cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Militarization of the Belt and Road Initiative

This paper focuses on the potential militarization of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative which is expected to change the current balance of power in the Indo-pacific Region, Africa, Central Asia, Middle East, Europe and South America. Inevitable, such an extensive and expensive investment program, which of great economic and political importance to China, is considered to be the indicator of the country's global ambitions. Simultaneously, the military dimension of the BRI is also extremely important for China as enables it to gradually become a reliable security partner at least for developing initiative member states which do not have the resources to provide security to these infrastructures in their own territory. This is also crucial for Beijing's competitors, the European Union and especially the United States which realize that via the BRI China will able to project military power in an extended geographical area way greater than the China Sea. Undoubtedly, for the Westerners, BRI and its potential militarization is a threat to their cohesion and global dominance.
Using worker's naturalistic response to determine and analyze work zone crashes in the presence of work zone intrusion alert systems.

Abstract Work zone Intrusion Alert Systems (WZIAS) are alert mechanisms that detect and alert workers of vehicles intruding into a work zone. These systems pre-dominantly employ two components-sensors placed near the work zone perimeter that detect intrusions, and alarms placed closed to or carried by the workers that alerts them. This study investigates the association between layout of these components for three WZIAS on work zone crashes based on worker reaction. Also, the key determinants of work zone crashes in presence of the WZIAS is identified using survival analysis. The ideal deployment strategy and use case scenarios for the three WZIAS is presented based on the findings of the study. The systems were subjected to rigorous testing that emulated intrusions to record worker reaction and determine occurrence of crashes. Analysis of results indicate that the key determinants of work zone crashes are speed of the intruding vehicle, distance between the sensor and worker, and accuracy of a system in detecting intrusions and alerting workers. Results from field experiments suggest that identification of appropriate use cases for WZIAS is necessary to ensure they work effectively. Based on the findings from this study it is suggested that current guidelines on work zones be modified to standardize WZIAS setup.
Trends in the distribution of COVID-19 deaths by age and race/ethnicity - United States, April 4-December 26, 2020.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups [1–5]. COVID-19 infection and mortality rates are higher among Hispanic/Latino, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations than non-Hispanic White populations [5]. Although most U.S. COVID-19 deaths have occurred among adults aged ≥65 years, younger persons represent a larger percentage of COVID-19 deaths in Hispanic/Latino, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic AI/AN populations [1]. These racial/ethnic groups also have younger age distributions across the population generally [3], and face increased risk of COVID-19 infection and related morbidity and mortality as a result of many different factors such as the degree of occupational exposure, housing or residential risk factors, the prevalence of preexisting health conditions, reduced access to care, and structural racism [1], [2], [3], [4]. The proportion of deaths by age and race/ethnicity has changed over the course of the pandemic, with a recent report demonstrating growing percentages among the Hispanic population from May through August 2020 [5]. However, that report did not examine changes in the distribution of COVID-19 deaths by race/ethnicity across age groups (or vice versa) over the course of the pandemic in 2020. Moreover, it is unknown how patterns by age and race/ethnicity may have changed more recently, over the most recent wave of the pandemic occurring at the end of 2020. To examine this, we describe weekly trends in COVID-19 deaths by age and race/ethnicity from April through December 26, 2020.
Consistent with the Letter and Spirit: Seila Law V. CFPB and the Future of Presidential Removal Power

The Supreme Court recently decided Seila Law v. CFPB and Collins v. Yellen, which presented constitutional challenges to the structures of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Housing Finance Agency, respectively. In those cases, a majority of the Court struck down the statutory structure of both agencies, embracing the Unitary Executive Theory. This Note provides an up-to-date prospective analysis of the Court’s and the Executive Branch’s embrace of the theory, and why such an embrace is dangerous. This Note argues that Congress has and should take the lead in structuring the administrative arm of the federal government. Congress has the institutional capacity to legislate with regard to the structure of the government, and it has historically done so effectively. Furthermore, the Supreme Court and the Executive Branch have been deferential to Congress’s exercise of its power under the Necessary and Proper Clause in carrying into execution the powers granted to the federal government. Deference to Congress allows nuanced legislation that provides institutional mechanisms for effective governance. In making this argument, I draw on relevant primary and secondary historical literature, as well as political science literature on state-building and presidential power.
Technology Transfer and Regional Trade Agreements

The growing importance of intellectual property rights in regional trade agreements has been associated with increased technology transfer.
Rejoinder to Boonin on Abortion

I have two problems with this book right from the start. Boonin’s subject is abortion, but he never defines that term. Is it the eviction, the removal, of the fetus? If this is what is meant, we must say that at the present level of medical technology, this will spell the death knell of the infant during the first two trimesters of its life, but not during the third. If so, partial birth abortions in the last trimester would be banned. Or is abortion to be defined as killing this tiny human being? In that case the young person may justifiably be done away with at any stage of its development during his nine month gestation period. This author does not vouchsafe us an answer to this very important issue.
Potential role of platelets in the pathogenesis of tumor metastasis

