cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Test Data Generation for Recurrent Neural Network Implementations

Despite their ubiquity, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are still difficult to correctly implement and verify. While feedforward ANNs behave based on a clear cause and effect that maps an input to an output, Recurrent ANNs (RANNs) propagate internal (i.e., hidden layer) or external (i.e., output layer) values back to the inputs. Problematically, the benefits enabled by the recurrent links also introduce verification challenges. The cause and effect relationship of input to output units normally displayed in feedforward artificial neural networks may be altered due to internal values propagated forward in time via recurrent links. This verification difficulty is exacerbated in embedded systems (e.g., robotic or cyber-physical systems software) where in-house implementations of RANNs may be preferred, or even necessitated, due to hardware constraints. In this paper, we identify minimalistic test cases to verify the behavior of context units connected by internal recurrent links within RANNs.
Developing high-performance DIRC detector for the future Electron Ion Collider experiment

The Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) will be the next frontier project of nuclear physics in the United States. It is planned to be built in the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in close collaboration with Jefferson Lab. One of the key requirement for the EIC central detector is excellent particle identification (PID). A detector using the Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) principle, with a radial size of only 7–8 cm, is a very attractive solution for identification of the hadrons in the final state. The R&D program performed by the EIC PID collaboration (eRD14) is focused on designing a high-performance DIRC (hpDIRC) detector that would extend the momentum coverage well beyond the state-of-the-art 3 standard deviations or more separation of π/K up to 6 GeV/c, e/π up to 1.8 GeV/c, and p/K up to 10 GeV/c. Key components of the hpDIRC detector are a 3-layer compound lens and small pixel-size photo-sensors. This article describes the status of the high-performance DIRC R&D for the EIC detector, with a focus on efforts towards developing and validating the radiation hard 3-layer lens.
Application of a Diffusion Charger to Quantify Real-Time Particle Emissions from Light-Duty Vehicles: a Comparison Study with a Particle Size Spectrometer

Measurement methods for vehicle-emitted particulate matter (PM) have evolved as vehicle emission standards have become more stringent. For example, the filter-based gravimetric method has been demonstrated feasible to measure emissions at levels below 1 mg/mi from light-duty vehicles. However, while regulatory methods and instruments for measuring PM emissions are rigorous and accurate, there is a need to continue evaluating alternatives for use in the laboratory, as well as simple and robust instruments for screening that can be used for detecting high emissions on the roadside and evaluating the effectiveness of repairs in support of inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. This study investigated the performance of an aerosol diffusion charger (TSI Electrical Aerosol Detector) by comparing its raw signal (aerosol active surface area) and its conversion to particle number and mass emission rates with those reported or calculated from a multi-channel electrometer-based particle size spectrometer (TSI Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer) and various condensation particle counters (CPCs). Four light-duty vehicles were tested, including gasoline port fuel injection (PFI), gasoline direct injection (GDI), and a diesel vehicle equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Results show that the diffusion charger was responsive over a wide particle size and concentration range, exhibiting sufficient signal-to-noise ratio during transient measurements of the gasoline PFI vehicle and light-duty diesel vehicle with a DPF (both certified below 1 mg/mi). High sensitivity at low concentrations suggests that the diffusion charger may have potential for identifying failures of emission control systems at lower concentrations than methods designed to report real-time suspended particle number or mass metrics directly. Systematic and fundamental data from our study underscore the challenge with “black box” equipment calibrated to calculate total particle number and mass from surface area measurements based on constant unimodal fit parameters. Future work could focus on the applications from deploying active surface area monitors at the roadside or for using surface area measurements to evaluate repair effective in support of I/M programs.
Factors Associated With Racial Differences in Deaths Among Nursing Home Residents With COVID-19 Infection in the US.

