cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bystander Perceptions of Same-Gender Versus Mixed-Gender Rape: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACTAlthough most people’s rape scripts include a male perpetrator and female victim, sexual assault can occur among individuals of any gender. Because events that violate the typical rape script (e.g., same-gender sexual assault) are often overlooked, this pilot study focused on outsider perceptions of same-gender versus mixed-gender rape scenarios in a convenience sample. Participants were randomly assigned to read 1 of 4 hypothetical rape scenarios, which were identical except for the genders of the perpetrator and victim. Participants responded to questions regarding blame attribution, event label, recommended outcome for the perpetrator, likelihood of victim revictimization, and likelihood of perpetrator recidivism. Results indicated that participants who read a scenario depicting a same-gender rape were significantly more likely to label the event as rape and endorsed significantly greater likelihood of perpetrator recidivism than participants who read a mixed-gender scenario. Thus, individuals ...
Implikationen für eine optimale Ausgestaltung des Kreislaufwirtschaftssystems

Zwar ist, wie in Kapitel 6.2 beschrieben, eine mathematische Losung der Gesamtproblemstellung zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt nicht sinnvoll moglich, dennoch lassen sich neben einem umfassenden Systemverstandnis auch ohne mathematische Losung aus den Ergebnissen der einzelnen Teilprobleme einige Implikationen ableiten.
Looking Back at Look AHEAD Through the Lens of Recent Diabetes Outcome Trials

Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes), the largest cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes trial of an intensive lifestyle intervention for weight loss in diabetes mellitus, was stopped on September 14, 2012, on the basis of a futility analysis of its composite primary end point (death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI], nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for angina) and recommendations from the Data and Safety Monitoring Board.1 Its results have been widely interpreted as evidence that weight loss with lifestyle intervention does not confer CVD benefits in patients with diabetes mellitus. In contrast, recent trials of pharmacological antihyperglycemic therapies, EMPA-REG Outcome with empagliflozin (BI 10773 [Empagliflozin] Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients),2 LEADER (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results) with liraglutide,3 and SUSTAIN-6 (Trial to Evaluate Cardiovascular and Other Long-term Outcomes with Semaglutide in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes) with semaglutide,4 demonstrated both weight loss and reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Before concluding that lifestyle modification does not provide cardiovascular benefit in patients with diabetes mellitus, whereas drug therapy does, it is important to examine closely the end points, participants, and interventions in Look AHEAD in comparison with those in the pharmaceutical trials (Table). View this table: Table. EMPA-REG, LEADER, and Look AHEAD: Design, Participants, and Outcomes …
The Brain as a Target Organ of Endocrine Hormones

The endocrine hormones have profound effects on the brain, some permanent, some transient. The gonadal hormones control sexual differentiation, trigger puberty, and regulate adult sexual behavior. ...
Adapting to The Classroom Setting: New Research on Teachers Moving Between Traditional And Computer Classrooms

Following a brief review of key results from an earlier study of teachers who taught the same course in both a computer classroom and a traditional classroom, we discuss the results of a follow-up study of teachers who continue to move between these instructional settings and consider how our results have led us to reshape our teaching-training program. We argue that teacher training should be seen as a critical element shaping the complex interplay among teachers‘ knowledge, experiences, and perceptions as they move among classroom settings.
Considerations for development of therapies for cutaneous neurofibroma

Objective The only therapies currently available for cutaneous neurofibromas (cNF) are procedural. The goals of the Therapies Development Working Group were to (1) summarize currently available treatment options for cNF, (2) define key considerations for drug discovery and development generally, and specifically for cNF, and (3) outline recommendations for the successful development of medical therapies for cNF. Methods The subgroup reviewed published and unpublished data on procedural, drug/device, and medical treatment approaches utilized for cNFs via literature search. The team defined disease- and patient-specific factors to consider for therapies development in a series of consensus meetings. Results The team identified 5 approaches entailing procedural and drug/device methods currently under study. There have been 4 clinical studies exploring various interventional therapies, from which outcomes were highly variable. The team identified 4 key factors to prioritize during the development of products for the treatment for cNF: safety, anatomic distribution of cNF, numbers of tumors to be treated, and route of administration. Conclusions The number, size, and distribution of cNF is highly variable among patients with NF1 and it is possible that different phenotypes will require different drug development paths. The nonfatal nature of the disease and relatively limited patient numbers suggest that for any product to have a higher likelihood of acceptance, it will have to (1) demonstrate an effect that is clinically meaningful, (2) have a safety profile conducive to long-term dosing, and (3) have a low manufacturing cost.
A nonlinear filtering approach for determining hydraulic conductivity functions in field soils

Note: 156: 293-301 Reference EFLUM-ARTICLE-1993-001 Record created on 2005-09-08, modified on 2017-02-23
A Hybrid SN-PN Formulation for Solution of the Boltzmann Transport Equation for Phonons

