cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retreat but no surrender: net-spinning caddisfly (Hydropsychidae) silk has enduring effects on stream channel hydraulics

Animals and plants engineer their physical environment by building structures that create or modify habitat. Biotic effects on physical habitats can influence community composition, trophic dynamics, and ecosystem processes; however, the scales and mechanisms regulating the importance of biotic engineering effects are not well documented. We used a laboratory experiment with common and abundant silk net-spinning caddisflies (Trichoptera:Hydropsychidae) to investigate how biotic structures built in riverbeds influence fluid dynamics at micro spatial scales (1 cm) over 2 months. We made velocity measurements with acoustic doppler velocimetry around caddisfly silk structures to test how they influence flow velocity and whether these effects are maintained after the structure is abandoned. We found that caddisfly retreats reduced flow downstream by 85% and upstream by 17% compared to gravels without caddisfly retreats. We also found that experimentally abandoned caddisfly retreats could persist for at least 60 days, suggesting legacy effects of the structures. Although aquatic insects are rarely accounted for in hydrological models, our study suggests that small, but numerous caddisfly larvae could have substantial hydraulic effects. Future work could address variation in the magnitude and duration of biotic engineering among different silk-producing species, densities through space or time, and hydrologic regimes.
Aberrant RNA splicing and development of hematological malignancies

Dysregulation of pre-mRNA splicing and transcription is a key step in gene expression control in patients with leukemia. Herein, we discuss the occurrence of frequent overlap of mutations affecting epigenetic regulation and pre-mRNA splicing in patients with leukemia, which together promote leukemogenesis through coordinated effects on the epigenome and pre-mRNA splicing. In particular, we have determined an important pathogenic role of cross-talk between altered epigenetic state and pre-mRNA splicing, provided functional evidence that mutations in pre-mRNA splicing factors drive leukemia development, and uncovered spliceosomal changes as a novel mediator of IDH2 mutant leukemogenesis. By isolating specific pre-mRNA splicing events that functionally contribute to IDH2/SRSF2 double-mutant leukemogenesis, we found that loss of the Integrator complex plays an important role in leukemia development. Our studies provided new evidence that defects in the Integrator complex remarkably affect several gene expression programs associated with hematopoietic differentiation and signaling pathways via transcriptional pause-release dysregulation, blockade of myeloid differentiation, and promotion of leukemogenesis in the Idh2 mutant background in vivo. Moreover, our results revealed important translational implications, given the substantial efforts to pharmacologically inhibit mutant IDH1/2 and splicing factors.
Catching Vapors: The Proposed FDA Rule that Seeks to Regulate E-Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes have been hailed as a saving grace by a growing number of smokers because the devices are believed by many to be a healthier alternative to cigars and cigarettes. Despite the operatic call of smokers seeking solace, the FDA is taking a much more calculated approach. Before recognizing electronic cigarettes as a “safer” alternative to cigarettes, the FDA wants to find conclusive evidence of their safety for human consumption. Further, the FDA recognizes that even if electronic cigarettes are found to be safer than conventional cigarettes, that does not conclusively mean that electronic cigarettes are “safe.” Given the lack of scientific evidence supporting the safety of e-cigarettes, the FDA looks to effectively regulate their sale and continue to investigate their health effects before the ballooning vapor industry gains more steam.
Transdiaphragmatic Chest Wall Herniation

BackgroundThe combination of traumatic simultaneous diaphragmatic rupture and chest wall herniation remains rare, with 42 cases of traumatic transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TDIH) reported in...
The Investigation of Left Atrial Structure and Stroke Etiology: The I-LASER Study.

Background Left atrial (LA) function is important in stroke, but often poorly characterized. We evaluated the association of 2‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography LA variables with stroke...
A barrier breaker's complicated legacy

In 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to receive a medical degree from an American college. She was a resourceful, dedicated, and imaginative thinker. She was also a greedy, racist, and rivalrous snob. In The Doctors Blackwell, Janice Nimura shifts between Blackwell9s own account of her singular greatness and the story of her relationship with her medical colleague, occasional roommate, and little sister, Emily. Nimura9s smart and skillful collective biography layers an account of an exceptional individual onto a narrative of the interdependence and political structures that made the myth of Elizabeth Blackwell possible.
Phonetic Effects in Child and Adult Word Segmentation.

Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of specific acoustic patterns on word learning and segmentation in 8- to 11-year-old children and in college students. Method Twenty-two ...
A New View of Multi-modal Language Analysis: Audio and Video Features as Text “Styles”

Imposing the style of one image onto another is called style transfer. For example, the style of a Van Gogh painting might be imposed on a photograph to yield an interesting hybrid. This paper applies the adaptive normalization used for image style transfer to language semantics, i.e., the style is the way the words are said (tone of voice and facial expressions) and these are style-transferred onto the text. The goal is to learn richer representations for multi-modal utterances using style-transferred multi-modal features. The proposed Style-Transfer Transformer (STT) grafts a stepped styled adaptive layer-normalization onto a transformer network, the output from which is used in sentiment analysis and emotion recognition problems. In addition to achieving performance on par with the state-of-the art (but using less than a third of the model parameters), we examine the relative contributions of each mode when used in the downstream applications.
Automated Detection of Non-metallic Inclusion Clusters in Aluminum-deoxidized Steel

This study presents a method to automatically identify inclusion clusters within a sample. Utilizing the output of scanning electron microscopy’s automated feature analysis along with Density-based Spatial Clustering of Application with Noise, an unsupervised machine learning algorithm, inclusion clusters are identified based on their spatial position. The analysis was initially conducted on two samples known by manual analysis to be clustered and non-clustered to evaluate the applicability of this technique. A serial-sectioning analysis was performed to obtain a 3D representation of the inclusion distribution. The 2D and 3D results were consistent. To evaluate the area effected by clusters, the convex hull area was utilized rather than the total inclusion area in a cluster. The analysis was then applied to a series of samples from three aluminum-alloyed heats to investigate cluster evolution throughout the secondary steelmaking process. Several distinct types of clusters were identified. Agglomerated globular alumina inclusion clusters were observed after tapping, which then evolved to non-globular inclusion clusters. The same types of clusters were also observed for spinel inclusions, but they were not as pervasive as alumina inclusions. In addition, clustering of small micro-inclusions around a large macro-inclusion was occasionally observed.
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT AND POTENTIAL MOBILITY

Any index that seeks to assess transport sustainability for areas will soon confront the problem that these areas must also have some reasonable level of mobility. Implicitly the impacts on sustainability are the least where the economy has not yet developed. As a result there is a need to explicitly consider the level of potential mobility that the economy is capable of supporting. An index is proposed here that is based on the difference between the level of sustainability and the level of potential mobility, standardized for population size and units of measurement. The index is illustrated for a number of different policy and regulatory situations. More important than the index developed are the limitations of this or other measurement systems in this area. These range from how one can allocate aviation fuels to specific countries to how one can translate current environmental targets into index values. There will have to be considered in the development of any future indices in this area.
Characters and duality of locally compact Abelian groups

This chapter is devoted to what might be called the “fine structure” of locally compact Abelian groups. We will obtain extremely detailed information about the structure of these groups. The basic tool in this program is the character group, which is defined and studied in §23. The character group is important in large measure because of the Pontryagin-van Kampen duality theorem, which is stated, proved, and utilized in §24. In § 25, we apply the duality theorem to study a number of special locally compact Abelian groups, and in §26 we apply it to certain problems in structure theory and analysis
Vieques, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Navy

Abstract This bibliography contains recent selective coverage of the dispute involving the U.S. Navy and its training facility in Vieques, Puerto Rico. It includes both the many printed works that have come to the surface since 1999 as well as some useful Web sites that argue for or against the Navy's presence in Vieques. It also contains some helpful English and Spanish language monographs, government documents, and selected journals and newspaper articles.
Microcantilever‐based Nanodevices in the Life Sciences

The sections in this article are Introduction Microcantilevers Microfabrication of Miniaturized Probes Cantilever Probes for Nanopatterning Elastomeric AFM Probes Monolithically Fabricated Conductive Diamond Probes Cantilevers with Integrated Micro- and Nanofluidics Apertured Pyramidal Tips Open-channel Cantilevered Microspotters Closed-channel Cantilevered Nanopipettes Micromachined Hypodermic Needle Arrays NFPs Applications Patterning of DNA Patterning of Proteins Patterning of Viruses Conclusions and Outlook
Ethiopia's Sovereign Right of Access to the Sea under International Law

Since Eritrea’s secession from Ethiopia there has been continuous opposition by intellectuals and the opposition to the government’s policy of making Ethiopia a landlocked country. Some totally reject the secession, while others accept the independence as a "fait accompli" and voice concern over the lack of an outlet to the sea, and still others acknowledge the right of self-determination and secession of Eritrea but denounce the inconsistency of the application of the Transitional Charter regarding the Red Sea Afar and the Algiers Agreement for denying Ethiopia its legitimate right to access to the sea and allege that the government is acting against the paramount national interest of the country.
A Proposed Psychological Assessment Protocol for Applicants to Religious Life in the Roman Catholic Church

This paper proposes a psychological assessment protocol for applicants to religious life in the Roman Catholic church. While most Catholic religious orders, seminaries, and dioceses require applicants to complete some type of psychological evaluation prior to entrance into seminary, there is no established standard or protocol suggested for conducting these evaluations. The current proposed assessment protocol provides those conducting or receiving these evaluations with a comprehensive foundation from which they can add or delete components to meet their specific needs. Furthermore, the utilization of a standard clergy assessment protocol creates the opportunity for the establishment of a national database useful for conducting research concerning clergy applicants.
Gender, Illness-Related Diabetes Social Support, and Glycemic Control Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

