cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Complexities of Categorizing Character Traits

With the explosion of interest in virtue and virtue ethics, one set of issues that has been comparatively neglected is how to categorize moral character traits. This paper distinguishes three approaches—what I call the Stoic, personality psychology, and Aristotelian—and critically assesses each of them. The Stoic approaches denies that virtues come in degrees. There is perfect virtue or nothing at all. The personality psychology approach denies that virtues have thresholds. So everyone has all the virtues to some degree or other. The Aristotelian approach accepts both degrees and thresholds. So some people might not have the virtues, and if they do, they might have them to various degrees. In addition, each of these positions takes a different stand on how to understand the vices as well. Using the virtue of honesty as the central example, the paper ends up favoring the Aristotelian approach but notes some of the complexities involved in adopting it.
Antibacterial behaviour of surface modified composite polyamide nanofiltration (NF) membrane by immobilizing Ag-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

Modification of active membrane surface is an auspicious way to enhance the membrane performance. In our study, a commercially available composite polyamide Nanofiltration (NF) membrane was modifie...
Real-Time Stencil Printing Optimization Using a Hybrid Multi-Layer Online Sequential Extreme Learning and Evolutionary Search Approach

This article aims to develop a dynamic optimization model performing real-time control of a stencil printing process (SPP) by maintaining the optimal printer parameter settings. In a surface mount technology (SMT) assembly line, stencil printing is a major process that affects the yield of printed circuit boards (PCBs). During printing, environmental changes may induce the PCB’s printing results to deviate from initial optimal outcomes. To consistently improve the system performance, a real-time adaptation of the printer settings is an effective and cost-efficient approach. This research proposes a hybrid online optimization model by using online learning to predict real-time SPP volumes and an evolutionary search (ES) technique to determine the optimal settings. The prediction model investigates the printing volumes’ transfer efficiency (TE) in averages and standard deviations (SDs) with relevant features. From the model selection of the online-based learning, the multi-layer online sequential extreme learning machine (MOSELM) shows outstanding prediction performance with $R^{2}$ values of 97% for volume averages and 81% for SDs. From the real implicational results, the system achieves a $C_{pk}=2.8$ , outperforming other advanced models. The proposed framework exhibits a good balance between accuracy and retraining efficiency, promising effective SMT assembly dynamic control.
Multi-Task Stance Detection with Sentiment and Stance Lexicons.

Stance detection aims to detect whether the opinion holder is in support of or against a given target. Recent works show improvements in stance detection by using either the attention mechanism or sentiment information. In this paper, we propose a multi-task framework that incorporates target-specific attention mechanism and at the same time takes sentiment classification as an auxiliary task. Moreover, we used a sentiment lexicon and constructed a stance lexicon to provide guidance for the attention layer. Experimental results show that the proposed model significantly outperforms state-of-the-art deep learning methods on the SemEval-2016 dataset.
How does race and ethnicity effect the precision treatment of asthma

Introduction: Asthma is a common condition that affects large numbers of children and adults, yet the burden of disease is not equally distributed amongst groups. In the United States, African Amer...
Survival and glycemic control in patients with colorectal cancer and diabetes mellitus.

e18755Background: This study examined the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on survival in colorectal cancer patients, and the effect of colorectal cancer on glycemic control. Methods: Colorectal ca...
Searching for a Silver Lining: Mediated Intergroup Contact and Mental Health Perceptions

This study investigated viewer responses to characters from Silver Linings Playbook , a movie about characters dealing with mental illness, from the perspective of mediated intergroup contact hypothesis. Researchers tested if identification with fictional characters with mental illness reduced viewers’ negative stereotypes about mental illness and increased their willingness to support people with the same illnesses as the characters. Additionally, empathy was tested as a mediator between identification and stereotype reduction. One hundred forty-five participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 character conditions. The hypotheses associated with identification and stereotypes and intentions were partially supported. For two characters, empathy mediated the relationship between identification and negative stereotypes. Implications for mediated portrayals of health issues and behaviors are discussed.
Metals: Basic Principles

Abstract Metallic biomaterials are a central class of materials for use in medical devices. This is primarily due to the high strength and other mechanical properties associated with these materials. This chapter provides an introduction to the basic science of metals focused specifically on alloys used as biomaterials. The processing-structure-properties relationships of metallic biomaterials are described and the role of defects in metals and their effects on properties are described. Basic mechanical behavior, including fracture, fatigue and wear are discussed and the nature of passive metal oxide thin films on these alloys are presented. Finally, the corrosion behavior of metals used in the body is discussed along with the concepts of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy used to characterize the passive films and corrosion performance.
Designing Webtexts for Born-Digital Readers: Seven Dimensions of User-Centered Design

Part website, part academic article, the “born-digital” webtext opens new opportunities for interactive, multimodal scholarship that breaks free from the constraints of print, digitally accessible publishing. However, webtext designers and publishers lack feedback on the experiences of born-digital readers: diverse users accustomed to online resources for whom webtexts are ostensibly designed. This paper provides such feedback by using comparative findings from webtext usability tests conducted with academic faculty and graduate students to elaborate seven dimensions of user-centered webtext design. The dimensions and associated usability findings— including affordances and constraints that facilitate skimming scanning, and close reading, signifiers and conceptual models that familiarize users with unfamiliar designs, and feedback and mappings that help users contextualize their reading and understand their reading progress— provide scope and guidance for the design of born-digital webtexts readers find both useful and usable.
Memory Lapses-Winning the Slow Race.