Importance It is important to understand differences in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths by nursing home racial composition and the potential reasons for these differences so that limited resources can be distributed equitably. Objective To describe differences in the number of COVID-19 deaths by nursing home racial composition and examine the factors associated with these differences. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study of 13 312 nursing homes in the US used the Nursing Home COVID-19 Public File from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which contains COVID-19 cases and deaths among nursing home residents as self-reported by nursing homes beginning between January 1, 2020, and May 24, 2020, and ending on September 13, 2020. Data were analyzed from July 28 to December 18, 2020. Exposures Confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection. Confirmed cases were defined as COVID-19 infection confirmed by a diagnostic laboratory test. Suspected cases were defined as signs and/or symptoms of COVID-19 infection or patient-specific transmission-based precautions for COVID-19 infection. Main Outcomes and Measures Deaths associated with COVID-19 among nursing home residents. Death counts were compared by nursing home racial composition, which was measured as the proportion of White residents. Results Among 13 312 nursing homes included in the study, the overall mean (SD) age of residents was 79.5 (6.7) years. A total of 51 606 COVID-19–associated deaths among residents were reported, with a mean (SD) of 3.9 (8.0) deaths per facility. The mean (SD) number of deaths in nursing homes with the lowest proportion of White residents (quintile 1) vs nursing homes with the highest proportions of White residents (quintile 5) were 5.6 (9.2) and 1.7 (4.8), respectively. Facilities in quintile 1 experienced a mean (SE) of 3.9 (0.2) more deaths than those in quintile 5, representing a 3.3-fold higher number of deaths in quintile 1 compared with quintile 5. Adjustment for the number of certified beds reduced the mean (SE) difference between these 2 nursing home groups to 2.2 (0.2) deaths. Controlling for case mix measures and other nursing home characteristics did not modify this association. Adjustment for county-level COVID-19 prevalence further reduced the mean (SE) difference to 1.0 (0.2) death. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, nursing homes with the highest proportions of non-White residents experienced COVID-19 death counts that were 3.3-fold higher than those of facilities with the highest proportions of White residents. These differences were associated with factors such as larger nursing home size and higher infection burden in counties in which nursing homes with high proportions of non-White residents were located. Focusing limited available resources on facilities with high proportions of non-White residents is needed to support nursing homes during potential future outbreaks.
On the monumentality of ditches

Abstract Archaeologists have increasingly broadened considerations of what is “monumental” and what relations with art, architecture, and landscapes constitute monumentality. This article documents the monumentality of ditches through an examination of 11 Scioto Hopewell ditches. Well known for their ornate crafts of exotic raw materials and massive geometric earthworks – constructed of ditches and embankments, usually in tandem – Scioto Hopewell was comprised of small-scale societies of the Middle Woodland period (1950–1550 BP) of the Scioto River Valley of southern Ohio. Though garnering archaeological attention for over two centuries, most research directed at understanding earthwork construction in this region has been relatively recent and primarily focused on embankment wall construction. This article represents the first exploration of Scioto Hopewell ditch construction and demonstrates that these ditches are monumental architecture that carry various meanings and whose construction was ritualized. Establishing a basis for the monumentality of Scioto Hopewell ditches has broad implications, as there is a global record of ditches that were multivalent and multi-functional landscape features that remain understudied beyond their possible functional or pragmatic purposes. This article demonstrates the value of the systematic archaeological examination of these features and the informational potential they hold.
Protein Structure Prediction Using a Maximum Likelihood Formulation of a Recurrent Geometric Network

Abstract Only ∼40% of the human proteome has structural coordinates available from experiment (i.e., X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, or cryo-EM) or homology modeling with quality templates (i.e., 30% sequence identity or greater), leaving most of the proteome structurally unsolved. Deep learning (DL) methods for predicting protein structure can help close knowledge gaps where experimental and homology models are difficult to obtain. Recent advances in these DL methods have shown promising results in expanding structural coverage to the scale of the entire human proteome, providing researchers with more complete protein structural information. Here, we improve upon an existing DL algorithm for protein structure prediction, the Recurrent Geometric Network (RGN). We first expand the training dataset to include experimental uncertainty data in the form of atomic displacement parameters, then derive a maximum likelihood loss function that incorporates this uncertainty data into model training. Compared to the original RGN, our novel maximum likelihood model improves the rate of convergence of initial model training and ultimately results in more accurate structure prediction according to the root mean square deviation (RMSD) of backbone atoms, the Global Distance Test (GDT), the Global Distance Test High Accuracy (GDT-HA), and the Template-Modeling Score (TM-Score). Our model also predicts structures with more favorable backbone torsions, which provide more accurate starting coordinates for downstream physics-based simulations. Based on these results, our maximum likelihood reformulation provides a framework for improving existing or future machine learning algorithms for protein structure prediction. The augmented dataset, data collection scripts, reformulated RGN source code, and a series of trained models are publicly available at https://github.com/SchniedersLab/likelihood-rgn.
Keep Moving Forward: Health Informatics and Information Management beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives: To identify gaps and challenges in health informatics and health information management during the COVID-19 pandemic. To describe solutions and offer recommendations that can address the identified gaps and challenges. Methods: A literature review of relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature published from January 2020 to December 2020 was conducted to inform the paper. Results: The literature revealed several themes regarding health information management and health informatics challenges and gaps: information systems and information technology infrastructure; data collection, quality, and standardization; and information governance and use. These challenges and gaps were often driven by public policy and funding constraints. Conclusions: COVID-19 exposed complexities related to responding to a world-wide, fast moving, quickly spreading novel virus. Longstanding gaps and ongoing challenges in the local, national, and global health and public health information systems and data infrastructure must be addressed before we are faced with another global pandemic.
Nascent Nonprofit Entrepreneurship Exploring the Formative Stage of Emerging Nonprofit Organizations

The purpose of this article is to provide a window into the earliest phase of nonprofit organizational formation. Using a sample of 91 nascent nonprofit entrepreneurs and a framework from the entrepreneurship literature identifying the vital capacities for new venture development success, this exploratory article examines the capacity endowments of nascent nonprofits. The results indicate that nascent nonprofits have rather well-developed venture ideas and also a good understanding of whom they will serve. However, few have developed programs or services ready to be implemented or established relations with real beneficiaries and/or payers. In addition, this research highlights differences in capacity between nascent nonprofit entrepreneurs with and without previous start-up experience.
Lotka, Alfred James (1880–1949)

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 13, pp. 9089–9091, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Inhibition of packing of acetylcholine into quanta by ammonium.

