cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A review of conspecific attraction for habitat selection across taxa

Many species across taxa select habitat based on conspecific presence, known as conspecific attraction. Studies that document conspecific attraction typically provide social information (i.e., cues that indicate the presence of a given species) and then determine if a given species is more likely to settle at locations where the social information is provided compared to those locations that do not. Although the number of studies examining conspecific attraction has grown in recent years, a comprehensive review has not yet been undertaken. Here, we conducted a review of the literature and found 151 studies investigating conspecific attraction across eight taxa. We found that conspecific attraction is widespread with between 80% and 100% of studies, depending on taxa, documenting positive associations between habitat selection and the presence of conspecific cues. Conspecific attraction has been documented more frequently in bird and fish species with less attention given to invertebrate and mammal species. We use the patterns we found to (a) provide an overview of the current state of research on conspecific attraction and (b) discuss how important factors, such as cue characteristics and life history traits, may play a role in shaping conspecific attraction patterns within and across taxa.
Great moments in plant evolution

Just as dinosaurs can be regarded as protobirds (1) and synapsids as protomammals (2), understanding the evolution of plants depends on extinct fossil groups, such as those linking spore and seed plants. A profound paleobotanical surprise in 1904 was discovery of pteridosperms, commonly called seed ferns, because of their unexpected combination of seeds and fern-like leaves (3). Another paleobotanical surprise in 1960 was discovery of progymnosperms, spore plants with woody anatomy comparable to modern conifer trees (4, 5). Now, Wang et al. (6) in PNAS report a Chinese Permian (298 Ma) fossil plant, Paratinga wuhaia. These permineralized fossils convincingly expand the progymnosperm clade to include the enigmatic Noeggerathiales, variously regarded as leptosporangiate or eusporangiate ferns, sphenopsids, cycads, or possible progymnosperms (7). The insight comes from permineralized fossils, sometimes mistakenly called petrified, or, literally, turned to stone. In contrast to petrified limb casts, permineralized plants retain original cell walls infiltrated by colloidal silica, revealing details of histology and reproduction in thin sections and acetate peels. Paratingia bore numerous (perhaps as … [↵][1]1Email: gregr{at}uoregon.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
The Inspirational Executive: Strategy Planning Through Mission, Vision, and Values

An inspirational approach to strategy planning is founded on senior executives articulating the mission, vision, and values of an organization. Notwithstanding their claimed advantages, mission statements (1) tend to be subjective and vague; (2) have a broad an overarching scope; (3) are inward-looking, echoing senior executives’ desired; and (4) rarely provide the focus and clarity that employees need to implement strategy. Results from multiple peer-reviewed studies examining the efficacy of mission, vision, and values statements in driving financial performance show a lack of scientific association between having a mission statement and superior financial performance. This refutes a strongly held belief in the strategy-consulting community and among senior executives that mission or vision statements are the bedrock of a sound and financially accountably strategy process. The chapter concludes with findings from original research that shows that mission statements serve the aspirations of senior leaders and de-emphasize strategic areas important to customers—there is virtually no statistical association between elements of a company’s mission statement and the needs of its customer needs.
The embodied maternal rhetorics of Serena Williams

This essay examines how and why the lived, experienced, and complicated maternal body matters in influencing public conversations about motherhood. Through analysis of Serena Williams’s acts of rhe...
Down regulation of the Rabphillin-3A-Like gene, located on 17p 13.3, is associated with the metastasis of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

334 Background: Our previous studies have demonstrated that frequent allelic loss (60%) of Rabphillin-3A-Like gene (RPH3AL) was associated with nodal metastasis, early recurrence and patient poor survival in colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC). In this study, we analyzed gene expression profiles of CRCs based on nodal metastasis to identify the involvement of RPH3AL in tumor progression. Methods: Gene expression studies were performed on mRNAsamples extracted from fresh frozen CRCs and their matching control samples. TheAffymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 arrays, which consistover 47,000 transcripts including wereused for these studies. Additionally, the gene chip data wereprocessed by using the Affymetrix Microarray Suite (MAS 5.0). The regulated genes were then classified using gene ontologyannotation and KEGG pathway. We estimated mRNA levels of RPH3AL by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Phenotypic expression of RPH3AL was detected in 103 CRC tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using polyclonal antibodies. We also performed cell migration assays in RPH3AL stably over expressing colon cancer cell lines. Results: Microarray analysis based on nodal status has identified a distinct gene expression pattern. The list of 262 genes which are down-regulated in node positive CRCs includes RPH3AL , Protein Kinase C-beta1, Adenyl Succinate Synthase-Like 1, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 1a , Glutathione S Transferase a1 and others. The list of 245 genes which are up-regulated in node positive CRCs includes Laminin Gamma 2, Glutathione Peroxidase 2, MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 4, Matrix Metallo Peptidase 7, Matrix Metalloproteinase 11, Axin 2, Claudins 2 and 4, and others. Genes that were significantly down-regulated (≥ 4 folds change) were validated by estimating their mRNA levels. For examples, mRNA expression of RPH3AL was significantly reduced in CRCs with nodal metastasis (mean=0.20, range 0.012-0.98) when compared to their matching control tissues (2.36, 0.15-10.32) (p
Health risks of natural hazards and resilience resources: Evidence from a U.S. nationwide longitudinal study.

