unions' links to the plant level, their relationships with other unions, and their relationships with the British Trade Union Confederation (TUC) and German Trade Union Confederation (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB), respectively; and third, unions' relations with various aspects of the state: the left party, the government, and the law. These historically contingent arrangements within which union leaders manage the diverse interests of their membership help determine capacity for solidarity in two ways: first, by strengthening or weakening the union externally, they raise or lower the net benefits and probability of collective success; second, they determine the central office's level of control over its membership. Rather than relying on class consciousness or camaraderie to solve labor's collective action problems, labor leaders develop strategies within the national institutions they are dealt in order to construct and manage solidarity.
NMR characterization of injection-moulded alumina green compacts

Development of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) analysis at 400 MHz has been initiated to evaluate the binder in green injection-moulded alumina compacts. The nuclear spin-spin relaxation times,T2, of protons in the binder components (paraffin wax, polypropylene, and stearic acid) were measured to allow comparison with those in the injection-moulded green compacts.1H nuclear spin echo signals were observed by a (π/2)-Τ-π-Τ-echo pulse sequence. Bloch's equations were used to calculate the spin-spin relaxation times from these echo intensities. TheT2 for paraffin wax and polypropylene were in the 30–33 Μs range and their intensity decay behaviours were very similar. However, theT2 value for stearic acid was found to be only 17 Μs and its echo signal intensity decayed more rapidly than those for paraffin wax and polypropylene. Binder content variations in three green compacts moulded from the same nominal blend composition were detected. Analysis of the moulded compacts also showed the presence of a species with aT2 value near 300 Μs. This unexpected species may be the result of reaction during processing or the presence of moisture. The width of r.f. pulses used to measure echoes did not have a significant effect on relaxation times but should be considered in calculation of echo intensities at equilibrium and, hence, binder composition. This technique development is expected to allow analysis of both binder content and distribution in moulded components with application in process models.
Transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve in patients with transvalvular device leads

Objective To describe the effects of percutaneously implanted valve-in-valve in the tricuspid position for patients with pre-existing transvalvular device leads. Methods In this case series, we describe implantation of the Melody valve and SAPIEN XT valve within dysfunctional bioprosthetic tricuspid valves in three patients with transvalvular device leads. Results In all cases, the valve was successfully deployed and device lead function remained unchanged. In 1/3 cases with 6-month follow-up, device lead parameters remain unchanged and transcatheter valve-in-valve function remains satisfactory. Conclusions Transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve is feasible in patients with pre-existing transvalvular devices leads. Further study is required to determine the long-term clinical implications of this treatment approach. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of l-citrulline and watermelon juice supplementation on anaerobic and aerobic exercise performance

AbstractCitrulline has been proposed as an ergogenic aid, leading to an interest in watermelon given its high citrulline concentration. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a single, pre-exercise dose of l-citrulline, watermelon juice, or a placebo on the total maximum number of repetitions completed over 5 sets, time to exhaustion, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), anaerobic threshold, and flow-mediated vasodilation. A randomised double-blind within-participants study design was used to examine these effects among 22 participants (n = 11 males). Supplementation included either a 7.5% sucrose drink containing 6 g of l-citrulline, 710 mL of watermelon juice (~1.0 g citrulline), or a 7.5% sucrose placebo drink. Supplementation was administered 1 or 2 h before exercise testing to investigate a timing effect. There was no significant effect between the three supplements for the total number of repetitions, time to exhaustion, VO2max, anaerobic threshold, or flow-mediated vasodilation. Ther...
The effects of methylmercury on protein synthesis in rat liver

Summary The increase in levels of liver ribosomes, ribosomal subunits and polyribosomes along with a three-fold increase in the incorporation of labeled amino acids indicates an induction of hepatic protein synthesis in rats treated with methylmercury hydroxide. Subcellular fractionation reveals a three-fold increase in labeling of the rough endoplasmic reticulum over that of the smooth which suggests a different mode of action compared to other xenobiotics.
Adaptive Organic Nanoparticles of a Teflon‐Coated Iron (III) Porphyrin Catalytically Activate Dioxygen for Cyclohexene Oxidation

Self-organized organic nanoparticles (ONP) are adaptive to the environmental reaction conditions. ONP of fluorous alkyl iron(III) porphyrin catalytically oxidize cyclohexene to the allylic oxidation products. In contrast, the solvated metalloporphyrin yields both allylic oxidation and epoxidation products. The ONP system facilitates a greener reaction because about 89% reaction medium is water, molecular oxygen is used in place of synthetic oxidants, and the ambient reaction conditions used require less energy. The enhanced catalytic activity of these ONP is unexpected because the metalloporphyrins in the nanoaggregates are in the close proximity and the TON should diminish by self-oxidative degradation. The fluorous alkyl chain stabilizes the ONP toward self-oxidative degradation.
The role of cortisone-sensitive thymocytes in dna synthetic responses to antigen.