OBJECTIVES This study examined whether the association between illness-related diabetes social support (IRDSS) and glycemic control among middle-aged and older adults is different for men and women. METHOD This cross-sectional analysis included 914 adults with diabetes who completed the Health and Retirement Study's 2003 Mail Survey on Diabetes. IRDSS is a composite score of 8 diabetes self-care measures. Hemoglobin A1c levels were obtained to measure good glycemic control (<8.0%). Gender-stratified multivariate log-binomial regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios and examine the association between IRDSS and glycemic control after controlling for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics. RESULTS The prevalence of good glycemic control was 48.9% among women and 51.1% among men. Mean composite IRDSS scores did not differ by gender. Among women, composite IRDSS was associated with adequate glycemic control (prevalence ratio: 1.06; 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.08), and all individual components of IRDSS, with the exception of keeping appointments, were positively associated with adequate glycemic control. No significant associations were observed in men for composite or individual components of IRDSS. DISCUSSION Determining the gender-specific impact derived from IRDSS is a worthwhile approach to highlighting factors that differentially predict optimal glycemic control among middle-aged and older adults.
Obesity, waist circumference, weight change and the risk of psoriasis in US women.

Objective To evaluate the associations between body mass index (BMI), weight change, waist circumference, hip circumference and risk of incident psoriasis. Methods A prospective study of female nurses who were followed up over a 12-year period (1996–2008) in Nurses’ Health Study, a cohort of 121 700 US women at the inception in 1976. The study included 67 300 women who responded to a question about a history of physician-diagnosed psoriasis in last 12 years in 2008 (mean age at 1996, 62 years). The primary outcome was self-reported, physician-diagnosed psoriasis. Results During the 12 years of follow-up, there were a total of 809 incident psoriasis cases. There was a graded positive association between BMI (both baseline and updated) and the risk of psoriasis (both P values for trend <0.0001). Compared to women with updated BMI of <25, the multivariate relative risks (RRs) of incident psoriasis were 1.21 (95% CI, 1.03–1.43) for a BMI of 25.0–29.9, 1.63 (95% CI, 1.33–2.00) for a BMI of 30.0–34.9 and 2.03 (95% CI, 1.58–2.61) for a BMI of 35.0 or greater. Higher waist circumference, hip circumference and waist–hip ratio were associated with a higher risk of incident psoriasis, but became non-significant after additionally adjusting for BMI. The BMI at age of 18 years was not associated with the risk of psoriasis. Weight gain since the age of 18 years was associated with an increased risk of psoriasis, and RR of 10 lb gain was 1.08 (95% CI, 1.06–1.11; P < 0.0001). Conclusion This large prospective study indicates that higher BMI and weight gain are risk factors for incident psoriasis in older US women.
SAMPLE (Sandia agile MEMS prototyping, layout tools, and education)

The SAMPLE (Sandia Agile MEMS Protyping, Layout tools, and Education) service makes Sandia`s state-of-the-art surface-micromachining fabrication process, known as SUMMiT, available to US industry for the first time. The service provides a short cause and customized computer-aided design (CAD) tools to assist customers in designing micromachine prototypes to be fabricated in SUMMiT. Frequent small-scale manufacturing runs then provide SAMPLE designers with hundreds of sophisticated MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) chips. SUMMiT (Sandia Ultra-planar, Multi-level MEMS Technology) offers unique surface-micromachining capabilities, including four levels of polycrystalline silicon (including the ground layer), flanged hubs, substrate contacts, one-micron design rules, and chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) planarization. This paper describes the SUMMiT process, design tools, and other information relevant to the SAMPLE service and SUMMiT process.
The advantages of soft X-rays and cryogenic spectrometers for measuring chemical speciation by X-ray spectroscopy

Abstract We have built a 36-pixel high-resolution superconducting tunnel junction (STJ) soft X-ray spectrometer for chemical analysis of dilute metals by fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Advanced Light Source synchrotron. Soft X-ray absorption edges are preferred over traditional hard X-ray spectroscopy at the K-edges, since they have narrower natural linewidths and exhibit stronger chemical shifts. STJ detectors are preferred in the soft X-ray band over traditional Ge or grating spectrometers, since they have sufficient energy resolution to resolve transition metal L and M lines from light element K emission, and sufficient detection efficiency to measure the weak lines of dilute specimens within an acceptable time. We demonstrate the capabilities of our STJ spectrometer for chemical analysis with soft XAS measurements of molybdenum speciation on the Mo M 4,5 -edges.
Work and Earnings Cumulative Experience Method of Analysis of Longitudinal Surveys