A generalized form of the Ballistic-Diffusive Equations (BDE) for approximate solution of the Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE) for phonons is formulated. The formulation presented here is new and general in the sense that, unlike previously published formulations of the BDE, it does not require a priori knowledge of the specific heat capacity of the material. Furthermore, it does not introduce artifacts such as media and ballistic temperatures. As a consequence, the boundary conditions have clear physical meaning. In formulating the BDE, the phonon intensity is split into two components: ballistic and diffusive. The ballistic component is traditionally determined using a viewfactor formulation, while the diffusive component is solved by invoking spherical harmonics expansions. Use of the viewfactor approach for the ballistic component is prohibitive for complex large-scale geometries. Instead, in this work, the ballistic equation is solved using two different established methods that are appropriate for use in complex geometries, namely the discrete ordinates method (DOM), and the control angle discrete ordinates method (CADOM). Results of each method for solving the BDE are compared against benchmark Monte Carlo results, as well as solutions of the BTE using standalone DOM and CADOM for a two-dimensional transient heat conduction problem at various Knudsen numbers. It is found that standalone CADOM (for BTE) and hybrid CADOM-P1 (for BDE) yield the best accuracy. The hybrid CADOM-P1 is found to be the best method in terms of computational efficiency.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Grid scheduling divisible loads from multiple sources via linear programming

To date solutions for optimal finish time and job allocation in divisible load theory are largely obtained only for network topologies with a single load originating (root) processor. However in large-scale data intensive problems with geographically distributed resources, load is generated from multiple sources. This paper introduces a new divisible load scheduling strategy for tree networks with two load originating processors. Solutions for an optimal allocation of fraction of loads to nodes in single level tree networks are obtained via linear programming. Performance evaluation of a two source homogeneous single level tree network with concurrent communication strategy is presented.
Forces of Labor: The World Labor Group Database: Conceptualization, Measurement, and Data Collection Procedures

The World Labor Group (WLG) database is one of the key empirical sources used in this book to document world-historical patterns of labor unrest. This database originates in a collective research effort by a group of graduate students and faculty (The World Labor Research Working Group) at the Fernand Braudel Center (Binghamton University) in the 1980s. The outcome of the group's work was published as a special issue of Review – hereafter referred to as “the special issue” (see Silver, Arrighi, and Dubofsky 1995). The present author subsequently expanded and updated the database produced in the first phase of the project. This appendix describes the WLG data collection project including issues of conceptualization, measurement, and data collection procedures (see Silver 1995a in the special issue for a more in-depth treatment of these issues). The next section discusses the conceptualization of labor unrest used by the World Labor Group (see also Chapter 1). The second section discusses measurement issues, the third section discusses data collection procedures, and the fourth section discusses the outcome of various reliability studies. Finally, Appendix B reproduces the data collection instructions used for compiling the WLG database. The Concept of World-Scale Labor Unrest Efforts to gain an adequate picture of the long-term, world-scale patterns of labor unrest face special problems of conceptualization and measurement. Workers' resistance has taken a variety of forms over the space and time of the world economy. While it might at first seem intuitively obvious, the concept of labor unrest as a world-historical phenomenon and how one might go about measuring it are far from obvious.
1292. HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Implementation at Silom Community Clinic in Bangkok, Thailand, 2016–2018

Background Since 2014, the Thailand National Guidelines have recommended pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV among persons at risk. In March 2016, Silom Community Clinic (SCC) began PrEP provision to men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Regulatory control of Sgs1 and Dna2 during eukaryotic DNA end resection.

In the repair of DNA double-strand breaks by homologous recombination, the DNA break ends must first be processed into 3′ single-strand DNA overhangs. In budding yeast, end processing requires the helicase Sgs1 (BLM in humans), the nuclease/helicase Dna2, Top3-Rmi1, and replication protein A (RPA). Here, we use single-molecule imaging to visualize Sgs1-dependent end processing in real-time. We show that Sgs1 is recruited to DNA ends through Top3-Rmi1–dependent or –independent means, and in both cases Sgs1 is maintained in an immoble state at the DNA ends. Importantly, the addition of Dna2 triggers processive Sgs1 translocation, but DNA resection only occurs when RPA is also present. We also demonstrate that the Sgs1–Dna2–Top3-Rmi1–RPA ensemble can efficiently disrupt nucleosomes, and that Sgs1 itself possesses nucleosome remodeling activity. Together, these results shed light on the regulatory interplay among conserved protein factors that mediate the nucleolytic processing of DNA ends in preparation for homologous recombination-mediated chromosome damage repair.
Inadvertent iatrogenic insulin detemir 1000 units overdose in a hospitalised patient.