Summary Pre-existing humoral immunity can impact immune responses to heterologous infections. In this issue of Immunity, Wong et al. reveal that memory B cells, while failing to re-enter the germinal center, create an affinity-restricted, diversified B cell repertoire for rapid plasma blast responses. Their findings have important implications to vaccine design.
Uncertainty Analysis of Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvesters Using a Finite Element Level-Based Maximum Entropy Approach

AbstractQuantifying effects of system-wide uncertainties (i.e., affecting structural, piezoelectric, and/or electrical components) in the analysis and design of piezoelectric vibration energy harve...
Adaptive Histogram-Based Gradient Boosted Trees for Federated Learning.

Federated Learning (FL) is an approach to collaboratively train a model across multiple parties without sharing data between parties or an aggregator. It is used both in the consumer domain to protect personal data as well as in enterprise settings, where dealing with data domicile regulation and the pragmatics of data silos are the main drivers. While gradient boosted tree implementations such as XGBoost have been very successful for many use cases, its federated learning adaptations tend to be very slow due to using cryptographic and privacy methods and have not experienced widespread use. We propose the Party-Adaptive XGBoost (PAX) for federated learning, a novel implementation of gradient boosting which utilizes a party adaptive histogram aggregation method, without the need for data encryption. It constructs a surrogate representation of the data distribution for finding splits of the decision tree. Our experimental results demonstrate strong model performance, especially on non-IID distributions, and significantly faster training run-time across different data sets than existing federated implementations. This approach makes the use of gradient boosted trees practical in enterprise federated learning.
Characterization of Ciprofloxacin Resistance Levels: Implications for Ototopical Therapy.

Hypothesis Ciprofloxacin-resistant pathogens are inhibited by high concentrations of ciprofloxacin found in commercially-available ototopical solutions. Background Ciprofloxacin-resistant pathogens in otitis media are currently treated with ototopical ciprofloxacin suspensions. This is done irrespective of laboratory-reported ciprofloxacin susceptibility, under the assumption that the high concentration of ciprofloxacin applied topically is sufficient to overcome antimicrobial resistance. Methods We evaluated 34 ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates consisting of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Corynebacterium spp., and Turicella otitidis. Ciprofloxacin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays and clinical ototopical solution minimum bactericidal concentration (CMBC) assays were performed. Results Amongst the ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates, ciprofloxacin MICs ranged from 8 to 256 mcg/ml (mean: 87.1 mcg/ml) and CMBCs ranged from 23.4 to 1500 mcg/ml (mean: 237.0 mcg/ml). There were no significant differences with respect to MIC in comparing P. aeruginosa versus Corynebacterium spp. (mean: 53.3 versus 55.2, p = 0.86), S. aureus versus P. aeruginosa (mean: 128.0 versus 53.3, p = 0.34), and S. aureus versus Corynebacterium spp. (mean: 128.0 versus 55.2, p = 0.09). The correlation between ciprofloxacin MIC and CMBC was poor (Pearson's r = -0.08, p = 0.75). Conclusions Ciprofloxacin-resistant pathogens commonly recovered from otitis media exhibit highly variable ciprofloxacin MIC and CMBC levels. Ciprofloxacin was able to inhibit growth in all isolates tested at MIC levels less than or equal to 256 mcg/ml; however, CMBC's up to 1500 mcg/ml were observed within that same group. The clinical relevance of these in vitro MICs is unclear due in part to higher bactericidal concentrations (CMBC) in several strains. Our results suggest that treatment failures may be due to a combination of factors rather than high-level resistance alone.
Liquid Pumping by Nanoscopic “Flexible Oars”

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study pumping of liquids by flapping graphene nanosheets. Despite the low Reynolds number conditions, liquids are pumped by the flapping nanosheets with a...
The Airline On-time Performance Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on flight delays in the U.S. airline industry. Using daily data on COVID-19 cases and flight on-time performance, and controlling for product, carrier and market characteristics, we find that increases in reported COVID-19 cases are associated with reductions in both departure and arrival delays. Specifically, a standard deviation increase in COVID-19 cases reduces arrival delay by 1 minute 42 seconds and departure delay by 2 minutes, on average. Our results suggest that despite the economic fallout from the pandemic, a silver lining emerges—flights are departing and arriving with less delay amid the pandemic.
N-Myc and STAT Interactor regulates autophagy and chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells

We have previously reported that expression of NMI (N-myc and STAT interactor) is compromised in invasive breast cancers. We also demonstrated that loss of NMI expression promotes epithelial-mesenchymal-transition and results in enhanced invasive ability of breast cancer cells. Additionally we had demonstrated that restoration of NMI expression reduced breast cancer xenograft growth and downregulated Wnt and TGFβ/SMAD signaling. Here we present our observations that NMI expression drives autophagy. Our studies were promoted by our observation that NMI expressing breast cancer cells showed autophagic vacuoles and LC3 processing. Additionally, we found that NMI expression increased the cisplatin sensitivity of the breast cancer cells. Our mechanistic investigations show that NMI prompts activation of GSK3-β. This multifunctional kinase is an upstream effector of the TSC1/TSC2 complex that regulates mTOR signaling. Inhibition of GSK3-β activity in NMI expressing cells activated mTOR signaling and decreased the cells’ autophagic response. Additionally we demonstrate that a key component of autophagy, DNA-damage regulated autophagy modulator 1 (DRAM1), is regulated by NMI. Our TCGA database analysis reveals concurrent expression of NMI and DRAM1 in breast cancer specimens. We present evidence that NMI sensitizes breast cancer cells to cisplatin treatment through DRAM1 dependent autophagy.
Covert Operations: the Adaptable Plan of Attack Deployed by Pathogenic Bacteria

Bacterial pathogenesis may be viewed as a developmental program wherein the virulence traits observed are the summation of the relative contributions of nature versus nurture; i.e., a series of complex interactions between bacterial genes and the environments experienced during the infective process. Repression or inhibition of virulence functions may also improve bacterial fitness by mediating immune avoidance mechanisms, the establishment and maintenance of subclinical infections, or bacterial transmission to new hosts or the environment. Owing to the dehydration associated with massive diarrhea (several liters/day), cholera is one of the most rapidly fatal diseases known. Analysis of the coordinate control of bacterial virulence gene expression in response to environmental and genetic signals in the laboratory setting (in vitro) has contributed significantly to defining the functions that confer microbial pathogenicity. This chapter talks about Vibrio cholerae, Shigella spp, and Salmonella spp in detail. The study of microbial pathogens in the context of their natural host(s) provides insights into microbial pathogenicity that cannot be revealed from in vitro studies alone. Classification of virulence genes based on their preferential expression in host tissues provides a means to understand the ecology of infection as well as spatial and functional relationships between bacterial and host gene products. The currently available means to determine the level of expression of all messenger RNA (with DNA arrays) and all proteins (with two-dimensional analyses) will permit the determination of gene activation and protein expression during the varied stages of infection.
Using controlled vocabularies as a knowledge base for natural resource managers

This project seeks to provide access to forest information for both its producers and consumers, e.g., local, state, and federal agencies and many other parties. This project focuses on the Adaptive management Areas of the Pacific Northwest, ten areas of forestlands set aside for experimentation in all aspects of forest management (Figure 1). The goal of the project is to build a web-based, forest information portal that preserves the autonomy and local focus of each Adaptive Management Area.
The relation of perceived neighborhood danger to childhood aggression : A test of mediating mechanisms

In the current study, two mediational mechanisms, parenting practices and children's beliefs about aggression, were hypothesized to account for the relationship between perceived neighborhood danger and childhood aggression. Using structural equation modeling, data were analyzed from an inner-city school-based sample of 732 predominantly African American 5th graders. Results suggested that perceived neighborhood danger was associated with strong positive beliefs about aggression, which in turn was associated with high levels of aggression. The hypothesized mediating role of parenting practices (restrictive discipline, parental monitoring, and parental involvement) on the relation between perceived neighborhood danger and child aggression was not supported. However, the current findings suggest that children's positive beliefs about aggression mediated the relationship between restrictive discipline and aggression. Directions for future research are discussed.
No-tillage, Strip-tillage, and Chisel Plow Tillage Trial

Materials and Methods This trial was conducted in 2011 with the strip-tillage and chisel plow tillage being applied in the falls of 2010 and 2011. In both the strip-tillage and chisel plow treatments, 200 lb N/acre was applied as anhydrous ammonia at the same time as tillage. Urea ammonium nitrate was applied at the rate of 200 lb N/acre at V5 stage corn for the notillage treatment. No additional phosphorus and potassium was applied based on soil test levels for the plot area. Pioneer 33W84 was planted on May 6, 2011 at 34,000 seeds/acre. On May 14, 2012, Pioneer 1162AM was planted at 36,000 seeds/acre. In both years the prior crop was corn. Each plow was 30 ft wide by 450 ft long.
Predicting transmitted levels and audible effects for meeting room speech security