Conventional methods of model construction and testing are not well suited to the features of large longitudinal survey data sets. Conventional methods assume (1) equal time intervals between observations, (2) simultaneous observations, and (3) that missing observations are rare. As a result, the analysis of whole multiwave sets of longitudinal surveys becomes virtually impossible as the num ber of waves increases. This paper poses a research question about how a per son's work experience affects his or her earnings and shows how the Cumu lative Experience Method (CEM) can provide an answer to the question using all available information in a longitudinal data set. CEM interpolates a person's experience between obcervation points and weights these inferred observations by the inverse of their expected error. The linear interpolation and weighting pro cedure of CEM accommodates easily to missing observations where these occur between earlier and later observations.
Central nervous system infection with Listeria monocytogenes

The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes has a particular tropism for the central nervous system and can produce infection in the meninges and brain substance. Well-recognized clinical syndromes include meningitis, brain abscess, rhombencephalitis, and spinal cord abscess; simultaneous infection of the meninges and brain is common. Although it is an uncommon cause of infection in the population at large, L. monocytogenes is an important cause of central nervous system infection in those with impaired cell-mediated immunity, whether due to underlying disease or treatment with immunosuppressive therapeutic agents; it is the etiology in 20% of bacterial meningitis cases in neonates and in 20% of cases in those older than 50 years. Ampicillin is considered the treatment of choice, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is recommended for those allergic to penicillin. At-risk patients should be advised to avoid unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses along with deli-style, ready-to-eat prepared meats, particularly poultry products.
Effect of adrenocorticotrophic hormone cortisone and desoxycorticosterone on brain excitability.

SummaryRats treated with ACTH alone, in a dose of 1 mg thrice daily, initially showed a slight decrease in EST followed by a return to normal and subsequently a slight increase in threshold. ACTH in doses ranging from 0.001 mg to 10 mg effectively antagonized the action of DCA on the EST. Beyond the 12th day of hormone treatment, 0.001, 0.01, 0.05 and 10 mg of ACTH maintained the EST of DCA-treated rats at a normal or slightly less than normal level. Intermediate doses (0.5 and 3 mg) produced a secondary rise beginning about the 12th day of the experiment. Severtheless. the final EST values in animals treated with 0.5 and 3 mg of ACTH were significantly less than in rats given DCA alone. Cortisone alone, in a dose of 1 mg twice daily, markedly reduced the EST of rats. This dose of cortisone given in combination with DCA resulted in an EST which was lower than normal but higher than that for animals treated with cortisone alone. Cortisone in a dose of 0.1 mg daily was able to counteract the EST-elevating p...
Current variability and its relation to sea‐surface topography in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico

The circulation in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico exhibits considerable variability, which manifests itself in the form of changes in the intensity and location of the major currents. These changes in current intensity and location are coupled with changes in the distribution of the sea‐surface topography. Little is known of the temporal and spatial distribution of currents in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Recent direct measurements suggest a complicated current structure with large meanders and eddies; such a structure implies a complicated sea‐surface topography. An anticyclonic gyre, characterized by a rise in the sea‐surface topography, is frequently found in the western Caribbean Sea. The gyre is bounded on the south and west by intense currents. Sea‐surface slopes of 0.4m/200km have been observed across the southern limb of the gyre, the Cayman Current, and 0.5m/100km across the western limb, the Yucatan Current. There appears to be a seasonal cycle in the intensity of this gyre, which implies se...
ZmPep1, an Ortholog of Arabidopsis Elicitor Peptide 1, Regulates Maize Innate Immunity and Enhances Disease Resistance

ZmPep1 is a bioactive peptide encoded by a previously uncharacterized maize (Zea mays) gene, ZmPROPEP1. ZmPROPEP1 was identified by sequence similarity as an ortholog of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) AtPROPEP1 gene, which encodes the precursor protein of elicitor peptide 1 (AtPep1). Together with its receptors, AtPEPR1 and AtPEPR2, AtPep1 functions to activate and amplify innate immune responses in Arabidopsis and enhances resistance to both Pythium irregulare and Pseudomonas syringae. Candidate orthologs to the AtPROPEP1 gene have been identified from a variety of crop species; however, prior to this study, activities of the respective peptides encoded by these orthologs were unknown. Expression of the ZmPROPEP1 gene is induced by fungal infection and treatment with jasmonic acid or ZmPep1. ZmPep1 activates de novo synthesis of the hormones jasmonic acid and ethylene and induces the expression of genes encoding the defense proteins endochitinase A, PR-4, PRms, and SerPIN. ZmPep1 also stimulates the expression of Benzoxazineless1, a gene required for the biosynthesis of benzoxazinoid defenses, and the accumulation of 2-hydroxy-4,7-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one glucoside in leaves. To ascertain whether ZmPep1-induced defenses affect resistance, maize plants were pretreated with the peptide prior to infection with fungal pathogens. Based on cell death and lesion severity, ZmPep1 pretreatment was found to enhance resistance to both southern leaf blight and anthracnose stalk rot caused by Cochliobolis heterostrophus and Colletotrichum graminicola, respectively. We present evidence that peptides belonging to the Pep family have a conserved function across plant species as endogenous regulators of innate immunity and may have potential for enhancing disease resistance in crops.
Permutation representations with trivial set-stabilizers