A 69-year-old woman with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus was admitted in the hospital for the management of urosepsis. Patient was overdosed with detemir insulin 1000 units inadvertently. Care provider was confused with volume and dose of the insulin by using insulin vial. Blood sugars were monitored closely every 30 min–1 hour for 24 hours. Patient was treated with dextrose 5% and 10% continuous infusion; and hydrocortisone 75 mg every 6 hours for 24 hours. The lowest blood sugar reached was 142 mg/dL (7.9 mmo/L). Patient did not develop hypoglycaemia. Proper safety measures and mandatory nurse education about administration of insulin were implemented to prevent future occurrences.
Major Depression and Adverse Patient-Reported Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Results From a Prospective Longitudinal Cohort.

OBJECTIVE Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is reduced in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), partly driven by comorbid depression. Among patients with SLE, the association between major depression and HRQoL, measured using the NIH's Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), is not well characterized. The objective was to determine an association between major depression and HRQoL as measured by PROMIS. METHODS Cross-sectional data were obtained from the California Lupus Epidemiology Study, a cohort of adults in the San Francisco Bay Area with SLE. We studied the association between major depression (score ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 depression scale) and T scores (scaled to population mean ± SD of 50 ± 10) on 12 PROMIS domains representing physical, mental, and social health. Mean T scores in depressed and nondepressed individuals were compared using multiple linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, disease activity, damage, body mass index, and household income. RESULTS Mean age of the 326 participants was 45 years; ~89% were women, 29% White, 23% Hispanic, 10% African American, and 36% Asian. One-fourth met the criteria for major depression. In multivariable analyses, major depression was independently associated with worse T scores on all 12 PROMIS domains (P 10 points (1 SD) worse on fatigue, sleep impairment, negative psychosocial impact of illness, satisfaction in discretionary social activities, and satisfaction in social roles. CONCLUSION In individuals with SLE, major depression is associated with markedly worse PROMIS scores in physical, mental, and social domains. Diagnosing and treating depression may help improve HRQoL in individuals with SLE.
Successful outcome with eculizumab treatment in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome presenting with an unusual thrombotic storm

Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome (CAPS) is a life-threatening complication of APS requiring complex management to optimize patient outcome. We describe a 54-year-old man with APS with history of splanchnic vein thrombosis, a Factor II G20210A heterozygote, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. He developed sudden onset of severe flank pain due to spontaneous bilateral adrenal hemorrhage while on warfarin with a therapeutic INR. Despite unfractionated heparin and initial clinical improvement, severe thrombocytopenia developed requiring dexamethasone, rituximab, and romiplostim. Hospitalization was complicated further by thrombosis of the inferior vena cava, pulmonary embolism, and painful violaceous patches on his neck and ear cartilages. Punch biopsy of lesions revealed C5b-C9 deposition of small vessel thromboses. Although the inciting event for his thrombotic storm remains uncertain, anti-complement therapy with eculizumab provided rapid and durable lesion resolution. Eculizumab was discontinued after 6 months and patient remains in remission without recurrent thrombosis. This case provides insight on the management of CAPS, including the use of eculizumab.
Impulsive stimulated Brillouin spectroscopy for assessing viscoelastic properties of biologically relevant aqueous solutions

Brillouin spectroscopy has recently emerged as a valuable tool for assessing microscopic viscoelastic properties in biological tissues and cells. For many practical biomedical applications, the viscoelastic measurement techniques should be sensitive to low sample concentrations in biological media. In this report, we assess the sensitivity of a recently improved impulsive stimulated Brillouin scattering (ISBS) setup. We explored biologically relevant solutions in distilled water using citric acid, glycine, and sucrose, for which we performed Brillouin measurements. We detailed the peak fitting methodology and analyzed the Brillouin shift and linewidth as a function of concentration. We discuss the sensitivity of the ISBS setup to low concentration measurements and its implications to biological applications.
Divergent Islamic perspectives: yoga through the lens of societal custom

The concept of Islamic legal custom, or ‘urf occupies an important place within the Islamic legal system. Legal custom has been key in shaping localised Islamic interpretations towards cultural pra...
Current concepts in treating mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Impairment in various aspects of cognition is recognized as an important non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mild cognitive impairment in PD (PD-MCI) is common in non-demented PD patients and is often associated with severity of motor symptoms, disease duration and increasing age. Further, PD-MCI can have a significant negative effect on performance of daily life activities and may be a harbinger of development of PD dementia. Thus, there is significant interest in developing therapeutic strategies to ameliorate cognitive deficits in PD and improve cognitive functioning of PD patients. However, due to significant questions that remain regarding the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in PD, remediation of cognitive dysfunction in PD has proven difficult. In this paper, we will focus on PD-MCI and will review some of the current therapeutic approaches being taken to try to improve cognitive functioning in patients with PD-MCI.
Time-to-space conversion of ultrafast optical pulses via spectral nonlinear optics in the 1.5 /spl mu/m band