The role of cortisone-sensitive thymocytes in the in vivo DNA synthesis response to antigen was examined by comparing the response of a given number of cortisone-resistant thymocytes, which had been separated from cortisone sensitive cells, to the response of the same number of cortisone-resistant cells in the presence of the cortisone-sensitive cells. The presence of cortisone sensitive cells significantly altered the response. Inocula of unfractionated thymocytes synthesized more DNA in response to a single injection of SRBCs in a GvH reaction than could be accounted for by the response of the cortisone-resistant fractions, indicating that cortisone-sensitive thymocytes can contribute in a positive fashion in response to antigen. However, with certain schedules of hyperimmunization, the response of the unfractionated thymocytes was significantly less than that of the separated cortisone-resistant fraction indicating that cortisone-sensitive cells may also act as ''suppressor'' cells. Multiple injections of SRBC led to marked alterations in the amount of DNA the separated cortisone-resistant cells synthesized without producing much change in the response of unfractionated cell populations. Thus, the presence of cortisone-sensitive cells had a modulating influence on the response of cortisone resistant cells. Modulation by cortisone-sensitive cells was shown in another way. The separated cortisone-resistant fraction of anmore » inoculum of F/sub 1/ thymocyte suppressed the response of parental thymocytes to F/sub 1/ antigens, but failed to do so when cortisone-sensitive F/sub 1/ cells were included in the inoculum. These results indicate that at least some cells within the cortisone-sensitive thymocyte population are not immunologically inert and may play a role in immunoregulation.« less
An Update on Pharmacologic Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Increasingly recognized over the past 20 years, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are heterogeneous. Medication treatments remain fundamentally ameliorative, so prioritizing symptoms and matching medications to the patient's constellation of symptoms remains the psychopharmacologic approach to ASD. Atypical antipsychotic medications and glutamatergic agents are receiving increased attention, and antidepressants are being examined for specific symptoms and for younger patients who have autism. Large multisite networks (Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology; Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment) have been constructed to expedite studies to elucidate effective treatments for ASD. Findings from these networks are coupled with those from recent independent trials.
Peak effect in superconductors: melting of Larkin domains

Motivated by the recent observations of the peak effect in high-Tc YBCO superconductors, we re-examine the origin of this unusual phenomenon. We propose that the sharp peak in the critical current as a function of temperature or magnetic field is an interesting manifestation of vortex-lattice melting in the presence of weak random pinning. Specifically, the rise of the critical current with increasing temperature or field is a result of a crossover from the Larkin pinning length to a length scale set by thermal fluctuations.
Effects of cholesterol and lipoproteins on endocytosis by a monocyte-like cell line

The human monocyte/macrophage-like cell line U937 is a cholesterol auxotroph. Incubation of these cells in the growth medium in which delipidated fetal calf serum has been substituted for fetal calf serum depletes cellular cholesterol and inhibits growth. The cholesterol requirement of these cells for growth can be satisfied by human low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), but not by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). U937 cells can bind and degrade LDL via a high-affinity site and this recognition is altered by acetylation of LDL. This indicates that these cells express relatively high LDL receptor activity and low levels of the acetyl-LDL receptor. The cells were used to study the role of cholesterol in lectin-mediated and fluid-phase endocytosis. Growth of the cells in the medium containing delipidated fetal calf serum results in impairment of both concanavalin A-mediated endocytosis of horseradish peroxidase and concanavalin A-independent endocytosis of Lucifer Yellow. Supplementation of the medium with cholesterol prevents cellular cholesterol depletion, supports growth and stimulates Lucifer Yellow endocytosis but fails to restore horseradish peroxidase endocytosis. However, if the cells are incubated in the presence of no less than 40 micrograms LDL protein/ml to maintain normal cell cholesterol levels, concanavalin A-mediated endocytosis of horseradish peroxidase is activated. The effect of LDL is specific since neither VLDL nor HDL3 at the same protein concentration activates horseradish peroxidase uptake by the cells. Furthermore, the activation of endocytosis by LDL is not inhibited by the inclusion of heparin or acetylation of the LDL indicating that binding of LDL to the LDL receptor is not required for these effects. The mediation of activation of horseradish peroxidase endocytosis by the lectin is presumed to involve binding of LDL to concanavalin A associated with the cell surface which in turn stimulates horseradish peroxidase binding and uptake by adsorptive endocytosis. The rate of fluid endocytosis and endosome formation seems to depend on cellular cholesterol content presumably because cholesterol is involved in maintaining the appropriate plasma membrane structure and fluidity.
An Immunomarking Technique for Labeling Minute Parasitoids