Platelet activity may be involved in tumor metastasis. The tumor cells, after detachment from the primary site, adhere to vascular endothelium at distant sites and proliferate. Platelets form aggregates with tumor cells in circulation, facilitating their adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Formation of platelet-tumor cell aggregates and their sequestration in various end-organs may result in thrombocytopenia. Certain tumor cell lines directly stimulate platelet activity, some by releasing platelet-aggregating material, a urea-extractable membrane component, others by release of cathepsin, and still others by undefined mechanisms. The direct effect of platelets on tumor cells may be of pathogenic significance. For example, platelet-derived factors stimulate growth of some tumors, whereas others increase vascular permeability and thus facilitate migration of tumor cells across the vessel wall. Lack of these platelet factors, as in thrombocytopenic animals, may indeed inhibit tumor metastasis. Arachidonic acid metabolism in platelets and the vessel walls may contribute to metastatic process. In particular, thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin generation capabilities appear to be important in modulating platelet- tumor cell deposition and growth. To alter the metastatic process, several preliminary trials of platelet-inhibitory agents have been performed. However, the results of these trials have been equivocal, perhaps related to nonspecific effects of these agents on arachidonic acid metabolism. Studies directed at specific pathways of platelet- vessel wall interaction on some tumors appear promising. These newer agents may be of therapeutic value in man.
Studies of the drop-weight method for surfactant solutions: II. Experimental results for water and surfactant solutions

Abstract The drop-weight method was used to obtain surface tension data for water and aqueous solutions of hexanoic and heptanoic acid. The results for the surfactant solutions are in good agreement with capillary rise data and with values of the surface tension extracted from ripple tank data. The influence of surface active agents on the pendant drop stability and the drop breakaway process is discussed, and photographs of the breakaway process are provided.
Physiological Adaptation to the Loss of Amino Acid Transport Ability

A strain of Neurospora crassa devoid of constitutive amino acid transport ability can utilize arginine as the sole nitrogen source. Nitrogen starvation, presence of arginine, and mutational inactivation of the general permease are key factors in signaling production of an extracellular enzyme which removes the alpha-amino group from the amino acid.
A General Measure of Rule Interestingness

The paper presents a new general measure of rule interestingness. Many known measures such as chi-square, gini gain or entropy gain can be obtained from this measure by setting some numerical parameters, including the amount of trust we have in the estimation of the probability distribution of the data. Moreover, we show that there is a continuum of measures having chi-square, Gini gain and entropy gain as boundary cases. Therefore our measure generalizes both conditional and unconditional classical measures of interestingness. Properties and experimental evaluation of the new measure are also presented.
Multiracial Identity Development: Understanding Choice of Racial Identity in Asian-White College Students

Asian-White individuals will have greater representation in higher education student populations in coming years, and student affairs professionals must learn how these students make meaning of their racial identities in order to best serve the needs of this group. Analyzing Poston’s (1990) and Root’s (2003) theories of multiracial identity development, this paper examines the experiences unique to this population to demonstrate that Asian-White individuals have the ability to choose from multiple racial identity outcomes.
Physics of instabilities in radiatively driven stellar winds

One type of variability that is ubiquitous among luminous blue stars is that associated with their massive stellar winds. Ultraviolet spectral lines show variable narrow absorption components that may arise from dense shells or clumps in the wind; the observed soft X-ray and non-thermal radio emission from these stars may be produced in embedded wind shocks associated with these shells. The line-driving of such winds is known to be strongly unstable, and recent numerical simulations of the dynamical, nonlinear evolution of such instabilities indicate that such shocks and dense shells do indeed form (Owocki, Castor, and Rybicki 1988; hereafter OCR). However, the structure computed in these dynamical simulations is quite different, and in some sense opposite, what was anticipated in earlier heuristic shock models (e.g. Lucy 1984, Krolik and Raymond 1985, Abbott 1988); the highest speed material is very rarefied, not dense, and the strongest shocks that form are of the reverse, not forward, type. In subsequent simulations we have found that the detailed character of this structure can depend on many variables, but this tendency always to form high speed rarefied waves and reverse shocks is quite robust. It is thus important that we have a clear understanding of the reasons for this tendency, and it is on this point that we focus our comments here.
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans: an Update and Review