Soaking frog motor nerve terminals in a hypertonic solution produces an increase in the size of miniature end plate potentials (mepp's) and miniature end plate currents (mepc's) after the preparati...
Efficacy of cognitive-behavioral intervention for juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: There are currently no controlled studies of behavioral interventions for juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFM). In this small-sample randomized study, we tested the efficacy of a behavioral intervention, i.e., coping skills training (CST), for the treatment of adolescents with JPFM. Outcomes tested in this study were functional disability, pain intensity, pain-coping efficacy, and depressive symptoms. METHODS: Thirty patients with JPFM were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of either CST or self-monitoring. Adolescents in the CST condition received training in active pain-coping techniques, while those in the self-monitoring condition monitored daily pain intensity and sleep quality with no instructions about behavior change. After posttreatment assessment, subjects were crossed over into the opposite treatment arm for 8 weeks (so that all adolescents eventually received both CST and self-monitoring) and were reassessed at Week 16. RESULTS: At Week 8, adolescents in both conditions showed significant decrease in depressive symptoms and functional disability. Those who received CST showed significantly greater ability to cope with pain than those in the self-monitoring condition and a trend toward decreased pain intensity. At Week 16, adolescents had significantly lower levels of disability and depressive symptoms compared to baseline, but those who received self-monitoring followed by CST seemed to receive the most benefit. CONCLUSION: CST can lead to improved functioning among JPFM patients. Although some of the improvement may be due to increased monitoring and attention, CST provides the specific benefit of improving adolescents9 ability to cope with pain.
Crowdsourcing Real World Human-Robot Dialog and Teamwork through Online Multiplayer Games

We present an innovative approach for large-scale data collection in human-robot interaction research through the use of online multi-player games. By casting a robotic task as a collaborative game, we gather thousands of examples of human-human interactions online, and then leverage this corpus of action and dialog data to create contextually relevant, social and task-oriented behaviors for human-robot interaction in the real world. We demonstrate our work in a collaborative search and retrieval task requiring dialog, action synchronization and action sequencing between the human and robot partners. A user study performed at the Boston Museum of Science shows that the autonomous robot exhibits many of the same patterns of behavior that were observed in the online dataset and survey results rate the robot similarly to human partners in several critical measures.
Formation of a minichromosome in Cryptococcus neoformans as a result of electroporative transformation.

A minichromosome of approximately 270 kilobases was generated following complementation of a ura5 mutant strain of C. neoformans with the plasmid pURA5g2. This is the first report of the in-vivo generation of a minichromosome by the method of electroporative transformation. The minichromosome occurred at a relatively high (>20%) frequency in transformants that were stable for uracil protoprophy. The minichromosome was maintained in linear form as a large extrachromosomal element of the normal karyotype. Gel-purified DNA from the minichromosome readily transformed the ura5 mutant of C. neoformans. Southern-blot analysis of the minichromosome revealed the presence of multiple copies of the URA5 gene and ribosomal DNA sequences in addition to containing telomere-like sequence repeats. The minichromosome was transmitted through mitosis and meiosis with extremely-high fidelity.
Biological pacemakers: The oscillatory road ahead

f ( a p a v p n c i s i o w l i v n n The rhythmic contraction of the mammalian heart depends on the coordinated periodic electrical discharges of thousands of electrically coupled pacemaker cells comprising the sinoatrial node. Periodic excitation by and propagation from the sinoatrial node is of paramount importance for normal cardiac function and can occur up to 3 billion times in the lifetime of an individual. A disruption in such a atural pacemaking ability has serious consequences, inluding bradycardia, syncope, arrhythmias, and death. The advent of electronic pacemakers has arrested the progressive detrimental effects of a dysfunctional sinus rhythm. However, electronic pacemakers come with their own set of problems: these include complicated technical maintenance, device or lead malfunction, associated infections, and the difficulty in treating pediatric patients, whose heart is still in the developmental stage. As a result, researchers in the last 15 years or so have begun addressing the challenge of creating alternative therapies, in the form of so-called biological pacemakers. The long-term goal of this research endeavor is to create robust pacemakers by using “natural elements” that are far superior than the currently available electronic pacemakers and last a lifetime, via manipulating endogenous genes, by exogenous cell therapy, or a combination thereof. Although many researchers ave made important contributions, 2 groups have been at he forefront in this area, one led by Dr Eduardo Marban, ormerly at Johns Hopkins University, now at Cedarsinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles, and Dr Michael R. osen, at Columbia University and SUNY Stonybrook. he goals of these 2 groups are similar: to understand the echanisms governing cardiac impulse initiation, with he idea of constructing a clinically applicable biological acemaker. But their approaches are different, the forer using techniques derived from gene therapy and the atter using cell therapy methodology.
ER-Mitochondria Communication. How Privileged?