A recent work [S] on the realization of fields as quasi-endomorphism algebras of abelian groups led to several problems concerning the subgroups of finite groups. The purpose of this note is to settle one of those problems. Following the terminology of [3], a subgroup C of a finite group G is abnormal if there is a set Xc G such that XC = X and yX = X implies y = 1. If C contains a non-trivial normal subgroup K of G then C is not abnormal: for any X s G such that XC = X, KX = XK = XCK = XC = X. Our main theorem describes the extent to which the converse of this observation holds true when C is cyclic.
Comparison of MHC antigen expression on PHA- and MLC-induced T cell lines with that on T and B lymphoblastoid cell lines by cell cycle depedency

Abstract Although is is well known that the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on the surface of lymphoblastoid cell lines are cell cycle dependent, the way in which the MHC antigen expression on activated T cells varies with cell cycle phase has not previously been described. Using 11 lymphoblastoid cell lines from malignant and nonmalignant tissues (B cells, T cells, and myeloid cells) and five activated cell lines (two cell lines activated by phytohemagglutinin and three alloreactive T cell clones), MHC antigen expression was quantitatively studied by dual-beam flow cytometry. Correlated measurements of surface antigen quantity (immunofluorescence), DNA content (Hoechst 33342), and cell size (light scatter), unifluenced by induction synchrony and cell fixation, were performed. The data indicated that cell surface antugen quantity and cell surface area demonstrate specific values at each phase of the cell cycle when the cells are in logarithmic growth. Examining cells in logarithmic growth, it was confirmed, for all lymphoblastoid cell lines, that the quantity of MHC antigens on G2 (S+G2+M) cells was greater than that on G1 cells. In addition, it was found by analyzing antigen quantity and surface area, that class I antigen density in the G2 phase is 17% less than thet in the G1 phase in leukemic T cell lines, and that both class I and class II antigen densities in the G2 phase were 21% less than that in the G1 phase in lymphoblastoid B cell lines. In activated T cells, class I antigen density in the G2 phase was 11% less than that in the G1 phase, while class II antigen density in the G2 phase was 12% greater than that in the G1. We described four important observations in this report. In both G1 and G2 phases, activated T cells express: (1) quantitatively fewer class I antigen that lymphoblastoid B cell lines; (2) similar quantity of class I antigens as that of leukemic T cell lines; and (3) similar quantity of class II antigens as that of lymphase B cell lines. Also, (4) class II antigens are expressed in greater density in the G2 phase than in the G1 phase in activated T cells. In contrast, lymphoblastoid B cell lines express greater density of class II antigens in the G1 phase than in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. These findings differ from previous reports, suggesting that G1 phase cells may have a more significant role than G2 phase cells as target cells for MHC restricted cytotoxic cells.
Properties of heat-humidity cured cellulose acetate phthalate free films

Abstract Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) free films containing diethyl phthalate (DEP) or triethyl citrate (TEC) as the plasticizer were prepared by the spray method. The chemical and mechanical properties of films were compared following heat-only (50 °C for 24 h) and heat-humidity curing (50 °C/75% RH for 24 h) conditions. The surface roughness of the heat-humidity cured films decreased compared to that of the uncured and heat-only cured films. The heat-humidity curing condition suppressed evaporation of the plasticizer, resulting in higher plasticizer levels remaining in the films, as compared to the heat-only curing condition. The heat-humidity curing also significantly increased the mechanical strength and decreased the water vapor permeability of the films. When exposed to the acidic media, despite rapid leaching of plasticizer, the heat-humidity cured films retained the most mechanical strength of the films prior to exposure. The moisture content and phthalic acid content after heat-humidity curing were increased slightly, but did not reach a level that would interfere with enteric performance. TEC was less volatile and produced films with increased % elongation, and decreased tensile strength and elastic modulus compared to the films plasticized with DEP. However, the DEP plasticized films were less permeable than TEC-plasticized films following heat-humidity curing. The results indicated that a short-term exposure of the CAP films to heat and humidity during the curing process greatly improved the degree of film coalescence and mechanical strength, without causing significant chemical degradation of the polymer.
Interrupting Violence: How the CeaseFire Program Prevents Imminent Gun Violence through Conflict Mediation