Abstract Background Although natural disasters can threaten health and well-being, some people show greater resilience to their effects than others. Identifying the characteristics related to resilience has important implications for reducing the health risks in the aftermath of a disaster. Objective Using the Conservation of Resources Theory as a framework, we study the role of resources in moderating the adverse effects of natural disasters on people's health and coping behaviors. Method We match 20,658 unique individuals aged 50 or older from the 2012–2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study to the county-level annual natural hazard data provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Using individual-fixed effect models, we first model whether the experience of natural disasters can predict people's health and coping behaviors. We then explore heterogeneity in such effects by interacting individual- and county-level resilience resources with the number of natural disasters. Results The results show that with increased exposure to natural disasters, older adults are more likely to experience difficulties performing instrumental daily activities. They also tend to have fewer overnight hospital stays, higher out-of-pocket medical expenses, and increased alcohol dependency. However, older adults with certain socio-economic characteristics ‒ white, higher education, higher income, and homeownership ‒ are better able than others to mitigate any adverse health effects of natural disasters. One significant community-level resource is a robust healthcare capacity in a county with a high ratio of healthcare practitioners, where older adults are more likely to seek hospital care and have lower alcohol dependency. Conclusions Health resilience can be improved by strengthening community-level healthcare capacity, with a particular focus on residents with lower socio-economic resources. Failing to address healthcare provision inequalities may exacerbate health disparities.
Designing a Decontamination Solution for the Low-Earth-Orbit, Cryogenic SPHEREx Mission

To address the scientific goals of NASA’s astrophysics division, the JPL and Caltech’s SPHEREx mission conducts the first near-infrared all-sky spectral survey in low-earth-orbit using a passively-cooled, cryogenic telescope. Several unique water contamination issues arise due to the combination of cryogenic operation temperatures and the limited temperature control authority of passive cooling. Because water molecules have adsorption bands within the wavelengths of interest for SPHEREx’s survey, it is imperative that water contamination be controlled and minimized. In this work, a model is developed for the SPHEREx mission to predict the transport and accumulation of outgassed water onto sensitive payload components. The model utilizes the time dependent thermal profiles of the individual payload components, initial water content, and spacecraft geometry to calculate the time dependent water diffusion, transport, and adsorption. This model is subsequently used to predict water contamination risks and design decontamination solutions for each risk. Two major water contamination risks were predicted, water accumulation during cooldown and on cryogenic surfaces during the mission. The first risk occurs during the cooldown of the payload to cryogenic temperatures, predicting water accumulation on optical surfaces in excess of the allowable levels. To mitigate this accumulation, the temperature of the optical surfaces is controlled during cooldown through a combination of heaters and spacecraft pointing. The second risk is unavoidable water accumulation onto the payload thermal system’s cryogenic surfaces. This possibly jeopardizes thermal performance and temperature stability, both of which are required for science success. To decontaminate any water that had collected onto cryogenic thermal system surfaces, a decontamination maneuver was designed. In this decontamination maneuver, cryogenic surfaces of the thermal system are warmed to a temperature where water will desorb by spacecraft pointing while still meeting all avoidance constraints, and thereby avoiding undue risk to the observatory hardware. Through application of the developed analytical model and inclusion of the decontamination maneuver in the mission design, SPHEREx can confidently demonstrate that it is able to decontaminate, at the start of and during the mission as needed to meet its end of life science performance requirements.
γδ T cells protect TCRα deficient mice from the autoimmunity induced by scurfy lymphocytes (BA13P.118)

Foxp3 + regulatory T cells (Treg) are critical for the maintenance of immunological tolerance, and a mutation of the Foxp3 gene leads to the absence of Treg and a fatal systemic autoimmune disease in Scurfy mice. Transfer of Scurfy lymphocytes to RAG -/- recipients reproduces the inflammatory phenotype of the Scurfy donor including hepatitis and pneumonitis. Here, we show that TCRα -/- recipients, that lack TCRαβ + T cells, but have TCRγδ + T cells and B cells, are significantly protected from autoimmunity induced by adoptive transfer of Scurfy lymphocytes. Co-transfer of Scurfy lymphocytes and B cells from TCRα -/- mice into RAG -/- recipients failed to prevent inflammation. Furthermore, transfer of Scurfy lymphocytes to TCRβδ -/- mice, which lack both TCRαβ + and TCRγδ + T cells, but have B cells, resulted in more severe inflammation in the liver and lungs than that seen in TCRα -/- recipients. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that TCRγδ + T cells, but not B cells, in the TCRαβ -/- recipients mediate protection from disease induced by Scurfy T cells. The TCRγδ + T cells in the TCRα -/- recipients of Scurfy cells markedly expanded and expressed a highly activated (CD44 hi CD62L lo ) phenotype, but did not produce IL-10. Surprisingly, the Scurfy T cells in these recipients produced more IL-10 and less IL-4 than Scurfy T cells transferred to RAG -/- or TCRβδ -/- recipients, suggesting that TCRγδ + T cells may protect TCRα -/- recipients by modulating cytokine production by Scurfy T cells.
Depression and smoking in the pregnant rural population: A Literature Review