Summary from only given. Time-to-space conversion enables parallel processing, which maps the serial time-domain input data packet into its spatial replica, and a space-to-time converter following the parallel processor transforms the processed spatial-domain signal back to the corresponding time-domain data. In this work, we emphasize the time-to-space converter as a step towards the full space-time processing system. we report the first spectral nonlinear optics time-to-space converter operating in the 1.5 /spl mu/m optical communications band. The use of second harmonic generation (SHG) as the spectral nonlinear optical process provides ultrafast response.
The log-likelihood gradient for infinite dimensional stochastic systems

Using a covariance operator approach, we derive an explicit expression for the log-likelihood ratio gradient for system parameter estimation for continuous time infinite dimensional stochastic systems. The gradient formula includes the smoother estimates and derivatives of system operators, with no derivatives of estimates or covariance operators. The unbounded operators typically found in partial differential equations place limitations on the expression for the gradient. An example of a random heat equation is considered.
My (Second) Life’s Mission: Landscapes of Virtual Reality Proselytization

Place and faith, bodies and bandwidth, the material and the virtual constitute a vibrant landscape of Christian mission work within the virtual reality world of Second Life. Worship, ministry and missional work are increasingly taking on hybrid forms as traditionally place-based (and locationally discrete) notions such as the church and fellowship are rethought in light of emerging technologies and remediated modes of engagement with religious practice, performance and ideas. Recognizing the huge, growing, and global nature of the online audience, churches and activists of various kinds are increasingly engaging with digital technologies as necessary and cost-effective means to engage believers, mobilize missionaries, and reach potential converts wherever they work and play – including online. I examine a recent iteration of the online proselytization movement: the virtual reality mission. Drawing on ethnographic research with believers, ministers and missionaries within a virtual reality world, I discuss the complex ways in which participants navigate “first life” and Second Life notions of place, faith and the church in pursuit of souls to save (and likeminded individuals for social interaction). Geographical literatures around scale and place suggest a methodological framework in which “virtual” religious places, subjectivities and belief systems are commensurable with and intrinsic to their “real” world counterparts. I proceed by situating the virtual reality mission movement within a broader online missional context. Finally, I move iteratively between case study material and critical geographical scale literatures extant in order to conceptualize place and faith within a virtual reality world.
Clear visibility, starshaped sets, and finitely starlike sets

Let S be an arbitrary nonempty set in Rd. The following results are true for every k, 0⩽k⩽d: the dimension of ker S is at least k if and only if every countable family of boundary points of S is clearly visible from a common k-dimensional neighborhood in S. Similarly, ker S contains a k-dimensional e-neighborhood if and only if every countable family of boundary points of S is clearly visible from a common k-dimensional e-neighborhood in S. In the plane, we have the following results concerning finitely starlike sets: for S an arbitrary nonempty set in R2, S is finitely starlike if every three points of cl S are clearly visible from a common point of S. In case S ⊂−R2 and int cl S∼S=∅, then S is finitely starlike if and only if every three points of S are visible from a common point of S. In each case, the number 3 is best possible.
Pacific region influenza surveillance for oseltamivir resistance

Abstract Background Hawaii and the United States-affiliated Pacific islands (USAPI) host over 8 million travelers annually, most of whom originate in Asia, Australia, and the Americas where prevalence of oseltamivir resistance in 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) has been reported to be 2.5–3.5%. Objective To survey a collection of samples from Hawaii and the USAPI that had tested positive for the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus by RTI-PCR to assess whether antiviral resistance emerged in these island communities during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Study design We examined RNA extracted from Hawaiian and USAPI cases for the neuraminidase H275Y mutation associated with oseltamivir resistance by pyrosequencing. Results Two hundred and sixty-three (263) 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) positive specimens were tested and 263/263 (100%) were shown to lack the mutation most commonly associated with oseltamivir resistance. Conclusions There was no evidence of oseltamivir resistant A(H1N1)pdm09 virus during the 2009 pandemic in the Pacific islands despite considerable travel exposure. Geographic isolation, the lack of a “second wave” of pandemic influenza, judicious antiviral use, aggressive vaccination, and below average tourism due to the global economic crisis may have been contributing factors. Continued surveillance and vigilance is necessary to monitor unpredictable influenza activity.
Supporting research into sound and speech learning through a configurable computer game

Cognitive neuroscientists studying sound and speech learning have successfully used videogames as a research vehicle. Neuroscientists and game developers worked together to produce a game built to entice participants to longer periods of play, while enabling researchers to easily configure presentation parameters in support of future studies. A space-themed game polished through the use of shaders and a radial cannon shooting mechanic is detailed, along with lessons learned from iterative playtesting. A preliminary study indicates the game's effectiveness for implicit learning of sounds. The template by which this game can be tuned to explore language learning is presented, with suggestions for future investigations into the tradeoffs between learning transfer and game appeal.
Rotation of the head of the 30S ribosomal subunit during mRNA translocation

