cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of lactation strategy on physiological development of juvenile marine mammals: implications for the transition to independent foraging

Abstract Lactating marine mammals provision their offspring either by providing large amounts of lipid-rich milk over a short period during which females fast (capital provisioning), or smaller amounts of less energetically dense milk over an extended period during which females forage (income provisioning). While it has long been recognized that these two strategies carry different costs for the female, the effect of these two strategies on the physiological status of newly weaned pups has rarely been considered. Recent comparative studies on the development of diving capacity, as assessed by measuring total body oxygen stores, have demonstrated that the provisioning strategy does affect pup development. Phocid pups, which grow rapidly during their brief nursing period undergo a strong post-parturition anemia and are weaned with relatively immature oxygen stores, possibly due to limited iron intake. Otariid pups, which grow at a slower pace over a longer period, are weaned with body oxygen stores that are significantly more mature. This suggests that newly independent phocid pups must quickly develop foraging skills in order to acquire the nutrients necessary to mature physiologically. In contrast, newly weaned otariids have more mature oxygen stores, and may have previous foraging experience, which may allow for increased behavioral flexibility.
From the attic of theAmerican Journal of Sociology: Unusual contributions to American sociology, 1895–1935

This study examines articles published in theAmerican Journal of Sociology (AJS) from its inception in 1895 through 1935 in a search for contributions that have escaped the attention of most contemporary sociologists. The articles reviewed here provide a glimpse of a less well-known, and sometimes more unseemly, side of American sociological history. My primary focus is on the criticism of the emergent discipline, the extraordinary diversity of thought found in the earlyAJS, and antiquated or prescient ideas, particularly in the fields of deviance, race, and gender.
Cognitive and emotional facets of test anxiety in African American school children

This study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to investigate whether test anxiety (TA) can be conceptualised as a bidimensional construct consisting of cognitive and emotional facets in 152 African American school children, ages 8 to 13 years, M=9.98 years (SD=1.13 years); 54% girls. A two-factor model was determined a priori by classifying items from the Test Anxiety Scale for Children (TASC; Sarason, Davidson, Lighthall, Waite, & Ruebush, 1960) as either “Cognitive” or “Emotional” as determined by independent raters. Results demonstrated distinct cognitive and emotional facets of TA can be meaningfully captured in African American school children. Results also demonstrated African American girls had higher mean scores than African American boys on both the Cognitive and Emotional factors specified by the TASC in the CFA model. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed with respect to the nature of TA in African American school children.
Natural History of Nonoperated, Significant Carotid Stenosis

One-hundred sixty-seven patients with 190 carotid arteries (109 asymptomatic) demonstrating 50-99% stenosis by arteriography (80), duplex scanning, or other noninvasive techniques were followed from 1-84 months (mean 24.2) for evidence of brain infarct, transient ischemic attacks, or vertebrobasilar symptoms. Thirty-nine arteries (20.5%) were symptomatic at last follow-up, including 13 (6.8%) producing ipsilateral strokes. Twenty-eight sides underwent carotid endarterectomy, 16 for symptomatic lesions at a mean interval of 14.5 months after the initial diagnostic study, with no neurologic deficit. Twenty-seven patients (16.2%) died, eight from stroke (30%), and 12 from cardiac causes (44%). In initially symptomatic sides, the incidence of any subsequent neurologic event (28.7%) or stroke/transient ischemic attack (25%) was significantly greater than in asymptomatic arteries (14.6% and 12%, respectively) (p less than .05). Carotid arteries with greater than 80% stenosis by arteriography and duplex scanning had a 46% incidence of further symptoms and 41.6% stroke/transient ischemic attack rate compared to 19.6% and 15%, respectively, in arteries with less than 80% stenosis (p less than .01). Cumulative life table analysis at 12, 24 and 36 months showed greater than 80% stenosed arteries to have stroke/transient ischemic attack free rates of 69%, 50.5%, and 21.6% compared to 91%, 83.7%, and 76% for arteries with less than 80% stenosis (p less than .05). At a mean follow-up of over two years, nonoperated carotid stenosis (greater than 50%) carries a 20.5% risk of neurologic symptoms and a 6.8% risk of stroke, 61.5% of strokes being fatal. Symptomatic carotid stenosis had a significantly greater incidence of ensuing neurologic events than asymptomatic arteries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Race and place: The ecology of racial profiling African American motorists

We propose an ecological dimension to racial profiling by comparing the distribution of drivers on the roadways with officers' proactive surveillance and stop behavior in a predominantly white suburban community bordering a predominantly African American community. African Americans are subject to significant racial profiling, as reflected in disproportionate surveillance and stopping by the police when driving through whiter areas. Officers' behavior is not explained by African Americans' criminality because the “hit rates” for African American drivers are lower in white areas. Profiling is sensitive to race and place and manifests itself organizationally, reflecting community patterns of residential segregation.
A one-fluid model of superfluids