Background: There is a lack of literature specific to depression in the rural smoking population. The effect of smoking on the fetus and mother combined with the challenges posed by underlying depression make this issue complex and necessary to investigate. In addition, strengths and challenges specific to the rural population need to be considered, but have not been addressed in previous studies. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to identify the current status of research on the topic of the relationship between smoking status, rurality, and depression in the pregnant population. Methodology: An integrative review of the literature was conducted using the terms pregnancy, depression, smoking, and rural. Nursing and psychology domains were accessed as well as the Cochrane library. Within the Nursing domain, twelve articles were identified for review. One hundred fifty articles were found within the psychology domain. A search of the Cochrane library yielded one thousand thirty one articles. Inclusion of all four key terms was a criterion for review. Titles and abstracts were reviewed for relevance. Dissertations and opinion papers were excluded. Results: Twelve articles within the nursing domain were reviewed and did not include all four key terms. Of the one hundred and fifty articles noted in the psychology domain, none contained all four of the key terms. Lastly, no articles stemming from the Cochrane library search addressed all key terms. Aspects such as depression management and depressive disorders were predominant. A total of four articles were deemed appropriate for inclusion. All of these articles stemmed from the nursing domain search. None of the analyzed articles used a theory, model, or conceptual framework to guide their research. Of the four articles, only one was experimental. While rural was defined specifically according to Butler and Beale’s criteria of metropolitan vs. nonmetropolitan in one article, it was not clearly defined in one article that was published in a rural nursing journal. The studies reviewed spanned a large segment of rural populations with samples drawn from various countries around the world. Conclusions: There is a dearth of research in the area of depression in the rural pregnant smoker. Of the research located, there is limited definition of rural, no use of a theory, and no incorporation of concepts inherent to the rural population. In order to conduct a comprehensive study of this population, efforts must be made to address these concepts via information gathering, study design, and/or implementation processes. Research focusing on these areas will lend a truly holistic view of the topic. Key Words: Pregnancy, smoking, depression, rural. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.14574/ojrnhc.v15i1.340
Intranasal NPY Attenuates Development of Single Prolonged Stress (SPS) Triggered Impairments in Corticotropin-releasing Hormone (CRH) Mediated Pathways

Intranasal administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) was found to reduce development of many PTSD-associated behavioral and neuroendocrine impairments triggered by traumatic stress of SPS (Serova et. ...
The Complexity of Error-Correcting Codes

By concatenating linear-time codes with small, good codes, it is possible to construct in polynomial time a family of asymptotically good codes that approach the Shannon bound that can be encoded and decoded in linear time. Moreover, their probability of decoder error is exponentially small in the block length of the codes. In this survey, we will explain exactly what this statement means, how it is derived, and what problems in the complexity of error-correcting codes remain open. Along the way, we will survey some key developments in the complexity of error-correcting codes.
The essential role of Ligase 4 in hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis (HEM2P.257)

Increased DNA damage is the principal factor that contributes to the functional decline in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) renewal. Non-homologous DNA end-joining (NHEJ) is critical for the repair of DSBs in all cell types. In recent studies, NHEJ is implicated in the repair of DNA damage in quiescent long-lived HSCs in ex-vivo cell-based assays. However whether NHEJ plays a physiological role in the repair of DNA damage required for maintaining HSC homeostasis remains unclear. Here we assess whether Lig4 is critical role in HSC homeostasis by assaying HSC functions in a knock-in mouse model of the human recessive hypomorphic R278H mutation in Lig4. Whereas long-lived HSCs are quiescent and are continually replenished, we find that these HSCs in R278H mice have a severe defect in quiescence instigated by increased reactive oxygen species ,oxidative DNA damage, cycling and apoptosis. Our studies implicate the attenuation of Sirtuin 1, a NAD+-dependent histone protein deacetylase , as the key causal mechanism. Our preliminary data show treatment with the Sirt1 activating compound resveratrol rescues the survival of Lig4R/R HSC progenitors in long-term cultures. Our hypothesis is that increased ROS caused by impaired Sirt1 activities and autophagy underlies Lig4R/R HSC defects. These observations we have made implicate a critical role for Lig4 in HSC homeostasis, and in regulations impacting the DNA damage response-signaling cascade and anti-oxidant defense system.
Immunity to Cholera: Relation of Fraction II of Type 2 Cholera Toxin to Vibriocidal Antibody