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, infiltrative, spindle cell tumor with a propensity for deep invasion. Definitive treatment is with surgical excision, either Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) or wide local excision (WLE). Metastasis is rare, but local recurrence is common. Imatinib mesylate is approved for the treatment of unresectable DFSP, recurrent DFSP that cannot be re-resected, and metastatic DFSP. Radiation therapy is sometimes used to treat unresectable DFSP or as an adjuvant treatment modality after surgical excision. MRI is not routinely used but is a useful imaging tool in atypical, recurrent, or difficult cases to better delineate tumor depth or involvement of critical structures. Close clinical follow-up is recommended every 6 to 12 months after treatment given the high rates of local recurrence.
Succesful quadruplet pregnancy in a patient treated with human menopausal gonadotropins

1) I: R I N (: the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle of primates, several follicles arc in various stages of development. In most instances, only one follicle fully matures and ovulates. The other follicles undergo a rather abrupt atresia. The frequency of multiple ovulation in the human is not esactly known, but the cases of twins due to multiple ovulation are estimated to be 0.7 per cent.? In most other species: multiplr ovulation is the rule rather than the esception. Within each species the number ol ovulations per cycle and the litter size is quite constant. Little is known about the factors that maintain the constancy of the number of ovulations per cycle. The observation made recently that, in women given exogenous gonadotropin, multiple ovulation and pregnancy commonly occur is of ,Trrat interest. The subject of this paper is a case report of a successful quadruplet pregnancy following ovulation induced by human menopausal gonadotropin.
Exogenous glucagon-like peptide-1 acts in sites supplied by the cranial mesenteric artery to reduce meal size and prolong the intermeal interval in rats.

Three experiments were done to better assess the gastrointestinal (GI) site(s) of action of GLP-1 on food intake in rats. First, near-spontaneous nocturnal chow meal size (MS), intermeal intervals (IMI) length and satiety ratios (SR = MS/IMI) were measured after infusion of saline, 0.025 or 0.5 nmol/kg GLP-1 into the celiac artery (CA, supplying the stomach and upper duodenum), cranial mesenteric artery (CMA, supplying small and all of the large intestine except the rectum), femoral artery (FA, control) or portal vein (PV, control). Second, infusion of 0.5 nmol/kg GLP-1 was tested after pretreatment with the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) antagonist exendin-4(3-39) via the same routes. Third, the regional distribution of GLP-1R in the rat GI tract was determined using rtPCR. CA, CMA and FA GLP-1 reduced first MS relative to saline, with the CMA route more effective than the others. Only CMA GLP-1 prolonged the IMI. None of the infusions affected second MS or later eating. CA and CMA GLP-1 increased the SR, with the CMA route more effective than the CA route. CMA exendin-4 (3-39) infusion reduced the effect of CMA GLP-1. Finally GLP-1R expression was found throughout the GI tract. The results suggest that exogenous GLP-1 acts in multiple GI sites to reduce feeding under our conditions and that GLP-1R in the area supplied by the CMA, i.e., the small and part of the large intestine, plays the leading role.
Release of 11-cis-retinal from cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein by acidic lipids

PURPOSE To determine molecular mechanisms for the release of 11-cis-retinal from the binding pocket of cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP). METHODS Binding of CRALBP to lipid surfaces was assessed with a lipid-immunoblot assay. Lipids were presented to CRALBP as small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) consisting of phosphatidylcholine (PC) plus other lipids. Release of 9-cis-retinal or 11-cis-retinal from CRALBP was measured with spectral and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays based on the protection of the protein-bound retinal carbonyl group from reaction with NH(2)OH. The electrostatic surface potential of CRALBP was calculated from a model of its structure using the program CCP4mg. RESULTS Incubation of CRALBP.11-cis-retinal with lipids absorbed on nitrocellulose revealed binding to the acidic lipids, phosphatidic acid (PA)>phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P(3)]>phosphatidylserine (PS)> PI(4,5)P(2) and little or no binding to PC, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), or PI(4)P. 11-cis-retinal was released during incubation of CRALBP with SUVs consisting of PC plus 50 mol% PA but not during incubation with those composed of 100 mol% PC. The efficacy of release of 9-cis-retinal or 11-cis-retinal from CRALBP by phospholipid-containing SUVs generally paralleled that of the binding of CRALBP to the lipids (PA>PS>PI>>PC). Examination of the electrostatic surface potential of the protein structure revealed a basic recess on one face of the protein, which may bind acidic lipids. CONCLUSIONS Our results identify the first physiologic substances that release 11-cis-retinal from CRALBP. PA and PS are relatively minor membrane lipids that can be generated in the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane in response to various signal transduction pathways, where they could interact with cytosolic CRALBP. The mechanism for release of retinal from CRALBP by acidic lipids remains to be determined but could involve binding of the acidic lipid in the 11-cis-retinal binding site or to the positive basic recess on the protein surface. These results open a new facet in our understanding of how CRALBP functions in the regeneration of visual pigments.
Placentophagy and Embryophagy: An Analysis of Social Deviance within Gender, Families, or the Home (Etude 1)