Elongation factor-G–catalyzed translocation of mRNA and tRNAs during protein synthesis involves large-scale conformational changes in the ribosome. Formation of hybrid-state intermediates is coupled to counterclockwise (forward) rotation of the body of the 30S subunit. Recent structural studies implicate intrasubunit rotation of the 30S head in translocation. Here, we observe rotation of the head during translocation in real time using ensemble stopped-flow FRET with ribosomes containing fluorescent probes attached to specific positions in the head and body of the 30S subunit. Our results allow ordering of the rates of movement of the 30S subunit body and head during translocation: body forward > head forward > head reverse ≥ body reverse. The rate of quenching of pyrene-labeled mRNA is consistent with coupling of mRNA translocation to head rotation.
Reliability enhancement of electronic packages by design of optimal parameters

Abstract Reliability growth testing involves the selection of optimal design parameters to enhance a product's reliability. This paper proposes a split plot experimental design that accommodates the restriction on randomization on the order of experimental runs caused by the experimental nature of accelerated reliability testing. The proposed experimental design provides statistically relevant solutions about the choice of design parameters, in terms of their reliability impact, in a much shorter time. A degradation model that aids in predicting the failure time for the given problem further supplements this discussion.
Ultrastructure of mature oogonium-oospore wall complexes in Phytophthora megasperma: a comparison of in vivo and in vitro dissolution of the oospore wall.

The ultrastructural architecture of the oospore-oogonium walls of Phytophthora megasperma was studied in the soybean (f. sp. glycinea ) and alfalfa (f. sp. medicaginis ) isolates with the major objective of elucidating changes that occur during oospore germination. For comparison, ultrastructural changes in isolated oogonium-oospore walls brought about by digestion with various β-glucanases were also examined. Major emphasis was placed on determining the structure of the conspicuous inner oospore wall (IOW). This thick (2–3 μm) layer showed little staining by any of the procedures used, including staining for polysaccharides by the Thiery procedure. There were only minor differences in electron density across the IOW. Observations on sections of whole oospores and mechanically fractured, or partially digested, walls indicated that the IOW contains microfibrils embedded in an amorphous matrix which tend to be oriented parallel to the plasma membrane. During oospore germination, the IOW is extensively eroded in a characteristic ‘scallop’ pattern that creates numerous cavities separated by radial strands of undigested wall. The electron dense outer oospore wall (OOW) remained intact and unaltered and probably confines the activity of the wall digesting enzymes to the IOW. In the digested cavities, removal of the wall matrix exposed the network of underlying microfibrils together with some electron dense globular material. Treatment of isolated oogonium-oospore walls with exo-β-1,3 glucanase or a mixture of endo-β-1,3-glucanases caused substantial digestion of the oogonium wall matrix and the IOW. Following enzymatic digestion, both the IOW and, in particular, the oogonium walls showed greater reactivity with the Thiery procedure. The observed patterns of wall digestion indicate that the amorphous β-1,3-glucan component of the IOW is extensively consumed during germination and is probably the main supply of carbon and energy for germination. No evidence of a pre-formed germination wall layer in the oospore was found. As the innermost layers of the oospore wall became digested, a new wall was produced internal to the IOW.
Use of Medicare claims data to measure county-level variations in the incidence of colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Population-based cancer registries that can be used to compare cancer incidence and mortality across regions of the U.S. are currently lacking. The authors conducted this study to validate Medicare claims as a measure of county-level colorectal carcinoma incidence among older Americans. Variations found among counties are described in this article. METHODS A total of 183,174 hospitalized patients age 65 years in 1991-1993 with newly diagnosed colorectal carcinoma who resided in one of 480 large counties were identified in Medicare files. The county-level truncated age, race, and gender adjusted incidence rates for the population age 65 years, the proportion of patients with a code indicating distant metastases, and the 2-year case-fatality rates were determined. Corresponding rates from the SEER database were compared. RESULTS The median truncated adjusted 3-year incidence rate was 870 per 100,000 (Quartile 1-Quartile 3, 779-955), with almost twofold differences among counties even after the exclusion of outliers. The median proportion of patients with codes indicating distant metastases was 23.4% (range, 10.2-46.9%; Quartile 1-Quartile 3, 20.8-25.8), and the average 2-year case-fatality rate was 39.2% (range, 26.5-51.4%; Quartile 1-Quartile 3, 37.0-41.6). Medicare files tended to underestimate the truncated incidence rate according to SEER, but among counties the two sets of rates were closely correlated (r = 0.94, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Medicare files are a potential alternative source of national data for the study of colorectal carcinoma incidence among the elderly at the county level. The data also suggest significant variations among counties in colorectal carcinoma incidence, stage, and mortality that could be used in public health initiatives. Cancer 1998;83:673-678. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Amphiphilic binding site of ethanol in reversed lipid micelles