The nontoxic protein component in supernatant fluids of young cultures of the cholera vibrio in peptone dialysate broth contains an antigen identical in specificity to vibrio lipopolysaccharide. This material was heterogeneous after elution from diethylaminoethyl A50 Sephadex, and it contained at least five additional minor antigens. Identity was demonstrated by immunodiffusion methods, by the induction of specific vibriocidal antibody formation, and by specific interference in the vibriocidal reaction. The minor antigens appeared to be unrelated to the vibriocidal reaction. The major antigen was more highly immunogenic than lipopolysaccharide, giving higher and longer-persisting antibody titers in the rabbit, but lipopolysaccharide was the more effective interfering antigen per unit weight in the vibriocidal reaction. The nontoxicity and high immunogenic potency of the protein antigen suggest that it may be useful as an immunizing agent for the production of the antibacterial component of an effective immunity.
Toxins from bacteria

Bacterial toxins damage the host at the site of bacterial infection or distant from the site. Bacterial toxins can be single proteins or oligomeric protein complexes that are organized with distinct AB structure-function properties. The A domain encodes a catalytic activity. ADP ribosylation of host proteins is the earliest post-translational modification determined to be performed by bacterial toxins; other modifications include glucosylation and proteolysis. Bacterial toxins also catalyze the non-covalent modification of host protein function or can modify host cell properties through direct protein-protein interactions. The B domain includes two functional domains: a receptor-binding domain, which defines the tropism of a toxin for a cell and a translocation domain that delivers the A domain across a lipid bilayer, either on the plasma membrane or the endosome. Bacterial toxins are often characterized based upon the secretion mechanism that delivers the toxin out of the bacterium, termed types I–VII. This review summarizes the major families of bacterial toxins and also describes the specific structure-function properties of the botulinum neurotoxins.
Effect of laser peening on fatigue performance in 300M steel

This study investigated and quantified the ability of laser peening to extend fatigue life and mitigate common fatigue crack nucleation mechanisms including foreign object damage and stress corrosion cracking in high strength, 300M steel. Residual stress was measured and fatigue tests were completed for as-machined, shot peened and laser peened coupons tested under a variety of conditions including in a corrosive environment and with simulated foreign object damage. The results are compared to available reference data studying the application of another emerging surface treatment, low plasticity burnishing, to the same material (300M steel) and in similar coupons. Laser peening resulted in large stress-life improvements in each condition, with a 54% increase in fatigue strength in an air environment for laser peened coupons at a lifetime of one million cycles. Additional fatigue testing in the 300M program showed that laser peening mitigated fatigue strength losses and improved the lifetimes (relative to as-machined, air environment) for coupons subject to either a corrosive environment or simulated FOD. Performance of laser peened coupons under all conditions proved to be better than reference data for coupons treated with shot peening or low plasticity burnishing.
Darkening of silicate rock powders by solar wind sputtering.

Hydrogen ion irradiation of powdered igneous rocks, including Apollo rocks, has been observed in the laboratory to darken the powders and to make their optical properties similar to the Moon's. An extensive series of investigations shows that this darkening is not spurious. These results are consistent with those of other investigators, including Nash (1967). Darkening of lunar igneous rock powders by the formation of solar wind-sputtered glass films is a real process which occurs on the Moon. The time scale for darkening of undisturbed lunar soil is of the order of 50000–100000 yr. Comparison of the rates of the formation of glasses on the lunar surface by solar wind sputter-deposition, meteorite impact melting and impact vaporization-deposition indicates that these processes are of comparable importance under the present flux of meteorites. Thus the formation of glass by sputter-deposition must be regarded as a major process on the lunar surface.
Experiments on story understanding and recall

Text of the Fifth Sir Frederick Bartlett Lecture given at a meeting of the Experimental Psychology Society in Durham, 8Apr1976.
Earliest classic result for the turbulent hydraulic wake behind body of revolution

IN 1929 a thorough analysis of the hydraulic, turbulentwake, mean-flow properties behind a body of revolution was presented by Swain in Ref. 1. At the first stage of approximation in her treatment, the results for the spreading of the half-width (centerline to outer edge) of the wake, b, and for the decay of the relative velocity deficit (U* — U)/ Uoo were determined to be.
Personalized medicine for chronic, complex diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as an example