A method in which attenuations between room-average sound levels in meeting rooms to spot receiver positions near the outside of rooms was proposed to evaluate the speech security of the room. It avoids problem with ill-defined receiving spaces, and spaces that do not have even approximately diffuse sound fields. It also provides assessments of speech security for more sensitive locations where an eavesdropper is more likely to be found. The method can predict transmitted sound levels 0.25 from the outside of the meeting room.
Virtual classroom with the use of a learning module

Summary form only given. A portion of the junior level water resources engineering course was revised to consist of a short lecture, and problem solving in class using a drainage module. The class was divided into two sections. The first section was given lectures in class and assigned a drainage project. The second section was only introduced to the topic and given the module. The second section was assigned the same project as the first section. After the initial instructions, the two sections were separated into different classrooms. The modules are used as a learning aid by solving drainage problems in a number of illustrative examples. US Army Corps of Engineers Programs (HEC-I and HEC-RAS) are used to solve these examples. The instructor organized the groups according to grades obtained by students in earlier tests. Each group prepared two written reports, summarizing the results of their project with the HEC printouts in the appendix. A test was also given to the class on the HEC projects that they completed. Finally each student filled an assessment questionnaire. The section without the module scored 1.5 out of 100 better than the section with the module on the reports and also scored five points higher on the test. In general, the students with the highest academic average (smartest students) scored the highest on the tests and reports and the students with the lowest academic average (worst students) scored the lowest. This scoring was independent of the section the student was in.
Chapter 14 Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Atherosclerosis

Abstract Increasing knowledge about the impact of infections and immunity on lipid metabolism and vascular homeostasis has led to a model for atherosclerosis tied to immune dysregulation. The finding of accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus supports this model. The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a complex disorder of autoimmune-linked coagulation, seems a likely candidate to further increase risk for atherosclerosis. APS has been redefined several times in order to construct classification criteria to facilitate clinical research. However, it is also clear that a spectrum of vascular abnormalities can arise associated with autoantibodies and clinical features that overlap in patients with APS. This has led to controversy and confusion about the APS classification criteria, a problem which merits acknowledgment before considering whether or how antiphospholipid antibodies might contribute to atherosclerosis. The current review supports the importance of maintaining a strict classification syndrome for APS to facilitate comparative studies and advance treatments for this life-threatening disorder. However, license is taken to explore all data relevant to APS and atherosclerosis, including consideration of some autoantibodies and other signs of immune activation that are closely related to, if not contained strictly within, the currently accepted definitions of APS.
SERS substrates fabricated using ceramic filters for the detection of bacteria

SERS substrates were fabricated by filtering either Ag or Au colloidal particles onto rigid, ceramic filters - onto which suspensions of bacteria were then filtered. SERS spectra of the bacteria were obtained using a Raman spectrometer that has an 'orbital raster scan' capability. It was shown that bacteria samples prepared in this manner were uniformly distributed onto the surface of the SERS substrate. The effect of common buffer systems on the SERS spectra was investigated and the utility of using the SERS technique for speciation of bacteria was explored.
The Strategic and Discursive Contributions of the Max Planck Principles for Intellectual Property Provisions in Bilateral and Regional Agreements

In June 2013, the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law released its Principles for Intellectual Property Provisions in Bilateral and Regional Agreements. Drafted by the Institute’s directors and research fellows in collaboration with a team of outside experts, this document seeks to facilitate the development of "international rules and procedures that can achieve a better, mutually advantageous and balanced regulation of international [intellectual property]." This essay discusses the important contributions the Principles have made at both the strategic and discursive levels. It situates these two sets of contributions in the context of the ongoing challenges confronting the development of the international trading and intellectual property systems. The essay concludes by briefly highlighting two important areas of interfaces that the Principles, by design, are unable to address.
L-series with nonzero central critical value