Abstract A phenomenological macroscopic one-fluid description of a classical superfluid is presented which is completely equivalent to Landau's two-fluid model in the limit of small departures from equilibrium. The one-fluid model described here is a special case of the “extended hydrodynamic” theories in which the heat-flux vector and stress tensor become dynamical variables. The dynamics of the heat-flux in our model replaces the dynamics of the superfluid component in the two-fluid model. Like Landau's two- fluid model, our model contains undetermined equations of state that must be fixed by experiment or by calculations based in microphysics. The one-fluid model presented here generalizes the one-fluid model of Greco and Muller by allowing an equation of state that is compatible with the observed temperature dependence of the sound velocities in superfluid 4 He, and by including the effects of viscosity.
Short-range RNA-RNA crosslinking methods to determine rRNA structure and interactions.

We describe details of procedures to analyze RNA-RNA crosslinks made by far-UV irradiation (< 300 nm) or made by irradiation with near-UV light (320-365 nm) on RNA containing photosensitive nucleotides, in the present case containing 4-thiouridine. Zero-length crosslinks of these types must occur because of the close proximity of the participants through either specific interactions or transient contacts in the folded RNA structure, so they are valuable monitors of the conformation of the RNA. Procedures to produce crosslinks in the 16S ribosomal RNA and between the 16S rRNA and mRNA or tRNA are described. Gel electrophoresis conditions are described that separate the products according to their structure to allow the determination of the number and frequency of the crosslinking products. Gel electrophoresis together with an ultracentrifugation procedure for the efficient recovery of RNA from the polyacrylamide gels allows the purification of molecules containing different crosslinks. These separation techniques allow the analysis of the sites of crosslinking by primer extension and RNA sequencing techniques. The procedures are applicable to other types of RNA molecules with some differences to control levels of crosslinking and separation conditions.
Epireflection operators vs perfect morphisms and closed classes of epimorphisms

Operators are defined that yield basic Galois closure operations for almost every category. These give rise to a new and more general approach for characterization of epireflective subcategories, and construction of epireflective hulls. As a by-product, satisfactory characterizations of classes of perfect morphisms and ω-extendable epimorphisms are obtained. Detailed proofs and examples will appear elsewhere.
Symposium VI: Calcium Homeostasis in Cardiac Myocytes: β‐Adrenergic Stimulation Modulation of Heart Rate via Synchronization of Ryanodine Receptor Ca2+ Release

A robust "fight or flight response", largely mediated via acute beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) stimulation to the heart to increase its beating rate and contractile performance, is an essential component of the vertebrate survival instinct. While it has long been recognized that activation of beta-AR increases the spontaneous beating rate of sinoatrial nodal cells (SANC), specific links between stimulation of beta-ARs and the resultant increase in firing rate have not been evaluated. Our recent studies employed imaging of subcellular Ca2+ release coupled with recording of membrane potential or current in single, isolated cardiac SANC, to seek novel links between beta-AR stimulation and ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release and heart rate. An overview of these recent results, which provides novel insights into mechanisms of cardiac reserve that underlie the "fight or flight instinct, is presented here.
Molecular mechanisms of memory reconsolidation

Memory reconsolidation has been argued to be a distinct process that serves to maintain, strengthen or modify memories. Specifically, the retrieval of a previously consolidated memory has been hypothesized to induce an additional activity-dependent labile period during which the memory can be modified. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of reconsolidation could provide crucial insights into the dynamic aspects of normal mnemonic function and psychiatric disorders that are characterized by exceptionally strong and salient emotional memories.
Electric field-induced inhibition of electrogenic pumping in Nitella: Analysis for transmembrane potential hypo- and hyperpolarization effects

Abstract Giant internodal cells (∼2–3 cm long) of the Characean alga Nitella clavata were exposed longitudinally to 60 Hz or direct current (d.c.) electric fields (EFs) ranging from 0 to 600 V/m or 0 to 200 V/m, respectively, and scored for membrane banding activity (i.e. the number and location of inhibited and active alkaline bands, which are macroscopically discernible by use of an indicator solution during exposure/sham exposure). Alkaline banding activity decreased with increasing 60 Hz EF strength, thus supporting the hypothesis that effects are proportional to an induced transmembrane potential. Application of d.c. fields likewise decreased alkaline banding activity with increasing EF strength, with the maximum effect near the ends of the cell. Because the d.c. fields were unidirectional, it was possible to analyze the results with respect to the polarity of the induced membrane potential changes. The decrease in banding activity was greater for d.c. EF-induced transmembrane potential hyperpolarizations than for similar transmembrane potential hypopolarizations. Additionally, bands which had been inactivated by the d.c. EF-induced hyperpolarizing membrane potentials could be reactivated by imposition of a d.c. EF-induced hypopolarizing membrane potential.
Variations in the chemical composition of illite from five geothermal fields: a possible geothermometer