Chronic, complex diseases represent the majority of healthcare utilization and spending in the USA today. Despite this, therapeutics that account for the heterogeneity of these diseases are lacking, begging for more personalized approaches. Improving our understanding of disease phenotypes through retrospective trials of electronic health record data will enable us to better categorize patients. Increased usage of next-generation sequencing will further our understanding of the genetic variants involved in chronic disease. Utilization of data warehousing will be necessary in order to securely handle, integrate and analyze the large sets of data produced with these methods. Finally, increased use of clinical decision support will enable the return of clinically actionable results that physicians can use to apply these personalized approaches.
Diaphragm Pacing for Ventilatory Insufficiency

Prolonged ventilatory support by phrenic nerve stimula tion (diaphragm pacing) has been developed into a use ful therapeutic technique over the past two decades. The benefits of diaphragm pacing to patients with respi ratory insufficiency resulting from central alveolar hy poventilation, and respiratory paralysis associated with quadriplegia, have led physicians to consider diaphragm pacing in patients with respiratory insufficiency who are dependent on ventilatory support. Some of these pa tients are initially seen in the intensive care unit because of respiratory failure or arrest. We discuss the evaluation and selection of candidates for diaphragm pacing.
Children's projected political preference: transcending local politics

Traditionally, research on political preference has primarily focused on adults within their local political context. This research attempts to show that the perceived political preference of children is part of their national identity, and encompasses not only local politics but also the global and regional discourse. The present study surveyed 1187 Palestinian adolescents attending school, grades 5–7, in the West Bank to examine whether children's future political party preference is grounded in local/global discourse. The findings revealed a discrepancy between participants' perceptions of the local dominant political party and their projected political party preferences. This research argues that political party preference is facilitated through the transcendence of national identity embedded in children's geopolitical agency. The significance of the findings emphasizes that territorial boundaries are artificial; therefore, children's geopolitical agency is impacted by extraterritorial discourse and i...
Test of limiting fragmentation in ep collisions at DESY HERA.

It is suggested that the hypothesis of limiting fragmentation in (virtual-photon)-proton collisions can be effectively tested at DESY HERA.
Sense & Avoid capability development challenges

Unmanned Aircraft Systems will require a Sense & Avoid function to protect against collisions with other aircraft as well as various other hazards. Architectural alternatives in the distributions of functionality between aircraft and a ground control station make the development of requirements and standards more complex. A broad variety of candidate sensor technologies has the potential to fulfill the surveillance portion of the system. This explores the capabilities and limitations of these technologies, and suggests deploying combinations of technologies to capitalize upon their respective strengths. A discussion of algorithmic requirements draws upon the experience of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) in the airspace. Differences and challenges in implementing an algorithm for a UAS are discussed. The broad range of UAS aerodynamic characteristics complicate the process of standardizing an algorithm for Sense & Avoid. In order to build a safety case supporting the certification of a UAS, its performance must be thoroughly evaluated. In the case of Sense & Avoid, flight testing cannot be sufficiently thorough, and instead, the simulation of the system for large numbers of aircraft encounters is recommended. This discusses the considerations in performing such simulations, and in modeling various components of the system and of the potential encounter geometries. Unlike TCAS, an encounter model cannot be constructed solely from observed data, as UAS are not yet performing the desired uses. The Sense & Avoid work within the RTCA SC-203 standards committee is described.
Growth, Survival, and Food Conversion of Atlantic Salmon Reared at Four Different Densities with Common Water Quality

Abstract Our objective was to determine the maximum effective rearing density for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at 17.5°C, a temperature typically used in hatcheries to accelerate growth. We reared 5.8-g (mean weight) parr for 80 d to final rearing densities of 14–55 kg/m2 (rearing unit bottom area) or 80–310 kg/m3 (rearing unit volume). Weight gain was slightly depressed in fish at a final rearing density of 26 kg/m2 (146 kg/m3), but mortality, food conversion, and gain in length were not affected. At densities greater than 26 kg/m2, fish growth was slower and food conversion was higher, but mortality was unaffected. Atlantic salmon may be reared at 17.5°C to densities of at least 14 kg/m2 (80 kg/m3) without adverse effects on growth and health, but final rearing densities should not exceed 26 kg/m2.
Nature of the Reticulocytosis in Pernicious Anemia Following Liver Therapy

ConclusionAfter liver therapy megaloblasts complete their maturation as reticulated and mature megalocytes. The resultant reticulocytosis is composed of reticulated megalocytes and normal reticulocytes. This not only indicates the reestablishment of normal erythropoiesis but also, that the marrow is being purged of its pathologic red cell series, the megaloblasts. This response is qualitatively distinct from the reticulocytosis of hypochromic anemias following iron therapy and the one in normal laboratory animals after liver treatment.
Accepting or Rejecting Medical Treatment: A Comparison of Decisions Made for Self Versus Those Made for a Significant Other1

College students (N= 52) made sets of hypothetical decisions concerning whether to accept or withhold medical treatment for oneself as well as for a significant other. Two sets of decisions were made for the significant other: a set representing what the significant other would want for himself or herself, and a set representing what the potential surrogate would want for the significant other. Results revealed consistent sets of decisions within each decision frame, considerable individual differences in mean judgments, an emphasis on the levels of mental and physical functioning, self-reported decision weights that differed across the decision frames, and considerable self-insight into the decision policy used when deciding for oneself.
The mechanics of foot action during the golf swing and implications for shoe design.