Cities are increasingly adopting CeaseFire, an evidence-based public health program that uses specialized outreach workers, called violence interrupters (VIs), to mediate potentially violent conflicts before they lead to a shooting. Prior research has linked conflict mediation with program-related reductions in homicides, but the specific conflict mediation practices used by effective programs to prevent imminent gun violence have not been identified. We conducted case studies of CeaseFire programs in two inner cities using qualitative data from focus groups with 24 VIs and interviews with eight program managers. Study sites were purposively sampled to represent programs with more than 1 year of implementation and evidence of program effectiveness. Staff with more than 6 months of job experience were recruited for participation. Successful mediation efforts were built on trust and respect between VIs and the community, especially high-risk individuals. In conflict mediation, immediate priorities included separating the potential shooter from the intended victim and from peers who may encourage violence, followed by persuading the parties to resolve the conflict peacefully. Tactics for brokering peace included arranging the return of stolen property and emphasizing negative consequences of violence such as jail, death, or increased police attention. Utilizing these approaches, VIs are capable of preventing gun violence and interrupting cycles of retaliation.
Current clinical issues in the management of herpes simplex virus infections in patients with HIV

Background: A recent study done in Baltimore showed HSV-2 seroprevalence of 81% among 64 HIV-positive homosexual or bisexual men. Objective: Our purpose was to ex
High-performance solid-oxide fuel cell cathodes based on cobaltite nanotubes.

A new generation of nanostructured cathodes for intermediate temperature solid-oxide fuel cells, with very low polarization resistance, is presented. They were prepared from cobaltite nanotubes using a fast and simple method that allows the retention of the original nanostructure.
Targeted Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus-Directed Gene Expression in Human Hepatoma Cell Lines

Abstract Background & Aims: The 5'-nontranslated region (NTR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains important elements that control HCV translation. The aim of this study was to determine whether antisense oligonucleotides against the NTR of the HCV genome can be targeted to inhibit HCV gene expression. Methods: Antisense oligonucleotides directed against a sequence in the internal ribosomal binding site of the NTR (anti-III) and a portion of the NTR overlapping the core protein translational start site of HCV (anti-IV) were prepared. In transient transfections of a plasmid containing a luciferase gene immediately downstream from an HCV NTR insert, oligonucleotides anti-III and anti-IV in the form of asialoglycoprotein–polylysine complexes were administered to Huh7 cells, and luciferase activity generated by cytomegalovirus (CMV) HCVluc was measured. Results: Anti-III inhibited luciferase activity by 75% and 99% at 0.01 μmol/L and 0.1 μmol/L, respectively. Similarly, anti-IV inhibited luciferase activity 88% and 99% at 0.01 μmol/L and 0.1 μmol/L, respectively. In cell lines stably transfected with CMV HCVluc plasmid, complexed anti-III inhibited luciferase activity in Huh7 cells by 20% at 10 μmol/L and 85% at 60 μmol/L, and was competable by an excess of asialoglycoprotein. Conclusions: Antisense oligonucleotides that bind to the NTR of HCV can be targeted by receptor-mediated endocytosis, and they specifically inhibit HCV-directed protein synthesis under intracellular conditions. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;114:1304-1312
Does a maternal-fetal medicine–centered labor and delivery coverage model put the ‘M’ back in MFM?

Objective Maternal morbidity is increasing in the United States. Our objectives were to examine whether a labor and delivery (L&D) provider model with regular maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) coverage decreases the rates of maternal morbidity during delivery hospitalizations and has an impact on obstetrician-gynecologist residents' perceptions of safety and education. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study to compare the rates of maternal morbidity before and after the implementation of an MFM-centered coverage model on L&D. Outcomes were identified using International Classification of Diseases , ninth revision, codes. The primary outcome was a composite of severe maternal morbidity. Additionally, obstetrician-gynecologist residents completed an anonymous survey asking them to compare coverage models, and their Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology examination scores were compared. Results Data from 4715 deliveries were included. There were no differences in composite morbidity or individual adverse outcomes. Most residents (81.3%) preferred the new provider model, with median 5-point Likert scores indicating perceived increases in safety and education. Mean Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology scores improved in the 18 residents exposed to both models. Conclusion Although the MFM-centered provider model appears to have had a positive impact on residents' perceptions of safety and education, it was not associated with significant changes in severe maternal morbidity.
Effect of season, genetic line, and sire on growth concentrations of somatotropin in serum of Holstein cows in early lactation.

To determine the effect of selection for milk yield on somatotropin concentrations, blood samples were collected from 128 Holstein cows whose sires had either high or average predicted differences for milk. The phenotypic difference in milk yield between the high and average yielding groups was 1726 kg on a 305-d mature equivalent basis. At 37 +/- 7 d postpartum, four blood samples were taken from each cow at 1-h intervals beginning at 0800 h. The statistical model contained genetic line, sires within line, and season as whole-plot effects and time of sampling as a subplot effect. The concentration of growth hormone was significantly higher in the high yielding group (1.89) than in the average yielding group (1.49). Cows sampled in summer had the highest concentrations of growth hormone, whereas cows sampled in spring had the lowest concentrations. Sires did not significantly influence the somatotropin concentration of their progeny. In a second analysis with seven extreme outliers (peak values) deleted, the variation of somatotropin concentrations in the cows was significantly accounted for by their sires. Repeatability of somatotropin concentration was .49 within cows.
A web-based ETL tool for data integration process

Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) is a fundamental process used to populate a data warehouse and an important step towards data integration which is a key step for data preprocessing for many data mining projects. The objective of this project is to create a simple web based ETL tool which can be accessed by anyone with internet access. This ETL tool is also supported by a brief on-line tutorial on ETL process. The combination of tool and tutorial makes an ideal self-paced interactive learning tool for a beginning ETL learner. Guests will have limited access to this tool and registered users can have complete access. Using this tool, data can be extracted from text files or MySQL tables, integrated and loaded into target MySQL tables. Before loading the data into target MySQL tables, various transformations can also be applied to them.
Attempts to demonstrate “tumor-globulin” in sera of patients with malignant neoplasms

Attempts were made to obtain “anti-tumor globulin” serum by immunization of rabbits with electrophoretically purified globulins derived from human cancer sera by the method of Tal and Halperin. Although an absorbed, mono-specific anti-serum was obtained which produced a precipitation arc with an alpha-2 macroglobulin fraction of serum from patients with cancer, the same arc was noted with normal human serum. This fraction was demonstrated immunoelectrophoretically in 50 normal and 115 human cancer sera. Thus, in our laboratory, it was not possible to demonstrate a “T-globulin” which was unique to the serum of patients with malignant neoplastic disease.
Conformationally switchable non-cyclic tetrapyrrole receptors: synthesis of tetrakis(1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde) derivatives and their anion binding properties

A series of tetrakis(1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde) receptors (2, 4, and 6) were synthesized in two steps from commercially available starting materials. The anion binding properties of these receptors can be tuned through electronic switching to stabilize a conformation displaying high affinity for the dihydrogenphosphate and pyrophosphate anions (as the tetrabutylammonium salts) in chloroform.
Normal coordinate analysis of XeOF4 in the Urey‐Bradley field

Using published infrared and Raman data, the Urey-Bradley force constants of XeOF4 have been determined, the analysis has been carried with in Wilson's G-F matrix method and the constants evaluated by the use of a computer program which refined the differences of the experimental and calculated frequencies in the least-squares sense. The G and F matrix elements, in both the GVFF and UBFF, of any molecule of the type MYX4 and of C4v symmetry have been reported (α = γ = 90°). Finally, the normal coordinates as well as the potential energy distribution matrix of XeOF4 in the field force determined by us has been given.
Gold Nanorod Probes for the Detection of Multiple Pathogens

Foodborne diseases are associated with ﬁve majorpathogens,includingE.coliO157:H7(E.coli)andSalmonellaTyphimurium(S.Typhimurium),andthecostsassociatedwithpreventive and curative measures to combat these ﬁve majorpathogens is estimated to be at least $6.9 billion annually,according tothe Economic ResearchService(ERS) in2000.
In practice: The green zone: A program to support military students on campus

With the advent of the new post-9/11 GI Bill, many colleges and universities have seen significant growth in the numbers of veterans and other military students on their campuses. Along with this increased population has come a growing recognition that while these students share many of the same struggles as other students, their service in the military--often in a combat environment--can make them feel isolated and uncertain in the academic setting. In addition, wounds of war that are experienced by some of these students, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and physical injuries, can make the adjustment even more difficult. Personal accounts and research studies have documented the numerous issues faced by veterans in their transition from "combat to classroom." These issues range from problems with accessing their GI Bill benefits to trouble concentrating in their classes to not feeling welcome on campus. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), witnessing its own growth in the numbers of veterans and military students on campus and concerned about their successful transition, began planning how it could better meet the needs of this unique group of students. While various administrative strategies were identified (and subsequently implemented), it was clear that knowledge about, and support of, military students on campus needed to extend throughout the institution if VCU was going to be seen as veteran-friendly. The goal was to develop a very visible network of faculty and staff in all schools/colleges and administrative units to whom these students could go to receive assistance. In this article, the author describes the "Green Zone" (GZ) program which VCU has implemented to respond to the needs of this important group. Language: en
Respiratory regularity gated 4D CT acquisition: concepts and proof of principle.

Four-dimensional CT images are generally sorted through a post-acquisition procedure correlating images with a time- synchronized external respiration signal. The patient's ability to maintain reproducible respiration is the limiting factor during 4D CT, where artifacts occur in approximately 85% of scans with current technology. To reduce these artifacts and their subsequent effects during radiotherapy planning, a method for improved 4D CT image acquisition that relies on gating 4D CT acquisition based on the real time monitoring of the respiration signal has been proposed. The respiration signal and CT data acquisition are linked, such that data from irregular breathing cycles, which cause artifacts, are not acquired by gating CT acquisition by the respiratory signal. A proof-of-principle application of the respiratory regularity gated 4D CT method using patient respiratory signals demonstrates the potential of this method to reduce artifacts currently found in 4D CT scans. Numerical simulations indicate a potential reduction in motion within a respiratory phase bin by 20-40% depending on tolerances chosen. Additional advantages of the proposed method are dose reduction by eliminating unnecessary oversampling and obviating the need for post-processing to create the 4D CT data set.
Una reconstrucción hipotética de la portada norte de la Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, León