Previous attempts to use illite as a geothermometer have failed: no general relation between the mineral’s chemical composition and temperature of crystallization has been found. Here, chemical compositions of 27 illite samples from five different geothermal fields (the data on four of which were drawn from the literature) were compared with their crystallization temperatures. As previously reported by Cathelineau (1988), the K content was found to be the only variable yielding a suitable correlation, but only when applied to one geothermal field; when various geothermal systems were considered, the correlation weakened considerably. Introduction of a correction algorithm to the K content of the illite has made it possible to draw a single line to fit the data from all the studied samples, yielding a good correlation coefficient ( r = 0.84).
Individual Differences in Sensation Seeking and Sexual Behavior: Implications for Communication Intervention for HIV/AIDS Prevention Among College Students

Planners of HIV-AIDS-prevention interventions for college students are faced with the fact that increased knowledge about AIDS and favorable attitudes toward safer sex fail to lead to increases in efficacious AIDS-prevention behav- ior (i.e., condom use). Thus, alternative predictors of prevention behavior are sought. Our study is based on the premise that individual differences in the predisposition for sensation seeking may account for the failure of the college population to enact safer sex practices. Results of a survey of 315 college students show that, although sensation seeking is related to unsafe sexual behavior, specifically to the number of partners in one's sexual history, it is related to condom use only in a limited way. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for designing and implementing communication campaigns for the purpose of HIV-AIDS prevention.
Surface-roughness considerations for atmospheric correction of ocean color sensors. II: Error in the retrieved water-leaving radiance

In the algorithm for the atmospheric correction of coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) imagery, it is assumed that the sea surface is flat. Simulations are carried out to assess the error incurred when the CZCS-type algorithm is applied to a realistic ocean in which the surface is roughened by the wind. In situations where there is no direct Sun glitter (either a large solar zenith angle or the sensor tilted away from the specular image of the Sun), the following conclusions appear justified: (1) the error induced by ignoring the surface roughness is less, similar1 CZCS digital count for wind speeds up to approximately 17 m/s, and therefore can be ignored for this sensor; (2) the roughness-induced error is much more strongly dependent on the wind speed than on the wave shadowing, suggesting that surface effects can be adequately dealt with without precise knowledge of the shadowing; and (3) the error induced by ignoring the Rayleigh-aerosol interaction is usually larger than that caused by ignoring the surface roughness, suggesting that in refining algorithms for future sensors more effort should be placed on dealing with the Rayleigh-aerosol interaction than on the roughness of the sea surface.
Water balance in the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) compared with five common native ant species from southern California

Abstract Little attention has been given to the effect of physiological limitations on the ability of introduced species to invade ecological communities. In the present study, the water balance of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is compared with five common ant species native to southern California. Total and critical water contents are measured, as well as rates of water loss and survival times. The results show that the body size of ant species has a strong effect on water balance, explaining between 99% of total and 90% of critical water content (i.e. the amount of water remaining when the ant becomes moribund). The measured survival times at 40 °C and approximately 0% relative humidity are shorter for L. humile than for the other five native ant species. The area-independent water-loss rate is higher for L. humile than for the other native ant species studied. This finding is corroborated by independent data using two different methods (i.e. gravimetric measurement and open-flow respirometry). Somewhat surprisingly, significant differences in the water-loss rates of different sizes of Solenopsis xyloni workers are found, even after adjusting for surface area. The area-independent water-loss rate is significantly lower for larger than for smaller workers. Consistent with circumstantial evidence from the field, the results suggest that the physiological constraints of invasive species, such as water-loss rates and critical water content, can limit their distribution and abundance not only at regional scales, but also at fine scales.
Multiple electrosensory maps in the medulla of weakly electric gymnotiform fish. I. Physiological differences.

Both wave- and pulse-type species of weakly electric gymnotiform fish have 3 topographic maps of electroreceptive information in the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL). These maps receive identical input from trifurcating axons of phase- and amplitude-coding primary afferents (Carr et al., 1982; Heiligenberg and Dye, 1982). Physiological experiments in the ELL of the wave-type fish Eigenmannia show that the amplitude-coding pyramidal cells differ among maps with respect to receptive field size, sensitivity, rate of adaptation, and temporal-frequency response (Shumway, 1989). This study investigated morphological correlates of the physiological differences among maps. Estimates of primary afferent convergence in Eigenmannia, based on map size, cell counts, and areas of terminal fields from intracellularly filled P-type primary afferents, suggest a 2-fold increase in convergence in the lateral map relative to the centromedial map. Similar differences in convergence between maps are found in the wave- type species Apteronotus leptorhynchus and the pulse-type fish Hypopomus occidentalis. The lateral and centrolateral maps in Hypopomus, however, show an even greater difference in convergence. Comparison of the efferent projections of pyramidal cells among the different maps of Eigenmannia indicates that cells from the 3 maps terminate in the same laminae of the torus semicircularis, but the maps differ in the strength of projection to particular laminae. In both wave-type species, the abundance of a class of interneurons which receives descending input and inhibits pyramidal cells (interneurons of the ventral molecular layer) differs among maps; the centromedial map has 10 times fewer neurons of this type than the other 2 maps. Cytochrome oxidase studies in all 3 species demonstrated increased levels of activity in the lateral map, within the region receiving descending input from the cerebellum. These results suggest that the primary anatomical bases of the physiological differences among maps are differences in the amount of primary afferent convergence, coupled with differences in descending input.
A hybrid technique to enhance the performance of recurrent neural networks for time series prediction