ABSTRACTThe forces and movement at the feet during the golf swing were studied using force platform and three-dimensional cinematography techniques, with special consideration given to implications for golf shoe design. Ground reaction forces and center-of-pressure patterns were obtained by alternat
PICOSECOND LUMINESCENCE DETECTION USING TYPE-II PHASE-MATCHED FREQUENCY CONVERSION

Abstract In order to improve on standard Kerr light gate methods for subnanosecond fluorescence measurements with solid-state lasers, we have used a method for sum and difference frequency generation in a type-11 phase-matched KDP crystal. The result is to generate up- and down-converted radiation from molecular fluorescence with a pulse-correlated time-resolution of less than 10 ps using multiple shots. The wavelength range for fluorescence detection, using KDP alone, is continuous from about 240 nm to greater than 1 micron. The method has a considerably higher signal-to-background ratio than the optical Kerr-cell, easily isolating 5 ps segments of a 10 ns fluorescence profile with high signal-to-noise ratio. Some examples are presented of the application of the method.
A method for developing closed functional representations of service rates and arrival rates in the simulation of a nonstationary queue

A Fourier series and stepwise multiple repression analysis can be utilized in the approximation of the time dependency of the average arrival rates of a queuing simulation. The procedure is not difficult, the approximation is monitored and the final model is easy to incorporate into the simulation.
The application of modular protein domains in proteomics

The ability of modular protein domains to independently fold and bind short peptide ligands both in vivo and in vitro has allowed a significant number of protein–protein interaction studies to take advantage of them as affinity and detection reagents. Here, we refer to modular domain based proteomics as “domainomics” to draw attention to the potential of using domains and their motifs as tools in proteomics. In this review we describe core concepts of domainomics, established and emerging technologies, and recent studies by functional category. Accumulation of domain–motif binding data should ultimately provide the foundation for domain-specific interactomes, which will likely reveal the underlying substructure of protein networks as well as the selectivity and plasticity of signal transduction.
A critical look at critical (neo)personalism: Unitas multiplex and the ‘person’ concept

Abstract This essay evaluates critically William Stern's (Stern, W. (2010). Psychology and personalism) unitas multiplex and definition of ‘person.’ Discussion of the former is restricted to the lowest psychological levels and evaluation is conducted in light of interpretive options open to the ‘targets’ of Stern's current adherents, termed ‘neopersonalists.’ It is concluded that to avoid the charge of ‘individualism,’ neopersonalist expositions of the unitas multiplex should be geared toward the strong possibility that their targets will read it as a person-ontology. Evaluation then turns to Stern's definition of ‘person,’ which is compared with elements of Hacker's (Hacker, P. (2007). Human nature: The categorial framework. Oxford: Blackwell) analysis of the same concept. Results suggest that while Stern's definition applies to ‘animal’ and ‘human being,’ it does not apply to ‘person’. A more coherent conceptual framework for neopersonalism thus is suggested. A ‘can-do teleontology’ maintains emphasis on the person's potentialities and inherent goal-oriented and goal-striving nature, avoids reduction of the person concept, relates the person to others by necessity, and is amenable to Stern's definition of ‘personality.’
Morphology of the aedeagal gland of the male mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor L.).

The aedeagal gland of male Tenebrio molitor consists of numerous acini containing several secretory units (organules) of three epithelial cells in series. The distal cortical cell and intermediate cell are secretory cells. Secretory products are passed into microvilli-lined extracellular reservoirs. From these storage areas products flow through minute canaliculi and into the efferent ductule. Canaliculi, cuticular trabeculae, and fibrillar material are characteristic features of the efferent ductules within the extracellular reservoirs of secretory cells. After passing from the secretory cells, the efferent ductule penetrates the basal ductule cell. The thin epicuticle that comprises the wall of the ductule is confluent with the epicuticle of the cuticular sheath forming the wall of the genital pocket. Secretory products flow from the cortical cell ductule into the intermediate cell and eventually empty into the genital pocket. A chemical reaction apparently takes place in the intermediate cell ductule, resulting in a frothy secretion product. When released from the ductule, this frothy product forms a foam-like layer that coats the inner wall of the genital pocket. Ultrastructural and probable functional aspects of this gland are described and discussed.
Thermally driven sensitive surface phonon polariton modes in thin-film SiC