This paper concludes that the private, eccentric acts of placentophagy and embryophagy are not illegal. Placentophagy is the eating of a placenta. Embryophagy is the eating of an embryo. This paper suggests that placentophagy and embryophagy, while not specifically legalized by statute or case law, are not acts for which a person can be charged of any crime relating to anthropophagy. Anthropophagy occurs when a human eats human tissue or blood. First, this paper proves that for the most part, anthropophagy is not illegal in the United States. Statutes and case law demonstrate that generally, the consumption of human tissue or blood is not illegal even though the possession of human blood and tissue often correlates strongly with other criminal activity. Second, this paper will argue that placentophagy and embryophagy in the home are legal anthropophagic acts; and that the policy and politics, not law, are the only obstacles for some women who question their power to possess and eat human blood and tissue.
COMPOSITION OF TRACHEOBRONCHIAL SECRETIONS IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS OF THE PANCREAS AND BRONCHIECTASIS

Tracheobronchial secretions obtained by bronchoscopic aspiration from patients with cystic fibrosis and patients with chronic bronchiectasis were analyzed for the major organic and inorganic constituents. The tracheobronchial secretions from patients with cystic fibrosis contained, on a weight basis, at least twice the quantity of organic material found in bronchiectatic secretions. Analysis of the secretions for nitrogen, carbohydrate, hexosamine and lipids indicated that, on a dry weight basis, similar quantities of these organic constituents are found in the two types of secretions. The only organic component which was found to be consistently different was desoxyribonucleic acid; a higher content was found in cystic fibrosis secretion. Analysis of the inorganic constituents revealed a higher content of sodium and potassium in the bronchiectatic secretion when calculated both on the basis of wet and dry weight, whereas phosphorus was found to be higher in the cystic fibrosis secretion. The calcium content in the total cystic fibrosis secretion was found to be twice that in the bronchiectatic material; however, when calculated on the basis of dry weight, both types of secretion contained similar amounts of calcium. The influence of ionic composition of the surrounding media on high molecular weight polymers is discussed and the postulation made that an alteration in the ionic concentration may be responsible for the peculiar characteristics observed in the tracheobronchial secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis.
Immune Haemolytic Anaemia

The immune haemolytic anaemias comprise a set of diseases characterised by shortened red blood cell survival (haemolysis) mediated by the action of antibodies and serum complement. The haemolysis is evidenced by a raised reticulocyte count in the absence of blood loss. Activity of the immune system is diagnosed by the presence of antibody or fragments of complement components (mainly C3 and C4) on the red blood cell surfaces by means of the direct antiglobulin test. Pathogenic antibodies may bind optimally at either 37°C (warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia) or at 4°C (cold agglutinin disease). Drugs may also cause immune haemolysis either by induction of drug-dependent antibodies to red blood cells or by induction of autoantibodies. Key Concepts: The immune haemolytic anaemias are characterised by shortened red blood cell survival mediated by the action of antibodies and complement. The key laboratory finding is the demonstration of antibody or complement on red blood cells by means of the direct antiglobulin (Coombs) test. Antibodies may bind optimally at body temperature (37°C; warm antibody autoimmune haemolytic anaemia) or at 4°C (cold agglutinin disease). Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is most often idiopathic, but some cases occur in association with other diseases, most commonly a lymphoma or systemic lupus erythematosus. Drugs may cause antibody binding to red blood cells by three distinct mechanisms. Nowadays, the most common offending drugs are second and third generation cephalosporins. Treatment options include glucocorticoids and splenectomy (warm antibody autoimmune hemolysis); rituximab (warm antibody autoimmune haemolysis and cold agglutinin disease); and removal of the offending drug (drug-immune haemolytic anaemia). Transfusion should not be withheld from patients with symptomatic anaemia while awaiting a response to other treatments. Keywords: antibody; haemolysis; anaemia; reticulocyte; complement
Current and Prospective Methods for Plant Disease Detection

Food losses due to crop infections from pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi are persistent issues in agriculture for centuries across the globe. In order to minimize the disease induced damage in crops during growth, harvest and postharvest processing, as well as to maximize productivity and ensure agricultural sustainability, advanced disease detection and prevention in crops are imperative. This paper reviews the direct and indirect disease identification methods currently used in agriculture. Laboratory-based techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunofluorescence (IF), fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry (FCM) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are some of the direct detection methods. Indirect methods include thermography, fluorescence imaging and hyperspectral techniques. Finally, the review also provides a comprehensive overview of biosensors based on highly selective bio-recognition elements such as enzyme, antibody, DNA/RNA and bacteriophage as a new tool for the early identification of crop diseases.
Training, Productivity and Underemployment in Institutional Labour Markets