Mitochondria have a low affinity for Ca2+, but they take up these ions during normal cell activity because they are in close proximity to the sites of calcium entry into the cell and of internal Ca...
A study of the use of lithium-6 enriched converters for the detection of neutrons with cellulose nitrate

Abstract Neutron converters containing 6 Li can be used in conjunction with cellulose nitrate for the detection of thermal neutrons. This paper describes an evaluation of the effect of the degree of 6 Li enrichment on such a system. Using six enrichments of lithium carbonate tablets, it was found that the sensitivity increased up to enrichment of approximately 63%, above which no significant improvement in sensitivity was observed.
Axon regeneration in young adult mice lacking Nogo-A/B.

Abstract After injury, axons of the adult mammalian brain and spinal cord exhibit little regeneration. It has been suggested that axon growth inhibitors, such as myelin-derived Nogo, prevent CNS axon repair. To investigate this hypothesis, we analyzed mice with a nogo mutation that eliminates Nogo-A/B expression. These mice are viable and exhibit normal locomotion. Corticospinal tract tracing reveals no abnormality in uninjured nogo-A/B −/− mice. After spinal cord injury, corticospinal axons of young adult nogo-A/B −/− mice sprout extensively rostral to a transection. Numerous fibers regenerate into distal cord segments of nogo-A/B −/− mice. Recovery of locomotor function is improved in these mice. Thus, Nogo-A plays a role in restricting axonal sprouting in the young adult CNS after injury.
Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma arising in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia on long-term tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is the prototype of myeloproliferative neoplasms. By definition, CML is consistently associated with the BCR–ABL fusion protein, which is expressed in all hematop...
X-ray computed tomography of holographically fabricated three-dimensional photonic crystals.

The optical properties of a photonic crystal (PC) are governed by the periodicity of its lattice, geometry of its basis, and dielectric contrast of its constituents. Numerous advances in experimental fabrication and characterization of three-dimensional (3D) PCs with submicron morphology have been made since their inception, [ 1 ] along with theoretical prediction of their optical properties. [ 2 ] Their detailed morphology has typically been verifi ed directly via electron microscopy of surfaces and cross sections, [ 3‐5 ] and indirectly via optical spectroscopy and diffraction measurements, [ 6‐9 ] but not holistically by direct electromagnetic 3D tomography at length scales substantially shorter than those of optical wavelengths. Here, 3D PCs fabricated by holographic optical lithography were imaged using hard X-ray microscopy. The large penetration depth of the X-rays allowed angle-resolved two-dimensional (2D) images to be analyzed to reconstruct the full 3D morphology of a holographic PC via computed tomography (CT). The reconstructed morphology was used both as a basis for optical refl ectance spectra calculations, which compared closely to experimental measurements, and to validate a theoretical model of the PC structure. Fabrication of 3D PCs via multibeam interference lithography allows fl exible control of their basis of periodic units. [ 10‐12 ] Most theoretical proposed structures assume the basis follows
A Stochastic Truck Routing Model for Agricultural Freight

This paper analyzes the routing of agricultural freight from the fields to the elevators. A number of optimization models are built to analyze the effects of truck type restrictions in the truck mix on the overall system cost of delivering from fields to elevators. The models account for both the selection of truck type and load type for deliveries while respecting the load restrictions imposed on the highway network. The estimated origin-destination matrix is assigned on the highway network using a stochastic model. The stochastic model is designed to take into account the different behavior of truck traffic as opposed to passenger vehicle traffic and is implemented using simulation. The models developed here are tested on the highway network of North Dakota.
Identity Politics and the Politics of Identities

(2003). Identity Politics and the Politics of Identities. Identities: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 1-8.
Whether We Agree or Not: A Comparative Syntax of English and Japanese

English has visible wh-movement; Japanese doesn’t. Japanese scrambles and word order is free; English doesn’t scramble and has an orderly word order. The topic is prominent in Japanese; it is not in English. Japanese has double or multiple subject structures; English does not. Such are the major typological differences between English and Japanese, and some linguists entertain the idea that parametric differences concerning Deep Structure exist between English and Japanese which are responsible for these differences. It has been proposed that English is configurational while Japanese is nonconfigurational; cf: Hale (1980), Chomsky (1981), among others. Or it has been suggested that Japanese clauses are Max(V), while English ones are Max(I); for example, Chomsky in a lecture at UCSD, 1985. I would like to sketch in this paper a claim to the contrary that there is no parametric difference between English and Japanese that results in essentially different deep structure configurations. Instead, the parametric difference between English and Japanese consists simply of the following: Agreement is forced in English, it is not in Japanese. 1
Optimized scheduling of multi-IMA partitions with exclusive region for synchronized real-time multi-core systems

Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) architecture has been widely adopted by the avionics industry due to its strong temporal and spatial isolation capability for safety-critical real-time systems. The fundamental challenge to integrating an existing set of single-core IMA partitions into a multi-core system is to ensure that the isolation of the partitions will be maintained without incurring huge redevelopment and recertification costs. To address this challenge, we developed an optimized partition scheduling algorithm which considers exclusive regions to achieve the synchronization between partitions across cores. We show that the problem of finding the optimal partition schedule is NP--complete and present a Constraint Programming formulation. In addition, we relax this problem to find the minimum number of cores needed to schedule a given set of partitions and propose an approximation algorithm which is guaranteed to find a feasible schedule of partitions if there exists a feasible schedule of exclusive regions.
Mother-child interaction with preschool language-delayed children: structuring conversations.

Abstract The discourse skills of mothers and their language-delayed children were examined to determine how participants opened and responded to each other in conversation. Four language-delayed children were matched to four normal children on mean lenght of utterance. Videotapes were made of the children and their mothers during 15 minutes of play. The types of utterances used to open and respond were similar; however, the flow of dialogue was different for the two groups in the use of invitations, initiations, sustaining, and non-sustaining responses. In the language-delayed child-mother dyads the flow of information through dialogue was interrupted by the necessity to clarify and the lack of definitive control of the turn-taking structure. Conclusions were that there was less shared context between mothers and their language-delayed children. These differences could be explained by the linguistic, semantic, and pragmatic ability of the children.
The inhibitive effects of steroid analogues in the binding of tritiated 5α-dihydrotecto3terone to receptor proteins from rat prostate tissue

Abstract The relationship between molecular structure and the binding potential of steroids to receptor proteins was investigated. Twenty-four selected steroids were studied in minced incubations of rat pro state tissue. Measurements of the inhibitory effects of the steroids on tbe binding of tritiated 5 α-dihydrotestosterone to the receptor proteins were obtained in the 100,000 × g dialysed supernatant and the purified nuclear component of the prostate cells. The steroids that achieved the highest degree of inhibition were those compounds that exhibited a generally planar geometric shape and were known to possess potent androgenic activity.Several of the compounds were shown to possess a higher degree of inhibition than that of testosterone or 5α-dihydrotestosterone. The data is further supportive of the two step theory that necessitates the complexing of the free steroids to the receptor proteins in the cytosol before transport to the nuclei. Evidence is also suggestive of the presence of 17-esterase activity. The inhibitory effect of the steroids apparently involves the binding, to the intracellular receptors and is not related to the uptake of 5α-dihydrotestosterone into the cell.
The effects of salinity and temperature on the transparency of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio.

SUMMARY Transparency is an effective form of camouflage, but it must be present throughout the entire volume of an animal to succeed. Certain environmental stressors may cause physiological responses that increase internal light scattering, making tissue less transparent and more conspicuous to predators. We tested this in the transparent grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio , which is found in shallow estuaries where both salinity and temperature change rapidly because of tidal cycles, evaporation and runoff. Animals originally kept at a salinity of 15 p.p.t. and a temperature of 20°C were placed into solutions with salinities of 0, 15, 25 or 30 p.p.t. and temperatures of 13, 20 or 27°C for 12 h ( N =26 for each of 12 treatments). Under the control conditions of 15 p.p.t. at 20°C, the transparency of grass shrimp tails was 54±3% (mean ± s.e.). At higher salinities and at both higher and lower temperatures, transparency dropped significantly ( P P. pugio 9s tail suggested that the observed loss of transparency was due to the pooling of low refractive index hemolymph between the high index muscle fibers, creating many index boundaries that increased light scattering. Analysis of a year-long salinity and temperature record from a North Carolina estuary showed that changes of the order of those found in this study are relatively common, suggesting that P. pugio may undergo periods of reduced crypsis, potentially leading to increased predation.
Ionically cross-linked poly(allylamine) as a stimulus-responsive underwater adhesive: ionic strength and pH effects.