Suppose that f Zn>1 an(f)qTn is a cusp form of weight 2k (k E N). We denote by L(f, s) the L-function of f. For Re(s) sufficiently large, the value of L(f, s) is given by L(f, s) = En>1 an), and one can show that L(f, s) has analytic continuation to the entire complex plane. The value of L(f, s) at s = k will be of particular interest to us, and we will refer to this value as the central critical value of L(f, s). Let XD denote the Dirichlet character associated to the extension Q(\D)/Q, that is, XD (n) (va), where AD denotes the discriminant of Q( D)/Q. Define the Dth quadratic twist of f to be fxD = En>1 an(f)XD (n)qn. For any integer D, the L-function of fx, is the Dth quadratic twist of L(f, s), that is, L(fxD , s) Zn> aan(f )XD(n). We will be interested in determining how often L(fxD,s) has nonzero central critical value as D varies over all integers. Since XD 2 = XD we will restrict our attention to the square-free integers D. We expect that as we let D vary over all of the square-free integers, a positive proportion of the L-functions L(fxD , s) will have nonzero central critical value. Indeed, Goldfeld [7] conjectures that for newforms f of weight 2, L(fxD 1) 78 0 for 1 of the square-free integers. Given an elliptic curve E: y2 = x3 +Ax2 +Bx+C (A, B, C E Z) with conductor NE and an integer D, we define the Dth quadratic twist of E to be the curve ED: Y2 = x3+ADx2+BD2x+CD3. Let L(ED, s) denote the L-function associated to ED. For square-free D coprime to 2NE, L(ED, s) is simply the Dth quadratic twist of L(Ei, s). If f E S2(N) is a newform with integer coefEcients, we know via the theory of Eichler and Shimura that there is an elliptic curve E over Q having conductor N so that L(E, s) = L(f, s). Thus if D is coprime to 2N, then L(ED, s) L(fXD, s). Also, one knows from the work of Kolyvagin [13], as supplemented by the work of Murty and Murty [17] or that of Bump, Friedberg and Hoffstein [3] (see also [10] for a shorter proof), that if E is a modular elliptic curve and if L(E, 1) 7 0, then the rank of E is 0. Thus, if f has the property that a positive proportion of the twists of L(f, s) have nonzero central critical value, then this implies that a positive density of the quadratic twists ED have rank 0. There have been many papers which have proved results in this direction. For example, in [2], [3], [6], [10], [16], [17], [19], [28] one can find general theorems on
Vapor-phase silylation of MCM-41 and Ti-MCM-41

Abstract MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves have been silylated with trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) and trimethylethoxysilane (TMES) under anhydrous, vapor-phase reaction conditions. The silylation reactions were performed at 473 and 623 K following pre-treatment at either 523 or 973 K. At the pre-treatment temperature of 973 K, most hydrogen-bonded surface silanols in MCM-41 are dehydroxylated to form siloxane bridges. The reactivity of surface silanols and siloxane bridges with the silylation agents was monitored using in-situ infrared spectroscopy. More extensive silylation by TMCS and TMES is achieved at the higher reaction temperature. At 623 K, TMCS reacts with most lone and hydrogen-bonded silanols in non-dehydroxylated MCM-41 to yield a trimethylsilyl (TMS) surface coverage of approximately 1.2 TMS/nm 2 . Silylation protocols incorporating the dehydroxylation pre-treatment step yield lower organic loadings, because the siloxane bridges do not completely react with the silylation agents or their co-products. Silylation of titanium-containing MCM-41 catalysts with TMCS enhances their hydrophobicity and improves their activity and selectivity for the epoxidation of cyclohexene with aqueous hydrogen peroxide.
Preventing traumatic stress: public health approaches.

Population-based approaches to the primary prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) focus on the prevention of the stressor itself. Policy decisions also consider ways to allocate resources to best reduce potential damage from traumatic stressors and to ameliorate any resulting harm. A balance between broad risk prevention approaches and narrower treatment and recovery strategies can redistribute the risk of exposure and lead to fewer cases. Understanding that PTSD and its costs affect not only individuals who seek care, but also many others whose lives overlap with these individuals as well as society as a whole, further informs and shapes prevention decisions.
The Effect of Nonisodiametric Design on the Ease of Extracting Chronically Implanted Pacemaker Leads

Extracting permanently implanted transvenous pacemaker leads is often difficult because a fibrous sheath tends to trap the lead at various points along its course. Because many leads have bulbous or nonisodiametric portions, extraction may be rendered even more troublesome, because it is difficult to pull the larger portion through the narrow areas of the sheath. Furthermore, forceful extraction may have dire consequences, such as cardiac laceration. A study was undertaken in animals to evaluate the effect of lead isodiametricity on lead extraction. The results show that any increase in the diameter of the lead tip greatly reduces the ease of its removal. Consequently, leads designed to be isodiametric throughout their entire lengths will greatly enhance their removability.
HIV: Early treatment may not be early enough

Giving monkeys antiretroviral therapy from just three days after exposure to simian immunodeficiency virus does not prevent a subsequent rebound of viral replication, suggesting that viral reservoirs are established early. See Letter p.74 Reservoirs of virus infection, impervious to antiviral drugs, are a serious obstacle to attempts to eradicate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Dan Barouch and colleagues explore the timing of the formation of these reservoirs in a monkey model. They find that antiviral treatment as early as three days after infection of macaques with simian immunodeficiency virus — prior to the onset of viraemia — fails to prevent the seeding of viral reservoirs, and the virus eventually rebounds when drug treatment is discontinued.
Dendritic encapsulation as probed in redox active core dendrimers

Abstract The relationship between dendrimer primary structure, conformation, and core encapsulation behaviors is highlighted. This work has involved the synthesis of several novel types of redox-active core dendrimers. Assessment of diffusion measurements provides a first indication of molecular size. Conformation can be probed by exploiting electrochemical and magnetic properties of the core and correlation of these behaviors to computational models. To cite this article: C.B. Gorman, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).
Immunochemical studies on some acetylated proteins: Acetylated rabbit serum albumin, an antigen in rabbits☆☆☆