A laboratory study was conducted to examine the efficacy of a novel immunomarking technique on Anaphes iole Girault, a minute parasitoid of Lygus spp. eggs. Adult A. iole were marked with the readily available mammal protein, rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG), by 3 different application methods. Adult parasitoids were marked internally by feeding them a honey solution spiked with rabbit IgG and externally by contact exposure or topical mist. Marked individuals were then assayed using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of the IgG marker using an antibody specific to rabbit IgG (antirabbit IgG developed in goat). Data indicate that the IgG marker was retained throughout the entire adult lifespan in almost (98.9%) every individual parasitoid assayed, regardless of the application method used. The advantages and limitations of using immunomarkers for mark-release-recapture studies involving minute insects are discussed.
What random assignment does and does not do.

Random assignment of patients to comparison groups stochastically tends, with increasing sample size or number of experiment replications, to minimize the confounding of treatment outcome differences by the effects of differences among these groups in unknown/unmeasured patient characteristics. To what degree such confounding is actually avoided we cannot know unless we have validly measured these patient variables, but completely avoiding it is quite unlikely. Even if this confounding were completely avoided, confounding by unmeasured Patient Variable x Treatment Variable interactions remains a possibility. And the causal power of the confounding variables is no less important for internal validity than the degree of confounding.
Factors Influencing Fixed Assets Investments in the U.S. Hospitality Industries

Although investments in fixed assets are important aspects of financial management, there are few studies focusing on this aspect of corporate finance in the hospitality literature. This study investigates factors that affect investment in fixed assets in both the lodging and restaurant industries. Investment in fixed assets for lodging firms was found to be negatively influenced by financial leverage; however, liquidity ratio had a positive relationship to investments. Particularly in the restaurant industry, financial leverage and firm size showed a negative relationship to investment in fixed assets, whereas profitability and liquidity ratios had a significant positive relationship with restaurant investment in fixed assets. Results of this study reemphasize that restaurants, although more profitable than lodging businesses, rely mostly on internal cash flows for their investments.
Interrelation of the urinary trypsin inhibitor to human plasma inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor.

1. Immunological investigations were conducted with specific antisera to the urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) and human plasma trypsin inhibitors. The results indicated that UTI is not interrelated to either α 1 -anti-trypsin or α 2 -macroglobulin, the main plasma trypsin inhibitors. UTI appears to be interrelated with inter- α -trypsin inhibitor (inter- α -TI). The two proteins do not seem to be identical molecules. It was proposed that UTI may constitute an active fragment of inter- α -TI.
Normal-mode splitting with large collective cooperativity

We report the observation of normal-mode splitting of the atom-cavity dressed states in both the fluorescence and transmission spectra for large atom number and observe subnatural linewidths in this regime. We also implement a method of utilizing the normal-mode splitting to observe Rabi oscillations on the $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ ground state hyperfine clock transition. We demonstrate a large collective cooperativity, $C=1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$, which, in combination with large atom number, $N\ensuremath{\sim}2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$, offers the potential to realize an absolute phase sensitivity better than that achieved by state-of-the-art atomic fountain clocks or inertial sensors operating near the quantum projection noise limit.
Altering the Expression Kinetics of VP5 Results in Altered Virulence and Pathogenesis of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Mice

While many herpes simplex virus (HSV) structural proteins are expressed with strict-late kinetics, the HSV virion protein 5 (VP5) is expressed as a "leaky-late" protein, such that appreciable amounts of VP5 are made prior to DNA replication. Our goal has been to determine if leaky-late expression of VP5 is a requirement for a normal HSV infection. It had been shown previously that recombinant viruses in which the VP5 promoter was replaced with promoters of other kinetic classes (including a strict late promoter) exhibited no alterations in replication kinetics or virus yields in vitro. In contrast, here we report that alterations in pathogenesis were observed when these recombinants were analyzed by experimental infection of mice. Following intracranial inoculation, a recombinant expressing VP5 from a strict-late promoter (U(L)38) exhibited an increased 50% lethal dose and a 10-fold decrease in virus yields in the central nervous system, while a recombinant expressing VP5 from an early (dUTPase) or another leaky-late (VP16) promoter exhibited wild-type neurovirulence. Moreover, following infection of the footpad, changing the expression kinetics of VP5 from leaky-late to strict-late resulted in 100-fold-less virus in the spinal ganglia during the acute infection than produced by either the parent virus or the rescued virus. These data indicate that the precise timing of appearance of the major capsid protein plays a role in the pathogenesis of HSV infections and that changing the expression kinetics has different effects in different cell types and tissues.
Mass transport in reverse osmosis in case of variable diffusivity