Proton and phosphorous NMR spectroscopy were used to study a model membrane system consisting of reversed lipid micelles to test the hypothesis that alcohol and anesthetics compete with water for the same hydrogen bonding sites on lipid surfaces. When low concentrations of water and ethanol were added in equal parts in the absence of lipid and nonpolar solvent, the NMR spectrum consisted of a combination of all water and ethanol peaks, except for the ethanol OH peak. Compared with pure water, the bulk water peak became broader and shifted downfield to 5.1. In reversed micelles made of water, DPPC, and nonpolar solvent, the addition of ethanol caused a conspicuous upfield shift of the bulk water peak and also broadened and decreased its height. This effect was magnified as ethanol concentration increased, indicating that alcohol alters the organization of water and moves water protons into a new domain where nearby atoms are more able to shield water protons. Water shifted the P-31 resonant frequency of DPPC downfield, and the effect magnitude varied with water concentration. Ethanol did not cause such a shift, suggesting that only water was interacting in the phosphorous region. Two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect (NOESY) spectroscopy indicated that the ethanol methylene is adjacent to the methylene next to the carbonyl of the DPPC fatty acid moiety, at least in some configurations. Interaction at this point is also indicated by the transformation from an apparent pentet to a doublet of triplets at certain ethanol/water ratios.
Enhancing Perceptual Learning by Combining Practice with Periods of Additional Sensory Stimulation

Perceptual skills can be improved even in adulthood, but this learning seldom occurs by stimulus exposure alone. Instead, it requires considerable practice performing a perceptual task with relevant stimuli. It is thought that task performance permits the stimuli to drive learning. A corresponding assumption is that the same stimuli do not contribute to improvement when encountered separately from relevant task performance because of the absence of this permissive signal. However, these ideas are based on only two types of studies, in which the task was either always performed or not performed at all. Here we demonstrate enhanced perceptual learning on an auditory frequency-discrimination task in human listeners when practice on that target task was combined with additional stimulation. Learning was enhanced regardless of whether the periods of additional stimulation were interleaved with or provided exclusively before or after target-task performance, and even though that stimulation occurred during the performance of an irrelevant (auditory or written) task. The additional exposures were only beneficial when they shared the same frequency with, though they did not need to be identical to, those used during target-task performance. Their effectiveness also was diminished when they were presented 15 min after practice on the target task and was eliminated when that separation was increased to 4 h. These data show that exposure to an acoustic stimulus can facilitate learning when encountered outside of the time of practice on a perceptual task. By properly using additional stimulation one may markedly improve the efficiency of perceptual training regimens.
Thymus‐specific deletion of insulin induces autoimmune diabetes

Insulin expression in the thymus has been implicated in regulating the negative selection of autoreactive T cells and in mediating the central immune tolerance towards pancreatic β-cells. To further explore the function of this ectopic insulin expression, we knocked out the mouse Ins2 gene specifically in the Aire-expressing medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), without affecting its expression in the β-cells. When further crossed to the Ins1 knockout background, both male and female pups (designated as ID-TEC mice for insulin-deleted mTEC) developed diabetes spontaneously around 3 weeks after birth. β-cell-specific autoimmune destruction was observed, as well as islet-specific T cell infiltration. The presence of insulin-specific effector T cells was shown using ELISPOT assays and adoptive T cell transfer experiments. Results from thymus transplantation experiments proved further that depletion of Ins2 expression in mTECs was sufficient to break central tolerance and induce anti-insulin autoimmunity. Our observations may explain the rare cases of type 1 diabetes onset in very young children carrying diabetes-resistant HLA class II alleles. ID-TEC mice could serve as a new model for studying this pathology.
Generation and characterization of human kidney cell lines stably expressing recombinant human PTH/PTHrP receptor: lack of interaction with a C-terminal human PTH peptide.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) exerts its biological action by binding to membrane-bound, G-protein coupled receptors expressed predominantly in bone and kidney. In this study, we describe the production and characterization of a panel of cell lines, derived from a human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293), each of which stably express different amounts of the recombinant human PTH/parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) receptor (Rc). A total of 52 distinct clones displaying different levels of PTH-responsive cAMP production were analyzed; three clones were chosen for more detailed evaluation. These clones (and the receptor-lacking parental cell line) were examined for PTH binding, PTH-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and PTH/PTHrP Rc mRNA expression. Receptor-positive clones display a spectrum of PTH-responsiveness that correlates with receptor number/cell and level of receptor mRNA present. The interaction of a C-terminal hPTH-(52-84) peptide with the stably expressed human receptor was examined in c...
Bouguer gravity in northeastern Georgia: A buried suture, a surface suture, and granites