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of the acetylation reaction on rabbit serum albumin, bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin, and rabbit γ-globulin as revealed by immunochemical techniques have been investigated. 2. 2. Acetylated rabbit serum albumin is shown to be antigenic in rabbits. 3. 3. Acetylated proteins exhibit cross reactions with the antisera produced against other acetylated proteins. 4. 4. The bearing of these findings on the implication of −NH 3 + groups of the antibody in the bovine serum albumin-antibovine serum albumin interaction, and on the conditions for the antigenicity of proteins in general, is discussed.
CHOLESTEROL AND PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN RAT MICROVILLUS MEMBRANE (MVM) CHANGE WITH MATURATION AND WITH GLUCO-CORTICOID ADMINISTRATION

Alterations in small intestinal MVM lipid composition may have profound effects on biophysical properties, such as fluidity and hydrophobicity. We prepared MVM using MgCl2 precipitation of small intestine from rats ranging in age from late fetal life to adulthood. In addition, the effects of glucocorticoid administration (dexamethasone at 0.2 rag/Kg to pregnant mothers and hydrocortisone 50 mg/Kg to postnatal rats) were analyzed. Phospholipids were measured by 2-dimensional thin layer chromatography and cholesterol by coloriraetry. Cholesterol/protein ratio did not change with maturation or with glucocorticoid. These results indicate: 1) a decrease in phospholipid to protein ratio with maturation, which is not altered by exogenous glucocorticoids, 2) cholesterol to phospholipid ratios increase with maturation, which is modulated by glucocorticoids in weanling and adult rats. Since the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid is known to alter membrane molecular packing, these maturational changes may be related to the ontogeny of membrane fluidity, hydrophobicity and permeability.
Critical behavior of the helicity modulus for the classical Heisenberg model

The critical scaling of the helicity modulus of the classical O(3) $3d$ Heisenberg ferromagnet is studied directly. Monte Carlo methods that impose either an antiperiodic boundary condition or a finite twist of definite handedness across otherwise periodic boundaries in one lattice direction are used to measure scale-dependent enthalpy variations in a simple cubic lattice at the ferromagnetic critical temperature. Finite-size scaling is then used to determine the critical exponents ${v}_{E}$ and ${v}_{F}$ for helicity and, by evaluating three independent hyperscaling-linked pairs of $\ensuremath{\nu}$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, to test hyperscaling for this model. It is observed that antiperiodic boundary conditions in particular constrain the lattice to have a nonzero topological charge, establishing a connection between topological charge and helicity in the model.
Surgical Aspects of Chronic Progressive Cavitary Pulmonary Histoplasmosis

espite the usual benignity of pulmonary histoplasmosis, chronic progressive cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis is a deadly disD ease. One-third of such untreated patients are dead from it within four years [l, 51. Drug therapy alone may reduce such mortality to 15% [5]. This is a review of 24 patients with chronic progressive cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis treated by a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.
Breit-Wigner-Fano resonances in the photoconductivity of semiconductors: Experiment

Abstract We report the observation of new structure in the photoconductivity spectra of the single acceptors (B, Al, Ga, and In) in Si. This structure occurs at frequencies corresponding to an energy equal to the excitation energy of bound P su 3 2 states from the ground state plus the energy of a near zone center optical phonon. Based on this observation the structure is attributed to Breit-Wigner-Fano resonances due to the mixing of the excited bound states of the acceptor plus an optical phonon with the continuum of unbound states.
Array Decompositions for Nonuniform Computational Environments

Two-dimensional arrays are useful in a large variety of scientific and engineering applications. Parallelization of these applications requires the decomposition of array elements among different machines. Several data-decomposition techniques have been studied in the literature for machines with uniform computational power. In this paper, we develop new methods for decomposing arrays into a cluster of machines with nonuniform computational power. Simulation results show that our methods provide superior decomposition over naive schemes.
Polymorphisms within the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase gene (TERT) in four breeds of dogs selected for difference in lifespan and cancer susceptibility

Enzymatic activity of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) is important in maintaining the telomere length and has been implicated in cancer and aging related pathology. Since cancer susceptibility as well as longevity of dogs vary between breeds, this study involved sequencing the entire TERT gene of Canis familiaris from DNA samples obtained from forty dogs, with ten dogs each of four breeds: Shih Tzu, Dachshund, Irish Wolfhound, and Newfoundland, each with different life expectancies and susceptibility to cancer. We compared the sequences of all forty individuals amongst one another and with the published sequence of canine TERT, and analyzed relationships between members of the same or different breeds. Two separate phylogenetic trees were generated and analyzed from these individuals. Polymorphisms were found most frequently in intronic regions of the gene, although exonic polymorphisms also were observed. In many locations genotypes were observed that were either homozygous for the reference sequence or heterozygous, but the variant homozygous genotype was not observed. We propose that these homozygous variants are likely to have adverse effects in dogs. It was also found that the polymorphisms did not segregate by breed. Because the four breeds chosen come from geographically and physiologically distinct backgrounds, it can be inferred that the polymorphic diversification of TERT preceded breed derivation.
Stability of lipids of erythrocytes preserved in liquid nitrogen.