The recurrent neural networks trained by the real time recurrent learning (RTRL) algorithm is used for time series prediction. When there is a strong nonlinear relationship connecting the adjacent samples of the time series which the network is trying to predict, the prediction performance of the network deteriorates. A scheme is proposed to overcome this drawback. This scheme incorporates cascade-correlation into the recurrent network learning after the network has been trained using RTRL. Fahlman's quickprop algorithm is incorporated into the RTRL learning to make the network converge faster. Simulation results with the above enhancements are presented. The improvement in the prediction performance is found to be considerable. >
Graduate Student Library Research Skills: Is Online Instruction Effective?.

Graduate students are a significant segment in online instruction programs, yet little is known about how well they learn the necessary library research skills in this increasingly popular mode of distance learning. This pre- and posttest study and citation analysis examined learning and confidence among students in graduate education programs, comparing students studying online tutorials, delivered via a course management system, with students receiving hands-on classroom instruction. Results support online information literacy instruction as equivalent in terms of learning. Student feedback, however, showed a statistically significant difference between groups in student satisfaction, with the face-to-face group being more satisfied.
Design and evaluation of a novel antenna array for azimuthal angle-of-arrival measurement

This paper describes a novel antenna array concept in which a "Y"-shaped distribution of elements is used to achieve uniform angle-of-arrival (AOA) measurement performance in azimuth, and a ground plane is employed to reduce the potential for confusion due to scattering from nearby structures and interference from low elevation angles. A simple method for field calibration of this array is also presented. A prototype has been built and tested in field conditions at 460 MHz. Using maximum likelihood estimation, the array is able to resolve single AOAs to within a few degrees and is able to identify discrete multipath from the same source. A shortcoming of the field-tested design is that it has poor gain along the horizon, due to edge diffraction from the ground plane. To control this diffraction, an elliptical rolled edge termination is proposed. It is shown that a rolled edge increases the horizon gain by 5 dB while maintaining high suppression at low elevations and maintaining a low physical profile.
Software Assistants for Randomized Patrol Planning for the LAX Airport Police and the Federal Air Marshal Service

The increasing threat of terrorism makes security at major locations of economic or political importance a major concern. Limited security resources prevent complete security coverage, allowing adversaries to observe and exploit patterns in patrolling or monitoring, and enabling them to plan attacks that avoid existing patrols. The use of randomized security policies that are more difficult for adversaries to predict and exploit can counter their surveillance capabilities. We describe two applications, ARMOR and IRIS, that assist security forces in randomizing their operations. These applications are based on fast algorithms for solving large instances of Bayesian Stackelberg games. Police at the Los Angeles International Airport deploy ARMOR to randomize the placement of checkpoints on roads entering the airport and the routes of canine unit patrols within the airport terminals. The Federal Air Marshal Service has deployed IRIS in a pilot program to randomize the schedules of air marshals on international flights. This paper examines the design choices, information, and evaluation criteria that were critical to developing these applications.
Breaking and Provably Fixing Minx

In 2004, Danezis and Laurie proposed Minx, an encryption protocol and packet format for relay-based anonymity schemes, such as mix networks and onion routing, with simplicity as a primary design goal. Danezis and Laurie argued informally about the security properties of Minx but left open the problem of proving its security. In this paper, we show that there cannot be such a proof by showing that an active global adversary can decrypt Minx messages in polynomial time. To mitigate this attack, we also prove secure a very simple modification of the Minx protocol.
Variation in subject-verb concord in Ghanaian English: Variation in subject-verb concord in Ghanaian English

: This paper offers an insight into variation in subject-verb concord in Ghanaian English. An analysis of authentic data demonstrates that grammatical concord occurs variably in the written language of Ghanaians in the mesolectal through the acrolectal range of educated Ghanaian English. Moreover, the paper shows that the variation is not peculiar to any educational group and that the groups set up in the study differ only in the frequency of occurrence of forms of subject-verb concord. Several types of non-standard subject-verb concord are identified, and each subtype is described and exemplified, and the frequency of occurrence indicated. One type of non-standard usage is confirmed in a questionnaire administered to similar groups of subjects. Finally, the paper discusses factors that may have influenced the variable occurrence of subject-verb concord in the writing of Ghanaians in the study.
The outcome of public health nursing service in a preventive child health program: phase 1, health assessment.