Analyses the role of training in forming under‐employment, which is a basic characteristic of an institutional labour market. Compares the basic assumptions of an institutional labour market to those of a neoclassical labour market. Discusses in detail the institutional framework for on‐the‐job training. Finally, considers policy issues relating to job training.
Prevalence and projections of total shoulder and elbow arthroplasty in the United States to 2015

Hypothesis This study examined national trends and projections of procedure volumes and prevalence rates for shoulder and elbow arthroplasty in the United States (U.S.). This study hypothesized that the growth in demand for upper extremity arthroplasty will be greater than the growth in demand for hip and knee arthroplasty and that demand for these procedures will continue to grow in the immediate future. Materials and methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1993-2007) was used with U.S. Census data to quantify primary arthroplasty rates as a function of age, race, census region, and gender. Poisson regression was used to evaluate procedure rates and determine year-to-year trends in primary and revision arthroplasty. Projections were derived based on historical procedure rates combined with population projections from 2008 to 2015. Results Procedure volumes and rates increased at annual rates of 6% to 13% from 1993 to 2007. Compared with 2007 levels, projected procedures were predicted to further increase by between 192% and 322% by 2015. The revision burden increased from approximately 4.5% to 7%. During the period studied, the hospital length of stay decreased by approximately 2 days for total and hemishoulder procedures. Charges, in 2007 Consumer Price Index-adjusted dollars, increased for all 4 procedural types at annual rates of $900 to $1700. Conclusion The growth rates of upper extremity arthroplasty were comparable to or higher than rates for total hip and knee procedures. Of particular concern was the increased revision burden. The rising number of arthroplasty procedures combined with increased charges has the potential to place a financial strain on the health care system.
The importance of the silicon tracker to the BaBar physics program

Abstract The silicon tracker, SVT, built for the BaBar detector has been essential to the execution of the experiment's primary goal: the measurement of time-dependent CP violation in B meson decays. Not only has it performed nearly perfectly, it has not even needed any parts replaced for radiation damage, and it has enabled the experiment to carry out a broader physics program than originally envisioned. We review briefly the SVT, its performance, and its key role in three measurements at BaBar: sin 2 β in B → J ψ K S , time-dependent CP violation in B → K S π 0 , and D 0 – D ¯ 0 mixing.
Characterization of vapor-deposited silver films exhibiting surface-enhanced Raman scattering by Raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The observation of a 106-fold increase in the Raman scattering cross section of pyridine adsorbed onto roughened silver electrodes or onto thin silver films has focused interest on Raman spectroscopy as a tool for surface analysis. Since the original observation of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of pyridine, SERS has been observed for a variety of admolecules on silver including cyanide,. thiocyanate, and carbon monoxide. Many of these spectra exhibit prominent Raman peaks at 1380 and 1590 cm−1, and weaker features at 2925 cm−1. Howard et al. have suggested that this background spectrum is necessary for SERS, yet its origin is uncertain, having been attributed to surface carbonates and graphitic carbon.
When Do Large Product Assortments Benefit Consumers? An Information-Processing Perspective

Abstract Retailers frequently attempt to attract shoppers by offering large product assortments. The prevailing literature on assortments has recognized that although large assortments benefit consumers by providing many choices, wide choices also challenge consumers to use extensive cognitive processes in making purchase decisions. Therefore when retailers offer extensive product assortments, they may also be adding cognitive costs to consumers—costs that may diminish the assortment's attractiveness. This research draws on the literature related to the Heuristic-Systematic Model (HSM) of information processing and the literature related to optimal stimulation level (OSL) in testing for the presence of two possible processing benefits provided by large assortments: their capacity to aid consumers in achieving decision-making certainty and their ability to provide consumers with desired stimulation. In two experiments, we find support for both models of assortment evaluations and demonstrate that purchase context and individual traits can lead consumers to prefer large assortments from a processing perspective.
The Arch of Serena as Textual Monument: Reading the Body of the Poem- Within-the- Poem

AbstractAmong other Spenserians, Humphrey Tonkin and George Rowe have noted that in Book VI of The Faerie Queene, Spenser is preoccupied with the representation of reading, and indeed that in the closing scenes with Pastorella and the dance of the Graces on Mt Acidale, he seems to be pointing to his own poem as the subject of such reading. This essay extends these critical observations to argue that the scene of Serena among the savages presents a meta-allegory concerning the possible fate of Spenser's poem, fallen among unfriendly readers. This claim is warranted by an examination of contemporary discourses on reading, including both religious debates over the meaning of the eucharist and the new humanist hermeneutic of reading texts. Furthermore, the translation between text and image afforded by the monumental arch of Serena is understood to be an iconic figure of Spenser's relation to his own poetry, when read through his deep indebtedness to the prior work of Du Bellay that he translated. Finally, th...
In-situ immuno-gold nanoparticle network ELISA biosensors for pathogen detection