Human erythrocytes preserved by a low-glycerol, rapid-freeze method maintained normal lipid concentrations after storage at -196 C for three to 146 weeks. In contrast to erythrocytes stored in ACD at 4 C, the frozen cells exhibited no tendency to develop progressive losses of total lipid weight, cholesterol, or lipid phosphorus. Relative distribution of individual phospholipids was similar to that of fresh control specimens. No streaking or other evidence of products of oxidative degradation was observed in thin-layer chromatograms, and assays for peroxide formation in lipid extracts were unaffected by prolonged storage of the frozen cells. These findings indicate that the structural integrity of erythrocyte membrane lipoproteins remained intact for up to three years after preservation by a low-glycerol, rapid-freeze technic and storage in liquid nitrogen at -196 C.
Impaired hepatic bacterial clearance is reversed by surgical relief of obstructive jaundice

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants with cholestatic jaundice. Previous studies have shown that biliary obstruction in rats causes a significant decrease in hepatic phagocytosis of viable Escherichia coli. This study tests this hypothesis and further evaluates whether the impaired function of the reticuloendothelial system of the liver (Kupffer cells) can be reversed by the relief of the biliary obstruction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 140 to 150 g) were placed in three groups. Group I (n = 10) consisted of sham-operated controls. In Group II (n = 30), ligation and division of distal common bile duct (CDL) was performed. Group III (n = 30) underwent choledochoduodenostomy 2 weeks following ligation and division of common bile duct. At 1, 2, and 3 weeks following the operation, 10(9) 35S-radiolabeled viable E coli were injected intravenously via the tail vein. At 10 minutes, bacterial distribution in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs was determined. Tissue samples (50 to 100 mg) from each organ were processed for liquid scintillation counting. The final distribution of bacteria was calculated from the input specific activity (dpm/bacteria) and expressed as the mean percentage of injected viable E coli per gram of tissue and per total organ weight. There was a significant decrease in the trapping of bacteria by the liver's Kupffer cells in rats in group II, at 2 and 3 weeks following CDL (45.0% +/- 14.0% and 15.1% +/- 4.9%, respectively, v controls 75.9% +/- 13.7%; P less than .005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Utility of separation science in metabolomic studies

Metabolomics, or alternately metabonomics, an emerging field of biochemical research, is a complementary technique to genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Direct quantitative measurements of metabolite expressions in urine, serum, plasma, and tissue are essential for the study of biological processes in normal and disease states. Since the number of metabolites in a biological sample is large separation science plays an important role in metabolomic research. This review describes the role of GC, HPLC, CE, and supercritical fluid chromatography in metabolomic research. The application of each technique is discussed and its advantages and limitations are discussed with selective illustrative examples.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the antisocial process screening device with a clinical inpatient population.

Research linking psychopathic tendencies to childhood behavior problems is predicated on the assumption that the findings are based on using psychometrically sound measures of psychopathic tendencies. Although evaluated with community samples, the psychometric properties of such measures have not been evaluated with inpatient clinical populations thereby limiting conclusions. Hence, the goal of the present study was to evaluate the factor structure of a widely used measure—the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD)—with an inpatient population. Parents of 328 children (M age = 8.90 years) completed the APSD at the time of their child's admission for treatment. Although confirmatory factor analyses supported the three- and two-factor solutions proposed by the authors of the measure, the two-factor structure was more parsimonious. Factors of the two-factor model were also related to symptoms of childhood behavior disorders. The findings extend current research on the APSD's factor structure to an inpati...
Cocharacter sequences are holonomic

Abstract Let { c n } n = 0 ∞ be a codimension sequence of a characteristic zero p.i. algebra. Then the c n satisfy a linear, homogenous recurrence relation whose coefficients are rational functions of n .
Human mammary tumor cell proliferation: primary role of platelet-derived growth factor and possible synergism with human α-fetoprotein

Abstract Human mammary medullary carcinoma cells (passages 16 to 21) were cultured for 2 days to allow for attachment, followed by 6 days of culture in either fetal calf serum, human cord blood, human amniotic fluid, or growth factors in the presence or absence of purified human α-fetoprotein (AFP). When growth factors were tested alone, only platelet-derived growth factor produced a significant increase in cell proliferation. Although up to 40% amniotic fluid had no effect on cell proliferation, human cord blood was two-fold more potent than fetal calf serum at similar concentrations. The addition of 10 ng/ml of platelet-derived growth factor increased the proliferative activity of human cord blood 1.5- to 2.5-fold. Ablation of endogenous AFP by affinity chromatography reduced the proliferative activity of cord blood by 75%. Similarly, the mitogenic activity of cord blood plus platelet-derived growth factor was reduced by 56% when AFP was removed. Purified AFP dose-dependently enhanced the proliferative activity of platelet-derived growth factor. This synergistic effect was specific for platelet-derived growth factor. We conclude that platelet-derived growth factor is a major growth factor controlling the proliferation of these tumor cells and that AFP may enhance growth factor proliferative activity and human mammary tumor growth.
Crystal ball or moneyball: does publishing success during graduate school predict career publication productivity?