Customary public health nursing (PHN) field services such as telephone contacts and home visits to motivate clients to positive health behaviors have not been examined adequately as to outcome. This experimental study investigated the effect of PHN intervention in a preventive child health program. Eight PHNs applied the independent variable (telephone call or home visit) to the experimental group employing a checklist. Using a matched pair design, cases and controls were tracked for receipt of health assessments (dependent variable). The data suggest that the PHN service significantly increased the number of health assessments received in this population of low-income children.
A new algorithm for solving Maxwell's equations in high-power microwave device simulations

Using the Coulomb gauge, an algorithm for solving Maxwell's equations that is capable of isolating the solenoidal current component from the total current has been developed. The electromagnetic field arising from the solenoidal current is expanded in terms of Bessel's functions. It is sufficient to retain only a few dominant global electromagnetic modes to simulate most microwave devices. Electrostatic modes that are localized within the beam region are followed by utilizing B-splines. The new code was used to investigate the plasma effect on ripple wall backward-wave oscillators and the self-field effect on gyro backward-wave oscillators. Simulation results show that the plasma response to the excited wave is in phase if the plasma frequency is less than the wave frequency. It is also demonstrated by simulations that the presence of a virtual cathode tends to increase the device output frequency and to reduce the interaction efficiency.
An evaluation of Mesodon and other larger terrestrial gastropod shells for dating late Holocene and historic alluvium in the Midwestern USA

Abstract Understanding the history of stream erosion and changes in channel morphology is important for managing and restoring unstable streams. One of the significant challenges in this type of research is establishing accurate dating of late Holocene and historic alluvium. Here we evaluate the potential of using 14C dating and amino acid racemization (AAR) to date large terrestrial gastropod shells that are often preserved within alluvial sediments. Many terrestrial gastropods incorporate old carbon from limestone or other carbonate rocks into their shells and therefore are unsuitable for radiocarbon dating. Recent studies, however, have shown that some taxa avoid this ‘limestone problem’ and can yield reliable 14C ages. In this study, we measured the 14C activity of specimens for the genera Mesodon, Ventridens, and Allogona collected live and from alluvial sequences dated independently by dendrochronology, 14C dating of wood, and/or 137Cs analyses. Mesodon zaletus contained old carbon in similar concentrations (up to ~ 30%) found in previous studies of other large taxa and should be avoided for 14C dating when possible. In contrast, shells of Ventridens ligera and Allogona profunda showed minimal limestone effects and therefore may be suitable for dating late Holocene alluvium. These results highlight the importance of taxonomic identification of gastropod taxa prior to their use for 14C dating and demonstrate that shell fragments that are not identifiable should be avoided. We also measured d/l ratios (n = 17) of aspartic and glutamic acid from eight different taxa of terrestrial gastropods recovered from four late Holocene and historic stratigraphic sequences. Average d/l ratios of aspartic and glutamic acid from historic sediments
Graph Structures Underlying Submatrices of Network Flow Tableaux

This paper analyzes the substructure of linear programming tableaux for capacitated transshipment problems. Specifically, it demonstrates that submatrices of these tableaux correspond in a precise way to certain “contractions” of the transshipment network. The results are couched within the GNET/Depth network data structure of Bradley, Brown and Graves or the predecessor/thread/distance structure of Glover, Klingman, et al. An application to fixed-charge network problems is described.
Selection of embryonic stem cell-derived enhanced green fluorescent protein-positive dopamine neurons using the tyrosine hydroxylase promoter is confounded by reporter gene expression in immature cell populations.

Transplantation of mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells can restore function in Parkinson disease models, but can generate teratomas. Purification of dopamine neurons derived from embryonic stem cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) could provide a functional cell population for transplantation while eliminating the risk of teratoma formation. Here we used the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter to drive enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression in mES cells. First, we evaluated 2.5-kilobase (kb) and 9-kb TH promoter fragments and showed that clones generated using the 9-kb fragment produced significantly more eGFP+/TH+ neurons. We selected the 9-kb TH clone with the highest eGFP/TH overlap for further differentiation, FACS, and transplantation experiments. Grafts contained large numbers of eGFP+ dopamine neurons of an appropriate phenotype. However, there were also numerous eGFP+ cells that did not express TH and did not have a neuronal morphology. In addition, we found cells in the grafts representing all three germ layers. Based on these findings, we examined the expression of stem cell markers in our eGFP+ population. We found that a majority of eGFP+ cells were stage-specific embryonic antigen-positive (SSEA-1+) and that the genetically engineered clones contained more SSEA-1+ cells after differentiation than the original D3 mES cells. By negative selection of SSEA-1, we could isolate a neuronal eGFP+ population of high purity. These results illustrate the complexity of using genetic selection to purify mES cell-derived dopamine neurons and provide a comprehensive analysis of cell selection strategies based on tyrosine hydroxylase expression.
Alum-ragweed precipitate: Preparation and clinical investigation: Preliminary report