Food poisoning microorganisms that contaminate food products and compromise food safety and security have been considered a major health threat and a serious concern for food producers and processors. Developing sensor technologies that are rapid for sensitive and selective detection and quantification of pathogens is a high priority for scientists in academia, state and federal research institutes, and industries. In this work we propose an in-situ immuno-AuNP network-based ELISA biosensor integrated with a sample concentration step based on immuno-magnetic separation to detect pathogenic microorganisms with high sensitivity. The sensor system was optimized by the specific formation of immuno-AuNP network onto the antigenic site present at the outer membrane surface of bacteria and the analytical concept was validated by a microtiter immunoassay. The in-situ network biosensor was able to detect pathogens at extremely low numbers: 3 cells/mL of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium in buffer and 3 CFU/mL of E. coli O157:H7 and 15CFU/mL of S. typhimurium in real sample conditions within 2h of inoculation. The ability to monitor target bacteria with improved analytical sensitivity compared to the current techniques presents a unique opportunity for routine monitoring to improve the safety of foods.
A cognitive probability model for learning

A quantitative model for the behavior of albino rats in choice-making situations is presented. The model, which is based upon a cognitive conceptualization of the learning process, is shown to yield predictions which are equivalent to those produced by the linear operator stochastic models at the asymptotic limit but which differ from these during early trials in the learning situation.
Building physical and mental models in assembly tasks

Two videotapes were designed which showed how to assemble an 80-piece object, a lift. The lift had a hierarchical structure (breakdown into subassemblies, subsubassemblies, etc.), which was used as the basis for the units in the videotapes. One tape showed the structure top-down, breadth first, so that actions were not always shown in an executable order. The second combined a top-down approach with a sequential execution of actions. Individuals watched one of the two tapes and then performed the assembly from memory. On a measure of similarity of structure to the correctly built lift, less experienced individuals (females) performed significantly better after viewing the second tape than after viewing the first, while for more experienced subjects (males) there were no differences between the tapes. A principle for instructional designers is suggested: When preparing procedural instructions, combine the task hierarchy and the step-by-step execution as was done here, and less experienced individuals will perform as well as more experienced individuals.
Dynamic tensile loading improves the functional properties of mesenchymal stem cell-laden nanofiber-based fibrocartilage

Fibrocartilaginous tissues such as the meniscus serve critical load-bearing roles, relying on arrays of collagen fibers to resist tensile loads experienced with normal activity. As these structures are frequently injured and possess limited healing capacity, there exists great demand for tissue-engineered replacements. Toward recreating the structural features of these anisotropic tissues in vitro, we employ scaffolds composed of co-aligned nanofibers that direct mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) orientation and the formation of organized extracellular matrix (ECM). Concomitant with ECM synthesis, the mechanical properties of constructs increase with free-swelling culture, but ultimately failed to achieve equivalence with meniscal fibrocartilage. As mechanical forces are essential to the development and maintenance of musculoskeletal tissues, this work examined the effect of cyclic tensile loading on MSC-laden nanofibrous constructs. We hypothesized that loading would modulate the transcriptional behavior of MSCs, spur the deposition of ECM, and lead to enhancements in construct mechanical properties compared to free-swelling controls. Fiber-aligned scaffolds were seeded with MSCs and dynamically loaded daily in tension or maintained as nonloaded controls for 4 weeks. With mechanical stimulation, fibrous gene expression increased, collagen deposition increased, and the tensile modulus increased by 16% relative to controls. These results show that dynamic tensile loading enhances the maturation of MSC-laden aligned nanofibrous constructs, suggesting that recapitulation of the structural and mechanical environment of load-bearing tissues results in increases in functional properties that can be exploited for tissue engineering applications.
Communication and adherence: moving from prediction to understanding.