The Romanesque church of San Isidoro in Leon holds a place of great significance in the history of art because of its participation in the most important sculptural trends around the turn of the 12 th century. While the portals of the south facade and transept have been the object of scholarly attention, the lost north transept portal had not been studied until now. Thanks to a research campaign in March of 2005, we can propose a possible reconstruction of the Romanesque tympanum within the decorative scheme of the north transept facade.
Return to the land of weird theologies

(1987). Return to the land of weird theologies. Social Epistemology: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 203-209.
A highly active immobilized ribonuclease.

adapter (like that available from Sigma) could aid in processing many samples simultaneously. The time required for the whole process, from picking up the colony for lysis to visualization of the amplified product on agarose gel, is only about 4 h, saving time in routine analysis of mycobacteria. We found that this method yields genomic DNA from common Gram-positive and -negative bacteria also without any noticeable disintegration and can be used to check for the presence of plasmids in certain cases. Moreover, the DNA obtained is amenable to restriction digestion. We hope this method will be useful in any laboratory screening a large number of bacteria by PCR, especially in developing countries.
Analysis of interface damage heterogeneity in polycrystalline materials

Abstract The Interface Damage Function (IDF) defining fractional damage of intercrystalline interfaces in polycrystalline materials, with functional dependence upon lattice misorientation and boundary normal orientation, is described. A method of section analysis to calculate the IDF is derived; it is shown to depend upon a convolution with the Intercrystalline Structure Distribution Function (ISDF) which has been defined in previous work. This convolution is expressed in a double integral equation which is solved by the Fourier method. Application of the theory to cavitation damaged OFHC copper is described. Illustrated is a rich structure of the IDF which illuminates the mechanisms of heterogeneity in creep damage. Random high-angle boundaries are found to be remarkably damage resistant, while some special boundaries are preferentially damaged. A varied response of the damage to shear and normal components of the applied stress is also observed.
Sperry's Emergent Interactionism as a New Explanation for Dualism

Abstract Major approaches to understanding the mind-body problem as it relates to consciousness are reviewed in this article. Special emphasis is placed on examining the dualist position and the current interpretations of this approach, including psychophysical parallelism, double aspectism, and interactionism. The limitations of these interpretations are considered, and an alternative is proposed using the ideas of Sperry. The concept of emergent interactionism proposes to explain existing microdeterministic concepts while shifting the focus to a consciousness-brain continuum.
A two-dimensional electrophoresis preliminary approach to human hepatocarcinoma differentiation induced by PPAR-agonists.

Adopting biochemical and proteomic approaches, we investigated the effect of some PPAR-agonists, a new class of differentiating agents, on human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep-G2 cell line. Cancer differentiation was assayed by checking albumin, transferrin and α-fetoprotein synthesis. Cell metabolism was studied by NMR spectroscopy of cell culture supernatants and by evaluation of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities. The two dimensional electrophoresis approach was employed to analyze modifications in the expression of cellular proteins linked to cell phenotype differentiation in the attempt to identify potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma. Results indicate that PPAR-agonists are able to act as differentiating inducers in human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep-G2 cell line as well as to inhibit mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I, provoking a selective derangement of cellular oxidative metabolism. Lastly, two dimensional electrophoresis showed interesting modifications in the pattern of expression of cellular proteins that confirm biochemical data (increase in albumin and transferrin, decrease of alpha -fetoprotein synthesis) and, moreover, emphasize the meaning of these data by the increase of spots indicatively ascribed to HSP70 and catalase.
An Evaluation of Fluorometric Substrates for Lipase

Abstract The results of a complete study of 12 substrates for lipase indicated 4-methyl umbelliferone heptanoate to be the best substrate for the analysis of this enzyme. Using this ester, from 0.000020 to 0.066 units per ml. of porcine pancreas lipase can be determined with an accuracy and precision of about 1.5%. Analysis is performed by a direct initial reaction rate method in 2–3 minutes.
The effects of culture and situational features on in-group favoritism manifested as deception

Abstract This study examined the effects of culture and situational features on in-group favoritism manifested as deception. In a 2 (culture: U.S. vs. Russian) × 2 (lie target importance: high vs. low) × 2 (outcome importance: high vs. low) independent group experiment, participants responded to a hypothetical scenario, in which an in-group member was underperforming while the participant succeeded. Participants could either deceive to cover up for the in-group member or tell the truth. The majority of Russian participants responded with deception. The cross-cultural differences in justifications for deception were also examined. The implications, limitations, and future research directions stemming from these results are discussed.