Abstract 1.1. Alum-ragweed precipitate is an alum-modified ragweed extract. The method of its preparation is described. 2.2. Alum-ragweed precipitate is an effective antigen for sensitizing guinea pigs to ragweed, which confirms the work of previous authors. 3.3. Local and systemic reactions from intracutaneous and subcutaneous injections of alum-ragweed precipitate in ragweed sensitive patients are similar to those produced by equal protein nitrogen concentrations of aqueous ragweed extracts. 4.4. A slight delay in the absorption of the active pollen fractions of alum-ragweed precipitate as compared to aqueous ragweed extracts, was noted following subcutaneous injections in a series of normal adults. 5.5. The preseasonal treatment of a series of 24 ragweed sensitive patients with alum-ragweed precipitate is reported. 6.6. The active ragweed components of alum-ragweed precipitate are apparently identical to those of aqueous ragweed extract. 7.7. Further investigations are indicated, particularly: (a) variations in the chemical preparation of alum-ragweed precipitate, using greater concentrations of alum than 1 per cent; (b) variations in the methods of therapeutic administration.
Molecular simulation of protein aggregation

Computer simulation offers unique possibilities for investigating molecular-level phenomena difficult to probe experimentally. Drawing from a wealth of studies concerning protein folding, computational studies of protein aggregation are emerging. These studies have been successful in capturing aspects of aggregation known from experiment and are being used to refine experimental methods aimed at abating aggregation. Here we review molecular-simulation studies of protein aggregation conducted in our laboratory. Specific attention is devoted to issues with implications for biotechnology.
Determination of Latex Particle Size Distributions by Fractional Creaming with Sodium Alginate

Abstract Knowledge of mass distribution of particle sizes in latex is very important to the latex technologist. Therefore, it is desirable to have available a simple method for the determination of mass distribution of particle sizes. This paper presents a method, based on fractional creaming of latex with sodium alginate, which can be used in any laboratory without special equipment. The method is particularly advantageous for analyzing latexes of very wide particle size distributions. When analyzed with an electron microscope, these latexes require counting a very large number of particles. McGavack found that partial creaming of normal hevea latex with ammonium alginate gives concentrates of larger average particle size than the original latex. He found that the average particle size in the cream approaches that of the original latex as the amount of creaming agent is increased. In a previous paper from this laboratory, Schmidt and Kelsey demonstrated that the phenomenon of fractionation according to p...
The Performance Appraisal Milieu: A Multilevel Analysis of Context Effects in Performance Ratings

The purpose of this study was to take an inductive approach in examining the extent to which organizational contexts represent significant sources of variance in supervisor performance ratings, and to explore various factors that may explain contextual rating variability. Using archival field performance rating data from a large state law enforcement organization, we used a multilevel modeling approach to partition the variance in ratings due to ratees, raters, as well as rating contexts. Results suggest that much of what may often be interpreted as idiosyncratic rater variance, may actually reflect systematic rating variability across contexts. In addition, performance-related and non-performance factors including contextual rating tendencies accounted for significant rating variability. Supervisor ratings represent the most common approach for measuring job performance, and understanding the nature and sources of rating variability is important for research and practice. Given the many uses of performance rating data, our findings suggest that continuing to identify contextual sources of variability is particularly important for addressing criterion problems, and improving ratings as a form of performance measurement. Numerous performance appraisal models suggest the importance of context; however, previous research had not partitioned the variance in supervisor ratings due to omnibus context effects in organizational settings. The use of a multilevel modeling approach allowed the examination of contextual influences, while controlling for ratee and rater characteristics.
Extramedullary involvement at diagnosis is a poor prognostic factor in patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia: The MD Anderson Cancer Center experience