study of patient-provider communication is difficult and complex and no less so than the study of adherence behavior. The meta-analysis appearing in this issue sheds light on both of these critical elements of the health care dynamic in a way that will surely be cited for years to come.1 The primary analysis is wonderfully succinct and clear; communication matters and training in communication matters in influencing adherence behavior. Moderators of the communication-adherence relationship identified in the analysis, however, nuance the finding and open a variety of speculative pathways. It is inquiry into the relationship moderators-those contingencies of how, when, where, and in whom variables are measured-that is likely to produce the insights needed to disentangle pathways and mechanisms. We believe that theorizing in regard to moderator effects is a primary challenge to advancing research in our field, although it is rarely done. This kind of analysis is theoretical and speculative because there are often alternative explanations for a given moderator result and because moderators tend to be so highly correlated with each other that teasing apart their independent effects demands more studies than commonly found for any given meta-analytic review.2'3 Nevertheless, without it, investigators lack the conceptual grounding necessary to make the theoretical leaps that energize the field and move our work forward. At the risk of putting too fine a point on the argument, we can liken progress in our field to progress in decoding the human genome. We have in some measure decoded the DNA of patient-provider communication; however, we have only just begun to explore the gene-environment interaction. The purpose of this essay is to explore a number of questions raised by this important review and to take the liberty to speculate even more than its authors did on the theoretical and methodological implications for the field. To this end, we will explore the implications of some of the moderators as they reflect the contingencies of how and what communication was studied, the nature of the study measures (objective vs. subjective measures of communication), and in whom it was studied, specifically physician characteristics (training level and specialty), and patient characteristics (disease severity).
Simultaneous determination of myocardial creatine phosphate and adenine nucleotides by reversed-phase HPLC

An isocratic HPLC system has been developed which allows for the rapid (single run of 20 min) measurement of creatine phosphate (PCr) and adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP and AMP) in extracts from freeze-clamped and freeze-dried myocardial tissues. The separation was achieved at room temperature by using a RP18 column and a dual variable wavelength spectrophotometer, set at 210 and 254 nm. The solvent was 30 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 15 mM tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate, pH 6.7, 19% (v/v) acetonitrile. A distinct separation (confirmed with the retention time of standard sample) of these high energy compounds was achieved. Standard curves were linear. In isolated rat hearts the following values were obtained (mumol/g dry wt, mean +/- SEM): ATP 21.5 +/- 1.3, ADP 4.6 +/- 0.2, AMP 1.5 +/- 1.1 and PCr 32.5 +/- 1.3; which are consistent with previously published values for high energy compounds in this tissue.
A Forecast Strategy for Anticipating Cold Season Mesoscale Band Formation within Eastern U.S. Cyclones

Abstract An ingredients-based, time- and scale-dependent forecast strategy for anticipating cold season mesoscale band formation within eastern U.S. cyclones is presented. This strategy draws on emerging conceptual models of mesoscale band development, advances in numerical weather prediction, and modern observational tools. As previous research has shown, mesoscale band development is associated with frontogenesis in the presence of weak moist symmetric stability and sufficient moisture. These three parameters—frontogenesis, weak moist symmetric stability, and moisture—are used as the ingredients for identifying mesoscale band development in this strategy. At forecast projections beyond 2 days, the strategy assesses whether cyclogenesis is expected. Within 2 days of the event, the strategy places the band ingredients in the context of the broader synoptic flow, with attention to where deformation zones are present, to assess whether banding is possible. Within 1 day of the event, the strategy focuses on ...
Lotka's law and the literature of computer science

From empirical data on the authorship of scientific papers, Alfred Lotka deduced on inverse-square law relating the number of authors of scientific papers to the number of papers written by each author. A basic assumption underlying Lotka's law is that the number of papers published by a scientist is a measure of his contribution to science. This assumption is debatable. In this paper Lotka's law is applied to the literature of computer science. The inconsistent results of earlier attempts to apply Lotka's law to the literature of various scientific disciplines, including computer science, are ascribed to the differences in sampling procedure and treatment of multiple authorship.
An emergency department radiology audit procedure

An audit was done to ascertain the concordance of radiographic interpretation by the emergency physician and the radiologist. In 8,021 radiographic procedures during the two-month study, concordance of interpretation was found in 97.6%. The primary area of interpretation difficulty was chest radiographs. Specifically, there was limited agreement (10 of 45 films, 22%) regarding the reading of inflammatory processes. Despite this, 40 of the 45 patients (89%) whose chest radiographs were reviewed received proper therapy. The findings in five radiographs were deemed to be significant enough to possibly lead to changes in management.
Bone Densitometry and Treatment for Osteoporosis in Older Men