Abstract This paper analyzes the problem of concentration polarization in reverse osmosis in cases of concentration dependent diffusivity. A numerical solution of the mass transport equation for the laminar flow through two equally permeating, flat, parallel membranes is obtained. Three types of diffusivity-concentration relationships; a linear, an exponential, and a parabolic—and two values of solute rejections are investigated. The decrease in diffusivity with an increase in concentration is found to increase the value of concentration polarization modulus over that obtained in the case of constant diffusivity under the same system conditions. The increment is found to be larger for the case of a stronger diffusivity- concentration relationship and for a larger magnitude of membrane wall concentration. A method is proposed by which the effect of variable diffusivity on the value of concentration polarization modulus can be calculated for a wide range of practical conditions using the existing theoretical results for the case of constant diffusivity.
Encouraging results in the automated recognition of cerebral palsy speech

A method for recognition of nonverbal and motor-disabled persons' speech is presented. Results of application of the recognition procedure to simple utterances by cerebral palsied individuals and implications for an overall communications device for nonverbal, motor-disabled persons is addressed. >
THE SPATIAL AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF TRICHOCORIXA VERTICALIS (HEMIPTERA: CORIXIDAE) IN SALT MARSH INTERTIDAL POOLS

The corixid Trichocorixa verticalis (Fieber) was the most abundant aquatic insect in small intertidal pools (potholes) of a New Jersey salt marsh. Aquatic samples revealed that first to third instars of T. verticalis were evenly distributed but the distribution of fourth and fifth instars was associated with the abundance of chironomid larvae. Aquatic samples of adult T. verticalis showed wide fluctuations in abundance. These fluctuations were associated with the drying up of shallower potholes, forcing adults to migrate to deeper sites that still retained water.Light trapping of adult T. verticalis showed that there was a negative correlation between abundance and nocturnal ambient air temperature. This correlation indicated that T. verticalis dispersed on cooler nights to minimize water loss that would have been high had they emerged from warm pothole water temperatures into warm ambient air temperature. Spatial heterogeneity in the abundance of T. verticalis in light-trap samples was associated with differences between plots in water-surface area within a 100 m radius of the light trap. Dispersive behavior of T. verticalis is discussed in relation to harsh, ephemeral, and unpredictable salt-marsh aquatic habitats.
Prospects and Challenges for the New Partnership for Africa's Development: Addressing Capacity Deficits

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) offers a comprehensive and integrated strategic framework for addressing Africa’s development challenges. It was adopted by the Assembly of African Heads of State and Government of the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), in July 2001, and has been well received by the international community. The United Nations (UN), the G8, the European Union (EU), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), among others, have all endorsed and supported the NEPAD. In fact, the NEPAD framework now forms the basis upon which much of Africa’s donor support is based. Indeed, the work of the Commission for Africa (CFA), established by the UK’s Prime Minister Tony Blair, has as one of its objectives “To support the best existing work on Africa, in particular the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Union, and help ensure this work achieves its goals” (CFA nd:1). Indeed, the CFA Report (2005), entitled Our Common Interest, provides an analytical summary of Africa’s needs and the resource requirements to meet them based on NEPAD priorities (CFA 2005). Moreover, literature is beginning to emerge on the NEPAD, including some criticisms from sceptics and Afro-pessimists. 1 Those critics are echoing a chorus from the same song sheet and, one might add, a seeming desire, that the NEPAD will fail as previous African development initiatives did. This view, though significantly a minority one, should not be allowed to come true. The overwhelming national and international support for the NEPAD must be utilised to good effect in order to regain the momentum for development achievement that is being pursued through moving the NEPAD forward. The NEPAD potentially constitutes the most important advance in African development policy in the past four decades (Hope 2002a). Undoubtedly it is an ambitious programme and represents perhaps one last hope for Africa to reverse its slide into complete marginalisation and irrelevance. In that regard, the major challenges in moving the NEPAD forward need to be recognised and confronted. This paper is concerned with one of those challenges – the problem of capacity deficits. Ownership without capacity must be regarded as meaningless. The existence
Effective communication with primary care providers

Effective communication requires direct interaction between the hospitalist and the primary care provider using a standardized method of information exchange with the opportunity to ask questions and assign accountability for follow-up roles. The discharge summary is part of the process but does not provide the important aspects of handoff, such as closed loop communication and role assignments. Hospital discharge is a significant safety risk for patients, with more than half of discharged patients experiencing at least one error. Hospitalist and primary care providers need to collaborate to develop a standardized system to communicate about shared patients that meets handoff requirements.
Statistically consistent image segmentation

A long studied and important image processing problem is image segmentation. In this paper theoretical properties of some image segmentation methods are investigated. More precisely, we are interested if these methods are statistically consistent, that is, if they can accurately recover the number of segments together with their boundaries in the image as the number of pixels tends to infinity. Major focus is given to the class of methods that is based on the minimum description length principle. A small numerical experiment is conducted to support our theoretical results.