525 Extramedullary involvement at diagnosis is a poor prognostic factor in patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia: The MD Anderson Cancer Center experience Xin Cao, Robert Z. Orlowski, Muzaffar Qazilbash, Zhiyu Liu, Zijun Y. Xu-Monette, L. Jeffrey Medeiros, Ken H. Young Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Abstract 1392: Role of mutant p53 for anti-TGF-β therapy in isogenic basal-like breast cancer models.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Breast cancer remains as one of the most common cancers worldwide accounting for 450,000 deaths. During cancer progression, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in tumor cells is often converted from tumor suppression to tumor promotion. However, how this oncogenic switch occurs is not well understood. Tripe-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a breast cancer subtype, which is frequently associated with p53 mutation and lacks specific molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. TGF-β signaling has been shown to be oncogenic in TNBC models. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that mutation of p53 may cause the oncogenic switch of TGF-β and thus serve as a biomarker for anti-TGF-β therapy. In an effort to create isogenic models resembling the transformation of normal breast epithelial cells into TNBC, oncogenic H-Ras V12, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), and mutant p53 R175H (mP53) or vector control were sequentially introduced into untransformed human breast epithelial MCF-10A cells. These generated cell lines were orthotopically introduced into the mammary fat pads of female nude mice and tumor burden was monitored. Mice were divided into two groups receiving a TGF-β type I receptor (RI) kinase inhibitor or PBS as control. Harvested lungs were analyzed for metastasis with GFP fluorescent imaging and quantitative PCR for tumor cell specific genes. Mice inoculated with the transformed MCF-10A cells containing mp53 (10A/mp53) displayed greater tumor burden and lung metastasis incidence than the vector control counterparts. Systemic treatment with the TGF-β inhibitor resulted in a decrease in metastasis in the mice inoculated with 10A/mp53 representing disruption of TGF-β’s oncogenic role. In contrast, inhibition of TGF-β signaling in mice inoculated with 10A/pp290 vector control displayed greater lung metastasis incidence, likely due to the disruption of TGF-β tumor suppressive effects. Our results indicate that the mp53 may serve as a biomarker for the oncogenic switch of TGF-β pathway and anti-TGF-β therapy for the inhibition of TNBC-induced metastasis. Citation Format: Fernando P. Lugo, Shu Lin, Abhik Bandyopadhyay, Junhua Yang, Lu-Zhe Sun. Role of mutant p53 for anti-TGF-β therapy in isogenic basal-like breast cancer models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1392. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1392
Influence of Temperature on the Toxicity of Insecticides to Susceptible and Resistant House Flies

The influence of posttreatment temperature on the toxicity of 6 insecticide was investigated on a susceptible and 2 resistant strains of Musca domestica L: The toxicity of dimethoate, parathion, and Isolan® (l-isopropyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolyl dimethylcarbamate) was unaffected by temperature within the range of 15° and 25°C. Bioresmethrm, lindane and CP 47412 (1, 1-di( p -chlorophenyl)-2, 2-dichlorocyclopropane) manifested greater toxicity at 15°C. This effect was more pronounced in the resistant strains but did not reduce resistance more than 1.6-fold. It is suggested that temperature within the range tested has no significant influence on potential resistance in the field.
ERNST MAYR AND THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES

Evolutionary biology has a punctuated history. It arose as a conceptual macromutation on November 24, 1859-"disgorged," as Mencken (1931) put it, "in one stupendous and appalling dose"-and has undergone stasis or slow anagenesis ever since. Indeed, much of the field still consists of repeated demonstrations of phenomena first described by Darwin, or of epiphenomena derived from them. The study of speciation, however, is a conspicuous exception. Despite the title of his famous book, Darwin was notably unsuccessful in solving the real problem of organic diversity: why plants and animals in a habitat fall into discrete, nonoverlapping packages. It is widely accepted that his failure came from his inability to conceptualize species as noninterbreeding groups (see Mayr 1959) and to recognize that the origin of species was identical to the origin of the barriers to interbreeding. Because Darwin considered species to be only highly evolved morphological varieties (indeed, The Origin of Species should have been called The Origin of Adaptations), he confused adaptation within lineages with the origin of new lineages. Although the two are connected, the former does not automatically produce the latter. Understanding how one species of warbler becomes adapted to its habitat does not explain why four other distinct species-and no intermediates-occupy the same patch of forest. One solution was suggested by geneticists like Bateson and Goldschmidt, who correctly conceived the species problem to be the explanation of organic gaps, but then mistakenly ascribed them to single mutations causing large morphological change. This idea foundered on the lack of a convincing scenario for fixing these mutations and on the evidence that species differed in not one but many genes. For many years after Darwin, the origin of species remained the most important unsolved problem of evolution. The mathematical evolutionists of the modem synthesis had little to say about this problem, and much of what they did say was wrong. Our modern theories of speciation derive almost entirely from a naturalist and an experimentalist, Ernst Mayr and Theodosius Dobzhansky, and their two classic books, Genetics and Origin of Species (Dobzhansky 1937) and Systematics and the Origin of Species (Mayr 1942), later rewritten and expanded as Animal Species and Evolution (Mayr 1963). On the occasion of Mayr's ninetieth birthday, I am pleased to pay him tribute by discussing and evaluating his four major contributions to the species problem. Three of these-the emphasis on discontinuous organic forms, the encapsulation of such discontinuities in the "biological species concept," and the theory of allopatric speciation-are milestones of evolutionary biology that constitute the modem dogma of speciation. Mayr's fourth contribution, the idea of "genetic revolutions" in isolated populations, is decidedly less important, and, it seems to me, probably incorrect. It will be impossible to discuss Mayr's work without also mentioning that of Dobzhansky, whose genetic expertise made the theory of speciation a true product of the modem synthesis.
An Alternative Derivation of the Z-Transform