WHEL study enrolled 756 participants with estrogen receptor– negative tumors, with 188 in the first year since diagnosis. The a priori analysis plan of the WHEL study included evaluating effects of interactions between diet group and key covariates (including hormone receptor status of the original tumor and years from diagnosis to randomization) on additional breast cancer events. These were presented in Table 4 of our article. Breast cancer event rates among estrogen receptor–negative women were 20% in the nonintervention arm and 21% in the intervention arm (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-1.48; P=.63). There was no intervention effect on additional breast cancer events among strata defined by years from diagnosis to randomization (P=.50 by likelihood ratio test). Thus, the lack of effect of the WHEL intervention in estrogen receptor–negative patients is not explained by issues of study power or design. Regardingdifferences in the studygroups,wenoted theslight imbalance in the percentage of women who received adjuvant antiestrogen therapy (intervention, 69.4% vs comparison, 65.3%) and those who had a bilateral oophorectomy (intervention, 14.6% vs comparison, 11.4%). Hence, we adjusted for these variables in addition to following the original analysis plan. As shown in Figure 2 of our article, both unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios for intervention effect yielded similar results. Most importantly, these initial differences in study group would, if anything, have favored an intervention effect, thus strengthening our study conclusions. The WINS investigators concluded that decreasing dietary fat intake may reduce breast cancer recurrence. Such an effect was not confirmed in the WHEL study, although at baseline the study population consumed less than 30% energy from fat. Another possible explanation for the discrepancy is that the WINS intervention appeared to result in moderate weight loss (2.3 kg at 1 year), which might be expected to reduce recurrences. There was less than a 1-kg weight difference between the WHEL study groups throughout the study.
Passionate love/sexual desire: can the same paradigm explain both?

Two decades ago, experimental social psychologists became interested in the emotion of passionate love, “the desire for union with another.” Recently, sex researchers have begun to focus on sexual desire, “the desire for sexual union with another,” or the loss thereof. In this paper we review what experimental social psychologists have learned about the nature of passionate love in the last two decades and contrast their view of passion with that of sex researchers, especially with regard to the role that anxiety plays in the intensification/dimunution of passion. Finally, we suggest that researchers might profitably use the same paradigm to study these heretofore separate phenomena.
Incorporation of a lambda phage recombination system and EGFP detection to simplify mutagenesis of Herpes simplex virus bacterial artificial chromosomes

Targeted mutagenesis of the herpesvirus genomes has been facilitated by the use of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technology. Such modified genomes have potential uses in understanding viral pathogenesis, gene identification and characterization, and the development of new viral vectors and vaccines. We have previously described the construction of a herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) BAC and the use of an allele replacement strategy to construct HSV-2 recombinants. While the BAC mutagenesis procedure is a powerful method to generate HSV-2 recombinants, particularly in the absence of selective marker in eukaryotic culture, the mutagenesis procedure is still difficult and cumbersome. Here we describe the incorporation of a phage lambda recombination system into an allele replacement vector. This strategy enables any DNA fragment containing the phage attL recombination sites to be efficiently inserted into the attR sites of the allele replacement vector using phage lambda clonase. We also describe how the incorporation of EGFP into the allele replacement vector can facilitate the selection of the desired cross-over recombinant BACs when the allele replacement reaction is a viral gene deletion. Finally, we incorporate the lambda phage recombination sites directly into an HSV-2 BAC vector for direct recombination of gene cassettes using the phage lambda clonase-driven recombination reaction. Together, these improvements to the techniques of HSV BAC mutagenesis will facilitate the construction of recombinant herpes simplex viruses and viral vectors.
Interactivity on Traditional Media Web Sites

This study compares the radio industry's use of interactivity to that of other traditional media on the Web such as newspapers and television stations, along the dimensions of audience-oriented interactivity and source-oriented interactivity. A content analysis of 112 traditional radio station Web sites, 282 traditional newspaper Web sites, and 128 traditional television station Web sites found that traditional radio station Web sites provided more audience-oriented interactivity compared to other traditional media Web sites, and traditional newspaper Web sites offered the most source-oriented interactivity. A general conclusion of this study is that although traditional radio stations were more likely to transmit live and archived sound than other media, all traditional media Web sites have held back from developing interactivity beyond e-mail, and have limited the transmission of streaming media, as well as archived audio and video content.
Theory of thermal conduction in dielectric solids: Effects of radiation damage

Abstract Scattering of phonons by defects and the consequent reduction in lattice thermal conductivity is reviewed, with emphasis on ordinary and high temperatures, and on point defects and extended defects. The reductions in thermal conductivity due to point defects and extended defects are approximately additive at these temperatures. Thermal conductivity measurements, both at low and at high temperatures, can yield information about the defects produced by radiation damage. Isolated point defects make an important contribution to the reduction in thermal conductivity at all but very low temperatures. The reduction in thermal conductivity of alumina is discussed. Another model of partial conversion to the amorphous state could apply to glass-forming solids such as quartz and zirconolite. At high temperatures one can treat a partially converted crystal as a two-phase system, with the thermal conductivity of the crystalline phase reduced by scattering at the interphase boundaries, and probably also by point defects.
Mercury Content of Equisetum Plants Around Mount St. Helens One Year After the Major Eruption

The mercury content of young Equisetum plants collected around Mount St. Helens was higher in the direction of Yakima and Toppenish, Washington (northeast to east-northeast), than at any other compass heading and was about 20 times that measured around Portland, Oregon. The increase in substratum mercury was not as pronounced as that in plants but was also higher toward the northeast, the direction taken by the May 1980 volcanic plume.