The results of this work show that significant changes to the spectral properties of thermal emission may be accomplished by taking advantage of surface phonon polariton (SPP) modes that are very sensitive to small refractive index changes. Surface phonon polaritons are interface restricted wave modes that do not usually participate in thermal radiative energy exchange. In this work, the possibility of varying the spectral properties by using a thin-film surface active material, layered between dielectrics, is explored. Unlike surface gratings, the multilayered structure discussed in this work couples the surface modes into radiative modes using subtle changes in refractive index. The proposed multilayer effect is studied by first developing the SPP mode dispersion relation to identify the spectral location of the surface modes. The relationship between SPP coupling and refractive index change is then developed. The fluctuation-dissipation theorem and an impedance boundary condition is used to theoretically show how thermal radiation can excite SPP modes. Results are then presented that show how film thickness and substrate properties act to support SPP modes that are particularly sensitive to changes in refractive index and therefore offers opportunities for dramatic changes to the spectral properties.
Diffusion of Large Two-Dimensional Ag Clusters on Ag(100)

Scanning tunneling microscopy shows that large two-dimensional Ag clusters on Ag(100) can diffuse. The value of the diffusion coefficient at room temperature is of order ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$${\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and varies little, if at all, with cluster size in the range studied, 100 to 720 atoms per cluster. This weak variation rules out periphery diffusion as the main mechanism of cluster diffusion, suggesting instead two-dimensional evaporation-condensation. This conclusion is compatible with the energetics of atomic-scale events within the cluster and with the dissolution of small clusters observed at low coverages.
Some Properties of Sulfanilamide Monohydrate

The crystalline form taken by sulfanilamide monohydrate depends on the concentration of sulfanilamide in the aqueous solution from which it is crystallized. Apparent heats of solution are reported for the four (anhydrous) polymorphic forms of sulfanilamide.
Mutations in the csgD Promoter Associated with Variations in Curli Expression in Certain Strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Single-base-pair csgD promoter mutations in human outbreak Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains ATCC 43894 and ATCC 43895 coincided with differential Congo red dye binding from curli fiber expression. Red phenotype csgD::lacZ promoter fusions had fourfold-greater expression than white promoter fusions. Cloning the red variant csgDEFG operon into white variants induced the red phenotype. Substrate utilization differed between red and white variants.
Multidimensional Kolmogorov-Petrovsky test for the boundary regularity and irregularity of solutions to the heat equation

This paper establishes necessary and sufficient condition for the regularity of a characteristic top boundary point of an arbitrary open subset of ( ) for the diffusion (or heat) equation. The result implies asymptotic probability law for the standard -dimensional Brownian motion.
Do children with developmental disabilities and mental health conditions have greater difficulty using health services than children with physical disorders

The objective of this study is to determine whether achievement of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau core outcome ease of use of health services differs between children with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and physical disorders. We analyzed data from the 2005 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. Children with special health care needs were classified into 4 health condition groups: developmental disabilities (DD), mental health conditions (MH), physical disorders (PD) and multiple conditions. The outcome measure was ‘difficulty using services’. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses to determine the associations between the health condition groups and the outcome. Of the CSHCN included in the study, 2.6% had DD, 12.9% had MH, 49.9% had PD and 34.6% belonged to multiple conditions group. Four percent of CSHCN with PD, 17% of those with DD, 13% of those with MH and 20% of those in the multiple conditions group had difficulty using services. In multivariate analyses, CSHCN with DD had 2.3 times and MH conditions had 2.6 times the odds of having difficulty using services compared to those with PD. Existing programs for CSHCN should be evaluated for the adequacy of services provided to children with DD and MH. Future studies should evaluate how developmental disabilities and mental health policies affect navigating the health care system for this population.
The coordination cluster theory: Extension to multicomponent systems

The coordination cluster theory, which has been shown to provide a good representation of the thermo-dynamic properties of a dilute solute in a binary solvent, is extended for multicomponent solvents. The extended theory permits one to predict activity coefficients of solutes in multicomponent sol-vents, based on values in the subsidiary binary systems. The theory takes into consideration three types of interactions, namely, those (i) between solute and solvent atoms, (ii) between solvent atoms that are near neighbors of the solute, and (iii) between solvent atoms not in the vicinity of the solute and all other solvent atoms. Calculations of the activity coefficients of oxygen dissolved in the Ag-Cu-Sn ternary solvent are in good agreement with measurements.
Architectures For Focal Plane Image Processing

Architectures for focal plane image processing are discussed. On-chip image preprocessing for solid-state imagers using analog CCD circuits is described for low, medium, and high density detector arrays. A spatially parallel architecture for low density, high throughput applications is described. For sparse illumination or event detection, a content-addressable architecture is proposed. A new pipelined vector pixel processor architecture for medium density infrared staring focal plane arrays is described. Neighborhood reconstruction during serial readout of high density TV-quality imagers for a pixel processor is considered using delay and analog frame memory techniques. The potential of on-chip read/write analog frame memory for image transformation and frame-to-frame processing is discussed.
Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Children With Idiopathic Epilepsy in Southeast Turkey