A Bouguer gravity map of an area of northeastern Georgia encompassing parts of the Inner Piedmont, Charlotte belt, and Carolina Slate belt has been constructed from gravity stations spaced ∼2 km apart. Anomalies in the Charlotte–Carolina Slate belts are due to metamorphosed mafic rocks in the upper crust (depth extent
The Concept of Statutory Law in EU Perspective

The current meaning of the political concept of law is the result of a long and complex historical evolution. The underlying premise is that law does not always follow the development of democratic values. On the contrary, the political datum of the central role of law is constant in the system of the sources of the right of the state, as law is usually the most important source. Thus, our reflection must look for the political roots of the centrality of the law in contemporary legal systems. We must understand why the doctrines of constitutionalism have assigned to the centrality of the law a role and meaning of fundamental instrument for the democratic construction of the state’s legal system. In order to narrow the scope of our analysis, I would start from the liberal state of the nineteenth century. Therefore, I avoid confronting, for example, the study of the concept of law according to the historical-political doctrines of voluntarism (Volontarismo), or the study of the ethical-religious foundations of law—theories that we still find applied today in both totalitarian and theocratic systems. In different contexts, the law can find its foundation in institutional pluralism,
Jackson techniques for elementary data processing

Although useful in solving elementary data processing problems, the program design techniques of M. A. Jackson are virtually unknown in elementary courses. The basic principles of Jackson's techniques are introduced and used to solve two common elementary data processing problems.
Determination of beryllium, cadmium, and tellurium in animal tissues using electronically excited oxygen and atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

A method using electronically excited oxygen for the destruction of organic matter and atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the determination of beryllium, cadmium, and tellurium in animal tissues is presented. Samples are solubilized in dilute aqua regia after being subjected to an oxygen plasma, low-temperature (<190°C) ashing system for 20 to 30 hours. Recovery data from spiked NBS freeze-dried bovine liver indicate a quantitative determination for the three elements. Limits of detection in micrograms of element per milliliter of solubilized sample solution are: beryllium, 0.05; cadmium 0.05; and tellurium, 0.50. Beryllium, cadmium, and tellurium assay data are reported for the fresh tissues of albino rats exposed to inorganic chemicals by oral or intraperitoneal routes. The tissues analyzed include: adrenal, brain, femur, heart, kidney, liver, lung, mesenteric lymph node, pancreas, prostate, seminal vesicle, spleen, testicle, and tracheal-bronchial lymph node.
Anodic Polarization Studies on Soft Iron in Some Concentrated Salt Solutions

MOST development efforts1 in electrochemical machining (ECM) research have been expended in attempts to improve the poor dimensional control of NaCl electrolytes. By studying the rate of removal of metal in several electrolytes, LaBoda and McMillan2 reported that NaClO3 electrolytes possess excellent ECM properties. Rates of metal removal were obtained as high as 0.001 in./s for a hardened Carpenter Ni-Cr steel with a Rockwell hardness of 60C, and the finish of the machined surface measured from 1–5 µin.
Developmental alterations in RNA synthesis in isolated mouse brain nucleoli.

Abstract The present investigation involved the development of an in vitro assay for monitoring RNA synthesis in nucleoli isolated from mouse neural tissue. Optimal incorporation of [ 3 H]GMP into RNA was found to be dependent on the presence of both a divalent and monovalent cation. The pH optimum for nucleolar polymerase activity was 8.0. The dependence of incorporation on the presence of all four ribonucleoside triphosphates and a DNA template suggested that the uptake of [ 3 H]-GMP was into RNA and not into homopolymer formation. Sensitivity of the labelled product to ribonuclease and its resistance to deoxyribonuclease provided conclusive evidence that the radioactive precursor was being incorporated into RNA. The development of an in vitro assay for measuring RNA polymerization in isolated mouse brain nucleoli allowed for the assessment of maturation-dependent alterations in nucleolar polymerase activity. Brain nucleolar RNA synthesis was observed to undergo a 3- to 4-fold increase during the first 17 days of postnatal development followed by a decrease to a basal level by 30 days of age. Nucleoli isolated from adult neural tissue had essentially the same activity as that of the 30-day-old animal. The lack of sensitivity of nucleolar incorporation to α-amanitin, a potent inhibitor of nucleoplasmic polymerase II, suggested that the nucleolar polymerase was primarily responsible for the RNA metabolism measured and that differential contamination by nucleoplasmic polymerases was minimal with preparations isolated from all aged animals.
Determination of doneness of beef steaks using fuzzy pattern recognition

Abstract The c -means and k -nearest neighbor algorithms of pattern recognition were used as methods of determining the degree of doneness of beef ribeye steaks. For each method, an approach employing the theory of fuzzy sets was used in addition to the traditional crisp approach. Steaks were heat processed to various degrees of doneness. The red, green and blue components of the steak images were acquired using a digital image processing system. Values were then converted to the hue, intensity and saturation. The use of the mean and standard deviation of these six values as features was investigated. The means of the red, intensity and saturation and the standard deviation of the red were found to be of most value as features for the classification techniques investigated.
Decomposition studies and addition reactions of triphenyltin hydride