Gel-like coacervates that adhere to both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates under water have recently been prepared by ionically cross-linking poly(allylamine) (PAH) with pyrophosphate (PPi) and tripolyphosphate (TPP). Among the many advantages of these underwater adhesives (which include their simple preparation and low cost) is their ability to dissolve on demand when exposed to high or low pH. To further analyze their stimulus-responsive properties, we have investigated the pH and ionic strength effects on the formation, rheology and adhesion of PAH/PPi and PAH/TPP complexes. The ionic cross-linker concentrations needed to form these adhesives decreased with increasing pH and ionic strength (although the complexes ceased to form when the parent solution pH exceeded ca. 8.5; i.e., the effective pKa of PAH). Once formed, their ionic cross-links were most stable (as inferred from their relaxation times) at near-neutral or slightly alkaline pH values (of roughly 6.5–9) and at low ionic strengths. The d...
Sexual selection and species recognition in the pygmy swordtail, Xiphophorus pygmaeus: conflicting preferences

Sexual selection and species recognition play important roles in mate choice; however, sexual selection preferences may overlap with traits found in heterospecifics, producing a conflict between sexual selection and species recognition. We examined female preferences in Xiphophorus pygmaeus for male traits that could provide both types of information to determine how females use multiple cues when preferences for these cues would conflict. We also examined X. pygmaeus behavior in the field to determine if females have the opportunity to choose mates. As no male-male competition was observed in the field, and females occasionally chased males from feeding areas, females apparently have the opportunity to exercise mate choice in their natural habitat. In the laboratory, female X. pygmaeus used body size as a sexual selection cue, preferring large heterospecifics (X. cortezi) to small conspecifics. Females also preferred barless X. cortezi over barred X. cortezi when males were size matched. Because X. pygmaeus males do not have bars, this preference suggests that X. pygmaeus females use vertical bars in species recognition, and that large body size and vertical bars are conflicting cues. However, X. pygmaeus females did not have a preference for males of either species when sexual selection and species recognition cues were presented concurrently. This result was surprising, because preferences for species recognition cues are often assumed to be stronger than sexual selection cues. We suggest that females may be using additional species-specific cues in mate choice to prevent hybridization.
A New Political Economics—and Political Economy

It was deregulation that caused the credit crisis, says this long-time economic observer. He says mainstream economics provides a gloss of mathematical certainty to what has become an ideology. That must be recognized and be changed.
Heterogeneity in the Inherited Long QT Syndrome

Heterogeneity is present in the inherited long QT syndrome and affects the diagnosis of patients. The evidence of genetic heterogeneity is clear, with at least five genetic loci responsible for the syndrome. Phenotypic heterogeneity is less well defined, but differences in QT prolongation, T wave morphology, and the risk and frequency of syncope and sudden death are very likely. Of particular importance, it is likely that there are differences in the molecular pathophysiology of the syndrome, which are dependent on the genetic substrate present. Elucidation of the specific molecular physiology of each of the genetic subtypes of long QT syndrome will not only allow precise diagnosis and, potentially, treatment of patients with the syndrome, but will enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of arrhythmias in general, which will extend the benefit of more precise therapy to many patients in addition to those with the long QT syndrome.
Convective Bands as Structural Components of an Arabian Sea Convective Cloud Cluster

Abstract During the summer Monsoon Experiment 1979 (MONEX-79) a unique mix of meteorological data was obtained on 20 June to analyze a convective cloud cluster that formed over the extreme eastern Arabian Sea. An analysis of the available data revealed the existence of several convective bands (as well as other types of convection) in the cloud cluster. The convective bands formed and decayed as a result of complex interactions between synoptic-scale features [low-level westerly jet and upper-level tropical easterly jet (TEJ)], mesoscale features (mesoscale downdrafts and mesoscale wind variability), and convective-scale features (convective updrafts and downdrafts). The observed southeasterly propagation of the convective bands on 20 June was explained through an examination of the thermodynamics of the updrafts and downdrafts on various scales. A comparison was made between the Arabian Sea convective bands and those observed in the GATE (Global Atmospheric Research Program's Atlantic Tropical Experiment...
Researching Telemedicine: Capturing Complex Clinical Interactions with a Simple Interface Design

Telemedicine has been shown to be an effective means of managing follow-up care in chronic diseases such as depression. Exactly why telemedicine calls work, however, remains largely unknown because there are no adequate research tools to describe the complex communicative interactions in these encounters. We report here an ongoing project to investigate the efficacy of telemedicine in depression care, arguing that technical communication specialists have unique contributions to make to this kind of research.
Carboxypeptidase M in Brain and Peripheral Nerves