(1963). An Alternative Derivation of the Z-Transform. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 70, No. 3, pp. 281-284.
Luminescence efficiency of erbium-doped BaTiO3 thin films

The factors limiting the efficiency of Er3+ luminescence at 1.54 μm (0.8 eV) in erbiumdoped barium titanate films were studied. To investigate the effect of film stoichiometry on luminescence efficiency films were annealed in oxygen and in vacuum. For films annealed in oxygen at temperatures of 700-900°C a nominal increase in the luminescence efficiency was observed. Vacuum annealing resulted in strong quenching of the emission intensity. Transient photoluminesence measurements showed that the emission lifetime also decreased for the reduced films. This effect was reversible; upon oxygen annealing both the emission intensity and lifetime were restored to their original values. These results indicate that the Er3+ luminescence efficiency strongly depends on film stoichiometry.
Design of home burglar alarm system based on GSM short message

Through analysis of anti-theft alarm system,a design of home burglar alarm system using GSM network to transmit alarm is presented.The hardware and software design and working principle of short message alarm system are given in the paper.The process of AVR single chip computer communicating with GSM module is emphasized as well as the programming of PDU coding and the AT commands used in the process.Experiments result shows that the system is stable and can realize the alarm transmission in real time and guarantee the safety of unattended environment.
Development of an Emergency Department Trigger Tool Using a Systematic Search and Modified Delphi Process.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop an emergency department (ED) trigger tool to improve the identification of adverse events in the ED and that can be used to direct patient safety and quality improvement. This work describes the first step toward the development of an ED all-cause harm measurement tool by experts in the field. METHODS We identified a multidisciplinary group of emergency medicine safety experts from whom we solicited candidate triggers. We then conducted a modified Delphi process consisting of 4 stages as follows: (1) a systematic literature search and review, including an independent oversampling of review for inclusion, (2) solicitation of empiric triggers from participants, (3) a Web-based survey ranking triggers on specific performance constructs, and (4) a final in-person meeting to arrive at consensus triggers for testing. Results of each step were shared with participants between each stage. RESULTS Among an initial 804 unique articles found using our search criteria, we identified 94 that were suitable for further review. Interrater reliability was high (κ = 0.80). Review of these articles yielded 56 candidate triggers. These were supplemented by 58 participant-submitted triggers yielding a total of 114 candidate triggers that were shared with team members electronically along with their definitions. Team members then voted on each measure via a Web-based survey, ranking triggers on their face validity, utility for quality improvement, and fidelity (sensitivity/specificity). Participants were also provided the ability to flag any trigger about which they had questions or they felt merited further discussion at the in-person meeting. Triggers were ranked by combining the first 2 categories (face validity and utility), and information on fidelity was reviewed for decision making at the in-person meeting. Seven redundant triggers were eliminated. At an in-person meeting including representatives from all facilities, we presented the 50 top-ranked triggers as well as those that were flagged on the survey by 2 or more participants. We reviewed each trigger individually, identifying 41 triggers about which there was a clear agreement for inclusion. Of the seven additional triggers that required subsequent voting via e-mail, 5 were adopted, arriving at a total of 46 consensus-derived triggers. CONCLUSIONS Our modified Delphi process resulted in the identification of 46 final triggers for the detection of adverse events among ED patients. These triggers should be pilot field tested to quantify their individual and collective performance in detecting all-cause harm to ED patients.
Data-driven automation. Moving data, not paper, enhances productivity

Discusses the concept of the product enterprise system in which digital data are used as the medium of information exchange.
Semi-Discrete Finite Element Method Analysis of Microstrip Structures

Numerical modeling and characterization of passive components for Microwave and Millimeter-wave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) applications is an active area of research at the present time. The requirements of versatility, accuracy and computational efficiency have been met only partially by the existing numerical solutions. Therefore these issues continue to motivate the development of new numerical techniques for MMIC component characterization.
Finite Coxeter Groups and the Weak Order

In this chapter, we develop the basic theory of finite Coxeter groups, drawing on results already proved for posets of regions. There are two main points to this chapter: First, to show how the geometry and lattice theory of hyperplane arrangements underlies the theory of finite Coxeter groups, and second, to point out the weak orders on finite Coxeter groups as an important class of lattice-theoretic examples. A broader class of examples is obtained as lattice quotients of weak orders. Several examples of such quotients are given in Sections 10-6 and 10-7.