Abstract Background We examined the prevalence of celiac disease in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Methods Patients were screened for celiac disease using the immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and small intestinal biopsy were offered to all antibody-positive patients. The control group consisted of 400 healthy children. Results A total of 600 patients (332 boys, 268 girls; 8 months-15 years; 9.40 ± 4.09 years) were studied. In 38 patients, the diagnosis was childhood partial epilepsy with occipital paroxysms. Six of the 38 patients with childhood partial epilepsy with occipital paroxysms (15.7%) had positive immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody. The frequency of biopsy-proven celiac disease was 15.7% (6/38) among children with childhood partial epilepsy with occipital paroxysms. None of the control patients had positive immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody results. Conclusions These findings suggest that the prevalence of celiac disease in children with partial epilepsy with occipital paroxysms may be higher than with other types of epilepsies. It may be reasonable to screen individuals with this type of epilepsy for celiac disease.
Molecular characterization of the Ro/SS-A autoantigens

Molecular techniques have recently revealed that there are several immunologically distinct Ro/SS-A antigens. Three genes encoding putative Ro/SS-A protein antigens with calculated masses of 46, 52, and 60 kD have been isolated. The encoded amino acid sequence of each is quite dissimilar. The 46-kD antigen is calreticulin (CR), a highly conserved calcium-binding protein that resides predominately in the endoplasmic reticulum where it may be involved in protein assembly. Although CR has recently been confirmed to be a new human rheumatic disease-associated autoantigen, its relationship to the other components of the Ro/SS-A ribonucleoprotein has become somewhat controversial owing predominately to the fact that recombinant forms of calreticulin have not displayed the same pattern of autoantibody reactivity possessed by the native form of this protein. The 52-kD antigen most likely resides in the nucleus and may be involved in the regulation of gene expression. The cellular location and function of the 60-kD antigen is uncertain but studies indicate that it is a RNA- binding protein. The 46- and 60-kD antigens share homology with foreign polypeptides, suggesting that an immune response initially directed against a foreign protein may give rise to the autoimmune response directed at cross-reacting self proteins.
A comparison of the hormone levels in patients with Sjogren's syndrome and healthy controls

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the level and relative ratio of estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin in patients with Sjogren's syndrome and healthy controls. Study design Serum samples were collected from 17 SS patients and 19 age-, sex- and race-matched controls. All subjects were postmenopausal females who were not currently on hormone replacement therapy. Prolactin levels were measured using ELISA and progesterone and estrogen were measured using EIA. Results Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significantly higher levels of prolactin among patients than controls (11.41 ng/ml vs. 6.74 ng/ml, p = 0.003) with significantly higher prolactin/ progesterone (18.88 vs. 8.14, p = 0.02) and estrogen/ progesterone (71.51 vs. 42.02, p = 0.05) ratios. No significant differences were observed in the levels of estrogen and progesterone between patients and controls. Conclusion Abnormal levels and relative ratios of hormones may play a role in the pathogenesis of Sjogren's syndrome.
TU-D-I-611-07: A Scanning Sampled Measurement (SSM) Technique for Scatter Measurement and Correction in Cone Beam Breast CT

Purpose: To implement and investigate a scanning sampled measurement (SSM) technique used to obtain sampled scatter measurement for scatter correction in cone beam breast CT. Method and Materials: Breast phantom or specimen is mounted on the rotating stage in a stationary gantry experimental cone beam CT system. A slightly tilted 2-D array of 1.2-mm diameter lead beads, with the beads 1 cm apart from each other, was placed between the object and x-ray source. A series of projection images were acquired as the phantom is rotated (1 degree per projection view) and the lead beads array shifted by 1.2-mm from one projection view to the next. Image signals in the lead bead shadow were used to obtain sampled scatter measurements which are then interpolated to form an estimated scatter distribution. The image data in the lead bead shadows are restored by interpolating image data from the two adjacent projection views to form complete (lead bead free) projection images. The estimated scatter distribution is then subtracted from the corresponding restored projection image to obtain the scatter corrected projection images. Results: Sampled scatter measurements were successfully made in each projection image and the accuracy of scatter measurements was verified with a larger beam blocker placed between the lead beads and x-ray source. The SPRs in the projection images of a breast phantom are found to range from 0.1 to 0.5. Using scatter distribution interpolated from scanning sampled measurements and restored projection image data, scatter correction was successfully performed on all projection images. The resulting scatter corrected projection image data resulted in more accurate reconstruction of the linear attenuation coefficients and reduced the cupping effects. This work is supported in part by a research grant EB000117 from the NIBIB & Bioengineering and a research grant CA104759 from the NCI.