Abstract In octane, benzene or ethyl alcohol solution, at 80–120°, triphenyltin hydride decomposes by a free radical mechanism. Hexaphenylditin and tetraphenyltin are the principal products obtained. The decomposition is accelerated by oxygen, free radical catalysts and by products formed when triphenyltin hydride solutions are aged in air for several days at room temperature. The decomposition reaction is retarded by the addition of anti-oxidants or by removal of air from the system. The addition of triphenyltin hydride to olefins also proceeds via a free radical mechanism. Additions to several α-olefins are described. Hydroquinone and the methyl ether of hydroquinone retard the addition reaction. Attempts to add triphenyltin hydride to cyclic olefins were not successful.
Residual stress and mechanical property measurements in amorphous Si photovoltaic thin films

Abstract The mechanical reliability and efficiency of thin film photovoltaics attached to structural members depends on the initial state of residual stresses in the films. In this work, predictions for the mechanical and functional failure of photovoltaic films co-cured with carbon fiber composite laminates were made possible by quantifying the mean and gradient residual stresses and the failure properties of the individual layers in thin film inorganic photovoltaics consisting of an amorphous silicon (Si) p – n junction diode, a zinc oxide (ZnO) Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) layer (each 1 μm thick), a Kapton™ layer, and a thick aluminum substrate. The mean residual stresses (−466 ± 118) MPa in the Si monolayer and the Si/ZnO bilayer (−661 ± 93) MPa were calculated from the geometrical details of straight and telephone cord type buckling delaminations induced to the p – n junction layer and its combination with the TCO layer, respectively. Curvature measurements provided the residual stress gradient of the Si monolayer as 274 ± 20 MPa/μm and the stress gradient profile in the Si/ZnO bilayer. The tensile strength of freestanding amorphous Si monolayer and Si/ZnO bilayer strips was measured as 425 ± 75 MPa and 109 ± 23 MPa, respectively. These microscale tension experiments also showed that there is weak adhesion between the Si and the mechanically weak ZnO layers. The aforementioned experimental results were employed to predict the onset of fragmentation of the ZnO layer and the initiation of functional degradation of the photovoltaic films that were co-cured with 0° carbon fiber composite laminates, at 0.3% and 0.9% applied strain, respectively, which was in very good agreement with experimental measurements at the composite level.
Induction of multiclass multifeature split decision trees from distributed data

The decision tree-based classification is a popular approach for pattern recognition and data mining. Most decision tree induction methods assume training data being present at one central location. Given the growth in distributed databases at geographically dispersed locations, the methods for decision tree induction in distributed settings are gaining importance. This paper describes one such method that generates compact trees using multifeature splits in place of single feature split decision trees generated by most existing methods for distributed data. Our method is based on Fisher's linear discriminant function, and is capable of dealing with multiple classes in the data. For homogeneously distributed data, the decision trees produced by our method are identical to decision trees generated using Fisher's linear discriminant function with centrally stored data. For heterogeneously distributed data, a certain approximation is involved with a small change in performance with respect to the tree generated with centrally stored data. Experimental results for several well-known datasets are presented and compared with decision trees generated using Fisher's linear discriminant function with centrally stored data.
Home Range of Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus in a Colorado Ponderosa Pine Community

Ecological literature of the past decade or more has indicated the value of home range information with respect to life history studies, control problems, and the estimation of small mammal populations. Nevertheless, in 1949 a review of the literature revealed little or no information of this sort available for mice in northern Colorado. This fact led to an attempt to determine the home range of several species of mice near Boulder, Colorado, during the spring and summer of 1950. The undertaking included a study of the home range of the whitefooted mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus, in an area at the northeast end of Pennsylvania Gulch, approximately one-fourth mile southwest of Sunset, Boulder County, Colorado. The results of the work in Pennsylvania Gulch are herein reported. Suggestions stemming from home range studies in other parts of the country proved helpful in organizing the present investigation. These included the work of Blair (1940, 1941, 1942) and Burt (1940, 1943) in Michigan, Hamilton (1937) in New York, and Stickel (1949) in Texas, to mention only a few. The techniques used by these people were all fundamentally the same, namely, the live-trapping, marking, releasing, and the subsequent recapture of the animals studied. The data obtained in this manner were used in a variety of ways to give home range figures. That the methods used were subject to criticism was pointed out by Mohr (1947) and Hayne (1949). The latter suggested that in the usual procedure, wherein an area was covered by a grid of live-traps in which the animals studied were captured over and over again, traps set near the home site might interfere with an animal's normal activity and reveal a home range much smaller than it actually was. The technique adopted for the present study derived from this criticism.