In academic departments, arguably the most important decisions that faculty will face collectively will be the hiring of a new colleague. Questions often emerge, however, concerning how to predict whether an applicant will have a successful career in terms of publishing productivity. Some methods of prediction are clinical (what we term the ‘crystal ball’ method), which involve the weighing of several pieces of information with no set decision rules. Other methods are more actuarial (what we term the ‘Moneyball’ method) and rely heavily on an applicant's publication record while in graduate school. To examine the degree to which publication productivity in graduate school predicts publishing success over the course of one's career, we gathered detailed data from the curriculum vitae of 407 faculty residing in institutions affiliated with the Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice. We also identified four faculty ‘outliers’ to target for qualitative interviews to provide addit...
Space Radiation Effects in Advanced Solar Cell Materials and Devices

Abstract : An investigation of the physical mechanisms governing the response of III-V based solar cells to particle irradiation is presented. The effect of particle irradiation on single and multijunction solar cells is studied through current vs. voltage, spectral response, and deep level transient spectroscopy measurements. The basic radiation response mechanisms are identified, and their effects on the solar cell electrical performance are described. In particular, a detailed analysis of multijunction In(x)Ga(1-x)P/In(y)Ga(1-y)As/Ge devices is presented. The MJ cell response is found to be more strongly affected by the internal cell structure than by the In content.
Disaturated phosphatidylcholine as a fetal lung maturity test: Lack of interference by seminal ejaculate as a contaminant in vaginally pooled amniotic fluid samples

Seminal ejaculates obtained from four men were added to amniotic fluid pools. Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratios in amniotic fluid were significantly lowered in the presence of small amounts of contaminating semen. In contrast, the determination of disaturated phosphatidylcholine was not affected by the presence of this contaminant.
Reovirus type 3 and [125I]-iodocyanopindolol bind to distinct domains on the beta-adrenergic like receptor.

Antireceptor antibodies have been developed as a probe to study the cellular receptor for reovirus type 3. Using this probe, a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 65–67 kilodaltons and a pI of 5.8–6.0 was isolated and identified as the reovirus receptor. This protein was also structurally similar to the affinity-purified beta-adrenergic receptor from calf lung. In this report, we employ [125I]-iodocyanopindolol, a high affinity beta-adrenergic antagonist, to further characterize this protein. We show that R1.1, a murine thymoma celll line, possesses about 2,000 receptors per cell with high affinity for ICYP (kD=3.3×10−11 M). Competitive inhibition studies suggest that the receptor is of the beta-2 subtype. Solubilized receptor proteins from R1.1 cells bound to the antireceptor antibody were further purified by SDS-PAGE and electroelution from the gel. Five percent of the proteins thus obtained could bind ICYP with high affinity (kD=1.6×10−10 M). This suggests that the purification procedure produced a collection of forms of this 65- to 67-kilodalton protein, some of which retained the conformation for binding the beta ligands. We also demonstrate that the isolated receptor protein was able to bind ICYP even when the virus binding site was occupied by the anti-idiotype, suggesting that reovirus type 3 and the beta ligands bind to distinct domains on the receptor protein.
Fetal surgery for myelomeningocele: trials and tribulations

The rationale for in utero repair of myelomeningocele (MMC) in the context of pathologic observations, animal models, and outcomes from the initial experience with human fetal MMC repair is presented. This has now culminated in a randomized trial, Management of Myelomeningocele Study, the findings of which are listed. The story is focused on the milestone contributions of members of the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on the road to successful fetal surgery for spina bifida. This is now performed in selected patients and presents an additional therapeutic alternative for expectant mothers carrying a fetus with MMC.
X-ray absorption fine structure above the Ti L edge

We report the first measurement of an EXAFS signal from an L edge in the intermediate-energy range 200--1000 eV, obtained using synchrotron radiation and by the use of a specially designed multielement detector system. Observations of the near-edge absorption fine structure show the hole-state spin-orbit splitting and give clear evidence that the Ti L edge exhibits a ''white line.'' In addition, pronounced oscillations were observed in the absorption spectrum, extending at least 350 eV above the edge. Three peaks were observed in the Fourier-transform signal, corresponding to first-, second-, and fourth-neighbor distances. Derived phase shifts were consistent with a predominant d-wave character in the continuum final state.