Carboxypeptidase M (CPM), a plasma membrane-bound enzyme, cleaves C-terminal basic amino acids with a neutral pH optimum. We studied its distribution in human, baboon, and dog brain and in dog peripheral nerves. Areas were dissected, homogenized, centrifuged, and assayed for activity with dansyl-Ala-Arg. The corpus callosum and the pyramidal and optic tract were especially rich in CPM, whereas basal ganglia and cortex had low activity. The identity of the basic carboxypeptidase activity with CPM was shown by similarities in subcellular localization, membrane attachment, substrate hydrolysis, inhibition by a specific basic carboxypeptidase inhibitor, and cross-reaction with anti-human CPM antiserum. This antiserum immunoprecipitated an average of 85% of the activity in human and baboon brain and approximately 66% in dog brain. CPM co-purified with myelin extracted from the brain. Consistent with results obtained in placenta and cultured kidney cells, CPM in the brain appears to be membrane-bound via a phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor. In the peripheral nerves, the specific activity in dog sciatic nerve and in vagus was high (98 and 149 nmol/h/mg of protein, respectively). In immunohistochemical studies, glia in the brain, which appear to be oligodendrocytes or astrocytes, and the outer aspects of myelin sheaths and Schwann cells in sciatic and vagus nerves were stained. We conclude that in some areas of the CNS and the PNS, CPM is closely associated with myelin and myelin-forming cells. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of mRNA coding for CPM in the brain, showing that the enzyme is indeed synthesized there.
Induction and maintenance of self tolerance: the role of CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells

The immune system responds vigorously to invading pathogens (non-self, foreign), while remaining unresponsive (tolerant) to the body’s own components and circulating constituents (self). This indifference to self components is a result of finely orchestrated events of thymic negative selection (central tolerance) of developing T cells that are autoaggressive combined with those operative in the periphery (peripheral tolerance) to control the activity of potentially autoreactive T cells that escaped thymic tolerance. Recently, autoimmune regulator expressed in the thymus has been identified as a critical mediator of central tolerance towards tissue-specific antigens. In the periphery, a variety of regulatory T cells are involved in effecting tolerance. There is immense interest and excitement about the newly identified subset of CD4+CD25+ T cells. This is a unique subset of CD4+ T cells that bear CD25 (IL-2Rα chain) on the cell surface in the naive state and express FoxP3 as a unique marker. These cells suppress the activity of autoreactive effector T cells primarily via cell-cell contact. The deficiency and/or altered function of CD4+CD25+ T cells is associated with autoimmunity. Mice deficient in FoxP3 (scurfy mice) bear an autoimmune phenotype, and human males with mutations in the corresponding gene express the phenotype of wide-spread autoimmunity, the immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy and enteropathy, and X-linked syndrome. In vitro expansion of antigen-specific CD4+CD25+ T cells and their adoptive transfer into patients suffering from autoimmunity is emerging as a promising new therapeutic approach for these debilitating disorders.
Positive and negative psychotropic effects of lamotrigine in patients with epilepsy and mental retardation.

Summary: Purpose: To describe significant positive or negative psychotropic effects of lamotrigine (LTG) observed in epilepsy patients with mental retardation (MR). Methods: Seven mentally retarded epilepsy patients, [5 with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS)] who experienced significant behavioral improvements or worsening after addition of LTG to their medication regimen were studied. Results: LTG produced behavioral improvements in 4 patients. Patient 1, a 14-year-old girl, had LTG added to valproate (VPA) and thioridazine, resulting in diminished lethargy, less hyperactivity, and more appropriate speech. In a 17-year-old boy (patient 2) LTG added to VPA, phenytoin (PHT), and gabapentin (GBP) lessened irritability and hyperactivity. In patient 3, a 41-year-old woman, LTG added to PHT, VPA, and carbamazepine (CBZ) diminished lethargy and enhanced her social interactions. In patient 4, a 27-year-old man, LTG monotherapy diminished irritability and hyperactivity. Adverse behavioral effects were noted in 3 patients. In patient 5, a 43- year-old man, LTG added to PHT, phenobarbital (PB), lorazepam, sertraline, and thioridazine produced irritability, hyperactivity, and poor cooperation. In patient 6, a 29-year-old woman, LTG added to VPA produced frequent screaming, temper tantrums, increased rocking movements, and hyperactivity. In patient 7, a 29-year-old man, LTG added to VPA and PHT resulted in severe exacerbation of baseline behaviors, including self-injurious activity, temper tantrums, and failure to obey simple instructions. Conclusions: In some patients with epilepsy and MR, LTG has significant positive or negative effects on behavior.
Prenatal cocaine exposure and child welfare outcomes

This study examines the relationship between prenatal cocaine exposure and child welfare outcomes. Seventy-six infants positive for cocaine at birth were matched to 76 negative infants. With prenatal care and maternal use of alcohol and tobacco controlled, cocaine-exposed infants had significant decrements in birth weight, length, head circumference, and depressed 5-min Apgar scores. This confirmed the health risk of prenatal cocaine exposure for the sample. Three-year follow-up data were obtained from the State Central Register and foster care records. Adjusting for prior maternal involvement with child welfare services the study groups did not differ in incidents of child maltreatment or foster care placement. These findings suggest that prenatal cocaine exposure is not a marker for abusive parenting. However, from the perspective of a cumulative risk model, the identification of cocaine-exposed infants at birth can form the starting point for the development of appropriate diagnostic and follow-up services for mother and child.
Diluting Brand Beliefs: When Do Brand Extensions Have a Negative Impact?:

This paper examines situations in which brand extensions are more or less likely to dilute beliefs associated with the family brand name. The results of an experimental investigation indicate that ...
Ingestion-related activity of caudate and entopeduncular neurons in the cat

Single-unit activity was recorded in the caudate nucleus and entopeduncular nucleus in cats during ingestion. In both nuclei, ingestion-related neurons were of two types: those with no facial somatosensory receptive field and an ingestion-related response, and those with a facial somatosensory field and an ingestion response. Neurons in both regions contained cells with conditioned responses to the noise produced by the solenoid that delivered milk. No caudate neurons and only 3% of entopeduncular neurons were phasically related to jaw muscle activity. These results indicate that neurons in both input and output regions of the basal ganglia in the cat have complex ingestion-related response characteristics with little relationship to specific orolingual movements.
A Photographic Method of Measuring the Relative Intensities of Spectral Lines

A method for measuring the relative intensities of spectral lines is described in which a step diaphragm is substituted for the slit of a spectrograph. A continuous source of light then produces on the photographic plate a set of bands over which the intensity of the light varies as the widths of the openings in the step diaphragm. Necessary precautions in the use of the method are noted. Results from this method are compared with those obtained by varying the distance to the source. Possible errors in measurements on relative intensities of spectral lines due to the Eberhard effect and to the use of an intermittent source are mentioned.
Microdissection of Black Widow Spider Silk-producing Glands

Modern spiders spin high-performance silk fibers with a broad range of biological functions, including locomotion, prey capture and protection of developing offspring 1,2. Spiders accomplish these tasks by spinning several distinct fiber types that have diverse mechanical properties. Such specialization of fiber types has occurred through the evolution of different silk-producing glands, which function as small biofactories. These biofactories manufacture and store large quantities of silk proteins for fiber production. Through a complex series of biochemical events, these silk proteins are converted from a liquid into a solid material upon extrusion. Mechanical studies have demonstrated that spider silks are stronger than high-tensile steel 3. Analyses to understand the relationship between the structure and function of spider silk threads have revealed that spider silk consists largely of proteins, or fibroins, that have block repeats within their protein sequences 4. Common molecular signatures that contribute to the incredible tensile strength and extensibility of spider silks are being unraveled through the analyses of translated silk cDNAs. Given the extraordinary material properties of spider silks, research labs across the globe are racing to understand and mimic the spinning process to produce synthetic silk fibers for commercial, military and industrial applications. One of the main challenges to spinning artificial spider silk in the research lab involves a complete understanding of the biochemical processes that occur during extrusion of the fibers from the silk-producing glands. Here we present a method for the isolation of the seven different silk-producing glands from the cobweaving black widow spider, which includes the major and minor ampullate glands [manufactures dragline and scaffolding silk] 5,6, tubuliform [synthesizes egg case silk] 7,8, flagelliform [unknown function in cob-weavers], aggregate [makes glue silk], aciniform [synthesizes prey wrapping and egg case threads] 9 and pyriform [produces attachment disc silk] 10. This approach is based upon anesthetizing the spider with carbon dioxide gas, subsequent separation of the cephalothorax from the abdomen, and microdissection of the abdomen to obtain the silk-producing glands. Following the separation of the different silk-producing glands, these tissues can be used to retrieve different macromolecules for distinct biochemical analyses, including quantitative real-time PCR, northern- and western blotting, mass spectrometry (MS or MS/MS) analyses to identify new silk protein sequences, search for proteins that participate in the silk assembly pathway, or use the intact tissue for cell culture or histological experiments.
RECURRENT EPIGASTRIC PAINS SIMULATING PEPTIC ULCER IN POSTPARTUM PITUITARY NECROSIS. REPORT OF A CASE.

Unlike most patients with Addison's disease, patients with hypopituitarism manifest few of the characteristic features of adrenocortical hypofunction. Hypotensive or hypoglycemic episodes may therefore present as initial signs of adrenal crisis in patients who may have manifested only minor degrees of other target-gland dysfunction.
Cosmology: No miracle in the multiverse

Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow suggest our Universe isn't all that special, finds Michael Turner.
Neurosecretion and behavior in arthropods.

Abstract The roles of neurosecretory hormones in behavior have been analyzed on the neurophysiological level, using the cockroach as the experimental animal. Corpora cardiaca release neurosecretory hormones into the hemolymph and into axons connected to the subesophageal ganglion. Regulation of locomotor activity can be produced either by direct effects of corpus cardiacum extracts upon ganglia or by effects mediated via an inhibitory center in the subesophageal ganglion; the latter type of mechanism is responsible for effects of the extracts upon the “release” of copulatory reflexes. The pharmacology of corpus cardiacum extracts and the selective advantages which might be associated with their behavioral effects are discussed and compared with roles of neurosecretory hormones in other arthropods, with emphasis upon unsolved problems.